Agenda item

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It was reported that there had been seven registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. All were speaking on agenda item 5 [Application for Community Right to Bid under the Localism Act 2011 - The Victoria Vaults Public House].

On behalf of the Applicant, Nick Love (Campaign for Real Ale Ltd (York Branch) spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Based on the Localism Act (2011) he explained how The Victoria Vaults met the use of community benefit through live music at the venue. He explained how it could be used in the future, adding that he had been approached by people in the music industry about running different events there.

Cllr Crawshaw spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) on behalf of the three Micklegate Ward Councillors. He explained that he had looked through the objections and it was misleading to suggest that there were 40 venues for live music when there was two dedicated music venues in York. He listed the reasons for the need to live music venues and noted that it was unlikely that it would be granted planning permission for change of use. He noted that he had been approached by a number of people regarding purchasing the building as a cultural venue.

David Leaper spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). He noted that The Victoria Vaults was a most respected music venue and he listed the different acts that had played there. He noted the different uses of the venue and added that local live music fans were being failed by venues being put forward for development. He added that bands expect a quality PA system and stage to perform on.

Simon Micklethwaite spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). He explained that he used to run the Basement under City Screen and was also in a band. He noted the venues that ran live music events and to lose another central to York, was consistent with the troubles that the music trust faced. He added that The Victoria vaults could provide a space for live music for the next 5-10 years. He noted that it was a good way of engineers, promoters and others tied into live music in gaining experience.

Nabeel Hanif spoke in objection of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). He noted that he had just completed on the property and had been told that it was a failing business. He had bought the derelict property to bring it back into use and was going to redevelop it into housing. He explained that the building had been marketed for a year and if someone was going to come forward to buy it they would have. He added that they were the only people to come forward to buy the property and he felt like they had been ambushed.

John Parkinson spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). He explained that his son’s business had financed the pub’s transition into a live music venue. He addressed the points made by the lawyers involved in the purchase of the property. He noted how the operators had failed to run The Vaults and he felt that the sales process was secretive. He noted that certain parties had offered to purchase the venue which was declined by the operator.

Bob Jackson spoke in support of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). He noted that the Vaults were worth keeping. He explained that singing in a pub did not make it a music venue and that a live music community was a means of promoting social enterprise. He explained how The Victoria Vaults was run badly and that it wasn’t easy watching the place get worse. He added that there had been no attempt to keep it open and that run professionally The Victoria Vaults could be a community venue.

Written representations in support of the of the Victoria Vaults Public House being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) had been received from  Vinyl Eddie, Ashley Corbett, Bob Jackson, Zak Stone, Matt Keeley, David Leaper, Rebecca Patchesa, Simon Micklethwaite, Jericho Keys, Gary Langan, Chris Sherrington (on behalf of York Music Venue Network), Elizabeth Matfin, Andrew Wiles, Michael Young, Dr Edward Robinson, Jon Prankitt, Suzanne Francis and Shed Seven.

The Executive Member thanked speakers for their submissions and noted that the written representations and two received after the deadline would be published with the minutes.