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 Panel’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday, 12 January 2007 at 10am.

It was reported that there had been the following registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Tom Hughes registered to speak regarding Agenda Item 3, the minutes of the meeting of 11 December 2006. He stated that as his colleague Mr Warters had been denied the right to speak he would now reserve his comments for a later date.

Chris Hailey-Norris spoke regarding Agenda Item 5, Financial Support for Voluntary Organisations (Chief Executives/City Strategy) 2007/2008 as the Director of York Citizens Advice Bureau and as a member of York Compact Steering Group. He gave his thanks to the Council for their funding support  but stated that in considering three year Service Level Agreements inflation would need to be considered as other costs including rents continue to increase. CAB now received the same level of funding  as ten years ago, and reductions in staffing levels had had to be made which would in turn lead to a reduction in the services offered.

As a member of the Compact Group he reiterated the importance of awarding inflation to sustain voluntary sector services and also noted and welcomed the emphasis in the Local Area Agreement on joint working between public bodies and the voluntary and community sector.

Kate Tayler spoke for York CVS. She stated that York CVS provided the main infrastructure support for other voluntary organisations, and that funding was needed to support this. In particular an increase in funding was needed to support the work  required to promote volunteering which would benefit both the voluntary and statutory sector, and help to meet the objectives of the Local Area Agreement. 

Mr Dewhurst spoke regarding Agenda Item 12, Badger Hill Action Group Petition : Over development of family homes to student lets. He stated that he was a self-appointed spokesperson for the Badger Hill action Group, and that the petition had been signed by the majority of residents. He accepted that the problem of student housing was not unique to Badger Hill, but requested that a joint strategy between the City of York Council, the University, the Student Union and landlord representatives be developed to prevent the creation of student ghettos and to develop minimum standards and room sizes for students.

Cllr Looker spoke at the discretion of the Chair regarding Agenda Item 14, Petition from local residents and businesses requesting the pedestrianisation of Fossgate, as Ward Councillor. She stated that she was comfortable with the proposals, and that she saw the pedestrianisation of Fossgate happening in the same way as High Petergate, with pedestrian hours in line with other areas of the city centre. A letter from the Company of the Merchant Adventurers of the City of York was distributed to Members for their information. This gave general support for the pedestrianisation of Fossgate in line with the hours in other areas of the city, but voiced their concerns if it were to be closed until 10 or 11pm at night, due to problems with deliveries, disabled access, etc.