Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair of the Committee for the 2026/27 year.

Harriet Clarke, Senior Democratic Services Officer, opened the meeting and sought nominations for the Chair.

Resolved

That Councillor Robert Heseltine be appointed to the Chair of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Committee for the 2026/27 year.

Nominations were sought for the Vice-Chair.

Resolved

That Councillor Andy Solloway be appointed Vice-Chair of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Philip Barrett, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Andrew Murday and Simon Myers.

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Andy Brown requested that sustainable transport schemes, particularly those relating to the 580 bus service between Skipton and Settle, be considered. The Senior Democratic Services Officer advised that this matter could be raised under the Committee Work Programme item.

Resolved

That the minutes of the meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee held on 5 March were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct 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 none.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and supplied the text to Harriet Clarke, democraticservices.west@northyorks.gov.uk by midday on Monday 1 June 2026, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker must limit themselves to 3 minutes.

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 none.

The Chair reported that a public question had been brought to officers’ attention shortly before the meeting. However, as the deadline for submission had passed, the Senior Democratic Services Officer advised that the matter would be followed up outside the meeting.

An opportunity for Members to discuss issues of key concern in the constituency.

Following publication of the agenda, notification was received that the Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP was unable to attend the meeting due to a debate taking place in Parliament. Members were instead provided with a written update on the work of the MP in the constituency.

Julia Stack, Community Safety and CCTV Manager, Evie Griffiths, Senior Community Safety Officer and Helenor Gwatkin, Senior Community Safety Officer, presented an annual update on the work of the Community Safety and CCTV service in the Skipton and Ripon area. The report provided an overview of Community Safety Hubs, CCTV provision and the wider strategic Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

Chief Inspector Simon Williamson, Inspector Keeley Lockey-Smith and Sergeant Dan Price were also in attendance to deliver a North Yorkshire Police (NYP) operational update.

The Community Safety and CCTV Manager introduced the report and highlighted that Ripon falls within the Harrogate CSP, which had been reflected in the report. It was also noted that from April 2026, Helenor Gwatkin assumed responsibility for the Skipton area, taking over from Evie Griffiths in the role of Senior Community Safety Officer. A key point of discussion was the ongoing strategic review of CCTV, including the installation of two additional temporary cameras in Skipton town centre.

In response to questions from Members, the following points were raised:

·       Concerns were raised regarding fly-tipping and the use of CCTV at problem locations. It was clarified by the Community Safety and CCTV Manager that fly-tipping is the responsibility of the Council’s Enforcement team, with CCTV deployed only in areas already covered by public surveillance.

·       A request was made to reinstate quarterly local policing update meetings in the Ripon area. Inspector Keeley Lockey-Smith agreed to follow this up with the Division Member and to re-establish more regular engagement.

·       Several Members raised concerns about obstructive and dangerous parking in tourist areas and at beauty spots such as Stainforth, highlighting risks to emergency vehicle access. They requested stronger enforcement measures, including recovery options. NYP confirmed that monitoring is ongoing, with dangerous obstructions remaining enforceable, particularly during busy summer periods, while noting the need to balance enforcement with supporting tourism.

·       Concerns were raised by the Division Member for Bentham and Ingleton about reports of anti-social behaviour linked to traveller activity in Ingleton, including a lack of police response. NYP agreed to liaise with the Ingleton Parish Council Clerk to address the matter.

·       Positive feedback was received regarding the installation of temporary CCTV at Skipton bus station, which had improved public confidence. It was noted that the cameras were temporary and may be relocated based on need, although it was reported that there were currently no plans to move them. It was reported that the strategic review of CCTV was led by NYNet and reported to a steering group chaired by the Assistant Chief Executive Local Engagement. Consultation involved various stakeholders including parish and town councils, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and NYP, with initial findings and recommendations being reported in early summer.

·       A question was raised about installing CCTV on private buildings, with officers noting practical issues around ownership and access, suggesting improving the robustness of lighting columns as a better approach.

·       Concerns were expressed about limited coordination between the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Matt Robinson, Head of Resilience and Emergencies presented an annual update on progress and incidents impacting emergency planning and community resilience within the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee area.

It was clarified that a typographical error at paragraph 4.0 should refer to the Skipton and Ripon Integrated Emergency Management Group.

In response to questions from Members, the below points were raised:

·       The Chair expressed concern about limited involvement in understanding potential threats and asked how Members can better represent their constituents, highlighting the need for renewed training opportunities. In response, the Head of Resilience and Emergencies explained that previous emergency legislation had been replaced by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, introducing a more hazard based approach. He also outlined the introduction of a new National Security Plan and Resilience Action Plan, focused on “whole society resilience”, with an emphasis on community engagement with Division Members and local businesses, alongside ongoing collaboration with the military.

·       Concerns were raised about the proximity to Menwith Hill and risks from lower level threats, however a detailed response was limited due to the public meeting context.

·       Climate related risks were discussed, including flooding, wildfires and increased land drying. In response, it was noted that recovery from the Fylingdales Moor wildfire in 2025 remained ongoing, alongside efforts to strengthen community support networks for future incidents, including engagement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

·       It was confirmed that pandemic preparedness remained a priority. In 2025, a Tier One national exercise “Exercise Pegasus” tested the response to a future pandemic scenario. The Director of Public Health for NYC would continue to support preparedness locally, working with health system partners to ensure readiness for any future pandemics.

·       Food security was raised as a key risk with an emphasis on local food production, supply chains and it was noted that a national public awareness campaign was taking place in 2026.

·       It was reported that Ripon City Council had proposed to establish a food and climate cohesion working group, with opportunities for local involvement and support for community groups identified.

·       Potential El Niño related weather impacts were raised by Chair.

·       Cross border cooperation with neighbouring authorities such as West Yorkshire and Lancashire was confirmed as strong for the Community Safety and CCTV team and North Yorkshire Police.

·       Concerns were raised about water security, particularly regarding levels at Grimwith Reservoir and drought planning. While Yorkshire Water’s grid system, which enables water to be transferred between sources, provides some resilience, private water supplies were identified as more vulnerable.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Councillor Nick Brown joined the meeting virtually at 3.19 pm

Joshua Lumb, Head of Intermediate Care, Sandra Mitchell, Service Manager Care Provider Services and Hannah Brown, Commissioning and Provider Services Development Manager provided an update on the residential and nursing homes within the Skipton and Ripon area, as previously requested by the Committee. 

Officers noted that there had been some confusion regarding the geography of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee. As a result, the report focused on Skipton, Ripon and their surrounding areas, rather than covering the full extent of the Area Committee’s geography. Officers agreed to review the report and incorporate any missing information at a later date.

The Commissioning and Provider Services Development Manager provided an overview of the report and raised the following key points:

·       As outlined in Appendix A, there are 18 care homes in Skipton and the surrounding areas and 10 in the Ripon area. The majority support older people aged 65 and over with 9 care homes supporting working age adults.

·       The care home market is predominantly focused on older people. Provision for working age adults, both residential and nursing, is generally used as a last resort, with a strategic emphasis on more independent living options.

·       Provision is diverse, comprising a mix of smaller local providers and larger regional and national organisations.

·       Just under 50% of placements in the Skipton and Ripon area are wholly or partly funded by NYC and the remainder are NHS funded or self-funded.

·       As of May 2026, 47 vacancies were reported (37 in Skipton and 10 in Ripon). Current gaps include no vacancies for working age adults in Skipton and no nursing home vacancies in Ripon.

·       Demand for care home places is increasing, particularly due to people living longer with dementia and presenting with more complex needs. Work is underway to support provider upskilling.

·       Paragraph 4.1 outlined NYC’s actual cost of care rates. The Council publishes standard care home rates, prioritises commissioning with providers who accept them, and applies a tiered approach for others to ensure best value for money.

·       Overall quality across the area was reported as good, however two care homes in Ripon are currently suspended and subject to intervention, and three homes in Skipton are rated as requiring improvement.

·       Three extra care schemes are operational (one in Ripon and two in Skipton), with a new scheme in Gargrave currently at the procurement stage.

The Service Manager for Care Provider Services provided an overview of Ashfield, the NYC owned and operated care home in Skipton. The home has 24 registered beds and offers a range of services, including long term, respite, and intermediate care. Ashfield was rated “Good” by the CQC in both 2021 and 2023. Feedback from individuals using the service was reported to be predominantly very positive, with examples set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

Members thanked officers for the report and the below points were raised:

·       The Vice-Chair, who had requested the report, highlighted that care homes represent a significant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To receive a verbal update on the work of the Youth Council in the Committee area.

Noah Garbutt, Skipton Youth Council Chair, submitted a written update on the work of the Youth Council since the previous Area Committee meeting in March.

The update was read out by the Senior Democratic Services Officer and included the following points:

·       The “Your Ideas, Our Campaign” consultation received over 225 responses, primarily from young people aged 11–16 and highlighted that community safety should be the Youth Council’s main campaign priority for 2026.

·       Key concerns raised included safety at Skipton bus station and within the town centre although engagement has continued with North Yorkshire Police and partners through the Community Safety Working Group.

·       The installation of CCTV at Skipton bus station has been welcomed, with emphasis on the importance of safe public transport for young people.

·       Work is underway to improve awareness among young people about how to report concerns and the difference between emergency and non-emergency services, including potential guidance and school engagement.

·       The Youth Council has supported environmental initiatives, including recycling awareness activities delivered at a local Eco Day.

·       The Youth Council has strengthened links with parish councils, neighbouring areas, and Harrogate Youth Council to enhance representation.

·       Priorities for the remainder of 2026 include progressing the safety campaign, undertaking a follow-up survey, and continuing to represent young people’s views in local decision-making.

Members considered the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee Annual Report 2025/26. The report provided a summary of the Committee’s activity over the last year and an overview of what had been achieved. Particular highlights were set out in the report which also noted that 7 public questions and statements had been received covering topics including concerns around Home to School Transport policy, Ripon Town Investment Plan, concerns affecting rural bus services, progress on the Nidderdale Greenway Extension and opportunities to reuse vacant space above shops in Skipton. Regular updates were also received from the local MP as well as an annual update from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Resolved

That the Committee note the contents of the report.

To invite Members to consider, amend and add to the Committee’s work programme.

Members reviewed the work programme and suggested the following additions:

Review of local bus services:

·       Members requested an update on local bus provision and funding, including the preparation of a map setting out current services. This was suggested to include engagement with the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, improved mechanisms to enable timely responses to service changes, and an assessment of how resources can be used most effectively, including the potential prioritisation of key routes.

·       The recent timetable reduction to the 580 service between Skipton and Settle was highlighted; however, it was noted that this is a commercial route not operated under contract to the Council. In response, the Senior Democratic Services Officer agreed to seek an officer response and provide an update to the relevant Members and interested member of the public.

Update on Section 106 agreements and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments:

·       Members highlighted the importance of clear and transparent processes for the allocation of developer contributions through Section 106 agreements and CIL payments and welcomed opportunities to ensure these funds are effectively managed and maximise local benefit.

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

There were no urgent items of business.

Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 10.00am.

Thursday 1 October 2026 at 10.00 am.