Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and confirmed there were no updates to provide.

Resolved

That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee held on 27 September 2024, having been printed and circulated, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Janet Sanderson and Annabel Wikinson.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to the Democratic Services Officer (contact details below) no later than midday on Tuesday 26 November 2024. 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 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 those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

Question from Cllr Mike Cockerill, Filey Town Council

I note that today’s meeting of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee has a number of agenda items specifically relating to coastal matters -

·        Item 6 - Harbours Update - this includes Filey Coble Landing

·        Item 9 Health in Coastal Communities

·        Item 13 - DEFRA Consultation on Reform of the Bathing Water Regulations 2013

As all of these matters also pertain to Filey, what plans does the Thirsk and Malton Area Committee have to include such items in further work?

Response from Councillor Nigel Knapton

Officers have discussed with me and other Members the most efficient way to deal with coastal matters through the area committees, when many of these issues affect both the Scarborough and Whitby and Thirsk and Malton areas but Scarborough and Whitby to a greater extent. Such matters include the operation of the harbours, bathing water quality, gulls and parking of motorhomes.

Councillors Cross and Donohue-Moncrieff are invited to relevant meetings of Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee, so they may participate in the discussion if they wish. These councillors may decide that certain issues particularly affect their divisions and so warrant inclusion on an agenda of the Thirsk and Malton Area Committee.

Details of the Terms of Reference and delegated powers of the area committees can be found on page 123 of the Council’s Constitution. The area committee boundaries may be reviewed after the boundary commission has agreed the new divisional boundaries.

An update the progress of digital connectivity across North Yorkshire.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NYnet updated Members of the progress of digital connectivity across North Yorkshire.

NYnet delivered four phases of Superfast North Yorkshire contracts in conjunction with partners. In 2009 superfast coverage across North Yorkshire was at approx. 41%. Following the phased implementation of further contracts, coverage now stood at approximately 97%.

North Yorkshire Council offered a free WIFI service in 21 market towns across the geography. The network in Malton had been replaced with the North Yorkshire Council service and work was ongoing in Helmsley but there were delays.

Whilst the Superfast Programme was delegated to Local Bodies with overall supervision by BDUK, the new Project Gigabit was run directly by BDUK.

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) aimed to make 4G mobile broadband available to 95% of the UK, improving 4G coverage in the areas that need it most and addressing the digital divide. EE has improved 4G connectivity in parts of rural North Yorkshire. 24 new masts were being built, mainly in the North Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

2025/2026 would see most the sites become fully active, which would increase the 4G coverage to around 92% and Mobile Network Operators were introducing 5G, mainly in urban areas, as they upgraded their current infrastructure.

Members discussed the report and questioned the officers on the following topics:

·        Free WiFi coverage for North Yorkshire market towns

·        A discussion and explanation of network provision by commercial providers

·        The issues of “not spots” and how soon provision would be improved

·        The impact on the local highway infrastructure when works took place

·        Use of mobile phones during electricity outages and battery backups under consultation by Ofcom

The CEO of NYnet then gave Members an overview and explanation of vape sensors marketed by the company.

The Chair thanked both officers for the presentation.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

An introduction to the Parish Liaison, Local Devolution and Community Rights Team and the Local Area Support Team.

The Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Manager and the Principal Democratic Services Officer, Local Area Support Team, gave a presentation to introduce Members to the work of their teams and give an update on the current work.

Parish Liaison and Local Devolution – Localities team current work:

·       Parish Charter review

·       Parish Liaison Meetings (Thirsk and Malton Area 4 March 2025 for drop-in session and 27 March 2025 for liaison meeting)

·       Double devolution and devolution generally

·       Parish Sector Engagement Panel

·       Parish portal

·       Parish sector consultation engagement review

·       Review of Community Rights process

·       Training

·       Single point of contact parishliaison@northyorks.gov.uk

Members discussed and questioned the officer on,

·       the support that Parish Councils may need

·       the number and method of consultations sent out

·       how they were kept informed of any issues in parishes and provided with feedback from liaison meetings within their wards

·       Parish council training requirements

·       the responsibilities of the parish councils and North Yorkshire Council

The Principal Democratic Services Officer updated Members on the work of the Local Area Support Team.

·       Maintain Parish and Town Council database information

·       Maintain website accuracy

·       Support on frequently asked questions and queries from clerks/councillors

·       Ensure Register of Interests are recorded

·       Manage temporary appointments

·       Record sensitive interests

·       Work closely with Elections

·       Work closely with Localities

·       Support to Standards and Governance Committee

Members discussed the issues raised by the presentation, including the difficulties faced by parish councils such as recruiting Parish Clerks and encouraging people to stand as Councillors, training and the potential for providing a locum clerk service.

Members then asked that the following information be shared with them:

·       The number of complaints received, and actions taken by the Standards and Governance Committee

·       The various options for support for parish councils that were being explored

The Chair thanked the officers for their presentation.

An update on Community Safety and CCTV across North Yorkshire.

The Partnership Manager, Community Safety gave an update on Community Safety and CCTV focusing on Community Safety Hubs, CCTV and the wider strategic Community Safety Partnership work.

The presentation explained the roles of specialist officers in the team, the partnerships across the authority and with the Community Safety Hubs and the statutory functions.

Members discussed the information provided, with a focus on:

·        The team’s involvement in matters such as domestic violence reviews

·        The provision and funding of CCTV

·        The provision of officers where the need may be greatest

·        The collaboration with local police teams

Resolved

That officers attend the Area Committee on an annual basis.

To consider, develop and adopt a Work Programme for 2024/25 for the Area Committee.

Members considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) which contained the Committee’s current work programme for the remainder of the municipal year (2024/25).

Members discussed the programme and asked that a written update be provided to a future meeting on the status of the weight limit restriction at County Bridge and the Air Quality Management Plan in Malton. 

Resolved

That the work programme for the remainder of 2024/25 be noted.

There were no items of urgent business.