North Yorkshire County Council

Executive

6 July 2021

Area Constituency Committee Feedback

1.0	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 on 9 June 2021

2.1       County Councillor David Hugill was appointed Chairman, and County Councillor Yvonne Peacock, Vice-Chairman, for 2021/22.

2.2       County Councillor Carl Les and other Executive Members present gave updates on the current position relating to COVID 19 and how that was being addressed, together with other key issues in the Constituency area and County-wide.

2.3       A presentation was provided in respect of economic recovery from the COVID pandemic, both County-wide and in the Constituency area. During discussion of the report Members raised a number of issues, including: the availability of rental housing, issues in relation to the availability of staff for the re-opening hospitality sector, the need to extend the period of support to assist people coming out of the pandemic and the provision of affordable housing to prevent people from leaving rural areas.

2.4       Members were provided with details of the new “in-house” company, North Yorkshire Highways, that will provide highways’ services in the County. Issues in relation to local highways matters were also discussed.

2,5       An update on the progress of the North Northallerton Bridge was provided, and it was indicated that the bridge was expected to be completed by January 2022, but would require extensive testing before it was open to traffic. It was also noted that action was underway to address the flooding situation on the A684.

2.6       Details of the Digital Demand Responsive Bus Service being piloted in Masham/Bedale in the Constituency area. Details of how the service operated were outlined.

3.0       Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee on 10 June 2021

3.1       The committee considered a presentation about economic recovery from the Covid pandemic.  Members asked questions particularly in relation to the improvements being made to internet and mobile connectivity, and the areas within the Constituency where free WiFi is being made available.  A Member suggested that 5G, together with sensor monitoring, could be used, in future, to provide real-time information about air quality outside schools and in town centres.

3.2       The committee considered an update following the changes which were made to stroke services at Harrogate District Hospital in 2019.  NHS officers added that, at this stage, two years on, ideally they would have wanted to provide a detailed analysis of figures and patient numbers.  However, this was difficult because Covid issues had tended to skew some of the numbers.  Members commented that the reconfiguration of stroke services in Harrogate in 2019 had been the correct thing to do.  Arrangements were made for a full set of data, looking at the Stroke Admission Pathway, to be submitted to elected Members in a year’s time.  The NHS officer agreed to supply Committee Members, in the meantime, with the figures currently available, although these would be heavily caveated to recognise that they are not representative due to Covid.

3.3       The committee considered information about waiting times for clinical procedures at Harrogate District Hospital as a consequence of the impacts of Covid, together with the actions being taken by the Hospital to address the situation.  Members thanked the Hospital’s representative for a detailed and reassuring report.

3.4       County Councillor Carl Les and other Executive Members present gave updates on key issues arising in their portfolios and answered questions posed by the committee.

4.0       Selby & Ainsty Area Constituency Committee on 11 June 2021

4.1       County Councillor Carl Les and other Executive Members present gave updates on the current position relating to COVID 19 and how that was being addressed, together with other key issues in the Constituency are and County-wide.

4.2       A presentation was provided in respect of economic recovery from the COVID pandemic, both County-wide and in the Constituency area. During discussion of the report Members raised a number of issues, including: the need for appropriate infrastructure to support the large scale housing developments taking place, issues in relation to increasing traffic on the A59, the placement of the new Special School in the Selby District, the need for appropriately priced housing, the creation of good, well paid jobs, providing an adequate junction off the M62 into the Selby district to enhance job creation and securing a future for the Constituency area.

4.3       Members received a presentation relating to flooding issues in the Constituency and what was being provided to address those. Members raised issues in respect of the impact the Leeds flooding alleviation scheme was having on the Constituency area, the increase in the number and frequency of flooding incidents, the impact of surface water flooding and the need to speed up flooding alleviation schemes where funding has been identified.

4.4       An update was provided in respect of the Selby Place and Motion Study and it was noted that a final report would be brought to the Committee in September. Members highlighted issues that they hoped would be addressed through the study.

4.5       An update was provided in relation to the reconstruction and re-opening of the A19, following flooding in February 2020. It was expected that the road would re-open to traffic on 21^st June 2021.

5.0       Thirsk & Malton Area Constituency Committee in 25 June 2021

5.1       The Committee considered a presentation provided by North Yorkshire Police on the levels of crime and incidences committed in 2020/21 in the Thirsk and Malton Constituency area.  They were particularly keen to understand the reason for the increase in drug offences in the Scarborough & Ryedale area and what was driving it.  As there was no representative from NYP available to attend the meeting, the Committee agreed to seek a written response to their enquiry.

5.2       The Committee were also pleased to have MP Kevin Hollinrake present at the meeting to give an update on ongoing issues across the Constituency area and at Westminster, and the Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing who provided an update on the current position relating to COVID 19.

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 merits further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level.

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

County Hall

Northallerton

5 July 2021