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 Cabinet Leader’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Wednesday 18 March 2015.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed 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 five registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme and that two Members of Council had also registered to speak.

Ms J Thompson spoke in respect of agenda item 5 – Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.  Ms Thompson stated that she was Head of HR for York St John’s University.  The university had joined Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme in 2013 and this had had a massively beneficial impact, as reflected in the feedback from a staff survey.  Ms Thompson stated that the programme provided an excellent framework in which to operate and be an inclusive employer.

Councillor Fitzpatrick,  Diversity Champion for City of York Council, spoke in respect of agenda item 5.  She expressed her support for the proposal for the Council to join the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.  She stated that this supported the Council’s aim of making York a safer place and would provide a useful template.  Councillor Fitzpatrick gave details of some of the work that had taken place to make the city more inclusive, including strategies in schools to tackle homophobic bullying and the support that the Council had given to Pride each year.  Joining the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme would be the next step in this process and would be a very positive move.

Mr Mark Havercroft spoke in respect of agenda item 6 – Disposal of Oliver House – former Elderly People’s Home.  He stated that he was the Green Party candidate for Micklegate Ward and was speaking in support of the Yorspace bid.  He stated that the community value weighting should have been higher than 20%.  The Yorspace bid would be beneficial for the community and enable the local community to have an investment in the place in which they lived.  It would also meet the aims in the Council Plan. 

Dr Susannah Bird spoke in respect of agenda item 6.  She stated that she was a founder member of Yorspace and gave details of its proposals.  The fourteen properties would be environmentally sustainable dwellings and managed on a mutual homeownership model.  She gave details of the benefits to the community and the local economy.  Dr Bird urged that a decision on this issue be referred to Cabinet to enable full consideration of the views put forward.

Mr James Newton spoke in respect of agenda item 6.  He stated that he was a co-founder of Yorspace.  He stressed the need for there to be a decent stock of affordable housing.  He stated that the Yorspace bid had strong support from Bishophill residents and from the ward councillors.  It would provide sustainable housing for local people and would benefit the community. 

Mr Pete Kilbane spoke in respect of agenda item 6.  He stated that the proposal in the report would result in luxury homes being built on the site and Bishophill would not be an affordable area in which to live.  He expressed his concern at the impact on communities when complexes were gated. He stated that the Yorspace bid would be beneficial to the community and include shared space.  Mr Kilbane stated that council housing should also have been considered for the site. 

Councillor Healey spoke in respect of agenda item 6.  He stated that he acknowledged the financial pressures that had to be taken into account but he was minded to call-in this item in order to enable there to be a full debate on the issue.

The Cabinet Leader thanked the speakers for their attendance and comments.