Agenda item

This report presents, at Annex A, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority paper proposing the creation of Mayoral Development Zones (MDZs), including a proposed York Central MDZ.

The Committee were joined by James Farrar Chief Executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Officers introduced the report that sought the Committee’s opinion on the Combined Authorities proposal for the York Central Mayoral Development Zone, ahead of the Council’s Executive submitting the Council’s position. Officers noted and agreed with the suggestion in public participation to recommend an expansion of the current geographical area of the proposed zone to include York Station. They suggested the stations inclusion would be appropriate due to the importance it would hold in linking York Central to the city centre. James Farrar explained that the zone would provide strategic positioning to assist in attracting public and private investment in the area.

The Committee considered the proposal and enquired about what the £500,000 allocation for the development of the zone would deliver and if it was needed in order to attract the reported £10m funding. It was confirmed that the £500,000 would come from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and would be used as an upfront cost covering areas such as staffing, planning, and external costs. The initial funding it was noted should assist in identifying what was required as the development zone would be seeking more than the currently planned £10m of funding.

Members noted previous delays in the delivery of York Central and asked whether partnership agreements were in place that would avoid further delays. It was confirmed that the Combined Authority was already a partner on the project so would not affect current partnership working. It was also noted that most funding for York Central would be directed from the Combined Authority, therefore, maintaining a strong relationship would assist with the delivery of the project.

The Committee made not of the new Prime Ministers stated desire to move more decision making to outside of London and whether the new ‘Number 10 North’ might affect York’s ability to attract government department sites and jobs or if they would be moved closer to Manchester. James Farrar noted that it was very early in the new Prime Ministers tenure but would expect a push for more of government operations to be a benefit to York Central, particularly due to York being the best-connected city in the north of England.

Members discussed the boundaries of the zone and agreed that should be expanded to link York Central with the city centre. Members also enquired about whether historical buildings with tourism potential or further opportunities for transport opportunities such as light rail could be considered as part of the development zone. It was confirmed that York Central had its planning permission which helped identify the vision for the site and specific projects could be delivered by the development zone, but it would require maintaining a clear objective of the development zone. It was also confirmed that transport projects for York Central would be influenced by the objectives of the Councils Movement and Place Strategy.

Resolved:

                      i.         To recommend that the Council request that York Station is included within the Development Zone.

                    ii.         To request that the final proposal be shared with the Committee to provide any final thoughts before the Executive submits the Council’s position on the Development Zone.

                   iii.         To recommend that the £500,000 funding for the development of the Development Zone report clearly on what this funding is used for.

Reason:    To submit the Committee’s views of the Development Zone to the Executive before it is adopted.