Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies noted (see attendance details).

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 18 December 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.

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 March 2024 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.

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

In September 2023 I tabled a question, regarding the Public Space Protection Order put in place by Richmondshire District Council in April 2021 to combat anti-social behaviour at Richmond Falls and the Batts area of Richmond.

The current order lapses at the end of March 2024 and it is with concern that we have received a briefing note from a Richmondshire Police Inspector that there is no intention by North Yorkshire Council to undertake a consultation for variation or extension in relation to the PSPO.

The question I submitted in September 2023 specifically detailed the need for the PSPO to be renewed as 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 so it is vital that this PSPO is renewed in April 2024.

Failure to renew the PSPO will take away from the Police a vital tool to act to control behaviour and will be greeted with dismay by residents of the town, in particular those involved in the tourism industry who received many negative comments about the disgraceful gatherings fuelled by social media comments to treat the Falls area as the ‘Ibiza of the north’. Damage to the grass area at the Batts, wilful depositing of litter, faeces and the associated products of anti-social nitrous oxide inhalation had a profound negative impact on this beautiful area of Richmond during Bank Holiday and warm weather events. Indeed, the impacts spread into the town centre itself with assaults on shopkeepers and dangerous driving in the Market area of the town.

Richmond Town Council would ask that North Yorkshire Council renews the PSPO in order that the Police can have the powers and the confidence to uphold public order in the designated area and that this is done in time to ensure no lapse in the protection afforded by this legal instrument. This request has the full support of North Yorkshire Police Richmondshire Division as can be seen from this statement:

‘The PSPO is an excellent tool to prevent issues occurring and without it, there will be little Police Officers can do until it is too late – because entering the Falls and river is dangerous. Without the PSPO power available, I am convinced there will be an increase in issues in the area during the Summer months which, at its worst, could lead to serious injury or fatality when people are under the influence of alcohol and we are unable to prevent them from congregating there.’

Odette Robson, Head of Community Safety and CCTV provided the following response which was read out at the meeting:

We have had a couple of meetings with North Yorkshire Police on this matter. Only one this week (w/c 11 March), where we met with other services within NYC and Fire and Rescue to ensure there is a robust, sustainable plan in place. With regards to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The Democratic Services Officer provided an update on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project advising that on the 7^th March 2024, the Secretary of State for Transport approved the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the project.

There is now a six-week period in which parties can lodge an intention to legally challenge the DCO decision, via the Planning Inspectorate.

The Committee were advised that there is no update available on progress in relation to the assessments being carried out into the viability of the suggested projects for the Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund.

Lisa Pope, Deputy Place Director, North Yorkshire, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to provide a verbal update on the Catterick Integrated Care Campus.

Considered – A verbal update from the Deputy Place Director, North Yorkshire for the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board on the latest position on the Catterick Integrated Care Campus which covered the following main points:

·        The vision of the project, being to deliver a purpose-built, state-of-the-art, health and wellbeing campus which provides high-quality, safe and sustainable primary and community care for the population of Catterick and the surrounding area.

·        The groundworks are now complete. Phase two commenced in January 2024.

·        Stakeholder and community engagement events are planned for Summer 2024.

·        The build is due to be completed in 2026.

·        The scope of services that will be provided at the facility.

·        The benefits of an integrated model on the population, workforce and systems.

·        The four purposes of an integrated care system:

o   improve outcomes in health and healthcare

o   tackle inequalities in outcome, experience and access

o   enhance productivity and value for money

o   help the NHS support broader social and economic development

·        A video walk through is available for anyone that would like to view it.

In the subsequent discussion, the following questions and points were raised:

·        Has there been any change in relation to the dentistry provision? Will there be civilian dentistry on the site?

There will be a significant number of MOD dental chairs at the facility to ensure that deployment needs can be met. A dentistry needs assessment is being carried out which will include the requirements of Catterick Garrison. The position in relation to NHS Dentistry is very complex across the whole country. At the current time there is no NHS dentistry incorporated within the facility, but conversations are still continuing around its inclusion.

Resolved –

The Chairman thanked Lisa for the presentation.

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 Councillor Stuart Parsons be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Richmond School Trust and to serve until a replacement is appointed.

To inform Members of the local educational landscape, educational achievement and the financial challenges which affect schools in the Richmond (Yorks) constituency committee area.

Considered – A report which informed the Committee of the local educational landscape, educational achievement and the financial challenges which affect schools in the Richmond (Yorks) constituency committee area.

The report included details of:

·         The number of schools across the area and their status:

·         School standards and attainment;

·         Suspension incidents and exclusions;

·         Special educational needs and disabilities;

·         Elective home education;

·         School Finance; and

·         Local school place planning issues.

During debate Members discussed:

·         The provisional key stage 4 data, specifically the Attainment 8 score, which measures achievement of a pupil across eight qualifications. The score for pupils across the constituency area has been consistently below both the North Yorkshire and national average for a number of years. Clarification on what steps were being taken to address the situation was requested.

·         The issue of school funding and budget management.

·         The marked increase in suspensions and in particular the significant increase in 2022/23 with clarification sought on the reasons behind the increase and the measures being taken to bring about a reduction in the numbers. Separate figures showing the length of suspensions was also requested.

Resolved –

That the report be deferred for consideration at a future meeting.

Considered – A report presenting the committee’s draft work programme for the municipal year 2024-25.

The Chair, Councillor Yvonne Peacock introduced the work programme and asked that Members review the committee’s draft work programme, 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:

·        An update from Richmondshire Leisure Trust

·        A684, Morton Flatts, River Swale Flooding

Resolved –

That the work programme be noted, and the agreed additions explored for inclusion on the work programme.

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.