Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Philip Barrett and Andrew Murday.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2024 as a correct record.

Considered

The minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee held on 6 June 2024.

Resolved

(a)   That the Minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee held on 6 June 2024, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

Councillors Richard Foster and Andy Brown declared that at the Strategic Planning Committee of 14 May 2024 they were involved in the decision regarding an application which relates to the petition at Item 5.

Councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams declared that they had submitted statements to or spoken at the 14 May 2024 Strategic Planning Committee regarding the application to which the petition at Item 5 relates. They both also declared that they had previously been in discussions with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust. Councillor Brodigan declared that she had signed the petition.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice (including the text of the question/statement) to David Smith of Democratic and Scrutiny Services (contact details below) by midday on Monday, 2 September 2024, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

·          at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·          when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There was none.

To advise of a petition containing more than 500 signatures and ask the Committee to consider a response.

Considered

A report advising Members of a petition containing more than 500 signatures, verbal additions to this report from Nick Turpin, Development Service Manager (South Area), and a verbal statement from Guy Wilson, Chair of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust (RMHT).

Nick Turpin outlined the report, informing Members that the petition related to the planning application 20/02973/EIAMAJ, which was granted permission at the 14 May 2024 Strategic Planning Committee, subject to conditions and the completion of a s106 agreement. It was explained that the report to the Strategic Planning Committee covered military heritage in detail and that Members of the Committee discussed the issue during the meeting. Mr Turpin drew the AC’s attention to Condition 47, which requires a heritage strategy to be submitted prior to the submission of the first reserved matters application and for the strategy to be brought back to the Strategic Planning Committee when the first reserved matter application is dealt with.

Guy Wilson introduced the petition, stating that as he served as Master of the Armourers; led in creating the Royal Armouries, Leeds; and was previously a director of a national museum, he understands that not everything can be saved. He went on to highlight the importance of the site stating that:

·        The site formed part of Ripon’s North Camp in the First World War, where soldiers trained or recovered from injuries.

·        The foundations of the power station that powered both of Ripon’s camps and the remains of the weir are present.

·        The School of Military Engineering was in Ripon during the Second World War and evidence of this training is on the site. Cold War training bridges are also present on the site.

·        The wooden huts of Deverell Barracks are unique.

Mr Wilson suggested that despite the aforementioned Condition 47, the heritage of the site is not protected and there is no plan for the area’s archaeological investigation or preservation. He informed the Committee that the idea of re-erecting some of the more important huts away from the site had not been progressed. He also informed the Committee that RMHT has no formal stake in the project, and therefore can’t fundraise to support it, something that could take significant time.

During the debate on this item, the following points were raised:

·        There were concerns that there may not be enough time between the heritage strategy being submitted and the first reserved matter application being dealt with, and therefore, RMHT could not have time to fundraise. RMHT cannot start fundraising until there is confirmation of a location that the heritage assets can be preserved on.

·        Members highlighted that the 23 February 2023 Harrogate Borough Council Planning Committee and the 14 May 2024 North Yorkshire Council Strategic Planning Committee were supportive of finding a location for the heritage assets. It was also highlighted that the Council’s Conservation Officer supports the retention of a selection of buildings and the bridges at Laver Banks if feasible.

·        It was suggested that Officers bring in experts to assist with finding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

An opportunity for Members to discuss issues of key concern in the constituency.

Considered

A verbal update from The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP, provided remotely using MS Teams.

The Chair invited The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP to provide an update on his areas of work, concerns, and priorities, before there was a discussion with Members. The key points are summarised below.

·        A discussion on the government’s intention to remove winter fuel allowance and the consequences that this would have on the residents in the Skipton and Ripon constituency.

·        A discussion on the Airedale Hospital rebuild and The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP informed Members that he was hopeful the rebuild would go ahead.

·        Members highlighted the importance of NYC, the Mayor and the MP providing feedback to the new housing target figures consultation. The general view was that housing target figures were too high.

·        The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP offered to assist the Ripon Military Heritage Trust with their campaign.

·        The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP agreed to provide an update on the processes to get more transparency in the petrol and diesel markets.

Members thanked The Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP for attending the meeting.

Resolved

a)     That the verbal update is noted.

To update Members on the current budget position of the Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund in relation to this Committee.

Considered

A report by Sharon Sunter, Economic Development Manager, providing a progress update on the budget position of the Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund in relation to this Committee.

Sharon Sunter introduced the report, and the following points were discussed during the debate:

Langcliffe Quarry – A History of the Limeworks Industry -

·        Members were pleased that grant funding from the UKSPF NY programme has been awarded as this balances how funding has been awarded across North Yorkshire.

·        Members were informed that NYC has been approached regarding a café proposal for one of the units at Langcliffe Quarry. They were also informed that 6/8 of the units are currently rented out with the two largest units still empty.

Ripon Mobility Hub -

·        Members asked that the Area Committee has the opportunity to feedback into this project at an early stage.

·        It was also suggested that Members should receive information on the additional funding bid.

In addition to the above, Members asked for an update on the project at Engine Shed Lane, Skipton. Sharon Sunter informed them that Craven District Council had produced designs using flood modelling data provided by the Environment Agency. An inaccuracy in this data was discovered and so a bid to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been produced to fund a review of the Craven designs.

Members also raised concerns that land at Airedale Avenue had been sold without informing the Area Committee.

Resolved

a)     That the update is noted.

To present the Heritage, People & Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey (the Masterplan).

Considered

A report by Ruth Parker, Principal Planning Policy & Place Officer, presenting the Heritage, People & Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey.

Ruth Parker introduced the report before passing to James Ellis, Director of Planning at Rural Solutions, who gave a presentation. The following additional points were made to the report and presentation.

·        Following the local Member briefing, The Strategy has been amended to emphasise the importance of Bolton Abbey Railway Station.

·        The Strategy’s next steps were explained.

1.     Members of the Area Committee to provide comments.

2.     A report to be received by the Council’s Executive at the 17 September 2024 meeting. This will recommend that the Strategy is endorsed and forms a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications in the area.

Members raised the following points:

·        Bolton Bridge is not a village or a tourism destination and it should not become one. The Strategy should not be site specific but give a general picture of improvements that can be made.

·        Some Members raised concerns that The Strategy had been produced by the Estate. Officers reinforced that The Strategy aligns with NYC policy and that they support the findings of the document.

·        That The Strategy could be more environmentally friendly by relying less on car use and introducing solar panels in the car parks. Fewer cars would also reduce road congestion.

·        The addition of a new hotel should be carefully considered, and development should be sympathetic.

·        There were concerns of increased housing in the area but the estate confirmed that there are no plans for larger housing developments.

·        The Strategy should focus more on improving the current farming industry.

Resolved

a)     That The Strategy is noted.

b)     That Members were generally supportive of The Strategy.

A presentation from the Parish Liaison, Local Devolution and Community Rights and Local Area Support Teams.

Considered

A presentation by Mark Codman, Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Manager, and Christine Philipson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, providing an overview of the parish liaison functions in the Democratic Services and Localities teams.

Mark Codman gave a presentation and the following points were added to the slides contained within the papers.

·        Updated figures were provided as there are 115 parishes in the Skipton and Ripon area.

·        The precept statistics are particularly important as they may change how NYC liaise with the parishes.

·        Members raised that some parishes were struggling to recruit clerks.

·        Parishes often unhappy with the management of NYC highways and street-lighting.

·        Training of Parish Councillors to help them better understand their role, bearing in mind that there is a fine balance with it being an unpaid position.

Resolved

a)     That the item be noted.

An update from the constituency’s Youth Councils.

Considered

A report by David Smith, Democratic Services Officer, presenting an update from James Neill, Chair of Skipton Youth Council.

Members reiterated that regular updates from the area’s Youth Councils were useful, and they enquired about the Nidderdale, Ripon and Settle Youth Councils.

Resolved

a)     That the update is noted.

Considered

A report by David Smith, Democratic Services Officer, inviting Members to consider, amend and add to the Committee’s work programme.

Members made the following amendments to the work programme:

·        Better liaison with Member when decisions are being made.

·        Housing allocations and targets – following the publication of new targets.

·        High street accommodation – use of empty rooms above shops.

Resolved

a)     That the above amendments be made to the work programme.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

Members discussed the Airedale Hospital rebuild and suggested writing a letter to the relevant minister showing the AC’s support for the rebuild.

Thursday, 12 December 2024 at 10.00am.

Thursday, 12 December 2024 at 10.00am.