Agenda and minutes

Apologies noted (see attendance details).

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 18 September 2023 having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as an accurate record.

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 David Hugill declared a personal interest in relation to item 4 and the statement made by Tim Alderson as the local councillor for the Osmotherley area.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson declared a personal interest in relation to item 8 as a relative of the officer giving the presentation.

Councillor Carl Les declared a personal interest in relation to item 10 as his son works for WSP.

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

Tim Alderson of Ingleby Arncliffe provided the following public question/statement:-

The issue raised here concerns pockets of land within Osmotherley that are currently not defined under law. There are cases of the land being misused leading to the loss of the village’s heritage and character. The purpose in raising the issue is to request that these areas are recognised, recorded and managed.

Records show that the entire area between the buildings in Osmotherley initially formed a way for people and stock to move through the village from one place to another. It was not an open area where stock would graze or be kept and therefore it was not a form of common.

Cobbled paths formed highway boundaries where the highway abutted the buildings - presumably to keep the worst of the wet and filth from being walked into the houses. There were no roads as we know them today largely because there were few wheeled vehicles and the majority of people and animals would be on foot.

Maintenance of these ways was the responsibility of the parishioners who were required to carry out two days’ maintenance work each year. These days were in mid-June and it is likely that the Church managed them as there was no Lord of the Manor.

When the Highways Act was introduced in 1835 the existing ways were identified as ‘highways’ and subsequently those that existed before 1835 were classified as 'ancient highways' in order to distinguish them from those created after 1835. The role of a parish surveyor was created and the surveyor had a maintenance budget.

The map shows Osmotherley village as it was in 1848, just 13 years after the Highways Act was created and as can be seen, there was no separate roads or paths nor any village greens at that time. The entire street was a route across which, and along which, the public had the right to pass to get from one place to another, rather than a common area on which to spend time.

Over time motorised vehicles were introduced and this led to the roads as we know them today. In Osmotherley some footpaths were added alongside the road but the original cobbled paths remain as the only access to many houses.

In the late 1950s the Church Commissioners (Bishop of Durham) sold some pockets of land to the Parish Council - precisely what was sold is unclear as is whether or not the Church Commissioners actually held the title to the land. Nevertheless a transfer of what may be termed ‘manorial waste’ was made and that remains in place today.

In or about 1965 at least some of the transferred areas were registered by the Parish Council with the Commons Commissioner as ‘village greens’ and it seems that was the time when questions over the title were raised. There is no suggestion that this point requires raising or revisiting.

In essence, by 1965, the area in the village centre was divided into the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The Democratic Services Officer provided an update on the EV Charging Points at Stokesley, Great Ayton and Easingwold. For safety reasons the decision has been taken to turn off all of the charging points installed by the previous company as safety checks on how they are operating cannot be undertaken due to the specialist nature of the equipment. The spaces will be made available to any vehicle users, subject to each car parks operating procedures. The roll out charging points in these locations will now former part of the wider council programme.

Councillor Angus Thompson advised that a meeting was being arranged with National Highways in relation to the issues at Scotch Corner for early in the new year.

To brief the committee on the work undertaken previously in relation to the vibrancy of market towns in Hambleton, how the former district work is continuing and to provide an update on the visitor economy and transport provision in the area.

Considered – A report from the Corporate Director of Community Development which briefed the Committee on the work undertaken previously in relation to the vibrancy of market towns in the former Hambleton area, how the district work is continuing and provided an update on the visitor economy and transport provision in the area.

During debate Members:

·        Discussed the positive impact that designated coach parking had had on some areas and the need to encourage availability in all areas.

·        Sought clarification on the footfall figures and what could be done to encourage visitors to North Yorkshire.

·        Thanked the officer for a very informative report and suggested that there are a number of areas of best practice that would be of great benefit to many areas in North Yorkshire.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

A verbal update to be provided on the projects under consideration.

Considered – Alex Richards, The Head of Service Regeneration N and E gave a verbal update on the Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund.

The Committee were advised that officers were working through the suggested projects to assess their viability. Briefs for the eligible projects will then be prepared and presented to the Corporate Director Community Development. A report would then be presented to the Committee detailing the projects recommended for support.

Resolved –

That the current position be noted.

The Chair advised that item 9 – Climate Change Champion Role would be considered next.

Considered – A presentation from Councillor Paul Haslam, the Council’s Climate Change Champion which gave an overview of his aspirations for the role including championing all Councillors to make a difference to climate change by:

·          maintaining a determined focus on regional policy development and implementation of measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change;

·          influencing and enabling others to be part of the solution through supporting local initiatives/groups, encouraging residents to respond to consultations and talking to parish councils;

·          ensuring all reports and policies take into consideration the climate and environmental impact of any decision to ensure climate mitigation and adaptation is embedded throughout the authority;

·          utilising the opportunities available for both mitigation and adaptation of climate change through the development of the new local plan.

Resolved –

That the presentation be noted.

A verbal update to be provided on the project, including details of the process and timescales.

Considered – A presentation from Michael Reynolds, Senior Policy Officer (Infrastructure) on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project.

The scheme proposed is to:

·         Widen the A66 between Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor to dual carriageway.

·         Raise the new A66 as it passes through the cutting next to Carkin Moor scheduled monument.

·         Use the old A66 to the south of the new A66 route for local road access and walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This will provide access to Dick Scott Lane, Old Dunsa Bank and Mainsgill Farm.

·         Provide a new underpass to the north of Dick Scott Lane to allow for access to land north of the new A66.

·         Provide an overbridge to link Collier Lane to the old A66.

·         Create a new compact, grade-separated junction to the west of Moor Lane to provide safe and easy access to the old A66, the villages of East Layton, West Layton, Ravensworth and Mainsgill Farm Shop.

·         Moor Lane will be realigned to connect to Moor Lane junction, allowing access to the new A66 and the old A66.

·         The existing junction from the A66 on to Warrener Lane will be closed and removed. Traffic will join the new A66 via a link road to Moor Lane junction.

·         New westbound slip road to provide access to the new westbound A66 dual carriageway for local farms and properties to the south of the A66 in this location.

·         The access track to Browson Bank Farm, which was impacted by the new road, had been redesigned to fit in with this change.

As the scheme is designated as a nationally significant infrastructure project a Development Consent Order has been submitted for approval to the Secretary of State for Transport with a decision deadline of 7 March 2024. Work is expected to commence in the Spring 2024.

Resolved –

That the update be noted.

To invite the Area Constituency Committee to make appointments to the Development Plan Committee.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) which sought appointments to the Development Plan Committee.

Resolved –

That Councillors David Hugill, Tom Jones and Yvonne Peacock be appointed to the Development Plan Committee.

To invite the Area Constituency Committee to confirm the appointment, on behalf of the Council, to the Richmond School Trust.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) which invited the committee to appoint the Council’s representative to the Richmond School Trust.

Resolved –

That the appointment of the Council’s representative to the Richmond School Trust be deferred to the next meeting for the category of the Outside Body to be reviewed.

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

The Chair, Councillor Yvonne Peacock introduced the work programme and asked that Members review the work programme and invited suggestions for additions, taking into account the outcome of discussions on previous agenda items and any other developments taking place across the area.

Members suggested the following items for the work programme:

·        BT Digital Rollout

·        Subsidised Educational Transport

·        Integrated Passenger Transport – Stokesley

·        Arriva Bus Service

Resolved –

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

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

There were no other items of business.

Monday, 18 March 2024