Agenda item

Purpose – To consider, develop and adopt a work programme for future LAF meetings.

Considered –

Members considered the Forward Plan provided at Appendix 1

Ian Kelly, Head of Countryside Access Service drew attention to an online public survey related to the updating of the Council’s Health & Wellbeing Strategy.  He suggested the Forum may wish to submit a response and noted the closing date was 31 March 2024.  He agreed to circulate a link. 

He also drew attention to a Strategic Leisure Review underway and suggested the Forum may wish to feed in its views on access.  He offered to investigate the attendance of an appropriate NYC officer to a future Forum meeting.

In regard to the scheduled update on the Local Transport Plan for the Forum’s September 2024 meeting, Ian Kelly confirmed a liaison session for Forum members had been offered by NYC’s LTP team. Forum members agreed it would be helpful and Ian Kelly agreed to arrange a session outside of the Forum’s formal meeting dates. 

In addition, Ian Kelly noted the Forum had yet to respond to the Let’s Talk North Yorkshire’ residents survey in support of the updating of the Council’s Local Transport Plan, previously raised at the last Forum meeting.  It was agreed that following the meeting the Acting Chair would identify a number of members to form a sub-group to respond on behalf of the Forum.  Members agreed the Forum’s response should highlight the need for use of more sustainable transport.

Councillor David Jeffels raised concern about off-roading, an issue brought to his attention by a representative of Green lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM) following the tragedy at Glaisdale.  He noted the damage caused by non-essential vehicle usage on unsurfaced unclassified roads (UURs) and the need to safeguard other users and protect the environment.  He suggested this was something the Forum should be concerned with and proposed it be considered for further review.

David Lepper acknowledged the conflict between recreational use and conservation, and the need to strike a balance for all users.  Ian Kelly noted the Forum’s many discussions undertaken over recent years on the UUR network, confirming they were classed as Category 6 Highways – available for use by all, and that the National Parks and CAS had a good handle on their usage. He noted the Authority had a legal statutory duty to maintain those routes and confirmed his team worked closely with both National Parks to identify those routes requiring maintenance work (with an annual budget allocated for that purpose), and that a review of that work was undertaken annually.   Where there were ongoing issues, he confirmed that a Traffic Regulation Order was the last resort. 

Attention was also drawn to the Forum’s existing Position Statement on UURs which was still relevant, and it was agreed it would be helpful if the Secretary re- circulated all the Forum’s Position Statements to ensure all members were aware of their content.  Having noted the information provided, Forum members requested an update on UUR maintenance for their May 2024 meeting.

The Acting Chair proposed a possible update from the Slow Ways Volunteer Walking Group and agreed to investigate.  He also drew attention to an informal meeting held in November 2023 attended by himself, the previous Chair, Ian Kelly and Daniel Harry - Head of Democratic Services, and confirmed his intention to circulate the notes from that meeting to all Forum members.  He noted there had been discussions around the Forum’s web presence, the Forum’s terms of reference, and the future of the CAS User Group.  This led to discussions around those three issues. 

Ian Kelly confirmed the NYC Countryside Access Service User Group would no longer be continuing in its previous format, and it had yet to be decided whether and how the information shared at those meetings previously, would be disseminated in the future.  He offered to provide an update on CAS for the next meeting and suggested an annual update for future years.

In regard to the other two issues, it was agreed that two further sub-groups be formed – one to consider the Forum’s Profile and one to consider the Terms of Reference.  Again the Acting Chair agreed to identify a number of members to participate in those sub-groups.

Forum members also queried the outcome of their recommendations arising from their previously completed review on Planning matters.  It was agreed the Secretary should seek feedback from Planning. 

As a result of all the discussions at the meeting, the following amendments were agreed to the Forward Plan:

22 May 2024

Add:

·         Election of Chair & Vice Chair

·         Update on restructure of Planning Teams following LGR

·         Update on UUR maintenance works

·         Annual Report on CAS

·         Sustrans Update

Defer Network Rail Update to September 2024 meeting

25 September 2024

Remove:

·         Coast to Coast National Trail Update (to be replaced by standing item)

·         Local Transport Plan Update (replaced by liaison session to be arranged by Ian Kelly)

Add Network Rail Update

All meetings

Add standing items on A19 and the Coast to Coast Route for

Resolved - That the Work Programme document be updated as above.