Agenda and minutes

David Smith, Senior Democratic Services Officer, introduced the item and sought nominations to the position of Chair.

A motion nominating Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright to the position was proposed and seconded. A vote was taken on the motion and it was declared carried with 10 in favour, 0 against and 4 abstentions.

Resolved

a)     That Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright be elected as Chair of the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

The Chair sought nominations to the position of Vice Chair.

A motion nominating Councillor Andy Paraskos to the position was proposed and seconded. A vote was taken on the motion and it was declared unanimously carried.

Resolved

a)     That Councillor Andy Paraskos be elected as Vice Chair of the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Apologies were received from Councillors Karl Arthur and Tim Grogan.

Councillor Arnold Warneken declared an interest for transparency in relation to the two public speakers, noting that he had previous involvement with one speaker regarding a Home to School Transport Stage 2 appeal, and that the other speaker was a parish councillor within his division. Councillor Warneken also declared that, as the Maltkiln New Settlement falls within his division, he had been involved in discussions with the local community, parish council and relevant groups, and made the declaration in the interests of transparency.

Councillors Andy Paraskos and Stephanie Duckett declared interests for transparency as substitute members of the Home to School Transport Appeals Committee.

Members and substitute Members of the Strategic Planning Committee declared that they sat on that Committee in advance of Item 9: Maltkiln New Settlement Update and confirmed that they would consider any future planning applications with an open mind.

Resolved

a)     That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2026 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered the report on progress against issues raised at previous meetings and whether any further follow-up action was required.

During the discussion, Councillors raised concerns regarding the update on road safety, where it had been suggested that update reports would be more appropriately considered by the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee. It was noted that the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee does not lend itself to consideration of localised issues, and that such matters may not be discussed if deemed too parochial. Members highlighted the importance of this key issue affecting local residents and requested that a report on road safety be presented to the Area Committee on at least an annual basis.

Resolved

a)     That the report be noted.

b)     That the Committee request that a report on road safety be presented to the Area Committee on at least an annual basis.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Democratic Services (democraticservices.central@northyorks.gov.uk) no later than midday on Monday, 22 June 2026, three working days before the date of the meeting. Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item. 

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 those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

Two public statements were received before the deadline of midday on 22 June 2026.

The Chair decided to hear one of the public questions at this point and the other was heard under Item 9: Maltkiln New Settlement Update as it related to that item.

Kate Helme made the following statement at this point in the meeting.

Dear Chair,

I would like to raise a concern about the impact of North Yorkshire Council’s revised home-to-school transport policy on traffic congestion and road safety at Tadcaster Grammar School.

I am a parent at the school and have previously raised concerns with both the school and the Council. The school itself has acknowledged the issue and Council officers have visited the site during peak times. This is therefore not a hypothetical concern but a documented existing problem that the policy will worsen.

Anyone attending afternoon pick-up will see that congestion is already significant. Buses can struggle to leave the site, vehicles queue along Toulston Lane, visibility is reduced by parked cars and there are large numbers of children moving through an increasingly congested environment.

I am aware that the Council has been considering measures such as additional parking restrictions, double yellow lines and increased enforcement. While these may help with some aspects of parking behaviour, they do not address the fundamental issue.

Tadcaster Grammar School is located on a relatively remote site. There is very limited parking capacity, the school car park is already full at peak times, and there are no realistic alternative locations for parents to park. Even with additional restrictions and enforcement, a substantial increase in car journeys will still result in longer queues, congestion and increased safety risks because the local road network and school infrastructure simply do not have the capacity to accommodate a significant increase in vehicles.

I also do not believe this can fairly be characterised as a matter of parental behaviour. If the Council removes access to school transport for increasing numbers of pupils from rural villages, many families will have little practical alternative but to drive. The resulting traffic is therefore a foreseeable consequence of a School Transport Policy the Council has introduced rather than the actions of individual parents.

My concern is that the Council’s transport policy is likely to make this situation considerably worse over time.

The savings identified through the policy rely on a gradual removal of routes to schools not deemed to be nearest. Given the school's rural location and expansive catchment area, this policy systematically strips bus access from numerous villages, leaving driving as the only viable option.

The consequence is likely to be significantly increased vehicle movements around the school at the very times when congestion and safety concerns already exist. It will also have implications for air quality, carbon emissions, local residents and journey times for existing school buses.

I would also note that the Council produced an Equality Impact Assessment in January 2025 ahead of implementing the revised policy. Any proper assessment of a policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 206.

Sarah Robinson, Corporate Affairs Manager, and Claire Beasant, River Health Improvement Manager, provided a presentation on Yorkshire Water’s work in the Selby and Ainsty area. The presentation covered a range of topics including water quality, wastewater management, planned investment in the area, the Brayton Barff aquifer, and sewerage provision in relation to new developments.

During the discussion, Councillors raised the following points.

·        Concerns were raised regarding the potential impact of development around Brayton Barff on the aquifer, including reference to local concerns that any breach could pose a risk to water quality. The Committee were advised that Yorkshire Water work closely with the planning authority, assess risks associated with developments, and would raise objections where risks are identified. It was offered that a further meeting with technical experts could be arranged to discuss the matter in more detail.

·        Concerns were raised regarding the abstraction of water from the Brayton Barff borehole and whether this would primarily serve areas outside the Selby and Ainsty area. It was confirmed that water is distributed via a wider grid system across the region and may be supplied to other areas where required.

·        A query was raised regarding engagement with local fishing and angling groups and it was confirmed that Yorkshire Water are increasing engagement with such groups, including through dedicated river health officers.

·        Questions were raised regarding sewer capacity, particularly in areas experiencing significant housing growth, and whether Yorkshire Water monitors and plans for increased demand. It was confirmed that capacity is monitored and that investment decisions are informed by factors such as asset condition, frequency and causes of flooding, and regulatory requirements. It was also explained that a drainage hierarchy is applied in new developments, which seeks to minimise flows into the sewer network by prioritising sustainable solutions for surface water drainage. It was further clarified that the installation of additional monitoring systems is being undertaken proactively across the network to improve early detection and management of potential issues.

·        A query was raised regarding the promotion of greywater reuse in new developments. It was confirmed that developers are encouraged to follow a drainage hierarchy, prioritising sustainable solutions before connection to the sewer network.

·        Members also raised concerns regarding the need for improved communication and monitoring of local impacts, particularly in relation to development and environmental pressures.

Resolved

a)     That the presentation be noted.

The Chair read out advice from Legal officers, noting that questions relating to the update would not constitute predetermination in respect of future planning applications for Maltkiln. However, Members were reminded of the need to avoid any perception of bias should they be involved in determining future applications.

At this point, Members and substitute Members of the Strategic Planning Committee declared that they sat on that Committee and confirmed that they would consider any future planning applications with an open mind.

The Chair invited the second public speaker to address the Committee at this point, as the question related to the item. Councillor Karan Main, Kirk Hammerton Parish Council, came forward and made the following statement.

The Council's briefing note states that Maltkiln now has a robust framework in place and that good progress is being made towards delivery. However, numerous unresolved issues remain, including requests for further information from statutory consultees and inconsistencies between key documents.

For example, the Master Design Code and Transport Assessment refer to Quiet Lanes as part of the sustainable movement strategy, including partway along Cattal Road (Rudgate), yet this does not appear to be consistently reflected across all associated documents. Similar questions arise regarding infrastructure phasing, active travel provision, mobility hubs, biodiversity delivery and building heights.

In addition, approximately 43% of the proposed development area, known as the Dent land, remains unavailable and inaccessible. The Planning Inspector's conclusions on the allocation relied upon there being a reasonable prospect that the whole site would eventually come forward, yet statutory consultees, including National Highways, Active Travel England and Natural England, are still requesting further information, further assessments and additional surveys.

Given that such a substantial proportion of the site has not been available for full investigation and assessment, how can councillors and the public have confidence that the evidence base is complete, that the reports are sufficiently robust, and that the impacts of the whole development have been properly understood?

Given these unresolved matters, can the Members explain how the Council can realistically expect a planning determination by the end of this year, and at what point councillors and the public will be provided with a single, fully reconciled set of documents so that everyone is working from one agreed masterplan rather than a collection of evolving and, in places, inconsistent documents?

Finally, at the end of the year, will the Council be satisfied that it is being asked to determine a proposal on the basis of a complete and fully reconciled evidence base, or will Maltkiln still, in reality, be a work in progress?

Natasha Durham, Delivery and Infrastructure Manager provided the below response.

The Maltkiln Development Plan Document is the starting point for determining planning applications for Maltkiln. As with all planning applications, officers will highlight any inconsistencies and request amendments where these arise. In the case of the current outline application, the applicant is working through various amendments and consultee responses, and any revised information submitted will be uploaded to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 208.

In order to facilitate officer attendance, the Chair agreed to move Item 11: Resilience and Emergencies Annual Update before Item 10: Community Safety and CCTV Service Annual Update.

Matt Robinson, Head of Resilience and Emergencies, presented the annual update report on resilience and emergency planning. It was noted that the report outlined the Council’s statutory responsibilities, recent incidents, partnership working arrangements through the Local Resilience Forum, and ongoing work to support community resilience.

During the discussion, a query was raised regarding reference to Gower Chemicals within the report. In response, officers explained that this relates to the Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations, which require the Council and partner agencies to prepare and maintain external emergency plans for sites holding certain hazardous substances. It was confirmed that Gower Chemicals is the only site within the Selby and Ainsty area to which these requirements apply, and that multi-agency planning and exercises are undertaken accordingly. Officers offered to provide further detail outside the meeting if required.

Resolved

a)     That the report be noted.

Bridget Skaife, Partnership Manager for Community Safety and CCTV, and Evie Griffiths, Senior Community Safety Officer, together with representatives from North Yorkshire Police including Acting Inspector Charlotte Gregory, Sergeant Ben Pepper and Sergeant Xavi Lopez, provided an update on community safety and CCTV provision in the Selby and Ainsty area.

It was noted that the CCTV system had recently been upgraded, with cameras replaced with digital technology, the service expanded to operate 24 hours a day, and improved integration with police systems to support the sharing of evidence and intelligence.

During the discussion, Councillors raised the following points.

·        Members welcomed the work of the Community Safety team and North Yorkshire Police, including positive engagement with local communities and Parish Councils.

·        A query was raised regarding the accuracy and presentation of data, particularly in relation to ward boundaries following local government reorganisation. Officers confirmed that the information would be reviewed.

·        Questions were raised regarding CCTV provision, including camera numbers and locations, and the extent of coordination with other providers such as town and parish councils, local businesses and industrial estates. Officers clarified the distinction between Council-owned cameras and those operated by other organisations, and advised that coordination would be considered as part of the ongoing strategic CCTV review.

·        Members raised concerns regarding patterns of anti-social behaviour, particularly in the early evening, and sought clarification on how resources are targeted to address these trends. Officers advised that incidents often increase after school hours and that resources are directed accordingly.

·        Concerns were raised regarding anti-social use of vehicles, including speeding, street racing and large gatherings of cars, and the impact this has on residents. Officers confirmed that this is a known issue and is being addressed through targeted operations, including patrols and enforcement activity.

·        Members highlighted the importance of effective communication and engagement with local communities, including ensuring that information about community safety initiatives is clearly communicated and accessible.

·        Reference was made to existing resident meetings and wider multi-agency working to address local issues, with Members emphasising the importance of continued partnership coordination.

·        Concerns were raised regarding cuckooing and the reporting of urgent issues, with Members highlighting difficulties in identifying appropriate contact points and delays in response. It was suggested that frontline communication and reporting arrangements could be improved.

Resolved

a)     That the update be noted.

The Committee considered the report and written updates from local MPs, and no questions or comments were raised.

Resolved

a)     That the report be noted.

The Committee considered the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee Annual Report for 2025/26.

Councillor Kirsty Poskitt, Chair of the Committee for 2025/26, expressed thanks to the Democratic Services Officer for their work in preparing the report, noting that it provided a comprehensive summary of the Committee’s activity over the past year. She highlighted the importance of maintaining strong public engagement, including providing opportunities for members of the public to raise issues and ask questions at meetings.

Councillor Arnold Warneken, Vice Chair of the Committee for 2025/26, welcomed the work of the Committee over the previous year and acknowledged the achievements set out within the report.

Resolved

a)     That the annual report be agreed.

The Committee considered the work programme and made no additions or amendments.

Resolved

a)     That the work programme is noted.

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

There were no other items to discuss.

Thursday, 17 September 2026 at 2.00pm.

Thursday, 17 September 2026 at 2:00pm in Selby Civic Centre.