Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Harrison, Schofield, and Walker.

To confirm the minutes as a correct record, and for the Chair to sign them.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2024, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed and signed by the Chairman 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.

Councillor Chris Aldred declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Minute 107, as he had previously been invited to attend a meeting of the Harrogate Youth Council.

Councillor Hannah Gostlow declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Minute 111, as a member of Knaresborough Town Council.

Councillor Peter Lacey declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Minute 111, as the Director of the Knaresborough Community Land Trust.

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 Edward Maxwell of Democratic Services (contact details below) by midday on Monday 17 March. Each speaker should limit themselves 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 Chair who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

Three public statements had been submitted:

·         By Christopher Dunn, in relation to an issue which was not part of the agenda.

·         By Emily Penn and Dave Simpson, in relation to Minute 108.

Statement submitted by Christopher Dunn

Crag Hill Cottage was built circa 1953 one year later than the creation of the definitive PROW map, the builder developer apparently ignored this legal map page and moved PROW 1565/3 away from ‘his’ new front garden into the field beyond the white ‘fence’ in the photo , this new access point to 1565/3 from Crag hill lane imposed steps, no handrail and cross membered fence as a ‘stile’. The tree stump in the photo was/still is the legal access point to 1565/3. It obstructs the low one step stone ORIGINAL stile. Crag Hill cottage enjoyed a planning application some few years back and answered the standard PROW question incorrectly, i.e. PROW NO impact!  The owner now has rebuilt his front wall as shown in the photo by consuming the verge, NYC highway searches confirms that the 1200mm is highway property. The owner has also at the far end of the new wall has increased his driveway x2 with impermeable driveway material, this driveway discharges water on to highway, Crag Hill Lane.

The following joint response was read out from Highways and Public Rights of Way:

North Yorkshire Council is currently processing a diversion to resolve the issues with the public footpath at Crag Hill Cottage. Mr Dunn has raised an objection to the diversion, but the Council has made an executive decision to support the diversion, and we are currently preparing the case for determination by the Planning Inspectorate. Mr Dunn will be kept advised of what he needs to do to input into the process.

Statement submitted by Emily Penn and Dave Simpson

Can the council confirm that villages will still have transport to their catchment schools, even if the proposed changes mean it is no longer subsidised? Specifically, will Tockwith pupils attending the catchment secondaries of King James and Tadcaster be guaranteed transport, as is currently provided?

The following response was read out from Jon Holden (Strategic Planning Manager:

The Council’s Home to School Travel Policy was approved at the meeting of the Full Council in July 2024, and came into effect on 1 September 2024.

The revised policy aligns with the Department for Education’s Statutory Guidance for Home to School Travel, including in respect of the main eligibility criteria for home to school travel which is that transport will be provided to the nearest suitable school with available places.

In determining the revised policy, the Council agreed that it should be implemented over a phased period so that pupils with existing eligibility under the old policy would not be affected unless there was a change in their circumstances.  As a consequence, any pupils who became eligible for assistance with Home to School Travel under the previous policy will continue to be eligible for assistance to their existing school unless  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

To receive an update on current activities of local Youth Councils, hear their concerns, and note areas for future work.

To receive an update on current activities of local Youth Councils, hear their concerns, and note areas for future work.

Chloe Thwaites (Youth Voice Creative Engagement Officer), and representatives from Harrogate Youth Council, gave a presentation outlining the key issues facing the Youth Council, and how the area committee could support them.

Knaresborough Youth Council currently had around ten members and was being supported by Inspire Youth.  Currently the main challenges faced by Knaresborough and Harrogate Youth Councils were a lack of funding, and maintaining membership as there was a high turnover, with members leaving during exam season and as they went to university.  However, the groups were actively recruiting and promoting their message, while working to build relationships with the local MP and councillors.

The Youth Councils had hosted a number of events, including with Tom Gordon MP, Mayor David Skaith, and the Harrogate BID.  The issues important to the group included transport to schools, mental health issues facing young people, and the anonymous reporting of crime.

Members agreed to engage and support the Youth Councils, and asked for a schedule of events to be sent, and thanked the Youth Councils for attending.

Resolved:  That the update be noted.

To receive an update on the performance of schools in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

Jon Holden (Strategic Planning Manager), Julie Bunn (Head of Alternative Provision), and Louise Wilson (Assistant Director, Education and Skills) presented a report outlining the current educational performance and financial situation of schools in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

Members asked what measures were being taken to address those School Planning Areas with a forecast capacity shortfall.  Officers responded that Strategic Planning continually monitor demand and forecast to assist in planning expansion of high-performing schools, ready to meet rising demand.  Further questions were asked on the mechanics of s106 agreements, and how funding was released.  Officers outlined that it would not be appropriate to discuss individual s106 agreements, but that each agreement was bespoke, with individual trigger points to initiate the release of funds.  It was highlighted that schools were regularly communicating with councillors to ask for updates on funding, and officers agreed to note this and work to improve communications in specific cases.

The format of the information presented in Appendix 1 of the report was also discussed, with certain schools apparently grouped with others that were a considerable distance away.  It was explained that the School Planning Areas were set in accordance with Department for Education guidance, and to provide reliable data over a long period these were kept static.  Members requested further information on this and a map showing the information geographically, and that members be consulted on potential future changes.  It was also confirmed that similar updates would be provided to neighbouring Area Committees where some schools fell outside the Area Committee area. 

Members asked about the lack of provision of a secondary school in the north of Harrogate, as that necessitated many journeys across the town to transport children to and from school, and while the issues were noted it was confirmed that there were no current plans to change this.  It was also confirmed that modelling was taking into account the changes to the council’s home to school transport policy.  Officers were asked to provide information on the number of electively home educated pupils were awaiting an Education Health and Care Plan, and agreed to provide a written response following the meeting. 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

To update members with progress on the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), since spring 2024 and in advance of the six-week statutory public consultation scheduled to start from late May 2025.

Tim Johns (Senior Policy Officer, Sustainability and Environment) provided a report updating members on progress on North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).  The update built on information provided at an all-members’ seminar in November 2023, in advance of the six-week statutory public consultation which was due to begin in late May 2025. 

Members asked about the relationship between the LNRS, maintaining food security, and NYC’s housebuilding targets.  Officers confirmed that efforts were being made to minimise the impact on high quality agricultural land, by excluding Grade I and II land from projects and developing low-footprint, high-impact schemes such as hedgerow planting.  It was recognised that close liaison would be needed with colleagues in Planning as new housebuilding projects came forward, but the team were working closely to implement green infrastructure within the green spaces of housing developments.  Members also sought confirmation that Local Plans had to consider the requirements of the LNRS, and officers confirmed that there was a statutory duty to have regard to the policy, and currently the dialogue between Sustainability and Environment and Planning colleagues was positive and productive.

While it was recognised that North Yorkshire was primarily rural, members asked how the strategy could be implemented in a more urban area like Harrogate and Knaresborough, including what steps were being taken to engage with residents.  It was confirmed that the team were in regular contact by a mailing list with over 400 residents, as well as participating in a range of events and seminars in the local area.  The level of engagement with farmers and landowners was also explored; the team worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders to engage groups, and members offered to support by notifying their own local networks and groups including the Food for the Future Project.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

To advise the committee of progress to date on the delivery of active travel schemes within Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Jasmin Gibson (Improvement Project Delivery Manager) presented a report updating the committee on progress delivering a range of Active Travel schemes in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

Members sought further information in schemes in Knaresborough, and asked to be kept informed of future development, scheme options, and design elements as they came forwards, including by a site visit with the relevant local member, in particular given the road safety issues in that area, which officers agreed to facilitate.

Members gave feedback on specific elements of schemes including the A59 Missing Link road, and while the progress towards delivery was slow, members noted the recent developments which had been made.  Further information was requested on details of the Killinghall Greenway scheme, and the Bilton to Hornbeam Park routes, which would be provided to members in writing.

The terms of North Yorkshire Council’s £375,000 Active Travel grant allocation were discussed.  It was not yet possible to confirm what proportion of this would be spent in Harrogate and Knaresborough, but it was agreed that the committee would be kept informed of future developments ahead of the March 2027 deadline for spending the grant.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

a)    to ask Members to consider the Committee’s work programme and amend it as required.

b)    to inform Members and the public of work undertaken since the last Committee meeting, including informal meetings and working group sessions.

c)    to inform Members of progress made on issues raised during and since the last Committee meeting.

Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer) presented the latest version of the committee’s work programme, including items for consideration at future meetings, and an update of informal and working group meetings held since the last meeting.

Resolved:  That the Work Programme be approved, subject to the following amendments:

a)    That Youth Councils in the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas be invited to attend a future meeting, and to participate in submitting a motion and participating in a debate.

b)    That the Community and Voluntary Sector Working Group, having helped support the sector prior to the establishment of a town council for Harrogate and facilitated productive discussion between the sector and council officers, be stood down, and its members thanked for their participation over the past two years.

c)    That a Housing Liaison Working Group be formed to receive updates on the use of second homes premium, and the background housing needs and priorities of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

d)    That an update on public transport provision in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area be brought to a future meeting.

e)    That Councillor Phillip Broadband be appointed to one of the vacant seats on the Climate Change Working Group.

Thursday 5 June 2025, at 10:00, in the Council Chamber, Harrogate Civic Centre, St Luke’s Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 2AE.

The date of the next ordinary meeting of the committee, on Thursday 5 June 2025 at 10:00 am, was noted.