Agenda item

Report to follow.

The Director of Environment, Transport and Planning introduced the report on city centre access. He outlined that the Council had reinstated blue badge access in January 2024, after a public consultation. He confirmed that the Council had facilitated access through staffed barriers while HVM bollards were being installed. Members enquired about how access through the bollards would function. The Director confirmed that there had not been a decision made on future operating systems and that the Council would be working with blue badge holders and the York Access Forum on how access could operate.

The Committee enquired as to how the Anti-terror Traffic Regulation Order would operate in relation to the HVM bollards. Officers confirmed that Anti-terror Traffic Regulation Order would be an order which would allow the police if deemed required to close access to the city centre on a short-term basis.

Access to the city centre for blue badge holders during the period the Christmas market was in operation was raised by Members as access was to be restricted. The Director outlined that organisation for the Christmas market was done a year in advance and therefore when blue badge access was reinstated it was agreed that during this year’s market, blue badge access would be restricted. He noted that the Council had discussed with the Police regarding reducing foot street hours during the Christmas market, however, the Police were not supportive of a reduction in foot street hours to provide more access for blue badge holders.

Members enquired about the risk profile regarding the Christmas market considering the Council’s decision to reinstate access in January 2024. The Director highlighted that there was an increase on footfall numbers during the period compared to even the busiest days during periods such as the summer holidays. He also noted that the increased foot fall was only one factor to consider, and that concern was also raised regarding the profile of Christmas markets and the threat terror incidents had posed at high profile events. The Committee enquired about whether they could review the advice provided by Police and it was confirmed this would be shared confidentially with Committee members pending approval to share the advice by the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

The Committee discussed how the Christmas market could operate in future years and the prospect of spreading out the market across the city centre. The Executive Member for Transport outlined her support for exploring options for how the market could operate and that the Council would work with Make it York and the Police regarding this.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the Committee requested that they have shared with them the advice from the Safety Advisory Group regarding the Christmas Market;

                     ii.         To recommend that the Executive explore all possible options to ensure blue badge access to the city centre during the period of the Christmas market, including the layout of future Christmas Markets.

Reason: To support access for blue badge holders to the city centre while maintaining safety for all those accessing the city.