Agenda and minutes

Apologies noted (see attendance details/see above).

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 12^th June 2023 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record, subject to amendments to Minute No. 42 – Update on Delivery of North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy (2022-2023) to attribute the comments on the Kirbymoorside community event to Councillor George Jabbour and Minute No. 45 – Appointments to Outside Bodies to show only one appointment to the Richmond School Trust – Councillor Stuart Parsons.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Sarah Holbird of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 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.

Steven Hill of Middleton Tyas submitted a public question/statement in relation to Agenda Item 8 – Scotch Corner which was read out before the item was considered.

Northallerton Town Council provided the following public question/statement:-

1.       Northallerton Town Council would like to request that North Yorkshire Council communities a formal opening date for the North Northallerton Sports Village, with a view to reassuring the public that the facility will be completed and opened soon. Further, Northallerton Town Council would like reassurance that the hedge bordering the facility, on Brompton Road, will be subject to a formal management plan to improve the safety of the adjacent shared cycle/footway and improve the hedge’s very untidy appearance.

Jo Ireland, Assistant Director for Culture, Leisure, Archives & Libraries provided the following response which was read out at the meeting:

Work is complete on the North Northallerton Sports Village, but unfortunately, we are unable to open the site formally to the public until some legal issues area resolved. We are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible, however, at this point are unable to provide an exact date when we will be able to open the site.

2.       Northallerton Town Council would like to request that plans for the new Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) facility on the site of the former Northallerton College is hared with the Town Council, to include progress on funding and the identification of operating body, as well as the intended footprint of the facility.

Andrew Dixon, Strategic Planning Manager Education and Skills provided the following response which was read out at the meeting:

The proposed new SEND facility on the site of the former Northallerton College is a project that is to be delivered and funded by the Department for Education (DfE) under their Free Schools Programme. The project is at an early stage, and the DfE have not yet confirmed their intended building design or proposed site layout to NYC. The DfE are progressing the process to select an Academy Trust to operate the new school, and it is expected that applicants will be interviewed in late 2023.

Richmond Town Council provided the following public question/statement:-

Following events during the COVID crisis, when Richmond Falls area of the town became a hotspot for large crowds with anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse, Richmondshire District Council formulated an action group which resulted in the passing of a legal entity in the form of a Public Space Protection Order:

The order started on 1 April 2021 and will be in place for three years. It gives Police and council officers powers to move groups on, fine them for unruly behaviour and prevent certain activities such as littering, lighting a fire or barbecue.

Richmond Town Council has had meetings recently with Richmondshire Police, and they have stressed that it is vital that this PSPO is renewed in April 2024 in order that they can continue their good work in keeping the area safe for Richmond residents and visitors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Considered –

Connor Fox, Member of Youth Parliament for Central North Yorkshire attended to the meeting and provided an overview of the work he had been undertaking in relation to the improvement of free school meals for those that need it the most and raised the issue of youth representation and his hope that it would be possible to create a youth council in the area like the newly created Selby Youth Council.

During debate the Committee praised the work being carried out and encouraged engagement with youth organisations in the area. Concerns were raised about the support provided during school holidays and the impact of the transfer to secondary school.

Resolved –

That the information be noted and the Member of Youth Parliament for Central North Yorkshire be thanked for attending.

Considered –

A report from the Corporate Director of Environment which provided an update on the delivery of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the former Hambleton district.

The Committee were advised that the appointed installer had filed for insolvency having not fully completed the installations at the Showfield Car Park in Stokesley, the Galtres Centre in Easingwold and High Green in Great Ayton. The completion of the work in these car parks will now form part of the wider Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure rollout across North Yorkshire. As the underground infrastructure is in place it is hoped that these works can be completed in the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

During debate Members:

·         Requested that the assigned EV spaces be made available for general parking until the works can recommence as parking, particularly in the Great Ayton car park is very limited.

·         Raised concerns about the grid capacity for the chargers and the impact of any delays on the associated costs of the project.

·         Discussed the possibilities of collaborative working with Town and Parish Councils, Village Halls and the National Parks to increase provision.

Resolved –

That the background and update on delivery of EV Charging Infrastructure as delivered by the former Hambleton District Council be noted.

Considered –

The Committee received details of the car parking charges across the constituency area following concerns being raised about inconsistencies. The information showed that charges were consistently applied across the car parks in the former Richmondshire area but varied from car park to car park across the former Hambleton area.

During debate Members indicated that car parking is an overwhelming common issue across many areas with concern raised around the provision of parking meters and the need for all car parks to have at least one machine capable of taking cash payments. Anomalies in the information provided was identified and Members were requested to make the necessary comments to the Democratic Services Officer.

The Committee were advised that a Car Parking Strategy is being produced and they would have an opportunity to feed into its development.

Resolved –

That the information be noted.

Steve Hill of Middleton Tyas provided the following public question/statement:-

I represent a group of residents from Middleton Tyas and surrounding villages, who have growing concern about the lack of a strategic plan covering the many developments around Scotch Corner, and the piecemeal approach to processing planning applications.  At busy times, Scotch Corner roundabout becomes grid-locked causing major traffic delays, and the forecast 4m footfall per year for the approved Designer Outlet Village (DOV) and Garden Centre will make the situation significantly worse. In May, the NYCC planning committee approved the creation of a 37 unit warehousing and distribution facility on the former caravan park, which will increase the number of vans and HGVs entering the roundabout. There are plans to create 4 fast food drive thru restaurants at Scotch Corner, another petrol station, an amenity centre, expansion of the DOV by 50%, a film & TV unit, and a Rolls Royce advanced engineering facility. Add to this, the A66 upgrade scheduled to start in 2024 with a forecast increase in traffic of 35% travelling between Scotch Corner and Penrith. If all these developments gain approval, the largely agricultural and rural landscape will be destroyed, there will be an increase in noise and pollution, and the Scotch Corner roundabout will become overwhelmed and have a major impact on both local residents as well as travellers on the strategic highway network. Currently, there is no process in place to examine the holistic impact on the area of each of the planning applications in the pipeline.

The plans to create a Motorway Service Area (MSA) at J52 of the A1 at Catterick is directly related to the development plans at Scotch Corner. If this proceeds, why would there need to be all the planned fast food outlets 5 miles North?  Additionally, the DOV plans to offer 27 cafes and restaurants to customers making nearby fast food outlets less viable.

A crucial issue for all the proposed facilities at Scotch Corner is the recruitment of employees, as the Richmond area currently enjoys full employment and retail shops are having problems obtaining staff. The DOV alone needs to attract over 1000 employees. This means attracting employees from further afield, such as Darlington, which then increases the numbers travelling by car putting further pressure on the roundabout. Aligned with this is the need to provide adequate public transport, and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

All these factors generate the need for a strategic assessment of the impact of all current applications together with those approved but not yet in operation. This should focus on the transport problems associated with Scotch Corner roundabout, public transport, employee recruitment, an assessment of the local retail market and the effects of creating new facilities on local towns, plus the impact on the landscape and environment. Whilst this strategic assessment is taking place, a hold should be placed on all current applications affecting Scotch Corner. This will also allow an accurate assessment of the impact of the DOV on traffic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

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:

·         A further update on the position at Scotch Corner roundabout in 2024.

·         Information on what is required of utility companies when seeking access to their apparatus, for both planned and emergency works and what powers North Yorkshire Council have.

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.