THE Executive of City of York Council have approved plans to take over a space in the city centre.

At a meeting on Thursday evening, the Executive voted unanimously to buy the freehold of Swinegate Court, which is currently home to a mix of shops, leisure units, and offices, and brings in £813,000 a year in rent.

A report submitted to the Executive said the reason for acquisition was "to ensure the ongoing economic vibrancy of the city centre and increase the income from the council’s commercial property portfolio", and achieve budget targets.

Once purchased, the council would effectively become landlord of the current tenants, and would be required to maintain and repair communal areas, but can charge these costs back to the tenants through a service charge.

Councillor Andrew Waller told the meeting he had regularly been told by residents and visitors that they were concerned about "the changing nature of the city centre retail offering", and said while the authority "can't turn the clock back", he wanted assurance that the council could maintain the perception of York as a city which held unique, specialist and independent shops, rather than a homogenised city centre.

He said he wanted to know how the purchase will "help the authority to maintain that perception of York", and "how this will help to change that perception of York as having rather too many stag and hen parties".

Neil Ferris, director of economy and place for the council said as freeholder, the council would have the opportunity to determine the tenants of the site, and ensure a diverse selection if desired, by addressing issues through council policy. This meant any bars or businesses which the council felt may harm the city's reputation could be refused space at the earliest opportunity, while giving "the opportunity to influence the ongoing economic viability of the city".

Councillor Denise Craghill said the move would extend the council's property portfolio in the city centre, but its worth would depend on council policy.

She said: "By going down this path where revenue from the property is being used to support our revenue budget going forward is in many ways very welcome, but is there chance of conflict there if it's too much of a role in our revenue budget?"

Mr Ferris said that "the anticipated overall revenue budget impact is small", and the potential risk, while "absolutely real", was minor.

Council leader David Carr said: "I think this is great news for the council, taking a commercial approach and deal is financially advantageous to the council and also think it's a significant expression of support in our city economy and a tremendous gesture of faith in its future potential."