Agenda item

The Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning will be in attendance to discuss the priorities and challenges for 2019/20.

In addition to the information contained in his report to the Committee, the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning he gave a verbal update on his portfolio work since the last meeting.

He was thanked for his report and in response to questions raised by Members noted that:

·        The My City Centre project public engagement work would be similar to that of the My Castle Gateway project to ensure that different groups, residents and Councillors were engaged with issues.

·        The procurement for the My City Centre project was being progressed.

·        The creation of a Real People’s Panel would be useful in finding out what was happening at ground level in a structured way. It was hoped that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation would be involved in the Real People’s Panel. A report on the Real People’s Panel would be brought to a future Decision Session of the Executive Member.

·        The challenge for the Occupier Strategy for York Central was that Homes England and Network Rail would need to show how the site would be accessed by businesses. There was a strong guide for York Central that set out expectations for this.

·        The Executive had been working to progress the Housing Infrastructure Fund. The Corporate Director of Economy and Place added that York Central had not been called for Public Enquiry by the Secretary of State.

·        The closure of the Post Office on Lendal provided an opportunity to look at the use of St Helen’s Square. The implications for access would need to be examined as part of this and consultation would allow an opportunity to look at the use of the square.

·        Further thought would need to be given on how to work with Black and Ethnic Minority communities on arts projects.

·        Work on the transport and commercial element of York Central was ongoing as part of the Reserved Matters planning application.

·        Some administrative forms were part of the constraints that businesses cited as being burdens when working with the council.

·        The Executive Member explained how social value could be shown as part of procurement.

·        There would an update on the local industrial strategy at a future Decision Session of the Executive Member. York was in two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and it was yet to be confirmed whether there would one local industrial strategy for both or two separate ones for the city.

·        The Executive Member was conscious of developments coming forward that would take away green space.

·        There was to be a discussion on Section 106 agreements at a future Audit and Governance Committee meeting.

·        It was recognised that the loss of the apprenticeship levy from York’s economy was an issue and the LEPs had been asked to promote apprenticeships.

·        It had been confirmed that there was no ‘plan B’ should the HIF funding not be received

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning for his update and it was:

Resolved: That the update from the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning on his priorities and challenges for 2019-20 be noted.

Reason:     To understand the priorities and challenges for Economy and Strategic Planning for 2019-20.