Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to confirm the future management arrangements for the land at Mayfield Grove York – allocated as Public Open Space in a s106 agreement dated June 1997.

RESOVED:                  That the Cabinet Member approved Option 4 and awarded management of the site on a split basis where the site is divided by Nelsons Lane into 2 areas - the southern area, including the pond and the northern area including the meadow. An initial award, on a short term licence (18-24 months), with a need for appropriate performance monitoring.

REASON:                     Option 4  will enable each organisation (YNET and Mayfields Community Trust) to manage areas of interest and promote different activities to the local community and will explore the possibility of a joint working approach.

Consideration was given to a report which confirmed the arrangements for the land at Mayfield Grove, York which was allocated as Public Open Space in a Section 106 Agreement (s106) dated June 1997.

Annexes 1 to 4 attached to the report outlined the decisions taken at previous meetings relating to the process for selecting a suitable organisation to undertake the long term management of the land.

The Officers report contained the following 4 options:

Option 1 - The council take on overall management and co-ordination of what is now council land, and work with local groups CRA / MCT       and YNET as appropriate to allow them to undertake some management works.  The pond could be licensed separately and this offers the potential for income to offset the management costs.  Working with local groups may also offer access to grant aid for improvement works.  This arrangement can be subject to review at an appropriate time. The current situation is unsatisfactory and creates uncertainty.  It has been confirmed that the 2 interested groups cannot work together.  The competitive process agreed by the council may have contributed to this situation. The overriding objective / priority should be the appropriate management of the land in accordance with the s106 agreement.  The council now holds title to the land and is ultimately responsible for its management.  If the council takes overall management responsibility, but works with groups as appropriate to co-ordinate works, this could help to build confidence and trust in the local community and improve relations.  The pond could be licensed separately to provide some income to offset the management costs.  The minimum standards of management will be secured. The arrangement can be reviewed in future.

Option 2 - Award management to CRA / MCT – initially on a    short term (18-24 month) licence – with a need for appropriate performance monitoring. The CRA / MCT bid to manage the land was assessed as being acceptable in 2012 and has now been modified as paragraph 11.  However, the Mayfield Community Trust as a newly formed organisation has no track record of delivery, and a short term license with performance monitoring will require ongoing council involvement.

Option 3 - Award management to YNET – initially on a short term (18-24 month) licence – with a need for appropriate performance monitoring. The YNET bid to manage the land was assessed as being the stronger bid in 2012.  However, the decision made in Sept 2012 minutes concern in relation to the arrangements for effective community engagement.  Despite the clarifications submitted, the communities and equalities team confirms that only a short term license with the need for performance monitoring would be appropriate, which will require ongoing council involvement.

Option 4 - Award management of the site on a split basis where the site is divided by Nelsons Lane into 2 areas - the southern area, including the pond and the northern area including the meadow. An initial award, on a short term licence (18-24 months), with a need for appropriate performance monitoring. There is significant interest from both groups in managing the land and both have been actively involved in organising works in the last 18 months; YNET to the southern area around the pond and CRA / MCT to the northern area between Nelsons Lane and Hobmoor.  This area is also directly related to the Children’s Play area.  Splitting the site management mitigates against a holistic approach.  However, this would allow each organisation to manage areas of interest and promote different activities to the local community.  There is perhaps the potential for this to prove that a joint working approach could work.

The Cabinet Member commented that in terms of Option 1 ,  he still had some concern about keeping the Council in the middle of the issue when the Council should be engaging with the community. In reference to options 2, 3 and 4 he advised that he had heard strong views for and against both YNET and Mayfield Community Trust as well as strong representations in support of the current operator YNET to continue managing the land from a number of anglers. The other issue was the lack of a track record in land management for the Mayfield Community Trust. He agreed to implement Option 4 as he considered the site to be well split by the road. He agreed this option on the basis of a 24^th month cycle to allow for 2 growing seasons and subject to the agreement of use of residual section 106 monies. He stressed that both organisations need to demonstrate ability in managing the land.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet Member approved Option 4 and awarded management of the site on a split basis where the site is divided by Nelsons Lane into 2 areas - the southern area, including the pond and the northern area including the meadow. An initial award, on a short term licence (24 months), with a need for appropriate performance monitoring.

REASON:           This option will enable each organisation (YNET and Mayfields Community Trust) to manage areas of interest and promote different activities to the local community and will explore the possibility of a joint working approach.