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 she may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or discloseable pecuniary interest that she might have in respect of the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2021.

Resolved: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 March be approved and then signed as a correct record by the Executive Member at a later date.

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 committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines have changed to 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at remote meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Tuesday 13 April 2021.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill out an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact the relevant Democracy Officer, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Webcasting of Remote Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this remote public meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The remote public meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we've made some changes to how we're running council meetings. See our coronavirus updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The Executive Member is asked to consider a report that identifies an opportunity to utilise an area of largely unused land between Sturdee Grove and Fossway to support new affordable housing delivery.

Resolved:

i.             That the disposal of the land between Fossway and Sturdee Grove for a sum of £50,000 to Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) for the development of affordable housing, be approved. The disposal be subject to JRHT obtaining planning permission, finalising legal terms (including incorporating agreed environmental standards as an obligation) and delivering a new boundary fence and communal space to the rear of the council flats on Fossway.

ii.            That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to agree the final terms of the legal agreement.

Reason:  To make better use of our assets and support the delivery of much needed new affordable housing in York. 

The Executive Member considered a report that identified an opportunity to utilise an area of largely unused council land between Sturdee Grove and Fossway to support new affordable housing delivery.

The Interim Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety and the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Housing were in attendance to provide an update and answer any questions.

The Interim Assistant Director highlighted the background to the report and confirmed that Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) had offered £50,000 for the council land, subject to securing planning permission and the finalisation of legal terms.

The Executive Member noted that the council land, combined with the land owned by JRHT, would facilitate the development of around eight new homes, five of which would be for social rent and three for shared ownership. A new boundary fence and communal space to the rear would also be retained for the residents of the flats at 21-51 Fossway.

The Interim Assistant Director confirmed he had sought greater clarity from JRHT regarding the environmental standards they were aiming to achieve for the new homes and that following those conversations and advice received from the Council’s legal department, it was proposed that recommendation i), as noted in the report, be amended to capture these standards in the sale agreement.

The Executive Member welcomed the report and the sustainability measures achieved to make the homes more affordable to reside in. She thanked the officer for his update and agreed the amendment to recommendation i).

Resolved:

i)             That the disposal of the land between Fossway and Sturdee Grove for a sum of £50,000 to Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) for the development of affordable housing, be approved. The disposal be subject to JRHT obtaining planning permission, finalising legal terms (including incorporating agreed environmental standards as an obligation) and delivering a new boundary fence and communal space to the rear of the council flats on Fossway.

ii)            That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to agree the final terms of the legal agreement.

Reason:  To make better use of our assets and support the delivery of much needed new affordable housing in York.