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 Taylor declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (“Cultural Quarter” – Interim Report) as an employee of City Screen in York.

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

Councillor Hogg declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (“Cultural Quarter” – Interim Report) as an employee of the National Railway Museum, a member of the York Museum Trust and a member of the Visit York Board.

Sir Ron Cooke declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (“Cultural Quarter” – Interim Report) as a member of the National Railway Museum Advisory 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 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 Wednesday 28 January 2009at 5.00pm. 

There had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. 

Penelope Dawson-Brown spoke on behalf of Yorkshire Gardens Trust.  She drew the Committee’s attention to York’s great gardening heritage and gave details of some of the renowned gardeners and botanists who had worked in the area.  The Yorkshire Gardens Trust was involved in promoting, restoring and conserving the heritage of parks and gardens and also ran a schools’ education programme. 

The Museum Gardens provided an opportunity for York to have a botanical garden which could also reflect its great gardening heritage.  The Yorkshire Gardens Trust would be willing to work with those involved in developing a “cultural quarter” and could form a committee to advise and assist in the development of the Museum Gardens.  Possible funding streams to be explored could include science institutions, carbon footprint funding from industry and Quaker charities.

Britain was a nation of gardeners and a horticultural and botanical centre of learning could have benefits to tourism as well as providing an opportunity for York to promote its gardening heritage.

Members of the committee welcomed the suggestions that had been put forward and saw the opportunity for the gardens to not only reflect the city’s gardening heritage but also to play a part in future biotechnology and to contribute to York being a Science City.   It was also recognised that many people in York did not have their own garden and that the Museum Gardens offered them the opportunity to have access to a garden.

Mrs Dawson-Brown was thanked for attendance at the meeting.

Findings:

• That the Committee recommended that the Museums Trust be encouraged to liaise with the Yorkshire Gardens Trust regarding the proposals put forward.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 16 December 2008.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the “Cultural Quarter” Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16 December 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

This Cultural Quarter Interim Report asks the Committee to approve the timetable for the next meetings and formulate some draft recommendations for inclusion in the draft final report.

Officers from City Strategy will be in attendance to provide information and answer questions in relation to the traffic proposals for the York Northwest site.

Members considered the “Cultural Quarter” – Interim Report and discussed issues arising from the report. 

(i)            Further Evidence – Transportation and Access

Officers from Development and Transport – City Strategy had been invited to attend the meeting to give further information regarding York Northwest.  They informed the Committee that, at this stage, it was not possible to give detailed information as a number of issues and options were still being considered.  Consultants had been employed to look at access strategies and transport models and they were due to present their analysis in February. 

Responding to questions from the Committee, Officers stated that no decisions had been taken regarding Leeman Road but that whatever decisions were made would take into account the priority for existing residents to have access to their properties. 

Other fundamental principles that would be taken into account when decisions were made about access in the area included:

·        Ensuring that if existing access routes continued to be used, these were improved and enhanced.

·        Maintaining lines of connectivity when new accesses were put into place.

·        Ensuring effective transport interchange arrangements. 

·        Seeking to prevent people using York Central as an access to the city or for car parking.

 (ii)       Draft Recommendations

Consideration was given to the suggested recommendations drafted by the Chair for possible inclusion in the final report.

It was agreed that it should be made clear in the final report that the recommendations were to be seen in the context of York being a “Cultural City” and its culture not being confined to any one area.  The diagram put forward by Sir Ron Cooke (Annex 2 of the minutes of the meeting of 16 December 2008) illustrated this point.

The Committee saw the role of the City of York Council as providing leadership and encouragement and supporting organisations seeking to access funding by removing barriers to investment.  This key role should be encompassed in the final recommendations.

It was also suggested that “cultural development area” would be a more appropriate term than “cultural quarter”.  It was, however, acknowledged that “cultural quarter” was a nationally recognised term and may support organisations in accessing funding streams.  It was also noted that the term “quarter” was already used within the city as reflected in the “Minister Quarter”.

The following draft recommendations were suggested for inclusion in the final report:

·        That a Business Plan be drawn up for the area, combining the individual plans and ambitions of stakeholders in the area.

·        That, with the backing of partner organisations including the Museum Trust, the National Railway Museum, the Theatre Royal, the Minster, the University and the developer of St Leonard’s Place the University of York and Rushbond PLC, the Chief Executive of the City of York Council open negotiations with Yorkshire Forward and other public bodies with regard to funding and engaging with the cultural masterplan for York.

[As amended at the Committee’s meeting held on 18 February 2009]

·        That a wider strategy for “Quarters” (Cultural Development Areas) be pursued by York@Large  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.