Agenda and draft 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 Taylor declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (‘Cultural Quarter’ – Draft Final Report) as an employee of City Screen in York.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (‘Cultural Quarter’ – Draft Final Report) as a member of the Board of York Theatre Royal.

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 Committee’s 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 Tuesday 17 February 2009 at 5.00pm. 

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 29 January 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 29 January 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

In Minute 19 (ii) Draft Recommendations – in the second bullet point the deletion of the words ‘the University and the developer of St Leonard’s Place’ and their replacement with ‘the University of York and Rushbond Plc’ in reference to the partner organisations. ^1.

To consider the draft final report of the ‘Cultural Quarter’ Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee. To note that the recommendations should be seen within the context of York being a ‘Cultural City’ and its culture not being confined to any one area.

Consideration was given to the draft final report of the ‘Cultural Quarter’ Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee and the 8 recommendations, which had arisen from the Committee’s review. Members were reminded that this topic had been registered in early 2008 by Cllr Hogg to examine the ‘Vision’ developed in 2007 for a Cultural Quarter for York, linking the city centre with development sites in York North West.

Officers confirmed that the recommendations should be seen within the context of York being a ‘Cultural City’ and its culture not being confined to any one area.

The Scrutiny Officer stated that, with Member’s agreement, she would also include an additional paragraph, in the body of the report, to further explain details of the government initiative for British Cities of Culture.

Officers circulated an amended diagram of the suggested model for the cultural route(s) or linkages to act as a guide between cultural activities produced by Sir Ron Cooke for inclusion in the report. Also circulated was an email from the Legal Department, following guidance sought after the last meeting, in relation to the Committee’s wish to send a letter to the Head of Planning regarding plans to introduce ticket barriers at York Railway Station.

Members were informed that the Visit York business plan referred to in Annex F (Towards a Cultural Quarter Business Plan), paragraph 2.5 of the report, had now been completed. It was proposed to update this paragraph in order to reflect the new vision that had been agreed.

Councillors Crisp, Funnell and Galvin declared that, as Members of the Planning Committee, they could not take part in consideration of matters relating to York Railway Station and plans to introduce ticket barriers and they left the room and took no part in discussion thereon. 

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that she would collate the suggested amendments and circulate to Members, for agreement, a tracked changes copy of the report. She also confirmed that the presentation of the Annexes would be improved for inclusion in the final report. ^1.

Officers thanked the Scrutiny Committee for their hard work and careful, in depth examination on this topic.

RESOLVED:  (i) That subject to the following amendments the final report of the ‘Cultural Quarter’ Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee, be agreed:

·        Addition of a paragraph of explanation in relation to the government initiative on British City of Culture.

·        In paragraph 64 (The Proposed Boundary of the ‘Cultural Quarter’) the deletion of the word ‘boundaries’ in the third line and its replacement with ’boundary of the investment zone’.

·        Update paragraph 2.5 in Annex F in relation to the Visit York business plan.

·        Amend heading in Annex G to ‘Executive Summary’ rather than ‘Scrutiny Summary’. ^2.

(ii)That the following recommendations of the ‘Cultural Quarter’ Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee, as amended be agreed:

1.             That City of York Council takes the lead in the comprehensive business plan and design master plan for this area, especially in terms of implementing any changes to the public realm works, pedestrian links etc  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.