NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
21 JULY 2021
STATEMENT OF THE OPEN TO BUSINESS PORTFOLIO HOLDER COUNTY COUNCILLOR ANDREW LEE (INCLUDING GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, WASTE MANAGEMENT, TRADING STANDARDS AND BUSINESS RELATIONS)
Economic Development
The York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) continues to deliver the £15.4m Getting Building Fund investment which remains on track for completion.
In addition, the LEP has continued to innovate and deliver its careers advice online. A recent series of size sector focused events attracted a total of over 25,000 views with over 2,400 watching each event live. This innovation is incredibly important in a county as large as North Yorkshire if we want to ensure our young people across the whole geography have access to the same high quality careers advice across a broad range of industries.
Planning Services
Although work has been somewhat more limited over the past year due to COVID-19, work towards the adoption of our Minerals and Waste Joint Plan with the City of York Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority has continued. The production of an updated Schedule of Main Modifications has been finalised and the statutory assessments to accompany the Plan have been completed. The Authorities are duty bound to consult with interested parties on the Schedule of Main Modifications to the Plan and this public consultation will likely be in the coming months with the expectation of adoption of the Plan later this year.
Waste Management
Preparations are underway to ensure Household Waste Recycling Centres are operating efficiently, effectively and have the capacity to meet increased demand from residents when national restrictions are removed. The waste service has responded to government consultations proposing major reforms to the waste management sector and continues to work with partners to set out how to meet new obligations and deliver best value to residents through new waste management arrangements.
Growth and Heritage Services
Community Renewal Fund
As the Lead Authority for the Government’s Community Renewal Fund in North Yorkshire the County Council has been responsible for inviting and shortlisting funding applications prior to submission to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. Overall the Council received 66 applications and has shortlisted 28 projects with a total value of £8.4m. The limits put on the funding programme by MHCLG meant that the Council was unable to submit more projects for consideration but is continuing to work with applicants to develop proposals further with a view to exploiting future funding opportunities.
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has indicated that the final decision as to which applications will be approved for funding will be made at the end of July or beginning of August. The Community Renewal Fund is a revenue fund and successful projects are required to be completed by the end of March 2022.
There has been recent media coverage of our North Yorkshire archaeology.
More 4 Documentary - The Heck Iron Age Harness (see picture below)
The Heck Iron Age harness was found a couple of years ago by a metal detectorist. A geophysical survey strongly suggested that the finds had come from a ploughed out square barrow. A TV production company, ‘Tuesday’s Child,’ is working with the British Museum, on a show covering responsible metal detecting. The County’s archaeologist was been filmed with the local detectorist to explain how significant the find was. This should air on More4 in the Autumn.
Malton Roman Finds
When Norton Community Primary School was expanded during 2016 to 2017, archaeologists discovered important finds relating to Roman Norton and Malton including a complete Roman cremation burial of a second to third-century Roman soldier, presumably stationed in the nearby fort at Malton and another burial containing two goose heads. Other finds included jet jewellery, complete copper bracelets and fragments of a ceramic cockerel, potentially linked with the god Mercury.
The most valuable finds have been deposited in Malton Museum however roman finds from the extension of Brooklyn House at Norton have now been distributed to local schools in the Ryedale area too.
A publication covering the Brooklyn House finds at Malton has now been produced. ‘Life, Death and Rubbish Disposal in Roman Norton, North Yorkshire: Excavations at Brooklyn House 2015-16’ by Janet Phillips and Pete Wilson, available to read at North Yorkshire’s libraries in Malton, Norton and Pickering and at the County Council’s Historic Environment Record in Northallerton.
Bedale Aiskew and Leeming Bar Relief Road Booklet
The County’s archaeologists have been working with Highways to circulate information on the archaeological findings from excavation works at the Bedale Aiskew and Leeming Bar Relief road. The production of a booklet with a foreword from Councillors Les and Weighell is close to completion and will be printed shortly.
ANDREW LEE