Agenda and minutes

The drop-in surgery gives you the opportunity to talk to your councillors, street environment officer, safer neighbourhood team, neighbourhood management officer and visiting speakers in an informal setting.

1.1       Residents had the opportunity to talk to their ward councillors, Sgt Iain Sirrell, Sgt Fiona Willey and PC Julia Delaney from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Matthew Ward from Neighbourhood Management, Angus Young from Street Environment.

1.2       Representatives from the York Tree Wardens, Friends of Rowntree Park, Planet South Bank were available for information of their various projects

1.3       Council officers attended to give information on the Local Development Framework Core Strategy and the new council headquarters at West Offices.

1.4       Scheme ballot sheets were available for residents to show their preferences on the proposed schemes for the 2012-13 budget.

2.1    Cllr Dave Merrett opened the meeting and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.2    In addition to the agenda, Cllr Merrett introduced the York Rotters who performed ‘Compost! the mini-musical’ with a young people from the local St Chad’s Grey Cub Group.

2.3    Anneliese Emmans Dean, coordinator for the group, and the cubs were thanked for their entertaining and informative performance.

2.4    Minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

The safer neighbourhoods team will update what they’ve been doing in the ward.

3.1    Sgt Iain Sirrell, Micklegate outer, introduced himself and Sgt. Fiona Willey, Micklegate inner.

3.2    The overall crime in the ward has fallen 13% compared to the same time last year.

3.3    Detection of crime has risen by 24%.

3.4    When compared to the same time last year,

Incidents of theft have dropped from 156 to 106,

violence has reduced from 146 to 125,

burglary reduced from 14 to 6,

criminal damage is down from 41 to 34

and drug related crime is down from 40 to 31.

3.5    PC Julia Delaney was introduced as the Micklegate inner beat manager, as PC Kelly McTighe had changed her role.

3.6    A consultation has been carried out with residents inside the city walls to shape the future policing priorities, results are to follow.

3.7    The ‘Light up, lock up’ campaign is running again, to encourage residents to lock their doors and use timer switches on lights to help reduce burglaries.

Residents were offered the opportunity to ask questions

Q –   Residents should be encouraged to report street light faults to help reduce the fear of crime.

A -     Street lights are an issue for the council to deal with. Bulbs should be replaced within 1 to 3 days. If the problem is a supply issue then it could be up to a month, but deadlines aren’t agreed.

          Residents should report streetlighting issues on 01904 551551 or online at www.york.gov.uk/DoItOnline

Cllr Merrett declared an interest as he works for Amey Consulting who are the current contractors for street lighting.

Q -    Can something be done about speeding on Bishopthorpe Road after the junction with Cambleshon Road, as lots of cars speed along this stretch of road.

A -     This has been investigated before and the average speed was found to be above the speed limit. Proposals for the 20mph zone are ongoing and it will include Bishopthorpe Road.

Q -    Can the police please do something about cycling on footpaths and cycling through red lights?

A -     An operation will soon be running from the end of the month (October) to address these issues, as well as targeting cyclists without lights. The number of cycle trained officers has also increased to help tackle the issues.

Find out the latest findings from the study.

4.      Ian Stokes, Development Officer Transport Strategy,  informed residents on the City Centre Area Action Plan.

4.1    Study purpose and content

Provide a 20 year vision for managing movement and access to and within the City Centre

Identify an action plan over short, medium and long-term for delivering the above

Integrate into City Centre Area Action Plan / long-term transport strategy

Protecting and enhancing York’s historic environment is critical to future economic success

Current traffic patterns one of biggest  barriers to improving environment and public realm of City Centre.

Strong policy support for enhancing public realm and reducing congestion and car intrusion in City Centre.

The approach will take in to account the recent York City Beautiful and Local Transport Plans.

4.2    Some of the issues

Key public spaces and gateways compromised by traffic, highway infrastructure and parking

Poor connectivity and legibility between different areas of historic centre: e.g. Minster to Eye

Inadequate levels of pedestrian space and priority in historic centre to reflect levels of demand

Rail station gateway provides a poor introduction to the City

Route from station to Minster congested, unclear and low quality

River corridors under-utilised

Inner Ring Road causes severance and delay to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users

4.3    Approach

Improving quality of place is key to economic success

Maximise access to the City Centre, minimise intrusion in the City Centre

By maximising role of public transport, walking and cycling

And hence controlling level of demand for car access

There will be no increase in car usage, but use of public transport, walking and cycling will all be promoted.

4.4    The concept, understanding the functional areas of the City Centre

The historic ‘heart’, containing majority of visitor attractions and the retail core;

Southwest of the Ouse, containing office development and quiet residential area;

North of the Foss, containing quiet  residential area and new Hungate mixed use development;

Southeast of the Foss, containing large diversity of uses: independent / secondary retail, some employment and housing.

Pedestrian priority in the ‘heart’ providing connectivity and legibility throughout historic core

Removal of through traffic from heart (managed access for essential traffic)

Traffic cells allowing general traffic to access different parts of City Centre

Improvements to access by bus, walk and cycle

Intercept car-based trips at edge of York (Park & Ride) and edge of City Centre

There will be a transfer of parking to the outside of the city centre, although there won’t be an reduction in overall parking spaces.

4.5    Developments such as the Teardrop, Coppergate and Hungate will all be key in the City Centre Area Action Plan. The new pedestrian bridge for the Hungate development is now installed and has improved access.

4.6    The rivers in the city are largely unused but this will be looked at as a suggestion to improving city centre access.

4.7    Proposals for managing access and movement

          Foot streets, traffic crossing the Ouse and Lendal Bridges in the morning peak, in terms of numbers of people (based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Your chance to join the planning panel.

5.      The Clerk of the Micklegate Planning Panel, Andy Chase, gave an update on the groups activity for the past year.

5.1    The planning panel is a voluntary group of people who oversee planning application for the ward and give their local knowledge and views.

5.2    Matthew Ward, Neighbourhood Management Officer, thanked the group on behalf of the ward committee for their work over the past years.

5.3    A list of current members was read out as follows.

          Andy Chase

          Keith Chapman

          Monica Nelson

          Rick Troughear

          Shelagh Edmond

          Margaret Bunce

          Bob Fletcher

          Stephen Young

          Steve Woods

          Ernie Dickinson

          Marc Allison

          Iris Wells

          Tania Weston

          Lyndon Smith

          New volunteers were proposed.

          Alasdair Cooper

          Douglas Charmers

          Jim Hill

All the above were agreed and will serve as the Micklegate Planning Panel.

Come along to find out more about the schemes on the ballot list. If you have made one of the suggestions, you can tell people more about it at the meeting.

6.      Residents and Groups applying for funding from the 2012-13 ward committee budget were given the opportunity to give further information about their proposed schemes.

6.1    The following points were raised.

Scheme 4 A contribution towards treatment for diseased horse chestnut trees in Rowntree Park.

This was highlighted as being a city wide problem, but the funding would be used to try and save healthy trees from the current outbreak of disease.

Scheme 5 Seating on Queen Street looking at the city walls.

It was explained that this would be on the hard standing near the taxi rank on Queen Street, looking at the city walls, subject to feasibility.

Scheme 7 Install seating on terry Avenue overlooking the river.

It was explained that due to the land not being council owned that this would be subject to the landowners agreement. Contact had been made by the owners, Bishops Wharf Management Company, to say that they had experienced anti social behaviour in the past and that they do not wish to install a bench.

Scheme 11 A grant to Hamilton Panthers FC to fund the new community club house.      

Simon Lansley from the club explained the plans for the clubhouse and that local community input is needed to make the project a success.

Scheme 17 A grant to York Young People’s Trust to refurbish a city centre space for young people.

The location was clarified as 3 Little Stonegate, which is the back portion of the old Boarders book shop.

Scheme 26 A grant to Family Matters York to run ‘Drug proof your kids’ courses for parents at Millthorpe School.

Trevor Burton, Head of Millthorpe school, explained that the school had been approached and supported the initiative. The course is open to parents from other schools.

Scheme 27 A grant to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to provide specialist community fire safety solutions for vulnerable members of the community.

Although a scheme already runs, this would be to continue a valuable service in times of budget cuts

Scheme 29 A fund for further alleygating in the ward

The basis of gating is subject to gating orders, evidence of a need based on police data and at the agreement of local residents.

Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns.

7.      Residents were offered the opportunity to raise issues or concerns regarding their local neighbourhood.

Q -    It is a shame to see shops such as Poppy and Rose on Bishopthorpe Road shutting, can anything be done to allow residents have a say in what shops are wanted in their local area?

A -     Currently there isn’t such a group formed, but the ward committee can be contacted over these issues, as can the planning panel, who can make representation at planning committees. It was acknowledge that the loss of local amenities is worrying although Bishopthorpe Road is one of the thriving areas.

Q -    There seems to be a lack of signage when coming of the city walls at Skeldergate, many tourists seem lost at the point when touring the walls.

A -     It was agreed to investigate what signage was at the location, as increasing signage may not be the answer.

Q -    When a lamp post was replaced on Bishopthorpe Road, it was on the grounds that it was unfit for purpose and condemned. Why is it still in situ three and a half years later?

A -     This will be followed up with the street lighting department.

Q -    What if anything, is happening with the air quality monitoring on Nunnery Lane?

A -     The data is being collated to help form a case to reduce car use in the city. Proposals are currently being considered for the councils low emissions strategy.

          Evidence from the monitoring shows that buses are the biggest contributing factor to the poor air quality in the city, for example in Fulford buses account for 56% Nitrogen Dioxide emissions in the area.

          Adjustments and modifications are to be looked at with bus companies but will be costly.

          HGV’s are the next highest contributor. A shipment study is currently exploring the feasibility of a delivery depot outside the city, serviced by less polluting electric delivery vehicles.

          Taxis are also to be looked at and then modern diesel cars as they are more polluting than modern petrol vehicles.

          2015 is the EU deadline to improve air quality.

Q -    Buses around South Bank are often hindered by the parking on narrow streets and meeting traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

A -     The process for getting one way systems in place, which could help alleviate the issues, relies on community proposal and support for changes.

Q -    Why have the markings for cycles and pedestrians not clear on Millennium Bridge?

A -     In the initial plans for the bridge it was never a defined cycle lane, as it was intended that the dual use of the bridge would be at users discretion.

Q -    The road surface on Bishopthorpe Road, between Butcher Terrace and Beresford Terrace is terrible and unsafe for cyclists can it be looked at?

A -     Highways will be contacted to see if anything is scheduled and where it ranks in the requirements for resurfacing.

Q -    There is a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.