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.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2019.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 5 February 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Executive Member.

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 Thursday 22 March 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 Officers 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 no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This cover report presents the Executive Member with the Final Report of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee’s scrutiny review into the Economic Health of York City Centre. It asks the Executive Member to consider the recommendations arising from the review. In considering the recommendations the Executive Member is asked to take into account the comments of the Head of Economic Growth set out in paragraphs 10-17 in the report.

Resolved: That the Council;

i.        Agrees a grant of £10,000 to the business sector, delegated to the Head of Economic Growth to decide and administer the grant;

ii.       Considers making a bid to the £675 million Future High Streets Fund to secure funding to help York respond and adapt to changes facing city centres.

iii.     Prepares a long-term strategy to make its high streets and the city centre fit for the future, taking into account relevant aspects of the Grimsey report and the view of all key stakeholders.

iv.     Develops an easy but comprehensive and consistent guide to help businesses access relevant information around Council policies effecting businesses, such as planning and licensing issues and alike.

v.      Examines ways of extending the city’s traditional festivals venue in Parliament Street to open up other areas to visitors, particularly across the river into Micklegate, and reduce pedestrian congestion in parts of the city centre at peak hours.

vi.     Works with Indie York and traders to develop a city-wide loyalty scheme to make it easier for businesses to reward customers with an attractive discount offer for shopping locally while encouraging business growth and customer retention across a city-wide customer engagement platform.

vii.   Incentivises ways to further encourage more people to use Park and Ride and work with bus operators to extend the operating hours of Park and Ride to help reduce vehicle congestion in the city.

viii.  Notes the suggestion of an option to seek to make provision in the 2020/21 revenue budget for a grant fund to support independent traders groups, such as Indie York and others. 

Reason:     To promote the economic health of the city centre.

The Executive Member considered the Final Report of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee’s scrutiny review into the Economic Health of York City Centre. Cllr Pavlovic (Chair of Economy & Place Scrutiny Committee) explained the background, thanking the Head of Economic Growth and his team for their input into the review. Cllr Pavlovic then outlined the conclusions and recommendations arising from the review. In response to a question from the Executive Member, the Head of Economic Growth provided clarification on the grant to Indie York.

Following consideration of the recommendations, the Executive Member:

Resolved: That the Council;

i.        Agrees a grant of £10,000 to the business sector, delegated to the Head of Economic Growth to decide and administer the grant;

ii.       Considers making a bid to the £675 million Future High Streets Fund to secure funding to help York respond and adapt to changes facing city centres.

iii.     Prepares a long-term strategy to make its high streets and the city centre fit for the future, taking into account relevant aspects of the Grimsey report and the view of all key stakeholders.

iv.     Develops an easy but comprehensive and consistent guide to help businesses access relevant information around Council policies effecting businesses, such as planning and licensing issues and alike.

v.      Examines ways of extending the city’s traditional festivals venue in Parliament Street to open up other areas to visitors, particularly across the river into Micklegate, and reduce pedestrian congestion in parts of the city centre at peak hours.

vi.     Works with Indie York and traders to develop a city-wide loyalty scheme to make it easier for businesses to reward customers with an attractive discount offer for shopping locally while encouraging business growth and customer retention across a city-wide customer engagement platform.

vii.   Incentivises ways to further encourage more people to use Park and Ride and work with bus operators to extend the operating hours of Park and Ride to help reduce vehicle congestion in the city.

viii.  Notes the suggestion of an option to seek to make provision in the 2020/21 revenue budget for a grant fund to support independent traders groups, such as Indie York and others. 

Reason:     To promote the economic health of the city centre.

This report informs the Executive Member of the progress that has been made in delivering the York Economic Strategy 2016-20. It also provides an update on the preparation of a draft York Economic Strategy 2020-24.  

Resolved:  That;

                                     i.        the progress that has been made in delivering the York Economic Strategy 2016-20 be noted.

                                    ii.        the Head of Economic Growth be instructed to bring forward proposals for a revised York Economic Strategy 2020-2024 as an early priority for the next Administration.

Reason:     To support economic growth in York.

The Executive Member considered a report on the progress that has been made in delivering the York Economic Strategy 2016-20. It also provides an update on the preparation of a draft York Economic Strategy 2020-24. The Head of Economic Growth presented the update. It was:

Resolved:  That;

                                     i.        the progress that has been made in delivering the York Economic Strategy 2016-20 be noted.

                                    ii.        the Head of Economic Growth be instructed to bring forward proposals for a revised York Economic Strategy 2020-2024 as an early priority for the next Administration.

Reason:     To support economic growth in York.

The Executive Member is asked to note that an Expression of Interest has been submitted to the Future High Street Fund, a central government funding opportunity to tackle the challenges facing town and city centres. The Expression of Interest does not commit the council to proceeding with a full bid or to any funding as successful applicants will be invited to submit a full business case at a later date. This is an information only paper and requires no decision.

Resolved : That the Expression of Interest submission to the Future High Streets Fund be noted.

Reason:     In order to be updated on the progress of the submission to the Future High Streets Fund.

Executive Member considered an update on the submission of an Expression of Interest to the Future High Street Fund, a central government funding opportunity to tackle the challenges facing town and city centres. The Expression of Interest did not commit the council to proceeding with a full bid or to any funding as successful applicants would be invited to submit a full business case at a later date. The Head of Economic Growth outlined the update and clarified the different rounds of bidding for the fund. It was:

Resolved : That the Expression of Interest submission to the Future High Streets Fund be noted.

Reason:     In order to be updated on the progress of the submission to the Future High Streets Fund.