CALLS for more people to be involved in shaping the future of York city centre have been turned down.

Council leader Steve Galloway rejected opposition appeals for wider involvement, as plans to appoint a new £50,000-a-year city centre "tsar" were passed.

Labour councillors raised concerns that residents, voluntary and historical groups and disabled access organisations would be left in the cold by the process.

Under current proposals to revamp York's shopping hub, representatives from City of York Council, the development agency Yorkshire Forward, and business leaders would make up a new seven-man city centre partnership board, which will appoint the new supremo.

If the plans are passed by the full council, there will be three council members on the board - Coun Galloway, the executive member for commercial services Coun Charles Hall, and Labour Group leader Dave Merrett.

They would sit alongside three private sector members, to be nominated through York Business Pride, and one Yorkshire Forward representative.

Coun Galloway assured other groups they would still be given a say in reviving the city centre.

But he said a streamlined board would help speed up the £250,000-plus city centre revamp aimed at making the city more "vibrant" through new events.

Councillors have remained tight-lipped about what they envisage the future of the city centre will be, but one way forward may see it getting an upmarket facelift, with fairground rides scrapped.

Coun Galloway said: "What we have now is 90 per cent right, but it does need to be moved forward in some key areas like Parliament Street." He said he was now looking forward to "innovative ideas", and added: "It looks like Labour is calling for a 40-person board, but we will not be able to drive forward and take decisions without a streamlined structure."

He said consultation would take place within this structure, as far as possible through existing groups like tourist bodies and ward committees.

Coun Galloway said: "This offers an opportunity to address some of the issues facing the retail business community - a sector that is vital to the wellbeing of the city, both in terms of jobs and the choice available to shoppers."

But Labour leader Dave Merrett said: "There is a real danger this partnership, which has the potential to do great things, will be let down by a far too narrow focus on business interests alone.

"It needs to address the city centre as a whole, and that means allowing for much broader involvement."

The city centre supremo could be in post as early as June.

Updated: 08:28 Friday, April 08, 2005