Agenda item

This report updates Members with regard to the consultation carried out on the City Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options Report (from 28 July to 22 September 2008).  Members are asked to note the comments received via the consultation process and support their consideration, alongside emerging evidence-based documents and the findings of the sustainability appraisal in informing the production of a City Centre Area Action Plan Preferred Options report.  Members are also asked to note and comment on the next steps in preparing the Preferred Options document for presentation to Members later in 2009.

[Annex A, attached to the report, provides a summary of the City Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options report, and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal].

[Annexes B to E, detailed under item 6 of the report, are available online via the Council’s website at www.york.gov.uk and via the electronic link to the agenda].

Members considered a report, which updated them on the consultations carried out on the City Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options Report (28 July to 22 September 2008).  Members were asked to note and comment on the findings of the report and note and comment on the next steps in preparing the Preferred Options document for presentation to Members later in 2009.

The Principal City Development Officer introduced the report and described where this fitted into the wider Local Development Framework. He reported that this document, which had been put out for public comment, had received a broad and interesting range of views, thoughts and concerns. It was noted that the next report would go to the LDF Working Group in March/April 2009.

City Centre Area Action Plan – Key points

Officers provided details of the key points arising from the July to September 2008 Consultation. These included: what had been done and what responses had been received; the positive outcomes from the consultation and general headlines; and the key concerns and ideas raised, including decisions that would need to be made in the next few months.

Members then raised various points and concerns to which Officers responded:

• The consultation workshops. That it had been made clear, to those involved in the consultation process, what could and could not be influenced.
• That at the next stage, difficult and controversial decisions would need to be made, but that Members, the City Council and partners would be involved in the decision making process.
• That the boundaries referred to in paragraph 18 of the report, included one for the Central Historic Core and two others for the Draft Local Plan City Centre Inset boundary and the City Walls boundary. Some had suggested a combination of the maximum boundaries as a combination of all three boundaries.
• That the question of a third city centre swimming pool would be noted.
• The issue of whether retail outlets should be allowed in the Castle and Piccadilly areas. The Retail Study had argued in favour of this, but there were other views against this.  However, it was noted that this was an issue for the longer-term future of the city and that views on this issue might have changed.
• That the process might have been too focussed on specific sites and issues rather than a broader strategy over 20 years. Reference was made to the Timms Report of one year ago, but it was noted that the world economic situation had since changed. Officers replied that the study had sufficient capacity, even with the most conservative assumptions and that the Retail Study was a 20-year study.
• It appeared that mixed messages had been received about Housing referred to on page 20 of the report. Officers confirmed that housing target priorities were the elderly and young people.

Next Stages – Preferred Options

Officers then presented the Next Stages - Preferred Options, which outlined how the comments would be used to inform further studies in the city centre, the evidence bases and other strategies and plans, and the timetable. It was stated that a report would be presented to the LDF Working Group in March/April 2009 with options and justifications, and that the timetable would avoid the summer holiday period.

At this point Members raised various comments and concerns, which were addressed by Officers.  These included:

• That there were opposing views about some of the options and these would be assessed and brought to the next meeting with the preferred options outlined.
• It was agreed that work would be done to obtain a better response and that evidence-based studies would look at scenarios, especially with regard to transport etc.
• It was acknowledged that informal dialogue was important and very healthy.
• Once decisions were made, they would be justified with background information provided.
• That views were being considered about setting up a City Centre Steering Group and working in partnership with York Civic Trust and English Heritage to gain their input/sign-up to the next stages, and at the same time raise the profile of the Area Action Plan aims and objectives.
• That it was important to have a shared and agreed vision for York.

Preferred Options Plan

Officers then outlined a suggested approach towards a Preferred Options Plan, which would need to be accessible, of high quality, sound and robust. Officers stated that the plan would include three documents: A Preferred Options Justification Document, with a summary of issues and options, reasons for selection and rejection of options, as well as details of evidence bases and implementation; the Preferred Options Policy Framework Document, with visions, objectives and thematic policies; and a Spatial Masterplan, which would be a visual document showing the action areas and proposals being suggested.

In response to questions raised by Members, Officers responded that: 

• Officers would also provide a short summary of the three documents.
• City centre living and issues of access were acknowledged as important.
• Transport merited a section on its own.
• Cross-referencing with other documents was important.
• Wider ownership and partnership was important and that each key proposal would have identified partner organisations, with outlined costs and the delivery plan.
• The deliverability of proposals would be tested.

RESOLVED:

(i)                 That the comments received from consultees in response to the City Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options report consultation be noted and their consideration supported, alongside emerging evidence based documents and the findings of sustainability statement in informing the production of a City Centre Area Action Plan Preferred Options report and, where relevant, other emerging LDF documents.

(ii)               That Members’ comments on the City Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options Report – Consultation Summary be taken into account. [Amended at meeting on 3 March 2009]

(iii)             That the next steps and initial thoughts on preparing the preferred options document detailed in the report, and Members comments on this approach, be noted.

REASON:                  To ensure that the LDF City Centre Area Action Plan can be progressed to its next stage of development as highlighted in the Council’s Local Development Scheme.