Agenda item

To question the Leader, Deputy Leader and/or Executive Member on their written reports, and to question the Leader and/or Executive Members in respect of any matter within their portfolio responsibility, in accordance with Standing Order 20.

Note to Members:  In order to facilitate the smooth running of the remote meeting, the Lord Mayor has decided to set a deadline of 40 minutes in total for the above questions and responses.

Members were invited to question the Executive Leader, Deputy Leader and Executive Member on their written reports and, in accordance with Standing Order 21, to question the Leader and / or the other Executive Members on any matters within their portfolio areas.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and responded to by the relevant Executive Member as summarised below:

Questions to Cllr Aspden, Executive Leader

From Cllr Myers: On York Central, are we able to recoup any of the £77.1m Housing grant (formerly the Housing Infrastructure Fund) and why has the council been cut out of the process?

(Supplementaries from Cllr Melly and Cllr Crawshaw: What lessons have been learned from the grant going to Homes England instead of the council? How will delivery of the 6,500 jobs promised for the site be ensured?)

Response: The fact that the grant was secured, as part of an infrastructure package totalling £175m, demonstrates that our partnership approach was the right one.  Development is proceeding in line with the Masterplan and outline planning permission, and there will be further opportunities to work with public bodies on housing.  Interest in the development, including from the Cabinet office, has been encouraging. We need to work with our public sector partners to get this important site delivered and are happy to engage positively with the Labour group. 

From Cllr Cullwick: I am delighted that the government has come forward with funding to open up York Central.  Have you any more to say about the next steps to take the project forward?

Response: The next step will be to take a reserved matters application to Planning Committee, to ensure that construction and cleaning can begin and that in a matter of months we can start to deliver the site.  We will continue to work with the community throughout that process, and to look at what further consultation can take place.

Questions to Cllr Craghill, Executive Member for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods

From Cllr Mason: There is now a serious risk of a second lockdown; what can be done about the in domestic violence that may result from this?

Response: Support to victims is provided through commissioning arrangements with North Yorkshire County Council and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner; the council also funds IDAS to provide services both for victims and to change the behaviour of perpetrators. Weekly meetings are held with the police and successful bids have been made for government and local funding to expand services and monitor demand.  To date, existing service provision has been adequate but the tactical group will continue to meet until the Covid-19 situation returned to normal. Victims should contact IDAS by phone or on their website or call 999 if at immediate risk.

From Cllr Wann: Good progress has been made on Phase 1 of the Housing Delivery Programme; what is planned for Phase 2?

(Supplementaries from Cllr Pavolvic and Cllr Webb – What is the strategic plan to meet the needs of those on the housing waiting list?  How can you think you are doing a good job when letting down the most vulnerable in York).

Response: Applications for 85 new homes at Burnholme and 34 new homes plus a possible commercial space at Duncombe Barracks have been submitted for planning permission; these include the first zero-carbon rated Passivhaus homes.  Work has begun on community engagement and masterplanning for the next site, at Ordnance Lane, to provide 89 new homes and some mixed-tenure space.  Overall the plan includes at least 600 homes across a range of tenures.  It will be the largest zero carbon development in the country, setting the standard to meet our climate commitment as well as providing low energy bills and high quality housing that will lever in further funding. 

No council is able to meet all housing needs directly but we are taking the lead in working with others and doing all we can to meet housing requirements and support those in need.  We’re building new homes, emergency accommodation and temporary accommodation.  We also have a winter pressures plan and are providing extra funding for homeless and street sleeping services.

Question to Cllr Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Communities

From Cllr Pearson: Can you outline the support that the council has been able to provide to music, cultural and heritage organisations?

Response: We are continuing to reach out on both a formal and an informal basis.  We have deferred rates (for example for the Barbican), helped YMT to lobby for funding, and distributed £1.9m of the cultural recovery fund eventually released by government to 9 organisations. The government must do more to give clarity over the winter period and what will happen when funding runs out in April. We will continue to work with sector representatives to provide as much support as possible.