Local Government North Yorkshire and York
Minutes of the remote meeting held on Friday, 15th October, 2021 commencing at 2.30 pm.
This meeting was live broadcast and a recording is available using the following link - https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/live-meetings
Present: Councillor Angie Dale in the Chair and LGNYY Members/Substitutes Keith Aspden, Jim Bailey, Lindsay Burr MBE, Mark Crane, Carl Les, Simon Myers, Mark Robson and Steve Siddons.
Chief Executives/Deputies in attendance: David Butterworth, Tony Clark, Richard Flinton, Claire Foale, Mike Greene, Suzan Harrington, Dr Justin Ives, Wallace Sampson OBE, Paul Shevlin and Phillip Spurr.
Other Attendees: James Farrar, Barry Khan and Ruth Gladstone.
Apologies: LGNYY Members Richard Cooper, Richard Foster, Neil Heseltine and Dinah Keal. Stacey Burlet, Ian Floyd, Tom Hind and Janet Waggott.
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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121 |
Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
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122 |
Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 July 2021 and Matters Arising
Resolved –
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2021 be taken as read and be confirmed as a correct record.
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123 |
LEP Update
Considered –
The report of James Farrar (Chief Operating Officer of the York and North Yorkshire LEP) which provided an update on the LEP’s work in respect of Capital funding delivery and the Getting Building Fund, a Plan for Growth for York and North Yorkshire, and the progress of the LEP Review.
Resolved –
(a) That progress regarding the Getting Building Fund be noted.
(b) That the development of a York and North Yorkshire Plan for Growth be supported.
(c) That the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the LEP Review be noted.
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124 |
Devolution Asks
Considered –
The verbal update of James Farrar (Chief Operating Officer of the York and North Yorkshire LEP) which provided on update on the progress of the Devolution Asks.
James Farrar reported that the Devolution Asks for York and North Yorkshire, as submitted to central Government prior to Christmas 2020, remained with central Government who had not been prepared to consider such Asks until local government reorganisation had been decided. All Authorities had written to central Government towards the end of summer 2021 asking for negotiations on the Devolution Asks to commence. Richard Flinton advised that he had recently had the opportunity to speak to senior civil servants to express Leaders’ frustration in terms of wanting to start some more meaningful engagement with Government. Richard Flinton expressed the hope that, within the forthcoming fortnight, notification would be received about how the situation might move forward.
James Farrar reported that, in the meantime, officers had been looking at the Devolution Asks, not changing the Asks, but ensuring that they were consistent with current Government policy. Consequently, where there had been movement in Government policy or new initiatives, that was referenced in the correct way and the York and North Yorkshire delegation spoke to Government using the correct language to reflect current Government policy. James Farrar advised that the Directors of Development had confirmed that the Asks submitted in 2020 continued to be relevant, fit for purpose, and the correct Devolution Asks for York and North Yorkshire. The Directors of Development had taken into account the economic impact of Covid on the economy.
Richard Flinton clarified, based on discussions with civil servants, that there was a Government expectation that the right approach for York and North Yorkshire was a Mayoral Combined Authority, rather than the type of County Deal, which might have alternative forms of governance, that had been the subject of a recent speech by the Prime Minister.
Resolved –
That the report be noted.
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Arrangements for Future Meetings
Resolved –
That the following LGNYY meeting arrangements, as previously advised, be noted:-
· Friday 10 December 2021 at 2.30pm (finishing 4.30pm) – Virtual meeting · Friday 11 March 2022 at 3.00pm (finishing 5pm) – Virtual meeting · Friday 1 July 2022 at 2.30pm (finishing 4.30pm) – Virtual meeting · Friday 14 October 2022 at 2.30pm (finishing 4.30pm) – Virtual meeting · Friday 9 December 2022 at 2.30pm (finishing 4.30pm) – Virtual meeting
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Business for Next Meeting
Resolved –
That items of business for the next meeting be notified to Richard Flinton.
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127 |
Other Business - Nomination of District Councils' Substitute on the ESIF Sub-Committee
Considered –
The report of the Honorary Secretary which sought the filling of a vacancy for the District Councils’ Substitute on the ESIF Sub-Committee.
Resolved –
That Councillor Dinah Keal (Ryedale District Council) be appointed as the District Councils’ Substitute on the ESIF Sub-Committee to serve until LGNYY’s Annual Meeting on 1 July 2022.
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Other Business - Update on the North Yorkshire Rural Commission
Considered –
A verbal report of Richard Flinton concerning the process through which the recommendations of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission would be considered.
Richard Flinton advised that a Task Group was being set up and invitations were currently being sent out. It was hoped that the Task Group could be up-and-running in November 2021 to set about benchmarking where organisations were against the Commission’s recommendations. Subsequently, the Task Group would identify those areas that could be moved forward, whether that was in line with the recommendations or in a different direction, and then draw-up a work programme to move forward together. Richard Flinton confirmed that there was every intention of progressing the work and seeing where it could go.
Resolved –
That the report be noted.
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The meeting concluded at 3.10 pm.