Agenda item

At this point in the meeting, any member of the public who has registered to address the Council, or to ask a Member of the Council a question, on a matter directly relevant to the business of the Council or the City, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Wednesday 8 October 2014.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

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Danny Dorney, Chair of the Jorvik Deaf Connections group, signed by Vicci Ackroyd, spoke to the petition to be presented by Cllr Barnes, which reported on the formation of the Deaf Connections group following concerns at the services provided by the Deaf Society. He spoke of a lack of information and access to the Social Club, particularly children, and a disregard for the needs and requirements of the wider deaf community. The petition asked the Council and the Charity Commission to investigate the funding provided to the York Deaf Society, access to the Club and the current management of the Society.

Michaela Coxon, spoke in support of the petition to be presented later in the evening by Councillor Douglas from residents of Peter Hill Drive. She referred to the excessive speed of vehicles using the road as a short cut and to the petitions request for the erection of bollards between Peter Hill Drive and Spalding Avenue for the safety of residents.

Eileen Johnson, also spoke in support of a petition to be presented later in the evening by Councillor Douglas in relation to the continued use of the Burton Stone Community Centre by various Groups. As Chair of the York Coronary Support Group she raised concerns that the Group had been informed that they would no longer be able to use the Centre, which they had used for the last 20 years, for their fitness classes. She referred to the valuable service they provided and to the equipment stored on the premises. They asked Council to reconsider their plans to enable the Group to continue its work.

Gordon Renshaw, of the York Renal Exercise Group also spoke in support of the second petition to be presented later by Councillor Douglas relating to the continued use of the Burton Stone Community Centre. He reiterated the concerns of the earlier speaker at the changes proposed at the Centre. He also highlighted the benefits their exercise group offered to renal patients in maintaining and improving their lives. The Group asked the Council to provide a suitable central alternative to ensure continuation of their Group.

Fiona Evans, spoke on behalf of the Yearsley Pool Action Group, confirming that the Group were not against a Community Stadium but that their objection related to the inclusion of Yearsley Pool in the Stadium process. She confirmed that the Group asked for equal treatment and a future commitment to the Pool as previously agreed. She referred to the benefits the pool played in the health and fitness of the city and requested a guarantee that the Pool would not be closed in the Council’s next 4 year term.

Sophie Hicks, spoke in support of the Cabinet recommendation to provide capital investment for the new Community Stadium complex. She outlined the consequences of any delay in funding of the Stadium on York City Football Club. She reiterated the need for a sustainable future for the Club and highlighted the benefits the Stadium would offer to the wider community. Any delay she confirmed would affect the Football Clubs loan and result in the Club being homeless.

Frank Ormston, spoke as Chair of one of York City’s supporters’ groups, the York Minstermen, also in support of the Community Stadium recommendation. He referred to their loyal fan base and to the support, passed on through families over many years. On behalf of fans he asked Members to support the building of a new Stadium which would provide a venue worthy for all Club supporters both past and present. 

Rachel Barber spoke as Manager of the Clarence Gardens  Association (The Hut), a registered charity which provided a programme of activities to support people with mental health and learning disabilities. She referred to the savings their volunteers made to both council and health services and to the successful outcomes for many who received their support. She highlighted the need for funding to enable the Association to develop long term programmes without which they would be unable to continue.  

Allan Charlesworth spoke on behalf of the Earswick Action Group, part of the York Village Alliance, formed to raise objections to ten safeguarded sites in the Local Plan. They felt that insufficient evidence had been put forward in relation to housing growth to support the sites designation. He stated that safeguarding of these sites would make it difficult for future planning applications to be refused, in particular as the sites lacked infrastructure.

John Cossham spoke in support of Cllr Semlyen’s fracking motion to be debated later in the evening. He spoke to highlight the issues arising from climate change from increased temperatures and to future affects on weather and wildlife. He asked Members to vote in support of Cllr Semlyen’s motion for a frack free York and not for the incineration of waste.