Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 3 March 2017. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts  or,if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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

To consider the decisions made by the Executive at a meeting held on 26 January 2017 in relation to the above item, which has been called in by Councillors Flinders, Craghill, Hayes and Warters in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Calling-In) in relation to the call-in, together with the original report and the decisions of the Executive.

Members considered a report which set out the reasons for the call-in and the role of the Committee, together with options available to it under the agreed post-decision call-in arrangements. A briefing note giving further background on the legalities relating to the land disposal associated with the construction of a new visitor centre at Clifford’s Tower, was tabled at the meeting, for Members’ information.

In accordance with those arrangements, four Members (Councillors Flinders, Craghill, Hayes and Warters) had called in the above Executive decision for the following reasons:

·        This land will be used as the site for the proposed English Heritage Clifford's Tower visitor centre to be built into the motte.

·        We believe the decision to sell the land needs further scrutiny.

·        There has been a very high level of public opposition to the Clifford's Tower visitor centre. In particular there have been major concerns about the site itself, as evidenced by the 3780 signatories to a petition protesting this proposal and the choice of site in the motte.

·        This petition was presented at the last Full Council Meeting in December and York MP Rachel Maskell presented a copy of the same petition at the English Heritage head office in London.

·        There have been public demonstrations with over 100 people attending, along with extensive media coverage.

·        There has also been considerable opposition from heritage organisations, evidenced by all of the six main amenity groups objecting during the planning process.

·        Additionally, the planning process itself is subject to a Judicial Review in the High Court. This decision is regarded by City of York Council and English Heritage to be of regional or national significance and will be heard by a senior Judge.

·        The English Heritage consultation prior to planning was essentially only a one day event held in a hotel with approximately 150 people attending both. There were some features in the local press and radio about these events with photographs of the plans. The consultation in our view was not widespread considering the importance of Clifford's Tower to York. Following the consultation there were a large number (80) of comment letters / feedback forms. This feedback has only recently come to light, since the planning decision was made. Of the 80 forms the majority had very strong objections to the siting of the visitor centre within the motte. The response to this feedback had very little impact on the design of the building and did not alter the siting in the motte.

·        The fact that only a small number of planning objections were made in no way reflects levels of public concern. It is as a result of the widespread concerns about the site itself (that belongs to City of York Council) that we would like the decision calling in for scrutiny.

·        The Castle Gateway Report offers a long awaited, comprehensive redevelopment proposal for the whole area surrounding Clifford's Tower and any piecemeal land disposal/land redevelopment has the potential to compromise the connectivity of these proposals.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.