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.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare if he had any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests not included on the Register of Interests that he might have in respect of business on the agenda. He did not declare any interests.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 22 July 2016.

Resolved:      That the minutes of the decision session held on 22 July 2016 be approved and then signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is Thursday 22 September 2016 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on :-

·        an item on the agenda

·        an issue within the Executive Member’s remit;

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

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 Officer (whose 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:

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. However the Executive Member reported that he had received a written submission from Councillor Reid on behalf of all three Ward Councillors for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe which he read out.

The submission stated that all the Councillors were very supportive of this proposal and advised that the reinvigorated Friends Group were now managing the pond well, had addressed some long standing issues and it had now become a very pleasant place to visit and spend time at and it looked well cared for. This had helped to discourage some of the anti social behaviour and vandalism that had happened in the past. Councillor Reid expressed the view that granting the lease would help the Group pursue its programme to improve the area and manage the fishing more effectively. Representatives of the Friends Group attended Ward Team meetings, were part of the community and were very supportive of other community groups and she urged the Executive Member to grant the lease.

The Executive Member is asked to consider a report which proposes transferring the management of the Chapman’s Pond site to the Friends of Chapman’s Pond on a trial basis to improve the long-term care of the site.

Resolved:  That it be agreed to grant the Friends of Chapman’s Pond a three year lease to manage the site.

Reason:     To ensure that site continues to improve as a desirable place for recreation and its management remains sustainable.

The Executive Member considered a report which proposed transferring the management of the Chapman’s Pond site to the Friends of Chapman’s Pond on a trial basis to improve the long-term care of the site.

The Operations Manager- Public Realm, informed the Executive Member that the site had two principal uses: as a general recreation and dog walking area; and as a fishing pond. The community had been divided among those two interests and in the past had not really cooperated with each other as much as they could have done. There was as core group of anglers who fished to a high standard but unfortunately  there was a small number who had had caused some anti social behaviour in the past including late night use, noise and occasional bonfires. He explained that over the last couple of years, officers had worked with both the Friends of Chapman’s Pond and the anglers to bring them closer together and more recently an angling bailiff service had been created to oversee the fishing including when people fished and how they were fishing.

He stated that in order to move forward and recognise the work of both groups, they were recommending that a lease be offered to the Friends of Chapman’s Pond for three years on a trial basis  and to allow a small income to be generated from fishing which would be  put back into the care of the site. He explained that charging for fishing would bring it in line with two other council ponds which were also managed by the community, nearby Mayfields on Tadcaster Road and Rawcliffe Lake.

The Executive Member acknowledged that a change in financial resources and raised interest from local communities had lead to increased involvement and commitment from local communities in taking charge of council sites in their areas. He commended the work of officers in bringing the two groups together, and the work of the fishermen and Friends of Chapman’s Pond and the assistance of Ward Councillors.

Resolved:  That the Friends of Chapman’s Pond be granted a three year lease to manage the site.

Reason:     To ensure that site continues to improve as a desirable place for recreation and its management remains sustainable.