Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Hogg declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 3 (“Cultural Quarter” Scrutiny Review – Scoping Report) as an employee of the National Railway Museum, a member of the York Museums Trust and Visit York.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 3 (“Cultural Quarter” Scrutiny Review – Scoping Report) as a member of the York Theatre Royal Board.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committees remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 18 July 2008 at 5.00pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general issues within the remit of the Committee.

This report outlines the suggested scope and timetable for the “Cultural Quarter” Scrutiny review which aims to contribute towards achieving a long-term direction for the area between the National Railway Museum, York Railway Station and the Minster, and to consider any positive and/or adverse effects on the city in doing so.

Consideration was given to the suggested scoping report and timetable for the “Cultural Quarter” Scrutiny review. The review aimed to contribute towards achieving a long-term direction for the area between the National Railway Museum, York Railway Station and the Minster, and to consider any positive and/or adverse effects on the city.

It was reported that this topic had originally been registered in early 2008 by Councillor Hogg to examine the ‘Vision’ developed in 2007 for a Cultural Quarter for York. This would link the city centre with development sites in York North West.  He hadsuggested using the 2007 ‘Vision’ document to explore the relationship between the six areas of the quarter (area 1 to include the Railway Station), including pedestrian and vehicular movement, design, open spaces, a river crossing, performance areas, lighting, landscaping, cultural production, promotion and public art.

Members were reminded of the objectives of the review which were:

              i.      To understand the Council’s strategic approach, and that of its key partners, to the cultural design for the area.

            ii.      To contribute to a business plan for achieving the required funding for developing the area into a ‘Cultural Quarter’

          iii.      To develop and establish some key principles for guiding a collaborative approach to cultural development in the future, including connectivity to other areas of the city

           iv.  To understand the implications for the whole city in terms of retail, its economy and other cultural or leisure based events within the city.

Officers updated that a change was required to the timetable on page 5 of the report. Reference to a meeting on 25 October 2008 should read 15 October 2008. They also confirmed that Roger Ranson, Assistant Director, Economic Development, was unable to attend the meeting on 15 October 2008 when it was proposed that the Council’s Draft Business Plan was considered and he had requested this be considered at the 29 October meeting.

The Authority’s Head of Arts and Culture circulated the following documents:

• Cultural Quarter in York prepared by Austin, Smith, Lord LLP, dated 8 January 2007;
• A list of Cultural Quarters Exemplars;
• A list of draft Cultural Quarter Questions.

She introduced Ian Tempest, External Relations Manager, Visit York, who had been involved in the initial discussions when consideration had been given to the vision for a cultural quarter in York at the York @ Large Partnership Board meetings.

Members were then given a presentation of the ‘Vision’ document and updated on the processes that had taken place and the following were some of the points raised:

Brief and Definition

Members were informed that the area between the National Railway Museum and the Minster had been chosen as it was an area which Sir Ron Cooke, former Vice Chancellor of the University of York, had noted as unique in Europe for containing buildings of all ages and in particular a large number of Grade 1 and 1* listed buildings.

It was proposed that the cultural quarter would be a vibrant, clearly defined area that any customer/user  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.