North Yorkshire Council
Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 28 November 2025 commencing at 10.00 am.
Councillor Liz Colling in the Chair and Councillors David Chance, Eric Broadbent, Janet Jefferson, Rich Maw, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, John Ritchie, Tom Seston, Subash Sharma, Neil Swannick, Roberta Swiers and Phil Trumper.
Officers present: St John Harris, Matthew Joseph, Dr Gill Kelly (remote), Jenny Thompson (remote), Louise Wallace and Laura Young (remote)
Other attendees: PC Phillip Coyne (North Yorkshire Police), Alison Hume MP and PCSO Chris Unsworth (North Yorkshire Police)
Apologies: Councillors Derek Bastiman and David Jeffels. .
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Apologies for absence
Councillor Derek Bastiman (who was representing the council at another meeting) and Councillor David Jeffels.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2025
Resolved
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2025, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
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Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interests.
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Feedback from previous meetings - Chair's report
The Chair provided the following updates on matters raised at previous meetings:
· The council’s new draft Empty Homes Strategy would come to the committee in June · The Annual Community Safety Report also to be considered in June would cover any issues related to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The regulation of HMOs would be considered by the committee at a later date. · Finally the Chair referred to the Bathing Water Quality Summit convened by the council involving the various agencies involved in securing better sea bathing water quality. Over the summer there had been more detailed analysis and identification of sources of E. coli carried out by the Environment Agency, and Professor Grocke of Durham University was leading a pollution source study using nitrogen isotope analysis of seaweed samples. A consolidated report incorporating all the findings would be published in the next month or two. Following publication of the report and with the agreement and attendance of all the parties involved, the committee would hold an additional special meeting to discuss the findings. This was anticipated to be in late January.
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Public questions and statements
There were two public questions submitted to the committee. Cllr Linda Wild was not present at the meeting.
1. George Wakely, Scarborough Pride
Could the committee please look into why the council are trying to charge Scarborough Pride upwards of £1,000 for parking services for a community event?
Reply
Thank you for your question regarding the Scarborough Pride event and the concerns raised about NYC raising charges for this.
North Yorkshire Council recognises the Scarborough Pride as a cherished community event that brings significant cultural value to the town. We appreciate the dedication of the event organisers and the many volunteers who make this event possible.
As part of our ongoing review of fees and charges across the county, including those related to car park usage, we are mindful of the impact any changes may have on community-led events. The current schedule for Scarborough Spa car parks outlines standard charges that have been applied to cover the costs of these suspensions. However, we also understand that under previous arrangements with Scarborough Borough Council, events were not subject to these fees.
We want to reassure you that North Yorkshire Council is committed to supporting volunteer-led initiatives and maintaining the goodwill that underpins events like Scarborough Pride. While the council must ensure consistency and transparency in its charging policies, we are actively reviewing how best to accommodate exceptional community events within our framework.
Your request to maintain the existing arrangements for the Scarborough Pride will be considered as part of this review. We will engage with relevant stakeholders, including the event organisers, to explore options that balance financial sustainability with community benefit.
2. Cllr Linda Wild, Whitby Town Council
Can a reassurance be given that NY Council are giving priority to the replacement of the Whalebones in Whitby? The whalebones are at home and internationally a renowned landmark. We are aware that very capably, an officer is consulting with authorities in Alaska but we just need assurance that NY Council are supportive and totally behind the urgency of solving the problem.
Reply
Chris Bourne, Head of Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure provided the following reply: ‘In June 2025, Whitby Town Council formally asked North Yorkshire Council to undertake urgent investigations into the future of the whalebones in Whitby and provide costed options for:
· Replacement · Refurbishment/protection · Alternatives e.g. replica replacement
North Yorkshire Council takes any formal request seriously and Whitby Town Council can be reassured that the request is being progressed. An update was last provided to Whitby Town Council by email on 12 November 2025.’
The detailed update below, although not read out at the meeting was circulated to members of the committee.
I would firstly apologise for not coming back to you sooner, but as you can imagine these things take time and I assure you that I am committed to bringing the matter to a conclusion at the earliest opportunity, having dealt with procuring the existing bones some twenty-five years ago.
No doubt some would wish to have a real set of Bowhead Whale bones installed, and I am in communication with the mayor’s office in Anchorage, Alaska about this. They are currently trying to speak to those involved previously at North Slope Borough (Barrow) but clearly many years have passed and it is regrettable that some of those people are no longer with us, but they will respond once those efforts are complete.
If a new set of bones were available that is where other issues begin. Firstly it would be likely the bones would be in a very remote location on the Arctic iceshelf and there would have to be a willingness for the residents to recover and move them to a suitable location. Secondly the bones would require thorough cleaning before any logistics company would carry them on aircraft. Thirdly, and perhaps the biggest hurdle, would be gaining the permissions required to export/import the bones to the UK given that the species (Balaena Mystecitus) is protected under CITES regulations which was a lengthy time-consuming process last time and may not be achievable this time around.
If these hurdles can be overcome then there is the task of transport to the UK and whilst I am confident I can arrange this, there is a significant distance in the US to deal with and it would require a great deal of effort over there to get the bones from Barrow via Anchorage to Seattle.
However, some would be concerned at the connotations of displaying real whale bones. There is greater concern globally about hunting and it is somewhat less socially acceptable to display real bones. Using imitation whale bones – with an information board explaining the history – some would argue would be more fitting in addition to extending the shelf life of the bones.
Once I have some further information and realistic options for the future of the Whalebone Arch I will come back to you, and those options will be considered by the Council’s Executive/Members and clearly your input is most important in the future of what is one of Whitby’s most enjoyed landmarks.
As of the date of Cllr Wild's question, we have still not received any further response on the availability of whalebones from Alaska, but have sent, and will continue to send chasing emails. We have also sent email requests to other countries but again with no response.’
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Attendance of MP Alison Hume
Ms Hume provided an overview to the committee of some of her areas of work, concerns and priorities. In respect of the Government’s budget announcements on 26 November, she advised that an estimated 1850 children living in the constituency were expected to benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap and an estimated 4000 children from the expansion of free school meals. Ms Hume also referred to the Government’s plans to support the long-term youth unemployed through guaranteeing six-month work placements for 16 to 21-year-olds and plans for four new youth hubs in the Yorkshire and Humber region. She would lobby for at least one of these to be in the constituency. Lower business rates would benefit around 16,670 retail, hospitality and leisure properties in North Yorkshire. In relation to gambling, she was pleased to report that remote gaming and general betting duties would increase, whilst bingo duty would be abolished in recognition of the social value of bingo halls. Ms Hume was in dialogue with the Bingo association and the owners of Mecca bingo to help identify alternative premises in Scarborough to replace their bingo hall which had recently closed. She supported Government plans to separate adult gaming centres from lower risk forms of gambling, and to help local authorities to address gambling clusters because AGCs were associated with greater risk of harm and were attracted to coastal areas. In regard to other work, in addition to six local surgeries since the last Area Committee meeting, Ms Hume had convened a public meeting on the subject of fracking. The following week she would be meeting with Michael Shanks, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, to press for clarity from Government on fracking, particularly that the fracking moratorium be extended to all forms of fracking including proppant squeeze associated with the Burniston drill site planning application which was of such concern to constituents. Other areas in which Ms Hume had been lobbying the Government were for Scarborough Hospital once again to provide care for stroke patients; ensuring that farmers and businesses affected by the Langdale Moor wildfire received adequate compensation in the same way as for flooding incidents and that any similar event in future would trigger a national resilience response because of the critical military infrastructure in the locality; and the inadequate NHS response to the flooding of Eastfield Medical Centre which had been out of use since the summer. Thankfully the community had rallied round and temporary clinical rooms were being made available at a fitness centre in Eastfield in addition to support from St Cecilia’s Care Group and St Catherine’s Hospice. Following this introduction, the issues raised by elected members and discussed with the MP included:
The Chair thanked Alison Hume MP for her attendance and her responses to members’ questions.
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Receipt of petition urging North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on New Bridge, Whitby
Elizabeth Mulheran introduced the following petition seeking a reduction of the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on New Bridge, Whitby: ‘New Bridge in Whitby currently has a 40mph speed limit from the traffic lights at Prospect Hill to the end of the bridge. The entrance to Whitby School (Airy Hill site) for Year 7 and 8 is situated on this section of road. We are concerned about the safety of students and families who have to walk along the bridge to access their school and the Eastside.’ Among the concerns raised by Ms Mulheran were:
Members then discussed the petition which included the following points:
Resolved that the Area Committee: i. Note the petition ii. Recommend to the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation that in light of the urgency of this matter an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order is introduced for New Bridge, Whitby reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 20 mph; and iii. That during the 18 month period of the ETRO the necessary consultations and other work is undertaken to make the change in speed limit permanent
Reasons for recommendation Because of North Yorkshire Council’s stated commitment to reviewing speed limits outside every school in the county to improve road safety, and the serious concerns raised in respect of road safety on New Bridge, Whitby.
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Health in Coastal Communities - update by Director of Public Health
Considered a presentation by Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health and her colleagues Dr Gill Kelly, Consultant in Public Health, and Laura Young, Public Health Officer which provided an overview of health in North Yorkshire’s coastal communities together with initiatives in a variety of areas to tackle health challenges and inequalities and to secure improvements. The presentation first centred on:
In reply to members’ comments and questions about this section of the presentation, they were advised that:
The next section of the presentation focused on the extensive local work with children and young people, for example:
In reply to members’ comments and questions about this section of the presentation, they were advised that:
The next section of the presentation focused on protecting health through interventions such as the winter vaccination programme, the NYC staff flu vaccination programme, the Scarborough Inequalities (Screening and Immunisation) Group which was set up to help reduce health inequalities by improving uptake of screening and immunisations in the Scarborough and Whitby area, and the work to minimise the public health impacts of the Langdale Moor wildfire. The Director of Public Health then turned to coastal health improvement through such initiatives as the Living Well Smokefree service, the Movement Activity & Sport Fund launched in October and dedicated to reducing inequalities and improving wellbeing through increased participation in movement, activity and sport at all stages of life, and the new Healthy You Service delivered by the Active North Yorkshire team which encouraged clients to eat more healthily and take more exercise. In reply to members’ comments and questions about this section of the presentation, they were advised that:
Lastly, the Director of Public Health touched on progress made more broadly with her previous year’s Healthy Ageing Annual Report, Public Health’s involvement in the Swift programme enabling migrant communities to thrive, a variety of interventions to support specifically men’s health and specifically women and girl’s health, and funding obtained by her service in partnership with Hull University and York University from the National Institute for Health Research to review over five years how research could be used more effectively to address health inequalities. The Director looked forward to bringing positive outcomes from this research collaboration back to the committee. In reply to members’ comments and questions about this section of the presentation, the Director of Public Health confirmed that she would investigate the idea of a Nordic snow clearing machine to reduce the risk of falls during wintry weather. The Chair thanked the Director and her colleagues for their detailed presentation and for answering members’ questions. Resolved that the presentation be received.
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North Yorkshire Police Rural Crime Report Scarborough/Whitby District
Considered a report by PC Phillip Coyne, Rural Policing Task Force, North Yorkshire Police on rural crime in the Scarborough and Whitby area, May to October 2025. Mr Coyne was pleased to report that overall rural crime was on the decline, a trend since 2020. It was important for the Police to understand whether this was attributable to crime not being reported or simply not occurring. In reply to members’ comments and questions, they were advised that:
The Chair thanked Mr Coyne for attending and for his detailed answers to members’ questions. Resolved that the report be received.
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Scarborough & Whitby Area Committee Work Programme 2025/26
Considered the latest draft of the committee’s work programme for 2025-26.
Following discussion, the Chair confirmed the following topics for consideration by the committee (to be discussed at the next mid cycle briefing): · Consultation by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the proposed new tourism tax · Review of speed limits and road safety outside schools in the Scarborough and Whitby area · Cemetery provision in Whitby
Resolved that the work programme be noted.
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Any other items
The committee recorded a vote of thanks to Andrew Santon, Highways Customer Communications Officer, on his retirement for his services to the council.
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Date of next meeting
2 March 2026
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The meeting concluded at 12.39 pm.