North Yorkshire County Council
Executive
5 July 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 Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Committee – 6 June 2022
2.1 County Councillors Yvonne Peacock and Peter Wilkinson were appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the committee.
2.2 As this was the first meeting of this committee following the May elections, the agenda had a number of items that were administrative in nature. This included items on: ways of working, data profiles; work programme, and appointment to outside bodies. There was also updates on the findings of the Flood Working Group, and north Northallerton Bridge.
2.3 Tribute was paid to the members of the Flood Working Group and it was noted their findings were to be fed into the draft NYCC Local Flood Risk Strategy 2022-27. The Committee agreed to keep a watching brief over the implementation of the strategy in relation to their contribution.
2.4 Finally, the Committee considered North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Risk and Resource Model 2022/25 Consultation document, provided by the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and agreed to submit individual responses.
3.0 Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee – 7 June 2002
3.1 As this was the first meeting of this committee following the May elections, a Chair and Vice Chair were elected. These were Cllrs Richard Foster and Andy Solloway, respectively.
3.2 The agenda had a number of items that were administrative in nature, due to it being the first meeting of the committee. This included items on: ways of working; data profiles; work programme; and appointment to outside bodies. There was also an update on progress with a local traffic safety scheme and also the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner’s consultation on the Risk and Resource Model 2022-25.
3.3 The main focus of the committee meeting was a broad discussion on the role that it would have to play over the next 9 months in the development of the new ways of working for the Area Constituency Committees. Issues arising from the discussion included: the geography of the current iteration of the ACC for Skipton and Ripon not necessarily providing a helpful focal point for local issues; a desire to see a greater range of powers and responsibilities devolved down to the committees, particularly around highways and economic development; the need for more opportunities for the involvement of all councillors in the work around the development of the committees; and concerns around how devolved decision making on planning would be managed.
3.4 The committee also discussed how they would hold their scheduled meetings in September, December and March. The view was that they would continue to meet in person but use a venue that had the necessary technology in place to enable presenters to attend remotely.
4.0 Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee - 9 June 2022
4.1 County Councillors Pat Marsh and Monika Slater were appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the committee.
4.2 This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chamber at Harrogate Civic Centre. The meeting was also live broadcast with assistance and facilities provided by the Borough Council. Members asked that the committee’s future meetings to be held:
· either in-person, at various venues around the constituency, with facilities provided for residents and guest speakers to attend remotely, and for in-person meetings to be also live-broadcast;
· or be virtual for appropriate non-decision making meetings.
4.3 The agenda had a number of items that were administrative in nature, due to this being the first meeting of the committee following the elections in May. This included items on: ways of working; data profiles; and appointment to outside bodies.
4.4 The main focus of the committee meeting was to seek Members’ suggestions concerning topics it wishes to consider during the next 9 months. Members put forward numerous suggestions, including:
· youth-related anti-social behaviour;
· the prevention of coronary heart disease;
· the reasons why average emergency admissions to hospital for the under 5’s within the constituency are high;
· factors contributing to the unexpectedly high levels of fuel poverty in this relatively affluent constituency;
· support for small businesses provided by the Borough Council and others;
· the need for more social housing;
· ambulance waiting times;
· access to GP surgeries and NHS dentistry particularly where housing development is taking place;
· the location of social sports facilities for young people and how such facilities are being used within communities;
· air quality and pollution issues; and
· progress of the various proposals within the Harrogate Highway Congestion Study.
4.5 The committee decided to convene a special meeting to consider its response to the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner’s consultation on the Fire and Rescue Service’s Risk and Resource Model 2022-25. The committee also asked for the Commissioner and Chief Fire Officer to be invited to attend.
4.6 The committee decided to set up a sub group to consider views which Zero Carbon Harrogate had presented to its meeting during the item “Public Questions or Questions”, and to report back to the committee. The committee appointed, to the sub group, Councillor Arnold Warneken (to chair) with Councillors Paul Haslam, Mike Scholfield and Pat Marsh. Committee Members asked that, in addition to Zero Carbon Harrogate, all carbon aware groups should be invited to engage with the sub group’s work.
4.7 Members welcomed the suggestion of holding informal meetings to build up their understanding of the constituency area and the new operating model of the area committees in the new unitary authority. Members were particularly keen to see a greater range of powers and responsibilities devolved down to area committees, particularly around planning and development control.
5.0 Scarborough and Whitby Area Constituency Committee – 10 June 2022
5.1 County Councillors Clive Pearson and Liz Colling were appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the committee.
5.2 As with all of the other Area Constituency Committees, the agenda for the meeting was made up mainly of administrative issues such as ways of working, area data profile and appointments to outside bodies.
5.3 The Committee also considered the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Risk and Resource Model 2022/25 Consultation document, provided by the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. They felt the future of the Fire Service in the Scarborough district area was a key issue and agreed to hold an additional meeting to draft a formal committee response to the consultation. They agreed to invite the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, the Chief Fire Officer for North Yorkshire and a Fire Brigade Union representative.
6.0 Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee – 17 June 2022
6.1 County Councillor Nigel Knapton was appointed Chairman and County Councillor Caroline Goodrick appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee.
6.2 As this was the first Meeting of the Committee since the elections, a number of mainly administrative issues were considered as follows:-
· ways of working;
· data profiles;
· work programme; and
· appointment to outside bodies
6.3 The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s consultation on the Risk and Resource Model 2022- 25 was considered.
6.4 The main focus of the meeting was a discussion with the Constituency MP, Kevin Hollinrake. The following issues were highlighted:-
· The imposition of an Asylum Reception Centre on Linton-on-Ouse and the opposition to that. A discussion was held in respect of this opposition and where those seeking asylum could be located, together with Government policy.
· The changing rules for farming and food, and the impact of those, including the impact of ELMS.
· The ongoing process of obtaining a devolution deal.
· The A64 and the bid submitted to National Highways, with an update on the development of that.
· Issues around the cost of living crisis and rising inflation.
· The Levelling Up agenda and the impact on the region.
· Issues around Climate Change and the net carbon zero plan, including the cost of retrospective fitting houses with carbon reducing initiatives v building them into housing developments, the provision of electric charging points, the use of farming land for solar panels (support and opposition) particularly in relation to the use of the top grade of agricultural land, the influence this will have on the overall economy of the area, the different solutions and technologies available in terms of energy production.
6.5 Members requested that issues relating to NHS Dentist Waiting Lists, Access to GP services, Ambulance Service response and Levelling Up bids be added to the work programme.
7.0 Recommendation
7.1 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.
Barry Khan
Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)
County Hall
Northallerton
27 June 2022