North Yorkshire Council
Skipton and Ripon Area Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 5th September 2024, commencing at 10.02am.
Officers present: Nick Turpin, Development Service Manager (South Area); Sharon Sunter, Economic Development Manager; Andrew Laycock, Regeneration Officer – Skipton and Ripon; Linda Marfitt, Head of Planning Policy & Place; Ruth Parker, Principal Planning Policy & Place Officer; Rachel Cryer, Principal Policy Place Officer; Laura Welsh, Planning Policy and Place Officer; Mark Codman, Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Manager; Christine Phillipson, Principle Democratic Services Officer; Vicky Davies, Senior Democratic Services Officer; and David Smith, Democratic Services Officer.
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Councillors Philip Barrett and Andrew Murday.
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Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 June 2024
Considered
The minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee held on 6 June 2024.
Resolved
(a) That the Minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee held on 6 June 2024, 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
Councillors Richard Foster and Andy Brown declared that at the Strategic Planning Committee of 14 May 2024 they were involved in the decision regarding an application which relates to the petition at Item 5.
Councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams declared that they had submitted statements to or spoken at the 14 May 2024 Strategic Planning Committee regarding the application to which the petition at Item 5 relates. They both also declared that they had previously been in discussions with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust. Councillor Brodigan declared that she had signed the petition.
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Public Participation
There was none.
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Receipt of Petition titled 'Save Ripon's Military Heritage'
Considered
A report advising Members of a petition containing more than 500 signatures, verbal additions to this report from Nick Turpin, Development Service Manager (South Area), and a verbal statement from Guy Wilson, Chair of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust (RMHT).
Nick Turpin outlined the report, informing Members that the petition related to the planning application 20/02973/EIAMAJ, which was granted permission at the 14 May 2024 Strategic Planning Committee, subject to conditions and the completion of a s106 agreement. It was explained that the report to the Strategic Planning Committee covered military heritage in detail and that Members of the Committee discussed the issue during the meeting. Mr Turpin drew the AC’s attention to Condition 47, which requires a heritage strategy to be submitted prior to the submission of the first reserved matters application and for the strategy to be brought back to the Strategic Planning Committee when the first reserved matter application is dealt with.
Guy Wilson introduced the petition, stating that as he served as Master of the Armourers; led in creating the Royal Armouries, Leeds; and was previously a director of a national museum, he understands that not everything can be saved. He went on to highlight the importance of the site stating that:
· The site formed part of Ripon’s North Camp in the First World War, where soldiers trained or recovered from injuries.
· The foundations of the power station that powered both of Ripon’s camps and the remains of the weir are present.
· The School of Military Engineering was in Ripon during the Second World War and evidence of this training is on the site. Cold War training bridges are also present on the site.
· The wooden huts of Deverell Barracks are unique.
Mr Wilson suggested that despite the aforementioned Condition 47, the heritage of the site is not protected and there is no plan for the area’s archaeological investigation or preservation. He informed the Committee that the idea of re-erecting some of the more important huts away from the site had not been progressed. He also informed the Committee that RMHT has no formal stake in the project, and therefore can’t fundraise to support it, something that could take significant time.
During the debate on this item, the following points were raised:
· There were concerns that there may not be enough time between the heritage strategy being submitted and the first reserved matter application being dealt with, and therefore, RMHT could not have time to fundraise. RMHT cannot start fundraising until there is confirmation of a location that the heritage assets can be preserved on.
· Members highlighted that the 23 February 2023 Harrogate Borough Council Planning Committee and the 14 May 2024 North Yorkshire Council Strategic Planning Committee were supportive of finding a location for the heritage assets. It was also highlighted that the Council’s Conservation Officer supports the retention of a selection of buildings and the bridges at Laver Banks if feasible.
· It was suggested that Officers bring in experts to assist with finding a solution due to the specific nature of the situation.
· Members highlighted that retaining some of the buildings on the development site without a proper scheme in place would leave them vulnerable to vandalism. It was suggested that the huts should become a tourist attraction that draws people to the city.
Following the debate, Nick Turpin informed Members that Officers were supportive of trying to find a solution but reminded them that it is up to Homes England and the Ripon Military Heritage Trust to put proposals forward.
Members supported the petition, and it was proposed to take the action requested by the petition and write a letter to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Homes England, to express the Area Committee’s disquiet at the apparent disregard of the military heritage on the site. This should urge them to properly and promptly consider the preservation of the military heritage, and encourage discussions between the Ripon Military Heritage Trust and Homes England.
A vote was taken and the motion was declared carried with 11 votes for, none against and 2 abstentions (those Members that are members of Strategic Planning Committee).
Resolved
a) That the Area Committee takes the action requested by the petition.
b) That the Area Committee writes to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Homes England, to express the Area Committee’s disquiet at the apparent disregard of the military heritage on the site. This should urge them to properly consider the preservation of the military heritage and encourage discussions between the Ripon Military Heritage Trust and Homes England.
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Update from RT Hon Julian Smith MP
Considered
A verbal update from The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP, provided remotely using MS Teams.
The Chair invited The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP to provide an update on his areas of work, concerns, and priorities, before there was a discussion with Members. The key points are summarised below.
· A discussion on the government’s intention to remove winter fuel allowance and the consequences that this would have on the residents in the Skipton and Ripon constituency.
· A discussion on the Airedale Hospital rebuild and The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP informed Members that he was hopeful the rebuild would go ahead.
· Members highlighted the importance of NYC, the Mayor and the MP providing feedback to the new housing target figures consultation. The general view was that housing target figures were too high.
· The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP offered to assist the Ripon Military Heritage Trust with their campaign.
· The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP agreed to provide an update on the processes to get more transparency in the petrol and diesel markets.
Members thanked The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP for attending the meeting.
Resolved
a) That the verbal update is noted.
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Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund for the Area Constituency Committees
Considered
A report by Sharon Sunter, Economic Development Manager, providing a progress update on the budget position of the Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund in relation to this Committee.
Sharon Sunter introduced the report, and the following points were discussed during the debate:
Langcliffe Quarry – A History of the Limeworks Industry - · Members were pleased that grant funding from the UKSPF NY programme has been awarded as this balances how funding has been awarded across North Yorkshire. · Members were informed that NYC has been approached regarding a café proposal for one of the units at Langcliffe Quarry. They were also informed that 6/8 of the units are currently rented out with the two largest units still empty.
Ripon Mobility Hub - · Members asked that the Area Committee has the opportunity to feedback into this project at an early stage. · It was also suggested that Members should receive information on the additional funding bid.
In addition to the above, Members asked for an update on the project at Engine Shed Lane, Skipton. Sharon Sunter informed them that Craven District Council had produced designs using flood modelling data provided by the Environment Agency. An inaccuracy in this data was discovered and so a bid to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been produced to fund a review of the Craven designs.
Members also raised concerns that land at Airedale Avenue had been sold without informing the Area Committee.
Resolved
a) That the update is noted.
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Heritage, People & Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey (The Masterplan)
Considered
A report by Ruth Parker, Principal Planning Policy & Place Officer, presenting the Heritage, People & Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey.
Ruth Parker introduced the report before passing to James Ellis, Director of Planning at Rural Solutions, who gave a presentation. The following additional points were made to the report and presentation.
· Following the local Member briefing, The Strategy has been amended to emphasise the importance of Bolton Abbey Railway Station. · The Strategy’s next steps were explained. 1. Members of the Area Committee to provide comments. 2. A report to be received by the Council’s Executive at the 17 September 2024 meeting. This will recommend that the Strategy is endorsed and forms a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications in the area.
Members raised the following points:
· Bolton Bridge is not a village or a tourism destination and it should not become one. The Strategy should not be site specific but give a general picture of improvements that can be made. · Some Members raised concerns that The Strategy had been produced by the Estate. Officers reinforced that The Strategy aligns with NYC policy and that they support the findings of the document. · That The Strategy could be more environmentally friendly by relying less on car use and introducing solar panels in the car parks. Fewer cars would also reduce road congestion. · The addition of a new hotel should be carefully considered, and development should be sympathetic. · There were concerns of increased housing in the area but the estate confirmed that there are no plans for larger housing developments. · The Strategy should focus more on improving the current farming industry.
Resolved
a) That The Strategy is noted. b) That Members were generally supportive of The Strategy.
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Parish Sector Liaison
Considered
A presentation by Mark Codman, Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Manager, and Christine Philipson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, providing an overview of the parish liaison functions in the Democratic Services and Localities teams.
Mark Codman gave a presentation and the following points were added to the slides contained within the papers.
· Updated figures were provided as there are 115 parishes in the Skipton and Ripon area. · The precept statistics are particularly important as they may change how NYC liaise with the parishes. · Members raised that some parishes were struggling to recruit clerks. · Parishes often unhappy with the management of NYC highways and street-lighting. · Training of Parish Councillors to help them better understand their role, bearing in mind that there is a fine balance with it being an unpaid position.
Resolved
a) That the item be noted.
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Councillor David Ireton left the meeting at 12.24
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Youth Councils
Considered
A report by David Smith, Democratic Services Officer, presenting an update from James Neill, Chair of Skipton Youth Council.
Members reiterated that regular updates from the area’s Youth Councils were useful, and they enquired about the Nidderdale, Ripon and Settle Youth Councils.
Resolved
a) That the update is noted.
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Committee Work Programme
Considered
A report by David Smith, Democratic Services Officer, inviting Members to consider, amend and add to the Committee’s work programme.
Members made the following amendments to the work programme:
· Better liaison with Member when decisions are being made. · Housing allocations and targets – following the publication of new targets. · High street accommodation – use of empty rooms above shops.
Resolved
a) That the above amendments be made to the work programme.
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Councillor Andrew Williams left the meeting at 12.32
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Any Other Items
Members discussed the Airedale Hospital rebuild and suggested writing a letter to the relevant minister showing the AC’s support for the rebuild.
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Date of Next Meeting
Thursday, 12 December 2024 at 10.00am.
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The meeting concluded at 12.45 pm.