Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

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.

(1)     Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)     Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)     Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

·      Annex A to agenda item 14 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 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

·      Appendices I and J to agenda item 15 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 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 27 January 2026.        

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 Executive.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as two 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 Friday, 27 February 2026.      

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.

To receive details of those items that are listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.

To receive a report from the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer presenting the final report and recommendations of the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group, as agreed by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 19 January 2026.

Resolved (unanimously): That Executive endorses the report and recommendations of the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group.

Reason: To contribute to the development of a structured and consistent approach to budget scrutiny.

To receive a joint report from the Corporate Director of Children and Education and the Director of Public Health, which seeks approval for the strategic approach to York’s local Best Start in Life (BSiL) plan, which focuses on early childhood development and reducing inequalities, with the aim of increasing the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) by the end of Reception year.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)   Endorses the strategic Best Start in Life approach, focused on reducing inequalities and improving early childhood outcomes in order to meet the Government’s statutory targets for the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development by age five.

b)   Approves delegated authority to the Executive Member for Children and Education to sign off the final local Best Start in Life plan.

c)    Agrees the ambition to position York as a Centre of Excellence for early childhood development, working with Ebor Multi Academy Trust, the University of York, York St John University, and other partners, including the voluntary and community sector and — where appropriate — private sector investors. This ambition will include a particular focus on the first 1001 days.

Reason: Supports statutory compliance, strengthens system leadership, and enables York to take a more ambitious and evidence driven approach to improving early childhood outcomes.

To receive a report from the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services which seeks to review the domestic recycling service, including how materials are presented at the kerbside. Also, to initiate public engagement and scrutiny to explore the benefits and costs of moving from recycling boxes to recycling wheeled bins for the majority of domestic properties in York.

Resolved (unanimously): That Executive approves the commencement of public engagement around moving from recycling boxes to recycling bins and the emerging business case to be presented to Scrutiny in May 2026.

The scope of properties will be determined by the engagement exercise to inform a business case to be brought to a future Executive meeting.

Reason: To seek ways to improve efficiency of collections, increase recycling capacity, reduce operating costs, decrease musculoskeletal injuries and reduce street litter.

To receive a report from the Director of City Development presenting options in relation to an emerging approach to strategic city centre access and associated measures.

Resolved (unanimously): That Executive notes the work to date, strategic direction, and emerging approach to strategic city centre access and associated measures, and;

a)   Agrees the recommended option of maintaining a wide range of City Centre events, and managing their impacts over the short medium and long term through co-designed improvements to how events are accessed, managed and operated, and how city centre infrastructure operates.

b)   Approves the emerging package of short term measures as set out at paragraph 26 of the report, the further work to refine and develop these through ongoing co-design, and the initial budget allocation of up to £70k to implement identified measures, and to be funded through existing integrated transport block budgets, but with a proposal also being submitted to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Capital Programme 2026-2030, to establish a new dedicated allowance for this work package.

c)    Receives a subsequent paper setting out the outcomes of formal ATTRO consultation and associated actions.

d)   That further work be undertaken to establish the viability of ensuring greater access, rest days and times during the Christmas Market.

Reason: To support the long term economic and social vibrancy of the City Centre, manage the impacts of events over the short, long and medium terms, and anticipate future decisions around the implementation of permanent ATTRO.

To receive a report from the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services outliningthe results of public consultation on proposals to further reduce emissions of PM_2.5 and other pollutants from solid fuel burning through a York wide Smoke Control Area (SCA).

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)            Considered the consultation summary (Annex C to the report) and full comments (Annex D to the report) received in relation to the public consultation on a draft order to expand the SCA to cover the whole of CYC’s administrative area (and associated revocation of historical orders covering the existing area).

b)            Delegates authority to the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Director of Governance, to approve the making of the ‘City of York Council Smoke Control Order (2025)’ (as drafted at Annex F to the report) to come into effect on a date not less than 6 months after the date of making the order (Option A as set out in the report)

Reasons:

A York-wide SCA would:

1)   Provide a mechanism to manage both the burning of the most polluting solid fuels and the appliances in which they are burned across the whole of York, thereby protecting the health of all residents. Burning non-authorised fuels contributes to air pollution and especially PM2.5 across the city which harms public health.

2)   Ensure consistency in CYC’s approach to dealing with smoke emissions across York, including future residential areas.

3)   Ensure clear rules for burning solid fuels (which are currently different depending on the area of York and in some cases even on the same street).

4)   Complement wider air quality improvement measure being implemented by CYC and contribute to national emission reduction targets.

To receive a report from the Director of City Development which seeks consent to appropriate land on a small part of Bootham Stray for highway purposes.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)            Notes that the required consultation process in accordance with Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 for the appropriation of open space to be utilised as highway was carried out and no objections were received.

b)            Approves the appropriation of the land shown shaded orange in Annex 1 for highway purposes.

Reason: To enable the developers of the Cocoa Gardens housing site to provide the required sustainable transport infrastructure to benefit existing highway users and future residents of the development.

To receive a report from the Director of Housing and Communities which seeks authorisation to proceed with delivery of the programme, subject to further Executive approvals being sought at identified key points within the programme.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)            Agrees with progressing the delivery of the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation improvement and expansion programme and associated cost plan to implement the York Local Plan proposals relating to Council-owned sites as set out in its Policy H5; this includes authorisation to use £1.95m from S106 contributions, £0.625m from YNYMCA grant, and up to £2.675m from General Fund long term borrowing.

b)            Agrees to the delivery of the improvement works of the Osbaldwick site access road (Outgang Lane) as a priority and for CYC Highways to prepare the improvements proposals and issue a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to restrict parking as part of the proposed improvements, and (where necessary) to procure a contractor for the works.

c)             Agrees to procure a retrofit services team to produce proposals which improve the energy efficiency of the three Council sites’ 61 utility buildings from EPC E to EPC A-B and to procure a contractor to carry out the works.

d)            Agrees to procure a design team to develop a masterplan for the expansion of the Clifton site and design for the 6 additional pitches with utility buildings, to submit planning application for the site expansion, and to procure a contractor to carry out the works.

e)            With respect to (a) to (d) above, agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to take such steps that are necessary to procure and appoint any contractors for the aforementioned works and/or services, and to determine the provisions of and enter into the resulting contracts (and any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto), in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations set out in Appendices 10 and 10a of the Constitution (the “Finance Regs”), the Contract Procedure Rules set out in Appendix 11 of the Constitution (the “CPRs”) and (where applicable) the Procurement Act 2023 and the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

f)              Notes that a site search as referred to in the Local Plan or ‘Call for Sites’ exercise to be undertaken by Planning in 2026 in collaboration with stakeholders, will identify the location(s) of 17 further pitches to be provided on existing or new Council sites to meet the identified accommodation need.

g)            Notes the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund grant award received from the York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (YNYMCA), to contribute to the retrofit measures to improve the energy efficiency of the three Council sites’ 61 utility buildings from EPC E to EPC A-B, agrees to proceed with entering into a grant agreement to receive funding and agree to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to determine the provisions of and enter into the grant funding agreement, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Finance Regs and the CPRs.

h)            Approves the transfer to capital contingency  ...  view the full decision text for item 13.

To receive a report from the Director of Housing and Communities which seeks support with a proposed delivery route for affordable housing at the Castle Mills site.

(Please note that Annex A is considered exempt from publication for reasons set out in agenda item 3.)

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)            Agrees the preferred delivery route of 100% affordable housing at the Castle Mills site with the procurement of a design team to update the design previously approved by Planning to adapt it to 100% affordable housing, and achieve a refined design to RIBA Stage 3, using the proposed on-cost budget.

b)            Agrees to the submission of a planning application with the refined Castle Mills design.

c)             Agrees to procure a contractor to operate under a Pre-Contract Services Agreement or other type of design-only contract to collaboratively design Castle Mills to RIBA Stage 4 and price the design, to enable an updated full business case to be presented to the Executive for approval.

d)            Recommends to Full Council the creation of the Castle Mills scheme within the HRA capital programme; the wider business case for which will come forward at a later date.

e)            Recommends to full Council approval of a budget of £2.377m funded from HRA borrowing, to develop the proposals through RIBA stages 3 and 4 as described in a), b) and c) above.

f)              Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to take such steps that are necessary to procure and appoint such the contractors, and to determine the provisions of and enter into the resulting contracts described in a) and c) above (and any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto), in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations set out in Appendices 10 and 10a of the Constitution (the “Finance Regs”), the Contract Procedure Rules set out in Appendix 11 of the Constitution (the “CPRs”) and (where applicable) the Procurement Act 2023 (the “Procurement Act”) and the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “PCRs”).

g)            Agrees to the preparation and submission of applications to Homes England for funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) to deliver the affordable homes at Castle Mills, and (provided that the application to Homes England is successful) to receive funding and agree to proceed with entering into a grant agreement with Homes England.

h)            Notes the Brownfield Fund grant awards received from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) for the development of affordable housing at Castle Mills, Former Manor School and 68 Centre sites and agree to proceed with entering into grant agreements to receive funding.

i)              Notes that a Brownfield Land Release Fund grant application to the One Public Estate (OPE) has been submitted to contribute to funding of the Willow House project delivery including the necessary enabling works; and pending the grant award, agree to proceed with entering into a grant agreement to receive funding.

j)              Further to g), h) and i) above, agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to determine the provisions of and enter into any resulting grant funding agreements with Homes England and YNYCA, and the provisions  ...  view the full decision text for item 14.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance presenting an Asset Management Strategy covering the period 2026-2031, to benefit both social outcomes and financial performance, arising from the council’s land and property assets.

(Please note that Appendices I and J are considered exempt from publication for reasons set out in agenda item 3.)

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)            Notes:

i)              The performance of the council’s property estate and the annual revenue it provides.

ii)             The performance against the specific workflows, including disposals, as previously set out in the previous Strategy and the re-shaping of the operational estate at West Offices to provide additional annual revenue.

iii)           The performance and role the estate has played in helping to reduce the council’s carbon footprint.

b)            Agrees the principles of the Strategy which will form the Corporate Asset Strategy for the next 5 years, 2026-2031.

c)             Agrees to:

i)              The sale of 25/27 Coney Street and lease back of part on a 999-year lease.

ii)             The grant of a lease renewal at 17-21 Piccadilly.

iii)           Lease the various City Council owned allotments, as detailed within the report to York Allotment Charitable Incorporated Organisation (YACIO) for 35 years at a peppercorn rental.

iv)           Lease Bustardthorpe Allotments, Bishopthorpe Road, to Bustardthorpe Allotment Association for 35 years at a peppercorn rental.

v)             Lease the store and outdoor space in Rowntree Park maintenance depot to York Canoe Club for 15 years at a peppercorn rental.

vi)           Lease the garage in Rowntree Park to the Friends of Rowntree Park for 15 years at a peppercorn rental.

vii)         Lease of the Rowntree Park Lodge Garden to the Friends of Rowntree Park for 99 years at a peppercorn rental subject to the Friends meeting the requirement of original lease for the upper floors.

viii)        Lease the land at York Road, Strensall to Strensall and Towthorpe Parish Council for 70 years at a peppercorn rental.

ix)           Lease the land in Hull Road Park to Choose 2 Youth for 10 years at a peppercorn rental,

all on the terms and conditions outlined in the report.

d)            Delegates to the Director of Finance (in consultation with the Director of Governance) authority:

i)              To take such steps as are necessary to agree and complete the above transactions as detailed in this report; and

ii)             To acquire and dispose of all interests in land for all future acquisitions and disposals.

Reasons 

a)   To ensure work continues to accord with the clear principles as set out under the Asset Management Strategy, which will continue to guide and shape future use of the council’s property portfolio.

b)   To continue to support the ongoing economic vibrancy of the city, to protect and increase the income from the council’s commercial property portfolio.

c)    To dispose of surplus property with an emphasis on providing affordable accommodation within the city; reduce the council’s financial obligations and encourage regeneration and community involvement through the use of its assets.

Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.