Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Leader of the Council welcomed everyone in attendance to the May Executive meeting. Members and Officers were invited to introduce themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor Ayre, Opposition Group Leader. 

Councillor Widdowson, Opposition Deputy Group Leader, substituted for Councillor Ayre.

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.

Councillor Douglas declared a pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact, in her capacity as a Director of Make it York Limited. She left the meeting during the consideration of this item and did not vote.

Councillor Widdowson declared an interest in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact, in her capacity as a Board Member of Make it York Limited. On the basis that she was a non-voting attendee at Executive, she remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion.

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, 8 May 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.

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

Louise Harris-Collins spoke remotely in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact. Louise emphasised that every trading day was critical to her business. That closing on a Tuesday represented a loss of five full days of trading, effectively removing an entire week's worth of revenue. That for businesses of a similar scale and a very difficult industry, this was not a minor inconvenience. It would have a significant financial impact. It was pointed out that whilst footfall may be lower midweek, Tuesday customers were often local residents, nearby office workers, and visitors on shorter breaks. A loyal audience who chose to visit on quieter days. Removing this option would not redistribute those customers to other days.

Flick Williams spoke remotely in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact. Flick stated that disabled people were not a homogeneous mass with either the same impairments or the same level of access need. Businesses who said that disabled people needed to suck it up in response to being totally excluded for six weeks of the year should examine their own access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, and understanding of the Equality Act.

Diane Roworth spoke remotely in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact. Diane spoke as a disabled person and Chair of York Access Forum, in favour of the recommendation for a resident's rest day during this year’s Christmas Market. This was because City of York Council had strategies and responsibilities to uphold that were outlined in the report. The city centre must be a place for all residents, which included older and disabled people. A resident's rest day meant that people currently excluded from the city centre for the entire period of the Christmas Market would have a choice that they do not currently have to come into York for one day a week.

Simon Long spoke in relation to agenda item 6, York Christmas Market Operating Hours and Economic Impact. Simon was the owner of Shambles Kitchen, a proud York resident and one of the longest serving traders on the Christmas market. He was representing not just himself, but 30 permanent staff who relied on him for their income. He stated that he could not afford to lose a day’s trade knowing the impact on payroll for event staff long after the market had closed. That the Christmas Market had changed a lot over the years. Closing time used to be 9.00pm at the weekend. It had been reduced to 7.00pm in 2024 and very few people were aware of this. Visitors had driven miles to spend the night at the Christmas Market in York, only to find out it was closed. There was concern how people across the country were to be pre-warned not to come to York on specific days if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 231.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 14 April 2026.         

Resolved: That the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 14

April 2026 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct

record.

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

Members received and noted details of items that were on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings at the time of agenda publication.

To receive a report from the Director of City Development setting out a strategic approach to events and accessibility of the city centre. It follows further discussions with North Yorkshire Police and Counter Terrorism Security Advisors since the April Executive meeting. The options and recommendations have been reviewed and refined.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

i)              Approves on a trial basis for 2026, to progress a 6-

day Christmas Market, with 10.30am to 7pm market

operation on the operational days, and on the basis of the

evidence presented, to select Tuesday as the rest day, and

as part of this, on the rest day, to restrict Blue Badge access

to the Goodramgate access loop only, with additional

temporary Hostile Vehicle Measures to protect Church

Street, Low Petergate and King’s Square from vehicles;

ii)             Receives a further report early in 2027 containing detailed

analysis of the impacts and outcome of this trial;

iii)            Establishes an interface group between the Council and

other necessary parties to ensure effective joint planning,

risk assessment and mitigation, such group to include the

Council’s Chief Executive, Director of Governance, Director

of City Development and other officers as appropriate in

order that such group will undertake an ongoing process of

dynamic risk assessment to prepare for, and assess, any

serious risks which may emerge, and which could impact on

the proposed arrangements for any of the days; and

iv)           That the additional costs of temporary HVM set out at i)

above be met from existing budgets.

Reason: To allow the trialling of an approach to providing

improvements for residents, visitors and disabled people in

accessing the City Centre through reduced operating hours, and in

a way which is deliverable operationally, considers the safety and

security of the city centre area, and minimises economic impacts

to the city.

Councillor Douglas left the meeting during the consideration of this item. Councillor Kilbane took the Chair. (Minute no. 230 refers)

The Director of City Development submitted a report which set out a strategic approach to events and accessibility of the city centre. It followed further discussions with North Yorkshire Police and Counter Terrorism Security Advisors since the April Executive meeting. The options and recommendations had been reviewed and refined.

The following annexes were attached to the report:

-       Annex A: Human Rights Equality Assessment (HREAT)

-       Annex B: Previous Legal Advice.

The following officers were in attendance for this item:

-       Richard Webb, Chief Executive

-       Bryn Roberts, Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer

-       Garry Taylor, Director of City Development

-       Ben Murphy, Head of City Development.

The Director of City Development advised that the report presented an option which proposed that each Tuesday be allocated as the rest day for the whole six-week period of the Christmas Market.  Tuesday was considered the least impactful day. It did not interfere with the weekend overnight stay economy and it presented the lowest risk since the city centre was not operating at its full capacity. The approach was to be managed through a dynamic risk appraisal. It involved working with key partners reviewing local and national security threats. It was reported that economic scenarios suggested a potential drop of between 1.87% and 5.62% in terms of income spent on the Christmas Market during the six-week period. That could range between £2.6m and £7m. The final figure was unknown given that the Christmas Market had not previously operated in this way.

The Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer reported that since the April Executive meeting there had been number of vehicle as weapon attacks in the UK and across Europe. Consequently, the UK government had raised the national threat level from substantial to severe, which suggested an attack was highly likely. It was noted that Executive should be conscious of these factors when making a decision. In response to a query raised at the April Executive meeting, it was advised that the risk of a prosecution for corporate manslaughter or manslaughter by negligence was judged to be extremely low bordering on non-existent. That the Council had taken all reasonable steps and had sought professional advice as appropriate. It was advised that ultimately, in any vehicle as weapon attack, responsibility lay with the individual carrying out the attack, not the Council.

The Chief Executive reported that there had been further consideration of the issues. That it had been a difficult balance between different legislative and other council responsibilities in terms of the community, businesses and public safety. There was to be a regular assessment of the risk situation which meant that on any of the seven days if there was new information or intelligence that posed a risk to the public then a different decision may be required. There was also to be a joint group in the Place Directorate, which the Director  ...  view the full minutes text for item 234.

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

There were no urgent items of business to consider.