Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is 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.

The Executive Member was asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that he might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 6 September 2019. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Member’s remit.

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 that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including 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 Officers (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

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been five registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. All of the speakers had registered to speak on Agenda Item 4 [Making York Central Work for the Local Economy].

Sean Bullick (Make it York – MiY) noted that it was difficult to overstate the importance of York Central. He highlighted that York Central was an opportunity to improve prosperity for people in York and there was a risk in getting it wrong. He advised that MiY were supportive of the principles set out for York Central and would work with partners on this.

Dave Merrett (York Environment Forum Transport Group) requested that the new administration commit to a further report on York Central at a future Decision Session to address the motion that had been made at Full Council.  He welcomed the dialogue with elected Members and he noted that the York Environment Forum, along with York Civic Trust and York Bus Forum felt that there were aspects of York Central that still needed to be addressed.

Richard Clark spoke as a member of York Central Action and as a resident of Micklegate Ward. He noted that the council was the only body with responsibility for the health and economy of York Central. He advised that he had expressed concerns 18 months ago, which had still not been addressed. He asked a number of questions in relation to the economic strategy for York Central and he asked that the report on it be deferred.

Cllr Kilbane (Micklegate Ward Councillor) welcomed the report, in particular the reference to permitted development rights. He expressed that he would have liked to have seen more information on the economic impact of York Central on the current city centre. He expressed disappointment on the lack of detail on sustainability in the report and asked for more information on green jobs, connectivity, the displacement of jobs and the need for there to be more business space at York Central.

Cllr K Taylor (Holgate Ward Councillor), welcomed the report. No evidence of scenario testing to back up to the brief to the developers of York Central. He supported recommendation B and suggested that recommendation A be put on hold until an economic appraisal had been undertaken. He further suggested that it would be good to see how the site would be marketed and added that there was a lack of information on community provision for which there would a shortage of in the Holgate Ward.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 14 August 2019.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 14 August 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Executive Member.

This report sets out a brief to the master developers of the York Central site on the aspirations of the Council as a key York Central partner, identifying some basic principles on what it hopes will be achieved in terms of the mix of business space, the range of occupiers who will bring their businesses to York and the environmental characteristics that the city needs.

Resolved: That;

a)   The Brief to the Master Developers be endorsed and that officers and Members seek to influence the Council’s partners to seek the realisation of this vision through the careful choice of investors, developers and occupiers for the York Central site and the demonstration of benefit to all residents with a wide range of employment including social enterprises and small businesses.

b)   The Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Government to seek exemption for York from permitted development rights for the conversion of offices to housing and hotel uses.

c)   Reports on the future Industrial Strategy, Reserved Matters process and Sustainability be provided to the Executive Member.

Reason:     To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in York.

The Executive Member considered a report that set a brief to the master developers of the York Central site on the aspirations of the Council as a key York Central partner. The brief identified some basic principles on what the council hoped would be achieved in terms of the mix of business space, the range of occupiers who will bring their businesses to York and the environmental characteristics that the city needs.

The Head of Economic Growth was in attendance to present the report and he gave an overview of the report. The Assistant Director for Planning and Public Protection noted that the Reserved Matters planning applications would bring forward the details of York Central and this would include more detail on sustainability.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, the Planning and Public Protection confirmed that:

·        Although there no Reserved Matters applications had been made, work had begun on Reserved Matters applications in relation to infrastructure.

·        There was scope in the Local Plan for office accommodation.

·        There had been a report to government about the removal of permitted development rights.

·        There had been 6500 affordable housing completions.

The Executive Member welcomed the report and acknowledged the concerns raised by speakers. He noted that community use would be considered as part of the Reserved Matters applications. He reinforced that York Central needed to be for the benefit of all residents and noted he would continue to press for the demonstration of this suggesting that there needed to be a review on the impact of York Central on other parts of the city. He noted that the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were developing local industrial strategies and there would be consultation on the York LEP strategy. The Head of Economic Growth confirmed that a report on the LEP strategy would be brought to a future Decision Session.

Resolved: That;

a)   The Brief to the Master Developers be endorsed and that officers and Members seek to influence the Council’s partners to seek the realisation of this vision through the careful choice of investors, developers and occupiers for the York Central site and the demonstration of benefit to all residents with a wide range of employment including social enterprises and small businesses.

b)   The Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Government to seek exemption for York from permitted development rights for the conversion of offices to housing and hotel uses.

c)   Reports on the future Industrial Strategy, Reserved Matters process and Sustainability be provided to the Executive Member.

Reason:     To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in York.

This report presents proposals to publish the updated Planning Enforcement Register online to enable easier public access to the information that it contains.

Resolved: That;

a)   The publication of the Planning Enforcement Register online be approved

b)   A six month update on the working of the online Planning Enforcement Register and outstanding enforcement cases be reported to the Executive Member

Reason:     To ensure that the Local Planning complies with its duty under section 188 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and article 43 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure (England) order 2015)

The Executive Member considered a report that presented proposals to publish the updated Planning Enforcement Register online to enable easier public access to the information that it contains.

The Head of Development Services was in attendance to present the report. She outlined the proposals publish the updated register. The Executive Member noted that he had received no objections to the proposals. It was explained how the register would be updated and confirmed that the six month update on the working of the online register and outstanding enforcement cases would be reported to the Executive Member.

Resolved: That;

a)   The publication of the Planning Enforcement Register online be approved

b)   A six month update on the working of the online Planning Enforcement Register and outstanding enforcement cases be reported to the Executive Member

Reason:     To ensure that the Local Planning complies with its duty under section 188 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and article 43 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure (England) order 2015).