North Yorkshire Local Access Forum
29 September 2021
District Council and LAF Project Updates
Report of the Secretary
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1.0 |
Purpose of the Report
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1.1 |
An opportunity for LAF members to update the Forum on District Council liaison and other LAF representative project activity since the last meeting.
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2.1 The LAF operates an agreed list of nominated representatives willing to act as the first point of liaison with the constituent District Councils in relation to planning and other relevant matters. Individual LAF members are also nominated from time to time to take a lead on specific projects that the LAF has an interest in or in representing the LAF on other partnership bodies. Both are represented in the table below:
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Name |
Representation |
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Will Scarlett |
Craven District |
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Rachel Connelly |
Hambleton District Richmondshire District A1 & A19 |
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Roma Haigh |
Ryedale District HS2 |
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Paul Sherwood |
NYCC Countryside Access Service User Group Regional Access Forum A66 |
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Helen Soutar |
Harrogate District
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County Councillor David Jeffels |
Scarborough District Regional Access Forum |
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Vacant |
2026 Selby District |
2.2 This agenda item provides an opportunity for the Forum to be updated on activity since the previous meeting.
3.0 District Council Liaison
3.1 The following updates have been provided by Rachel Connolly:
· A1 Upgrade Facililties for NMUs. After several years of HE promising improvements for linkages for NMUs there has been no sign of action. Two years ago various initiatives were detailed, but communication between NYCC and HE lacks any serious direction it would seem as emails and phone calls to inquire about progress go unanswered (everyone WFH) both parties appearing unaccountable. Frustrating.
· Catterick Garrison/MOD Constructive contact made, with agreed LAF contact in due course to discuss access details within the ‘new vision’ garrison along with RDC.
· Richmond District Council continues to send weekly planning lists to spot any that might have an NMU impact. They also flag up cases by email to me from time to time, but personal contact by phone is difficult, Covid impacting their management badly.
· Hambleton District Council have been exemplary during Covid and are effectively back in business. Contact is made by me every six weeks or so to see if they need Forum input/advice. Currently waiting for a review of cases after which they will be in touch. They are also critical and frustrated by NYCC’s handling of work during the pandemic. And a past example: a cycle link Aiskew/Bedale has plans agreed by Sustrans and ready funding, and is backed by Hambleton, but the project faces lack of will/interest by NYCC to progress it.
Incidentally, from time to time I have contact over access issues with Durham County Council, and during the past difficult months they have been available on phones and staff have continued to work on rights of way sites. In this way they have been able to keep on top of their workload.
· A66 - Waiting to hear the results of the NMU workshop and user-experience which I helped organise on the section nearest Scotch Corner. This is not a section to be upgraded, but will feed into HE understanding of NMU needs and difficulties. As ‘observer with local knowledge’ I listened in to the upgrading meetings and sent the Forum a report as Paul could not be there.
4.1 Nominated representatives are invited to report verbally on any other activity undertaken since the last meeting.
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5.0 |
Recommendation |
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5.1
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That members: i) Note the updates; ii) Agree any further actions required
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BARRY KHAN
Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)
County Hall
NORTHALLERTON
Report Author: Melanie Carr, Secretary to North Yorkshire Local Access Forum