Agenda item

The Director of Customer and Communities to present a report which asks Executive to consider the report of the York World Heritage Steering Group (YWHSG) and accept YWHSG’s recommendation that York should make a bid for World Heritage status. 

Resolved:  (i)      That the recommendation of the YWHSG report that York should make a bid for World Heritage status be accepted.

                   (ii)      That City of York Council, together with YWHSG, commit to asking the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to consider an application from York for admittance to the UK Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.

                   (iii)     That the council work with YWSG to take the bid project forward to Stage 2, including forming a broad-based public and private partnership to raise the approx. £7.5m required in 2022/23 to fund the required work.

                   (iv)    That it be noted that there is currently no identified council funding stream to cover the cost of any Stage 3 bid and that, if a bid is successful and can proceed to Stage 3, the council will seek support from partners to progress this.

Reason:     To seek the international recognition and prestige that World Heritage status confers.

The Assistant Director of Customer and Communities presented a report which introduced the report of the York World Heritage Steering Group (YWHSG) and its recommendation that York should make a bid for World Heritage status. 

Executive had formally set out the ambition for the city to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status as part of approving the Culture Strategy for York, 2019-2025.  The YWHSG’s report, attached at Annex A, recognised that the bid must deliver greater empowerment and involvement of residents in managing, understanding and enjoying the heritage of the city.

In response to questions from Members and matters raised under Public Participation, officers and John Oxley confirmed that:

·        with the help of York Conservation Trust, consideration had been given to how to implement climate change measures without adversely affecting the heritage;

·        though not technically a part of the bid, physical and intellectual accessibility for all was an important aspect.

The Chair thanked officers and members of the YWHSG for their work, and it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the recommendation of the YWHSG report that York should make a bid for World Heritage status be accepted.

                   (ii)      That City of York Council, together with YWHSG, commit to asking the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to consider an application from York for admittance to the UK Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.

                   (iii)     That the council work with YWSG to take the bid project forward to Stage 2, including forming a broad-based public and private partnership to raise the approx. £7.5m required in 2022/23 to fund the required work.

                   (iv)    That it be noted that there is currently no identified council funding stream to cover the cost of any Stage 3 bid and that, if a bid is successful and can proceed to Stage 3, the council will seek support from partners to progress this.

Reason:     To seek the international recognition and prestige that World Heritage status confers.