North Yorkshire County Council
Executive
19 April 2022
Area Constituency Committee Feedback
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1.0
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Purpose of the Report
To bring to the attention of the Executive key issues considered at recent meetings of the Area Constituency Committees. |
2.0 Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee – 10 March 2022
2.1 The committee Chair, County Councillor Mike Chambers MBE, opened the meeting with some reflections on what the committee had achieved over the past 4 years, noting the local scrutiny that had been undertaken of the redevelopment of the Castleberg Hospital at Giggleswick and the progress with the development of a new route for the A59 around Kex Gill.
2.2 There was an update on the progress being made with the introduction of road safety measures on Sutton Lane, between Sutton in Craven and Eastburn, following a fatal accident there. This was previously discussed at the December 2021 meeting of the committee, following the submission of a petition on the mater.
2.3 Updates were also received on progress with the Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan and the work of the Stronger Communities Team. Regarding the latter, committee members were keen to see how the work of the Community Support Organisations could evolve and develop and how they could continue to play a role in supporting some of the more vulnerable people in the community, post-covid. Regarding the Carbon Reduction Plan, committee members were keen to see how local government reorganisation could help progress the carbon reduction agenda and enable closer working between agencies and organisations across the county.
2.4 The Executive members present at the meeting gave updates on key issues relating to their portfolios.
2.5 There were no public questions of statements at the meeting. The Rt Hon Julian Smith MP was not able to attend the meeting due to other commitments.
3.0 Scarborough & Whitby Area Constituency Committee – 16 March 2022
3.1 The Committee received a presentation from Yorkshire Water on bathing water quality which provided an overview of their partnership arrangements and their new vision and objective i.e. to achieve excellent bathing water status at all of Yorkshire's designated bathing waters. Members noted the quality rating of the bathing waters across the constituency area, and were also pleased to note Yorkshire Waters investment in and future plans for the Scarborough & Whitby area.
3.2 The Committee also received a progress update on the Scarborough & Whitby Town Deals. The presentation provided an overview of Scarborough & Whitby’s investment plans and an update on each of the individual projects. Members recognised the economic value of the various projects and potential jobs they would generate. They questioned Plan B should the required funding not be achieved, and it was confirmed there was a contingency in place. They also suggested a public engagement event would be helpful.
3.3 Finally, the Committee received an annual update on the work of the Stronger Communities team which provided an overview of the performance of the Community Support Organisations during 2021/22. Issues discussed included the particular challenges emerging from the pandemic, including financial hardship and mental health support, and it was noted they would be key areas of focus for the CSOs moving forward. The Committee also noted the emerging opportunities for greater levels of collaboration and cross sector working for the CSOs, e.g. through the SeeCHANGE project, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Scarborough.
4.0 Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee – 17 March 2022
4.1 The Committee considered an annual report concerning the Stronger Communities Programme and the support provided to and by local communities in response to the Covid 19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area. Committee Members placed on record their gratitude to the Stronger Communities Team and the CSOs in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge for all the work they had done in recent years.
4.2 The Committee discussed car parking provision at seven railway stations in and around the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area. The following were noted:-
· The Harrogate Line has seen significant improvements in recent years, all of which had potentially increased demand for rail travel.
· Pre-pandemic, most car parks on the Harrogate Line were full. However, the pandemic had changed this, with more people now working from home.
· The rail industry had looked at each station to identify any land available for car parking close to stations. Whilst some land had been identified, its purchase cost, difficulty with access to/from the site, and poor business cases had resulted in them not being developed further. This was the situation in relation to Starbeck and Knaresborough railway stations, although a Member highlighted that the demand for car parking at such stations was high, including by people from outside who were driving into town to access such railway stations.
· Provision for a park and rail car park was included as part of the redevelopment of the Dunlopillo site in Pannal, although, as yet, this has not been provided.
· The use of public transport, as a viable alternative to use of the car, was being encouraged. In particular, onward travel posters and other information is published to promote the different ways to get to and from each railway station and the facilities at each station.
· Any car park developments coming forward would be expected to help deliver the York and North Yorkshire Routemap to Carbon Negative.
Some of the issues which Committee Members discussed were as follows:-
· Members are keen to make public transport, whether by bus or by rail, more accessible. This is a main feature of the Harrogate Gateway Scheme.
· Members expressed opposition to proposals to charge for station car parking on the basis that it pushes parking into residential roads where such parking is a danger, is inconvenient to local people, and increases the cost to the passenger of using public transport.
· With regard to car parking at Cattal railway station, Members felt confident that, whichever council is in place at the time, conditions will be imposed on the developer of a nearby new housing settlement to provide better facilities at Cattal railway station. The Borough Council is currently preparing a document to guide the development of the new settlement.
· With regard to Hornbeam Park railway station, a Member suggested that additional cycle routes, from further away, might be provided to encourage people to get to/from Hornbeam Park by cycling rather than by motor car. Previously, the double-decking of Hornbeam Park station car park had been proposed and Members expressed a range of views about this. Already there was a fair bit of overspill of parking from this station onto local residential roads and some inconsiderate parking.
4.3 Five Executive Members in attendance at the meeting gave updates on key issues and priorities.
5.0 Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Committee – 23 March 2022
5.1 A public question relating to the non-collection of litter alongside the A66 in the Richmondshire District was recognised as a District Council issue, but due to the issue being widespread throughout the County, and this not having been collected due to the complexity of dealing with this situation, it was suggested that the issue be referred to the Executive, initially to assist with generating a response to the situation alongside the A66 as a matter of urgency, and to assist with the development of a County-wide strategy in respect of this matter.
5.2 The Executive member present at the meeting gave updates on key issues including LGR, promoting Care in North Yorkshire and the Ukrainian crisis.
5.3 An updates was received on the progress with the work of the Stronger Communities Team. Issues discussed included the continuing response to COVID, Suicide Prevention, assistance following the loss of the Bilsdale TV mast, available assistance for the cost of living crisis.
5.4 An update on the North Northallerton bridge project was provided. And it was noted that the bridge would be completed shortly, however, it would not be open to traffic until the road had been appropriately tested. Members raised concerns at the delays to the project and requested that the testing issue be resolved as quickly as possible.
5.5 The CCG gave a presentation on proposals for a Catterick Integrated Care Centre. Further reports would be brought to the Committee as the project developed.
5.6 Mr Graham Rhodes, a Category 3 Outside Body appointment to the Elizabeth Barnett Charity (East Witton), nominated by County Councillor Karin Sedgewick, was approved.
6.0 Recommendation
6.1 That the Executive notes the report and considers any matters arising from the work of the Area Constituency Committees detailed above, that merit further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level.
6.2 In respect of the collection of litter alongside roads, particularly major roads, the Richmond (Yorks) ACC recommends to the Executive that co-ordination be provided initially, to assist with:
i. Generating a response to the situation alongside the A66, as a matter of urgency
ii. The development of a countywide strategy in respect of this matter.
Barry Khan
Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)
County Hall
Northallerton
7 April 2022