Agenda and draft minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Keane Duncan.

Resolved

That the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee held on 29 November 2024, having been printed and circulated, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members are invited to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, or lobbying in respect of any items appearing on this agenda.

For transparency, Councillor Alyson Baker advised that a member of her close family was employed by Yorkshire Water and Councillor Dadd advised that he lived in Thormanby.

An update on the work of the Mayoral Combined Authority and progress with local issues.

One hour has been allocated for this item.

Annual Update by the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire

David Skaith, Mayor of York & North Yorkshire, and James Farrar, Chief Executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (CA), attended the meeting to update Members on the CA's work since the mayoral election in May 2024.

The Mayor outlined his vision to build healthy and resilient communities that connect people to opportunities, emphasising the importance of warm, affordable homes and access to the outdoors.

Mr. Farrar provided background on the CA, highlighting:

• This is the first combined authority to include the office of Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) from its inception, and one of only two combined authorities to do so.
• The appointment of Jo Coles as Deputy Mayor responsible for the OPFCC.
• The CA's two main responsibilities: the PFCC and economic growth.
• Funding details:

·       The Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF) of £18 million per year for 30 years.

·       £25 million for investment in skills.

·       £80 million from the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).

·       Collaboration with the government to secure new investments and partnerships to deliver on those investments.

• Key priorities: transport, business, net zero, skills, and housing.

He also discussed the government's plan to expand devolution across the north of England and the Mayor's ambition for the Y&NY CA to be a pioneering rural combined authority.

The Mayor updated the Committee on recent projects, including:

• £5 million allocated to the City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council for their respective projects.
• £1.5 million of Great Places Funding to develop plans for every town in North Yorkshire and the City of York, followed by £1 million to support those projects.
• An additional £4.5 million from the MIF to supplement the £12 million received for brownfield housing development, aiming to deliver over 1,000 homes, more than half of which will be truly affordable.
• Ongoing discussions with the government to gain more flexibility in funding for brownfield housing, which traditionally aligns with core city regions, not rural areas like York and North Yorkshire.
• The devolution deal included £7 million for net zero projects, and the CA is progressing towards its goal of being net zero by 2034 and carbon negative by 2040.
• An additional £600,000 on top of the SPF to support 20 more community building projects in North Yorkshire.

Additional Funding Opportunities Secured Through Devolution:

• £2 million for an energy infrastructure pilot.
• £1 million for local investment in natural capital, delivered by NYC.
• £10 million in skills trailblazer funding for organisations supporting people out of work due to long-term sickness.
• £3 million for an annual "connect to work" programme.
• £10 million for vibrant and sustainable high streets, with over 40 initial project applications received.
• £10 million for the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund, working with the private sector on carbon-negative business proposals.
• £2.5 million from the Skills Innovation Fund to support schools, colleges, and universities in teaching skills needed by regional businesses.
• £5 million from the Business Innovation Fund to support businesses employing one or more people.

National Representation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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.east@northyorks.gov.uk ) no later than midday on Tuesday, 25 March 2025. 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 Chairman who will instruct those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

Shipton by Beningbrough Parish Council presentation to Thirsk and Malton Area meeting 25 March 2025

Introduction

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak to the Thirsk and Malton Area meeting today. I would like to highlight a number of road safety issues of concern to the residents of Shipton by Beningbrough and to ask for your consideration of two proposals to try and ameliorate our concerns.

The two proposals are:

·       A request for buffer speed restrictions north and south of the village, and

·       A request for a pedestrian controlled crossing in the village

Background

By way of background, Shipton by Beningbrough is a relatively small village with almost 800 on the electoral role. The village is positioned at the far southern tip of what was formerly Hambleton District, and borders York City.  The village has a primary school, a care home specialising in dementia care, a young persons residential care home, a well used community centre, a popular village pub, together with a range of different businesses.

The village is bisected by the busy A19 trunk road.

Shipton is one of only two villages on the A19 in North Yorkshire that has not been by-passed and due to economic circumstances it is unlikely that it ever will be.

As we are all well aware the A19 is an important arterial road which serves the economy of the east and northeast of England.

The A19 through Shipton is used as an alternative route to the A1, particularly in the event of incidents and congestion affecting the A1.

Traffic volumes have increased over recent years and can be particularly high when traffic is diverted from the A1.

The Parish Council has funded the installation of Vehicle Activated Speed Signs (VAS) in the village within the 30mph speed area; both on the A19 and on the two side roads, Station Lane and East Lane. Most recent data shows that there is a total of more than 4,000 vehicles per day passing through Shipton on the A19.

The data from the VAS cameras is available on the Shipton Parish Council section of the Shipton by Beningbrough Community website.

Request for buffer speed restrictions

There are two locations one north of the village and one to the south of the village where there are frequent accidents and incidents, both these locations are subject to the 60mph national speed limit.

To the north there is a crossroads where Chapmans Lane and Amblers Lane join the A19. There is a long straight stretch of road approaching the crossroads from the north, with the road contour partially restricting visibility. Some 200 yards south from this crossroads is Brookes garage and shop, together with a number of residential/business buildings. There are regular accidents and incidents in this area often associated with traffic turning across the carriageway or where traffic is slowing to access the garage site and overtaking where there is a blind summit. Cllr Keane has been to view this junction. There was a recent accident  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Senior Policy Officer, Sustainability and Environment gave a presentation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).

The presentation gave a summary of the engagement to date, which included surveys, webinars, workshops and contact with over 80 organisations. Stakeholders included other public bodies and other Yorkshire based organisations.

The officer gave examples of the engagement work undertaken including sessions across the geography with land managers and farmers. These sessions sought to obtain their views, what they were doing currently to protect nature and the barriers they faced. The engagement with core stakeholders has resulted in 39 priorities across different habitats, including farmland, wetland and grassland.

Some of the key benefits from nature were explained including improved pollination, pest and disease control and cultural benefits.

The presentation included maps of the sites designated for nature conservation, including SSSIs, the national parks and smaller sites such as local nature reserves and wildlife sites.

The strategy would go to public consultation before publication later in the year.

Members had questions on:

·       The stakeholders involved and were reassured that the appropriate organisations had been included.

·       The geography of the area included on the maps. The officer confirmed that all coastal areas were included in the strategy.

The Chair thanked the officer for the presentation.

Work Programme for 2024/25 for the Area Constituency Committee.

Members considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) on the Committee’s current work programme.

Resolved

Members agreed to request Yorkshire Water attend the June meeting of the Area Committee.

That the work programme be noted.

Kevin Hollinrake MP provided a written update to Members.

Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP provided a written update to Members.

Members are requested to contact the author directly with any detailed queries or questions.

Report circulated for information only to inform Members of the local educational landscape, educational achievement and the financial challenges which affect schools in the Thirsk and Malton committee area.

Members are requested to contact the author directly with any detailed queries or questions.

Report circulated for information only to inform Members of the climate change activities that have taken place in the Thirsk and Malton Area.

There were no items of urgent business.