Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member as Chair of the Richmond Area Constituency Committee for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Sarah Holbird, Democratic Services Officer for North Yorkshire Council welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated that as this was the first meeting of the Committee following the Annual Meeting of 2023, the first item of business would be the election of a Chair.

Councillor Yvonne Peacock was nominated and seconded for the position of Chair. There were no further nominations, so following a show of hands Councillor Yvonne Peacock was elected as Chair of the Committee.

Resolved –

That Councillor Yvonne Peacock be appointed Chair, to serve until the first meeting of the Committee following the Annual Meeting in May 2024.

Resolved –

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2023, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To elect a Member as Vice-Chair of the Richmond Area Constituency Committee for the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Chair invited nominations for the Vice-Chair of the Committee, to serve until the first meeting of the Committee following the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

Councillor Caroline Dickinson was nominated and seconded for the position of Vice-Chair. There were no further nominations, so following a show of hands Councillor Caroline Dickinson was elected as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Resolved –

That Councillor Caroline Dickinson be appointed as Vice-Chair, to serve until the first meeting of the Committee following the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

Councillor Tom Jones’ apologies were noted.

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 Yvonne Peacock declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Item 9 – Yorbus Pilot Project Update (Minute 43 refers) as a director of the Upper Dales Community Partnership which operates a community bus service.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Melanie Carr of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on XXXX, three working days before the day of the meeting.  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.

There were no public questions or statements.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) which provided a guide to the ways of working for the Area Constituency Committees. The Committee were advised that the committees’ terms of reference and ways of working had been developed following consultation with the Area Constituency Committee chairs and senior officers.

Members attention was specifically drawn to the following areas:

·       The introduction of Mid-Cycle Briefings with the chair, vice-chairs and group spokes to develop the work programme.

·       The need for any local scrutiny to be co-ordinated with the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committees to ensure no conflict or duplication.

·       That the Committee has a range of options available to it to make recommendations on reports brought before it.

·       £50,000 seed funding is available to each Area Constituency Committee to support local projects. The details of framework are being reviewed but recommendations on its allocation will be via the Corporate Director of Community Development. The process will need to be robust and open to scrutiny and challenge.

·       The various sets of police and community safety data that was received by the former Districts is being reviewed to be standardised.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

To inform Members of the on-going work associated with the delivery of the North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy (2022-27).

Considered –

A report of the Corporate Director of Environment which provided details of the on-going work associated with the delivery of the North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy (2022-2027).

Emily Mellalieu introduced the report and outlined the main points. The strategy incorporates the knowledge gained during the period of the first strategy which was a success, therefore the strategy review was only light touch with very similar objectives – prevention of risk; protection from risk; preparing for risk and recovery and review of risk.

Members were advised that the current priority area was not within the Richmond (Yorks) Constituency. In relation to the Dales Villages Project, property resilience has been identified as an option for most communities but there have been delays with the procurement process with progress expected next year.

A considerable amount of time is taken up undertaking the statutory consultee role with SuDS approval being incorporated within this role for all planning applications from 2024.

A debate followed with the below key points being discussed and questions raised:

·       Over time bridges are structurally damaged by flooding with repairs being costly and any bridge closures having a major impact on local areas.

·       Prevention is key and it’s important that all agencies work together in a collaborative manner.

·       Responsibility for reviewing flood zones in relation to the Planning process. It was confirmed that this lies with the Environment Agency, with North Yorkshire as the Lead Local Flood Authority being a statutory consultee for surface water flooding.

·       Mitigation opportunities so water is released slowing into rivers to reduce the risk of flooding.

The impact of the geography on flooding in certain areas and the loss of absorbent land.

·       Councillor Jabbour advised that the Kirbymoorside community event had been a success and asked what interest there had been on the offers of support. Officers advised that the majority of the 150 eligible properties had signed up for support, with many open to using preventative products.

·       The purpose of a Section 19 report following a flood event and the engagement with local communities in their preparation.

·       The renewal of the flood defence scheme at Stokesley.

Resolved –

That the update be noted.

To update the committee on the YorBus pilot Digital Demand Responsive Bus Service which will end on 30 June 2023.

Considered –

A report from Andy Clarke, Public and Community Transport Manager which provided an update on the YorBus pilot Digital Demand Responsive Bus Service which will end on 30 June 2023.

The service has been providing an on-demand bus service connecting Ripon, Masham, Bedale and surrounding villages. The pilot was extended for a year and a pre-booking system introduced 24 hours ahead, however this did not increase its use. The per person costs are considerably higher for the project when compared with scheduled services as it is difficult to get people all going in the same direction. Similar schemes across the country are encountering similar issues.

All funding bids to try and maintain the service have been unsuccessful. A detailed communication plan has been implemented to make residents aware the pilot is ceasing.

There was general disappointment on the outcome of the pilot and the failure of the funding bids, in particular the unsuccessful application to the rural mobility fund.

In the debate that followed Members highlighted the Let’s Talk Transport consultation that was taking place and that participation should be encouraged to fully identify issues and inform work going forward.  

Resolved –

That the update be noted.

The Chair, Councillor Yvonne Peacock advised of a specific issue encountered in Hawes during a recent road closure undertaken on behalf of Yorkshire Water. The timings of temporary traffic lights were not adequate for the layout of the road, with a number of vehicles ending up bonnet to bonnet. Lorries, tankers, motorhomes and cars had to reverse along narrow twisting roads posing considerable danger. Several vehicles mounted very narrow pavements to be able to pass each other. The Committee were shown sections of CCTV provided by a local shop which showed examples of the issues.

During debate it became apparent that there were a number of issues across the County connected to service providers and their subcontractors while undertaking works on the highways and this formed part of a wider issue.

Resolved –

(a)   That Yorkshire Water and their subcontract by requested to attend a Special Meeting of the Committee.

(b)   That details of the statutory requirements imposed on utility companies when undertaking works on the highway be provided to the Committee.

To invite the Area Constituency Committee to make appointments, on behalf of the Council, to various outside bodies.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) which invited the committee to appoint the Council’s representatives on the outside bodies listed in the report. Daniel Harry, Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager, informed Members that it was proposed to review all outside body appointments.

Members advised that the Safer Hambleton Steering Group for Community Safety and the Safer Richmondshire Community Safety Local Delivery Team no longer existed. It was also queried if Hambleton Community Action was still operating and Officers were asked to make enquiries.

Resolved –

(a)        That the following Members be appointed to serve until the Council elections in 2027 on the Category 2 outside bodies as listed below:

(b)        That the following Members be appointed to the Category 3 outside bodies as listed below, with the relevant division Member for the appointments still showing as vacant to give consideration to making nominations:

(c)        That the following Member appointments made by the former District Councils be ratified and continue as a North Yorkshire Councillor appointment:

(d)        That a review of outside bodies take place within the next 12 months.

Considered – A report presenting the committee’s 2023-24 work programme.

The Chairman introduced the Work Programme and invited Members to consider, amend and add to the Work Programme.

Members suggested the following items for the work programme:

·       The different approaches to car parking across the Constituency area and the variations in the charges. The issue was raised due to the ongoing parking problems in Leyburn Town Centre.

·       A presentation on the successful Catterick Levelling Up bid.

·       Ambulance times.

·       How the former districts work on the vibrancy of market towns is continuing, which includes transport and visitor economy.

Resolved –

That the work programme be noted and the agreed additions included.

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

There were no other items of business.