North Yorkshire Council
Skipton and Ripon Area Committee
Councillor Barbara Brodigan attended remotely, via Teams.
Officers present: Helen Williams (Locality Lead – Skipton and Ripon); Vicky Davies (Senior Democratic Services Officer); Ian Kelly (Head of Countryside Access Service); Beth Brown (Principal Definitive Map Officer); Andrew Brown (Principal PROW Officer); Sharon Hudson (Communities Area Manager West).
In attendance: Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP; Councillor Carl Les OBE.
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence was received from Councillors Andy Brown, Nick Brown and Andrew Williams.
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Appointment of Chair for 2025/26
Resolved
That Councillor Richard Foster be appointed Chair of the Area Committee until the meeting following the AGM of the Council in May 2026.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2025
The minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee held on 6 March 2025 were considered.
Resolved
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee held on 6 March 2025 be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
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Appointment of Vice-Chair for 2025/26
Resolved
That Councillor Andy Solloway be appointed Vice-Chair of the Area Committee until the meeting following the AGM of the Council in May 2026.
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Declarations of interest
There were none.
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Update from RT Hon Julian Smith MP
The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP provided an update on the work that is currently being undertaken. This included information on the EU and associated Government updates, Government Policy changes, trade issues, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and the promotion of local businesses.
Members raised the following points during the discussion.
· The disappointment surrounding the closure of businesses in rural villages such as Grassington Post Office and Arla in Settle was discussed. · The potential impact that the Assisted Dying Bill could have on the operation of Hospices and End of Life Care Provision was discussed. · The need to pursue a reform of Social Care provision was emphasised and it was stated that every effort would be made in Parliament to ensure that this happened as soon as possible. · A discussion between the local Councillor and the MP relating to the Sutton Lane footpath would be arranged following of the meeting. · Concerns were raised in terms of the lack of funding for Social Care from Central Government and the impact that was having on the delivery of essential services. The difficulty in recruiting within the sector was also outlined with a reliance on immigration to fill those positions. It was also suggested that the position had been compounded by the increases in National Insurance imposed on employers. The loss of the rural allowance had led to an enhanced detrimental financial position for North Yorkshire Council. · Issues relating to the SEND position in the County and the funding required for that were also discussed.
Resolved
a) That the update is noted.
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Public questions and statements
There were no requests from the public to speak at this meeting.
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Closure of Royal Mail Sorting Office at Grassington
Resolved
a) That as a business decision had been made on this matter it would not be discussed further at this meeting.
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Localities Update 2024/25
Sharon Hudson – Communities Area Manager (West) and Helen Williams – Locality Lead (Skipton and Ripon) presented an update outlining the progress of the Localities Service in 2024/25. They highlighted the following:-
• The Communities Team working collaboratively with other services • Prevention & reducing health inequalities - Stronger Communities Programme Inspire Fund - Health Inequalities • Financial Inclusion - Local Food Support - Cost of Living Communications Campaign - Holiday Activities Fund/FEAST • Digital Inclusion - UK Shared Prosperity Fund - Reboot North Yorkshire • Community Resilience - Community Anchor Organisations (CAOs) - Local Assistance Centre – Knaresborough & Kirkbymoorside • Capacity Building • Social regeneration - UKSPF (Communities & Place) - Community Partnerships - Town Investment Plans • Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Team - Parish Charter - Parish Liaison - Parish Consultation Panel - Parish Portal/Parish Website - Local Devolution - Community Rights • Migrant Programmes - Integrated Community Support - Resettlement - Asylum - Homes for Ukraine - Translation and Interpretation • Progress in Skipton and Ripon Area Committee area - Community Anchor Organisations (CAOs) - Community Partnerships - Craven Communities Together - The ‘Core 20 + 5’ projects in Skipton - Ripon Sights and Sounds - Inspire Grants and Infrastructure Funding
Members discussed the report and the following issues were raised:- • How to co-ordinate community organisations and volunteers through the Grassington Hub. • The development of a Town Regeneration scheme for Settle and how that would be progressed. • Issues relating to Parish Councils running and maintaining public toilets and whether this was a cost effective were discussed. Examples of public toilets being operated successfully were provided.
Resolved
That Members noted the content of this report, outlining progress of the Localities service in 2024/25, and the issues raised.
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Community Safety and CCTV Service Annual Update
Julia Stack, Community Safety Officer, introduced the report which provided an annual update on Community Safety and CCTV service activities in Skipton and Ripon. The focus areas included Community Safety Hubs, CCTV operations, and strategic partnership work.
Community Safety Hubs
Anti-Social Behaviour hotspots identified: Skipton Bus Station (youth-related nuisance) Spa Gardens and Temple Gardens, Ripon (vandalism, underage drinking, drug use)
Interventions: Quarterly Skipton Town Centre Working Group meetings. Youth club support and graffiti removal. Additional CCTV funding for Skipton Bus Station. Crucial Crew initiative across 25 schools. Spa Quarter enhancements including lighting and café improvements. Youth provision in Spa Park via YMCA and Inspire Youth. Temple Gardens regeneration project secured £15,000 funding. Ripon Business Crime Partnership with 27 members linked to Harrogate CCTV.
Tools and Powers: Criminal Behaviour Order prepared for persistent ASB offender in Craven.
Project Work: Emergency bleed kits planned for Skipton, Crosshills, and Ripon. Knife bin usage statistics shared.
Performance Framework: Development underway to measure hub effectiveness against Key Performance.
Strategic Partnership Work
Domestic Abuse: Seven engagement events held during 16 Days of Action. Four disclosures of domestic abuse received and supported.
Serious Violence Prevention: Knife bin rollout completed in January 2025.
Night-Time Economy: Ongoing partnership work supporting NYP strategy.
Prevent and Protect and Prepare: Local multi-agency groups established across West, Central, and East areas. WRAP training and Prevent Champion event planned. Martyn’s Law implementation support underway.
CCTV and Business Crime CCTV control rooms located in Harrogate, Scarborough, and Northallerton. Northallerton control room functions to transfer to Harrogate by August 2025. Ripon’s 10 cameras managed by Harrogate. Strategic review of CCTV infrastructure and future transformation planned.
Police Activity
Representatives of North Yorkshire Police outlined the following:-
· The structure for Policing Services for the Area Committee area – including PCSOs · Crime rates for the area- an increase in detection rates and falls in overall crime and anti-social behaviour. · Attendance at incidents. · Neighbourhood Policing activities within the area. · Operations and initiatives being undertaken throughout the area.
Members discussed the report and the following issues were highlighted:-
· The recruitment and deployment of PCSOs, including work alongside the other emergency services as first responders. · The current quality of CCTV, the standard required in terms of providing evidence to court and whether upgrades are required to meet these standards. · Issues around the rerouting of the A65 following road traffic incidents and the impact this has on local communities was discussed. The matter would be discussed further with the Road Safety Team. · Cross border crime appeared to be quite prevalent, particularly in South Craven, with the impact coming from West Yorkshire. Action continued to address this, including the use of ANPR technology. Concerns regarding · Child Sexual Exploitation and County Lines drugs issues were discussed. A multi-agency approach to these matters was being undertaken, with intelligence being developed to enable appropriate, positive action to be taken. Although this is not a significant issue in Craven it was emphasised that every effort was made to ensure that young people were kept as safe as possible. · The noise created by motorcycles coming into the area was highlighted and it was noted that this issue continued to be monitored and addressed where appropriate. · Details of Community Engagement events being undertaken by North Yorkshire Police, up to Christmas, had been provided, and it was asked whether follow up events were planned for after this period and whether the more rural areas were included in those plans. It was also stated that it was sometimes difficult for people to discuss particular issues at community events and opportunities should be provided for confidential matters to be outlined. In response it was stated that the report was an initial update and further reports would provide details of subsequent community events. Consideration was being given to developing a calendar of events. Every effort was made to ensure those wishing to divulge confidential information were provided with an appropriate opportunity to do so. · Concern was raised that the Neighbourhood Policing service for Pateley Bridge was now to be based in Ripon. Reassurance was provided that officers would still remain in Pateley Bridge to provide Neighbourhood Policing for that location. The development and success of Neighbourhood Policing were discussed. It was asked how often areas such as Ingleton, Bentham and Settle received an officer presence given that the Neighbourhood Police HQ was based in Skipton. It was emphasised that · Members were pleased to see the detailed report on community safety, CCTV and policing in the area and commended the joint, multi-agency working being delivered in the area. · The important role played by PCOS as first responders, given the shortage of available ambulances across the whole of the County. It was emphasised that the Air Ambulance service was an important feature in responding to incidents requiring an ambulance response, but the first responder service was imperative particularly in remote locations where a response could take some time. The need for additional defibrillators to be provided in local communities was highlighted and it would be helpful to provide these to operational Police Officers.
Resolved
That Members note and welcome the content of this report and the issues raised, with Annual Updates on these matters being added to the work programme for future meetings.
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Impact of Tourism in the Craven Area
Vicky Davies of Democratic Services presented a report updating the Committee on the recommendations from the former Craven District Council’s review of tourism impacts. The following issues were highlighted:-
· The review was requested at the Committee’s meeting on 12 December 2024. · Craven’s scrutiny reviews were handed to North Yorkshire Council post reorganisation. · A Destination Management Plan (DMP) was adopted in October 2024, superseding Craven’s local strategies. · The DMP provides a strategic framework for tourism across North Yorkshire and is reviewed annually. · Craven’s Original Recommendations key points included:
- Planning authorities to consider tourism’s impact on infrastructure and communities. - Review of the no litter bins policy by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. - Joint stakeholder approach to parking issues in honeypot destinations. - Continued use of Safety Advisory Group powers for large events. - Promotion of multi-agency partnerships to address community issues. - Improved engagement by the National Park Authority with affected parishes. - Greater on-site management by park rangers. - Business Support to promote the review’s recommendations. - Continued promotion of greener travel and lobbying for better public transport.
Progress and Updates - Local Plan Consultation (19 May – 15 July 2025) includes tourism related policies. - Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 allows a 100% council tax premium on second homes from April 2025. - Parish Liaison Team reports minimal issues raised about litter or antisocial behaviour. - Waste Management Service has not received tourism-related complaints; general litter issues are being addressed. - Parking Strategy is under development, including stakeholder consultation and a framework of 20 principles. - North Yorkshire Police successfully reduced post-Covid anti-social behaviour in Upper Wharfedale through partnership working.- - Following the publication of the report an update was received from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority addressing a number of issues within the report. This was circulated to Members prior to the meeting.
Members discussion of the report highlighted the following issues:-
· Engagement with local communities, key stakeholders and visitors was required to determine what the issues were, where they were situated and how they should be addressed. · Representatives of Visit North Yorkshire should be invited to a subsequent meeting of the Area Committee to discuss tourism funding and how this could be utilised to address some of the issues outlined. · The management of events was vital to the protection of local communities from the issues highlighted and in some areas this was working well. · Issues relating to bad car parking, litter, ant-social behaviour and congestion were highlighted. · Details were provided in respect of issues in Upper Wharfedale and Horton-in Ribblesdale, and the difficulties created in those areas. · Previously, the District Council had formed a task and finish group to consider the concerns and managing the numbers of visitors coming into specific locations was amajor issue highlighted. · The co-ordination of parking at those peak visitor areas was imperative. · Whilst tourism was welcomed to the area the concerns of local residents had to be taken account of. · The issue of litter and the current policy of the National Park Authority not to provide litter bins within the Park’s boundary were discussed. Members had conflicting views with some suggesting that the policy needed to be changed in view of the litter issues within the major visitor areas, whereas other Members stated that the removal of litter was the responsibility of the Council not the Park Authority. A Member highlighted the problems created in specific local communities, with litter, when events took place and the impact that this had. It was considered appropriate that representatives of Visit North Yorkshire and the National Park Authority be invited to a subsequent meeting of the Committee to further discuss this and the other issues. · It was suggested that the development of an effective public transport plan would assist with the number of vehicles descending on certain locations. · A Member emphasised that one of the main purposes of the National Park Authority was to promote the enjoyment of nature for those visiting the area, however, another Member highlighted how the tranquillity of the area was often disturbed by visitors and some responsibility for managing that should be borne by the National Park Authority. · It was concluded that the need for a multi-agency approach to the issues highlighted was required for those to be effectively addressed.
Resolved - i. That representatives of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Visit North Yorkshire be invited to a subsequent meeting of the Committee to further discuss the issues raised; ii. That a relevant officer be invited to a subsequent meeting of the Committee to further explain the Destination Management Plan, iii. That the contents of the update, and the issues raised, be noted.
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Countryside Access Service Review
Ian Kelly – Head of Countryside Access Service, Beth Brown – Principal Definitive Map Officer and Andrew Brown – Principal PROW Officer delivered a presentation outlining details of the Countryside Access Service review, highlighting the following:-
· The Service Structure – a Multi-tiered team including PROW Officers (Public Rights of Way), Definitive Map Officers, Technical Officers, Volunteer Coordinators and Structures Engineers · An overview of the Service’s budget commitments was provided · Definitive Map Team - Maintains 10,253 km of public rights of way – the longest network in England and Wales - Legal responsibilities: Diversions, creations, extinguishments. Processing claims to add/amend routes (approx. 300 active applications). Increased activity due to 2031 cut-off for historic evidence-based claims. Opposed orders referred to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. · Maintenance Team - Maintains: 6,144 km of PROW outside National Parks, 4,109 km within National Parks (via delegation), 737 km of unsealed roads. Responsibilities include: Surface, signage, and structure maintenance (approx. 1,700 bridges). Supporting landowners with stiles and gates. Handling 1,700 issues annually, with 90.5% of the network accessible Supports: 3 National Landscapes, 6 National Trails, 14 long-distance promoted routes, 12 off-road National Cycle Network sections – details of a number of projects were provided. · Community Engagement - Active volunteer and path-keeper groups, use of Strava heat maps to monitor walking, running, and cycling activity · Further Information - CAS Annual Report – Local Access Forum (28 May 2025) Public Rights of Way – North Yorkshire Council
Members discussed the presentation and the following issues were highlighted:-
· In terms of PRoWs details of how appeals are undertaken, when the situation may go to a Public inquiry and the type of evidence required were provided. It was noted that the Secretary of State could intervene where confirmation of the PRoW cannot be determined. · It was stated that evidence had to be provided for the review of a PRoW to be undertaken. · One a PRoW has been defined, eg footpath, bridleway, etc., that could not be altered, despite objections to how it is used. · Monitoring of the use of PRoWs and whether this was in accordance with the appropriate conditions, was undertaken by a number of agencies. · The Service works closely with Planning Services to ensure that delivery of the service is as pro-active as possible. The Service also contributes to the Local Transport Plan. · Details of the reasons for the closure or change of category of a PRoW were discussed and it was noted that this was guided by legislation, with strict criteria in place as to how this can be implemented. · The Service has a good relationship with the Police in terms of identifying and preventing the mis-use of PRoWs.
Councillors Philip Barrett and David Ireton left the meeting at this stage.
· Volunteering, how to become a volunteer and their contribution to the service were highlighted. · Further exploration of the use of planning gain funding through S106 agreements was being explored to maximise the use of available funding. Members locality budgets could also be utilised for PRoW maintenance and upkeep. The areas of responsibility in terms of what was required to be maintained and repaired by the Council was clarified. · The use of Strava Walk heat maps to identify the usage of PRoWs was explained. It was suggested that these could be utilised for applications, appeals and Public Inquiries. It was noted that the details provided through this medium could utilised for such events.
Resolved -
That the contents of the report, and the issues raised, be noted.
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Natural England - Information Report
Christian Brennan, Democratic Services Officer, presented a report providing details of the work undertaken by Natural England following a request from Members. The following details were highlighted:-
· The report provided an overview of Natural England’s national role, mission, and priorities. · Natural England is the UK Government’s statutory adviser on the natural environment in England. · Its remit includes conserving and enhancing landscapes, biodiversity, and public access to nature · Vision: “Thriving Nature for people and planet” · Mission: “Building partnerships for Nature’s recovery” · Six long-term priorities include: Accelerating nature recovery, tackling root causes of environmental decline, supporting sustainable development, promoting sustainable farming, forestry, and fishing, shaping better places for people and enhancing community access to nature and its health benefits. · Key responsibilities - Managing National Nature Reserves and SSSIs, promoting countryside access, advising on sustainable land use and planning, supporting biodiversity and habitat conservation, delivering environmental schemes for land managers and leading initiatives like the Green Infrastructure Framework. · Organisational Context: Natural England is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) under Defra. Its work contributes to the Defra Outcome Framework and the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) with an emphasis on partnership working to restore ecosystems and biodiversity. · Delivery Portfolios: Resilient landscapes and seas, connecting people with nature, greener farming and fisheries, sustainable development, science and evidence, managing the Organisation · Members were directed to several online resources for more detail
Resulting from the information report Members considered further issues they would like to develop further with Natural England at a subsequent meeting. The following were highlighted:-
· A request was made for 3 examples of their work being undertaken within the geographical areas of the Committee’s boundary. · Details of their input and impact on the planning process. · Their approach to and co-ordination with local land owners and farmers.
Resolved
That the report be noted, and representatives of Natural England be invited to a subsequent meeting of the Committee to allow further discussion of their work.
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Committee work programme
Members reviewed the work programme and suggested the following additions.
· Representatives of Visit North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority be invited to a subsequent meeting to discuss further the issues relating to the impact of tourism. · Further discussion of the Council’s Destination Management Plan in respect of the issues relating to the impact of tourism. · An update report on housing issues in the area. · Details on the Council’s consultation on the review of parking services · An update on smart meter connectivity with the Data Communications Company (DCC) – it was noted that the DCC did not liaise directly with Local Authorities but would provide an update via the Constituency MP.
Resolved -
That the above additions detailed be made to the work programme.
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Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.
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Date of next meeting
Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 10.00am.
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The meeting concluded at 13.15 pm.