Agenda item

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak, regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the remit of the Working Group, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00 pm on Friday 19 September 2014.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that an audio recording may be made of this meeting and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This recording can be played back 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/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_ filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there had been six registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, and that one Member of Council had also requested to speak in relation to the City of York Local Plan Publication Draft.

Ken Guest spoke on behalf of the Elvington Action Group to raise their concerns in relation to site SP1: The Stables, Elvington proposed for Travelling Showpeople. He referred to previous Parish Council and local resident’s objections and petitions to the use of this site as the proposals would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and conflict with national policies.

John Gallery spoke on behalf of the Elvington community, confirming that whilst they had no objections to development they strongly objected to the scale of the development proposed for the village. He also raised their concerns regarding the lack of infrastructure for the development and requested a reduction in the scale. 

Paula Riley spoke to represent a local community concerned at the cumulative effect of plans to develop the former British Sugar and Civil Services Sports Ground together with land at Boroughbridge Road (ST1, ST2 and ST29). In particular they felt that proposals for site ST29 were unnecessary and unsustainable as this land had previously been considered important as green belt. In view of the strain on local services and saturation of the area it was requested that this site should be removed from the Local Plan and protected for the future.

Tim Haward, spoke as Chair of the Rufforth with Knapton Parish Council to raise their objections to the inclusion of sites GT1: Land at Moor Lane and B1224 for Gypsy and Traveller sites, particularly as these had only recently been added to the plan giving residents little time to respond to their inclusion. He referred to an earlier site proposed, adjacent to that now put forward, which had previously been considered unacceptable for a variety of reasons. The Parish Council felt that these reasons were now more relevant to this site, in particular health concerns for any future residents relating to the adjacent land fill site.

Dick Simms also spoke on behalf of Rufforth with Knapton Parish Council in relation to site RE3:772, Land at Harwood Whin, a site allocated for a Solar Farm, whilst not against renewable energy, he raised concerns at the inappropriate use of this site in a green corridor in the Green Belt and asked for this to be removed from the Plan.

Martin Hawthorne, spoke on behalf of the Tees Valley Housing Trust, who were the promoters of site SF14 at Earswick. He spoke of a missed opportunity if part of this site was not allocated for housing, particularly as the Trust considered that any transport issues could be mitigated with infrastructure improvements and that the site could be proven to be viable and deliverable. He asked for further discussions with Members and Officers to enable the site to be included in the Plan which would also include 50% affordable housing.

Councillor Healey spoke in relation to commuting levels. He referred to the large net in-commute into the City (2001 Census) and questioned whether the Council had considered the impacts on the housing requirement if this trend didn’t continue. He also questioned how student accommodation had been accounted for in the Plans housing figures and also how international migration as referenced in the Arup report had been calculated.