Agenda and minutes

Speak to your ward councillors and service providers informally.  Information will be available about the following:       

·        Proposals to transfer the Libraries and Archives service into a community benefit society

·        Proposals for the redevelopment of the Sessions site and Monks Cross

·        Proposals for a Haxby to Clifton Moor Cycle route

1.1    Local residents had the opportunity to speak to Councillors Hyman, Orrell and Runciman, Iain Dunn, Claire Taylor and New Earswick Parish Councillors Crawford and Revell. 

1.2    The following people were also available to talk to residents:

·         Sarah Garbacz with information about the proposed transfer of the library service into a Community Benefit Society

·         Jon Pickles with information about the proposed Haxby to Clifton Moor Cycle route

·         Eric Hall with information about the proposed Monks Cross redevelopment

·         Jonathan Scott and representatives from Ben Bailey homes with information about the proposed development on the Sessions site.

2.1  Cllr Runciman welcomed residents to the meeting.

2.2  The minutes of the last meeting on 7 June 2012 were approved and  

        signed.

3.1  Cllr Runciman gave apologies on behalf of the Safer Neighbourhood

       Team who were due to attend the meeting but had been called away to

       an urgent job.

Jonathan Scott from Scotfield Group and Ben Smith from Ben Bailey homes gave a presentation on the proposals for a housing development on the Sessions site. The following points were noted:

4.1  Following the closure of Sessions in 2011 it is considered that residential

       housing is most obvious use for this brownfield site.  The owners of the

       land Scotfield Group appointed Ben Bailey homes to draw up proposals.

4.2  The proposals which were available for residents to view at the meeting

       outline 59 dwellings on the site with a range of two, three and four

       bedroom homes.

4.3  This meeting forms part of the public consultation to gain residents views 

       before submitting the planning application to City of York Council.

The following questions and comments were noted:

a)    Will the footbridge be opened up to connect the development to the nature reserve?

Response was given that the nature reserve is still owned by the Sessions family so it will not be opened up.

b)    Vegetation has already been cut down on the site.  Why has this been done before planning permission has been approved?

Response was given that vegetation and trees have been cut back on the North side of the site in consultation with City of York Council and the Drainage Board to maintain a free flowing of the river.

c)    Are you aware there are bats on the site?

Yes.  Ecology surveys are being done and the key time for this is May to October.

d)    There is no reference to the land drain on your map.

Response was given that this has been raised by Huntington Parish Council and work is being done with the Drainage Board and Yorkshire Water on a solution.  A drainage strategy is being put together.

e)    How are you going to stop people crossing over into the private land.

Response was given that a boundary will be needed to block access.

f)     There is going to be a big increase in the volume of traffic and the roads opposite will become rat runs.  What are you going to do about this?

Response was given that Ben Bailey homes has employed a highways consultant; a single point of access to the site is considered appropriate as well as implementing traffic calming measures. Sessions generated a high volume of traffic on this site with deliveries and staff and it is expected trip rates generated by a housing development would be less.

g)    Sessions delivery lorries were prohibited from travelling down some of the neighbouring streets so residents were not disturbed by this traffic.  This will not be the case with vehicles going to and from a housing estate.

h)   Congestion on Huntington Road has got worse since the chicanes were installed and it will get even worse if this development goes ahead.

Response was given that the chicanes are not ideal and alternative solutions will be looked at e.g. speed cushions.

i)     With 59 proposed houses in this development and more potential housing under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Jon Pickles from CYC Sustainable Transport Service gave an overview of the proposals for a Haxby to Clifton Moor off road cycle route.  The following points were noted:

5.1  It has been a long term aspiration of the Council to develop an off road

       shared pedestrian/cycle route along the A1237 outer ring road between   

       Haxby Road roundabout and Wigginton Road roundabout.  This would

       complete a missing link in the cycle route network, connecting New  

       Earswick, Haxby and Wigginton to the retail and office facilities of Clifton

       Moor.

5.2 A consultation is underway on the proposals and residents are  

      encouraged to give their feedback by filling in the questionnaires available

      at the meeting or by visiting www.york.gov.uk/haxbytocliftonmoor

The following questions and comments were noted:

a)     This is a very good idea.  Have you contacted the businesses at Clifton Moor to advise their staff know of this consultation?

Response was given that the businesses have been contacted.  A consultation session will also be taking place at Tesco on Clifton Moor.

b)    What are the timescales for this?

Response was given that if this goes ahead the aim is for the work to commence in Autumn 2013 and to finish in early 2014.

6.1  Councillor Runciman announced that the ward funding of £5010 for the  

       2012-13 financial year had been awarded in the following grants:

·         £1500 to Huntington Memorial Hall for improvement works to the small hall

·         £1500 to New Earswick Community Association; £1000 towards their gardening scheme and £500 for young peoples activities during the summer holidays

·         £500 to Friends of Huntington School towards their ‘Big Read’ project

·         £440 to New Earswick and District Indoor Bowls Club for cross generational summer activity sessions

·         £300 to Kidz Klub York towards funding the mini bus and a community Easter event

·         £770 to St Andrews Church youth work to set up a young peoples drop in sessions before and after school and during lunchtime.

6.2  Final reports on these projects are expected at the end of June 2013 and information would be shared at the next meeting.

6.3 Councillor Runciman announced that the ward budget for 2013-14 was 

      £5010 to be spent in line with the ward priorities of:

·         Increased community safety and cohesion

·         A well maintained ward

·         Increased opportunities for young people

6.4  The ward fund will be spent through a combination of grant applications  

       from local community organisations and direct commissioning of projects

6.5  Applications were invited from groups in the ward with the first deadline   

       for applications of 19^th July.  Application packs were available for groups  

       to take away.

The following comments were noted:

7.1  A large amount of land in this ward has been identified in the Local Plan.   

       How many houses are need in York?

       Response was given that the Local Plan has identified a need for 650  

       new houses per year over the next 15 years.  Residents were  

       advised to give their views on the Local Plan proposals through the

       consultation  which is ongoing until August 2013.

7.2  The Infrastructure is not in place for developments of this size.

       Response was given that this would need to be addressed by the  

       developers.

7.3  Bus timetable boards are needed at the bus stops on New Lane.

       Response was given that residents should make requests directly to the   

       bus company.