Agenda item

This report considers the potential sale of the Union Terrace Car and Coach park site to the York St John University (YSJU) in order to enable development of the site to deliver new facilities and additional space as part of the implementation of YSJU’s business expansion strategy.

Please note:

This agenda was re-published on 2 August 2011 to include an additional annex to the above report (Annex 7).  The annex is in the form of a report presenting an update and revised recommendations to Cabinet on the potential sale of the Union Terrace Car and Coach park site.  These recommendations include asking Members to consider approving consultation on five development options, all of which involve the retention of coach parking on the site.

RESOLVED: (i)         That consultation be undertaken with the City’s residents, businesses and organisations on selling part of the Union Terrace Car and Coach Park site and on the five development options, all of which involve the retention of coach parking on the site.

                        (ii)        That York St John University establish a retail / business forum and further examine how local communities and companies could benefit from the expansion plans.

REASON:      To provide an opportunity for public consultation on the potential sale of the site and on different options for retaining coach parking on Union Terrace, and to develop the Council’s approach to targeted recruitment and training.

Members received a report which presented proposals to sell the Union Terrace Car and Coach Park site (the Site) to York St John University (YSJU), to allow the Site to be developed as part of the implementation of YSJU’s business expansion strategy.

An additional annex to the report (Annex 7), containing an update on the proposals and revised recommendations, had been published with the agenda on 2 August 2011.  It was these recommendations that Members discussed and considered, in the context of the information provided in the original report.  They had been developed following meetings with local businesses, the coach industry and campaigners objecting to the sale, which had highlighted the importance of coach parking and tourism to the City’s economy.  YSJU had confirmed, during subsequent discussions, that a smaller land take from the Union Terrace site would enable their expansion plans to continue whilst retaining space for parking on the site.  The recommendation now was that consultation be carried out over a six week period on five options, retaining between 20 and 34 coach spaces on Union Terrace, together with accessible parking provision, and ensuring no overall loss of coach parking in the City.  Details were attached at Annexes 7A-7E.

Having taken into account the comments made on this item under Public Participation / Other Speakers, together with the contents of the petition presented at the meeting of Full Council prior to the Cabinet meeting, and the comments and debate at Council on the petition and the notice of motion, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That consultation be undertaken with the City’s residents, businesses and organisations on selling part of the Union Terrace Car and Coach Park site and on the five development options, all of which involve the retention of coach parking on the site.¹

                        (ii)        That York St John University establish a retail / business forum and further examine how local communities and companies could benefit from the expansion plans.²

REASON:      To provide an opportunity for public consultation on the potential sale of the site and on different options for retaining coach parking on Union Terrace, and to develop the Council’s approach to targeted recruitment and training.