Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members]

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

None were declared.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of Annex G to the Update on the Housing Delivery Programme and the Disposal of Surplus Sites report, on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). This information is classed as exempt under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved:             That the press and public be excluded from the meeting should the exempt Annexe G to the Update on the Housing Delivery Programme and the Disposal of Surplus Sites report be considered, on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) which is classed as exempt under Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 03 June 2024.

Resolved:             That the minutes of the last meeting held on 3 June 2024 be approved as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines have changed to 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Thursday 8 August 2024. 

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we've made some changes to how we're running council meetings. See our coronavirus updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The registered speaker was unable to attend the meeting, their comments had been passed to the relevant officer by the Chair.

This report outlines the reasons for the call-in of the decision made by the Executive on 18 July 2024, in respect of the Update on the Housing Delivery Programme and the Disposal of Surplus Sites. The report also sets out the powers and role of the Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling-In) in dealing with the call-in.

Members considered a report which set out the reasons for the call-in of the decisions made by the Executive on 18 July 2024 in respect of the above matter, along with the committee’s remit and powers in relation to the call-in.

The decisions were contained in the extract from the relevant Decision Sheet at Appendix 1 to the report.  The original report and associated annexes B and G were attached at Appendix 2.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Ayre, Smalley and Knight for the following reasons:

·       Policy Framework - Council Plan Priority e) Housing: Increasing the supply of affordable housing. Paper involves market sale of affordable homes, ie 28 and 45/47 Shambles, reducing both the number and distribution of affordable homes.

Council Plan Priority e) Action 3a) Improve the sustainability and condition of current housing and commercial premises: Review the council’s Housing Asset Management Programme to improve the quality of current social housing and to accelerate progress towards our net zero commitment. Paper recommends disposing of current social housing, ie 28 and 45/47 Shambles, rather than retrofitting.

·       4a. All alternatives and views of public

• 2020 Housing delivery update outlined a council-led Castle Mills scheme generating £8.4m surplus into council funds, 106 new homes including 20 affordable homes.

• 2023 development appraisals raised six options for Castle Mills with a potential variation in income to the council of up to £5m. Executive papers did not provide independent updates on these valuations. The confidential annex included provided no evidence at all of value of any of the parcels of CYC land.

• Views of public. Local residents, health providers and the voluntary sector have not been consulted on sale of 22 The Avenue. Evidence of significant public interest in this site following call in of previous decision by three existing elected members - Cllr Myers, Cllr Pavlovic and Cllr Wells

i. 22, The Avenue is a public asset and should be used to help address the city’s housing affordability crisis, through its transfer to the council’s Housing Revenue Account;

ii. The Executive’s decision ignores the opportunity to help to reduce the city’s existing housing waiting list;

iii. Options should be provided to the Executive as to how 22, The Avenue could be re-developed for housing by the Council and put to beneficial use, rather than being sold off to the private sector to profit from a public asset.

Given the time elapsed and change in council plan policy framework detailed options and alternatives should have been considered and public consulted or given the opportunity to comment. No evidence has been provided why council plan policy has been applied to some sites yet others it has not.

·     4c. Take account of all matters

• No business case provided for decisions relating to the sale of any of the following assets including options for delivering affordable housing;

22 The Avenue

28 & 45/47 Shambles

Castle Mills

·     4d. Act wholly in the interests of the public

Council budget consultation states “The council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.