Agenda and draft minutes

Talk to your local councillors, groups and organisations and give us your views on what is important to you in your community.

1.    INFORMAL DROP-IN SESSION (18:30)

Residents were given the opportunity to speak informally with Councillors, Planning Panel, Local History Group and other partners prior to the main meeting.

·       Introductions

·       Selection of the Micklegate Planning Panel

·       Update on  York Station Gateway scheme

·       Update on York Walls in Bloom scheme

·       Have your say

1.    MAIN MEETING – WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (19:00)

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Crawshaw who welcomed everyone and set out the housekeeping rules followed by the agenda. He also reminded residents that the meeting was non-political. He then introduced Jim Hill, Secretary of Micklegate Ward Planning Panel. 

2.    SELECTION OF MICKLEGATE WARD PLANNING PANEL (Jim Hill)

Jim Hill then provided a brief overview of the Micklegate Planning Panel.  The Panel consists of local volunteers who meet at West Offices on Mondays at 16:30 on a three-weekly basis to discuss and respond to local planning applications.  Anyone living or working within Micklegate Ward could become a member of the Panel and no expertise in planning is required. Planning applications vary in number and are generally circulated the previous Friday to allow members sufficient time to examine them prior to the meeting. 

There are four possible response options for the Panel:

·       Support

·       No objection

·       No objection (but additional comments made)

·       Object

Planning Panel does not get involved in lobbying by applicants and their comments are made based on the consensus view of the Panel. Panel members generally take it in turns to record comments and submit them to the Council. The responses are then recorded on the applications files and included in the Planning Officer’s report. Planning Panel Secretary however wasn’t sure how much notice the planning officers take of the Planning Panel comments.

In parishes the parish councils are statutory consultees on planning applications.  Planning panels were set up to give Wards in the city an opportunity to look at planning applications in a similar way, although Planning Panel comments are made in an advisory capacity. The existing members Jim Hill, Peter Thompson, Gill Dronfield, Helen Roberts, Tina Funnell, Nick Kay, Phil Joyce, John Cooke and Paul Hornby would like to continue in their role as Micklegate Planning Panel members. Jim stated that being a member of the Planning Panel is a great way to see what is happening in the ward and invited anyone interested in joining to speak with him directly, Ward Councillors, or the Community Officer.

Cllr Crawshaw thanked Jim and other Panel members for their work and added that it is very helpful to have input from them, as they look at issues from the local resident perspective.

3.    Clements Hall Local History Group

Councillor Crawshaw invited a member of Clements Hall Local History Group to give an update on their recent work and plans for the next year. The group meets at Clements Hall on a Friday evening every two months. The next meeting is planned for 24^th of January 2025, 7:30pm and will focus on discussion about history of Micklegate. The group will be gathering stories associated with Micklegate street in order to write a piece for inclusion in the local history book.  The group is looking for a treasurer and membership secretary to join the committee. Their meetings attract between 60 and 70 attendees and membership is only £5 per annum. Printed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.