Agenda item

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Christian Brennan of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Tuesday 19 September, 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 Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

 

There were thirteen public questions submitted to the committee.  All members of the public were in attendance to put their questions with the exception of Simon Armstrong.  Officer responses are also set out below.

 

Clair Stone

 

I feel that the current state of the turning circle (Church Street/Grape Lane) introduced for use when the Swing Bridge is closed is a stark reflection of the neglect and disregard for the heritage of our town. Potholes seem to be appearing with frequency and in some cases exposing the cellar brickwork of demolished buildings from the former Tin Ghaut. The surface is uneven and undulating and an ominous crack is now running alongside the gable end of a Grade 1 listed building – the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. At what stage will this be thoroughly investigated?

 

This is not just a matter of inconvenience; it’s a disservice to our town and heritage; an affront to our sense of pride and a challenge to our commitment to the preservation as a town. We cannot stand idly by while our history crumbles before us. We must act now before it is too late. I would suggest that putting a weight limit on the traffic using the circle would be a good start.

 

That’s not all; the litter strewn carelessly about this space further adds to the dismay and reflects badly on us as a town. Discarded wrappers, plastic bottles, fish and chip trays, uneaten picnics, and emptied car ash trays tarnish the whole area. A blatant disregard for our environment and a disregard for the pride we should hold in our community. How often is this area cleared and tidied other than when civil minded residents clear and clean? When can we expect to enjoy a clean and welcoming environment?

 

Officer Response

 

The turning area is being regularly inspected and defects repaired as and when they are noted. The barriers were erected following concerns raised by the Museum about the condition of their building. The museum said they were planning to have their building surveyed but I am still waiting to hear the outcome of that survey.

 

It is clear that the existing construction of the old car park area is not up to the appropriate standard. It looks as though the demolished buildings and filled-in cellars were only given a light covering of tarmac. Once we start the Harbourside Public Realm Improvement scheme this area will be reconstructed to an appropriate standard and it will be able to withstand the movement of larger delivery wagons, something essential during the times when the Swing Bridge is closed.

 

This year has been particularly challenging in terms of recruitment but we are putting in steps to respond to the pressures at this location. We do apologise for the impact staff vacancies have had this summer and are working hard to try and improve the situation for the long term.

 

Simon Armstrong

 

When will the current Council take the concerns of local residents seriously in relation to the failings of the existing parking system & the significant change in parking dynamics on certain streets in close proximity of both the Town Centre & North Bay beach in Scarborough?

 

Supplementary: Will the public be involved in the much needed review?

 

Officer Response

 

The Council is developing a new countywide parking policy that brings together the previous policies of the eight former councils, this is a complex piece of work that will be taken forward over the next 12 to 18 months alongside the development of the new Local Transport Plan. In addition to developing the parking policy we will commence the development of parking strategies for the larger towns including Scarborough.

 

Supplementary: Not directly in the review process which is about gathering the data to inform change, but any resulting recommendations and proposals will be subject to public and stakeholder consultation/involvement.

 

Andy Jefferson

 

We are told that people will need to use public transport or use a bike much more by 2030, using the car much less. In Whitby district we currently have the sum total of 5 trains per day, travelling at a snail’s pace to Teesside, too late for people to get to work, and too late for early hospital appointments. In terms of buses we have a service across the moors continually threatened with cancellation, routes to Scarborough / Middlesbrough and Loftus that have very frequent breakdowns, and a sole bus around Whitby that has now been decimated to only running once an hour and not at all on a Sunday or bank holiday and that doesn’t go anywhere near many parts of town. Many villages have no service at all. There are no direct services to hospitals.

 

For a district with a significantly ageing population this further stripping back of services beggars belief. Elderly people cannot stand at bus stops for often more than an hour on the off chance that an ageing Arriva bus has managed to arrive without going up in smoke, literally. DVSA have had to remove several buses of an ageing fleet from service due to unroadworthiness.

 

There is one bus service that is frequent, from the Park-and-Ride to town centre, but that is solely for the tourist, so of no benefit.

 

But that’s ok, we can always cycle … except we can’t because this council has invested the sum total of £0 in cycle infrastructure in the Whitby district; we have amongst the lowest levels of cycle infrastructure and cycling in the whole of North Yorkshire.

 

The inadequate public transport service also means that the much vaunted tourist will most likely just come here in their car and consequently clog up the streets, parking on scarce green space that is supposed to be for recreation. Parking on green space being a side effect of the current NYC “parking strategy” that is not fit for an era of mass tourism, and was promised to be reviewed more than 5 years ago … still waiting for that one.

When will North Yorkshire Council actually engage with residents and parish councils of Whitby district on each and every one of these problems so people can start to believe that Northallerton isn’t simply an artificial intelligence verbiage generation experiment?

 

Please, residents need action, not words, and not in 7 years time either.

 

Officer Response

 

Bus

Regarding local bus services, the sector is struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic and bus passenger numbers in the Whitby area are still lower than pre-covid levels. Bus companies everywhere are finding driver recruitment, higher costs and availability of replacement parts difficult. As a result some bus routes, such as Service 95 in Whitby are running less frequently, with a timetable designed to reduce operating costs and to better balance these against the fares income being taken. The council spends over £1.6m each year to support bus services and are also accessing grant funding from central government where we can and this support is focused on ensuring bus routes aren’t withdrawn entirely and keeping a core level of service in place across the county. We are also supporting the £2 fare cap scheme which is helping to reverse the drop in passenger numbers seen since the covid19 pandemic but this is taking time.

 

Rail

With regard to Northern Trains and the Esk Valley Line services we have made representations about the loss of the early morning train however Northern have advised that it was a business decision based on low patronage levels.  Nonetheless, we will continue to lobby Northern for the train to be restored and for it to run slightly later so that patronage levels will then be higher.

 

Cycling and Walking

In 2017 the government released its first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, the strategy outlines the government’s ambition to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) were identified in the strategy as a new strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at a local level. The LCWIP is designed to facilitate a long term approach to developing networks, but also designed so that the document can be updated and revisited throughout the 10 year period. LCWIPs are key to securing government funding, particularly through Active Travel England and provide the evidence base for bids.

 

Parking

The Council is developing a new countywide parking policy that brings together the previous policies of the eight former councils, this is a complex piece of work that will be taken forward over the next 12 to 18 months alongside the development of the new Local Transport Plan.  In addition to developing the parking policy we will commence the development of parking strategies for the larger towns including Whitby.

 

Local Transport Plan

Finally, the North Yorkshire Council's Transport Planning team is tasked with producing the Local Transport Plan for North Yorkshire and have recently concluded an initial round of engagement on transport issues and priorities for the new Plan with the public, stakeholders and members.  This survey has now finished and all responses received are being analysed and will then be used to help produce a draft Local Transport Plan which we expect will go out to public consultation in 2024.

 

This draft Plan will outline the transport priorities and proposals for North Yorkshire.  In addition, part of the work required for the new Local Transport Plan will be to outline how the proposed measures will lead to a carbon reduction and how that will contribute to the Carbon Neutral ambition for North Yorkshire. 

 

Alison Hume

 

In a community like Whitby, buses are the links which hold us together, and those links are fractured and broken.

 

Cuts to the Arriva commercial Sleights to Whitby 95 service as well as the X4 were the most complained about services in a survey I have been running.

 

People late for work. Health workers pooling resources to order taxis just to get to work. Parents and carers unable to collect children from school. People missing appointments. People trying to line up GP appointments with the cut back bus timetable. Buses breaking down, not turning up, and a sense that Arriva are running down services which not making them enough money.

 

At a recent community meeting here in this hall, representatives from Arriva admitted they have been trying to hire a mechanic to fix buses in Whitby with no success. It was quite incredible to hear the excuses they offered up for the appalling services locals have to endure.

 

It’s not just the 95 but the X4 which is also unreliable, one of the fleet recently caught on fire and another was unable to climb Lythe Bank.

 

My question is this. What are you doing about allowing an operator who is so clearly not running a proper bus service for the people of Whitby and keeping old and unsafe buses on our roads?

 

Why are you allowing them to keep on lining the pockets of their shareholders at the expense of an increasingly inconvenienced and isolated public?

 

We don’t have time to wait for a new transport strategy. We need properly maintained, reliable, regular local buses now.

  The failure of our local bus services isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s ruining lives, journey by journey.

 

What are you waiting for?

 

Listen to the comments of respondents to my survey.

• “My mother in law is now unable to collect the children from school due to bus cuts.”

• “Never know when it will turn up ..”

• “Buses always breaking down and just not arriving”

• “Poor frequency, reduced to hourly, no buses on a Sunday and last bus too early for an evening in Whitby”

• “I now have to wait an hour after finishing work to go home as the bus no longer passes my home as the Lealholm route changed”.

 

Britain is the only country in the developed world where bus operators have the power to set routes and fares, with no say for local communities. Arriva services in Whitby are an absolute case in point.

 

Are you able to say how you can address the problems of the Arriva provided bus services in Whitby and the villages?

 

Officer Response

 

The issues highlighted by Arriva are also being seen more widely as the bus sector is struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Passenger numbers in the Whitby area are still lower than pre-covid levels and bus companies everywhere are finding recruitment, higher costs and availability of replacement parts difficult. As a result some bus routes, such as Service 95 in Whitby are now running less frequently, with a timetable designed to reduce operating costs and to better balance these against the fares income being taken.

 

The council spends over £1.6m each year to support bus services, mainly for rural communities and are also accessing grant funding from central government. This additional funding is being focused on ensuring bus routes aren’t withdrawn entirely and keeping a core level of service in place across the county. We are also promoting the £2 fare cap scheme which is helping to reverse the drop in passenger numbers seen since the covid19 pandemic but this is taking time.

 

On the reliability problems with route X4, we understand the frustration this causes but it is Traffic Commissioners, who are appointed by government, who are responsible for the licensing and regulation of bus and coach operators rather than local authorities. We will always work with them on issues such as this but the Council doesn’t have a regulatory role and is not able to influence which bus companies are operating commercial bus routes.

 

Joyce Stangoe

 

Can I please raise the following issue at the above meeting "That local, truly affordable and in perpetuity housing for people living and working in the Whitby & District area not covered by the National Park be provided. What urgent action is being taken by NYC to address this issue to ensure this area can be sustainable now and in the future and prevent the current drain of young people and families which is affecting all other areas of the local community, including staffing issues for local businesses, lack of pupils to keep schools open, public transport decline etc.

 

Officer Response (provided after the meeting)

 

Over the last 6 years from April 2017 to March 2023, the former Scarborough Borough Council enabled the development of 218 new affordable homes in Whitby, of which 180 were rented (a mix of affordable and social rent) and 38 Low Cost Home Ownership homes (All Shared Ownership). This represented c. 27% of all affordable housing completions across the former Borough over that period of time. All of these were secured as affordable in perpetuity through S106 agreements.

 

These included homes secured on land released by Scarborough Borough Council for affordable homes and then developed by a local housing association. In fact since, 2011, Scarborough Borough Council enabled the development of 95 affordable homes (all for rent) on a number of sites in Whitby, which they released to housing associations with legal provisions in place that they remain affordable in perpetuity.

 

Currently there are 2 sites being developed in Whitby (at Green Lane and Broomfield Farm), which will deliver a further 89 affordable homes, through S106 agreements, which will be a mixture of rented and shared ownership. It should be noted that current Planning Policy requires 30% of homes to be affordable, which is the highest requirement in the former Borough. Virtually all sites developed in Whitby in the last 10 years have achieved the 30% requirement, with some exceeding that requirement.

 

There are a number of other sites in the development pipeline, which will provide further affordable housing in Whitby within the next 3-4 years. In addition, the Council has also identified a number of council owned sites in Whitby to be included within the proposed Joint Venture, which will further provide affordable housing opportunities, on terms to be determined by the Council.

 

John Sissens

 

In January 2022 Scarborough Council proposed the demolition of the railway bridge and this was rejected by the Planning Committee. At the request of the Planning Manager, the matter was deferred in order to develop an improved solution.

 

It was not until ten months later, in November 2022, that the identical proposed demolition of the bridge was again presented and again rejected by the Planning Committee on the grounds of safety.

 

Residents are concerned that continuing delays are increasing the risk of a serious accident at a level crossing protected only by a swing gate.

 

Can you please advise the current plans for replacing the 50 year old bridge?

 

Officer Response (provided after the meeting)

 

Planning permission to demolish the bridge was refused by the former Scarborough Borough Council following a campaign by local residents.

 

Therefore, whilst there are currently no plans to replace the bridge, it will continue to be considered as part of a wider review of bridges during the ongoing restructuring of the Council.

 

The committee shared Mr Sissens’ disappointment and frustration that a reply to his question submitted a month before the meeting was not provided on the day and requested to be copied in to the written reply sent to Mr Sissens.

 

Valerie Appleton

What Justification did the Town Deal Board have for proposing to add a plinth to the front of an iconic  Grade 2* historic building? This proposal was subsequently approved by the Area Planning Committee without any local consultation other than the Planning Application process. It was included in the proposal to repair and restore the 1778 building, which is a huge heritage asset to Whitby.

 

The plinth does not enhance the building and does not improve the ancient 1640 Market Place. The fact that it projects 4.5 metres from the Old Town Hall drastically changes the look of the ancient building and the ancient 1640 market place by covering a huge portion of it.  The plinth and steps are totally ‘out of keeping’. The residents of Whitby strongly oppose this structure.

 

The artist’s impression of the proposal, that is on the NYC website, is totally misleading and gives the impression that there are steps leading up to the building and no plinth.

 

I request that this aspect of the Town Deal Board proposal  be removed from the works to be carried out to repair, restore and renovate the Old Town Hall and that the funds allocated for the plinth be used for another more useful purpose within the scheme.

 

Officer Response

 

The addition of a platform and steps leading up to the Undercroft of the Old Town Hall building from the Market Place was proposed by the project team which includes officers and members from North Yorkshire Council, Whitby Town Council, Highways and a representative of the Whitby Civic Society. Working with the appointed specialist conservation architects, the Council’s Conservation Officer and a representative from Historic England, various options were explored to address issues in relation to the Market Place. The solution put forward by the project team was for two separate platforms within the Market Place and was deemed the most appropriate for the setting and was supported by the Whitby Town Deal Board and Historic England.

 

The Business Case for the project presented that the addition of the platforms would increase permeability through the undercroft from Church Street to the Market Place and vice versa, better connect the Old Town Hall building to the Market Place, increase the amount of level useable space for the market, provide a means in which to deliver electricity and lighting to the Market Place and also rectify a health and safety issue involving the depth of the ‘drops’ either side of the current steps to the undercroft.

 

A public engagement exercise on the proposals was carried out in May 2022 including an open drop in session at the Old Town Hall building, online questionnaire and direct engagement with stakeholders such as the Market Traders, RNLI, Whitby Civic Society, Whitby DAG, Green Lane Community Connections and Members of both Whitby Town Council and the then Scarborough Borough Council. We received just under 400 responses to the engagement with the majority supportive of the proposals to repair and restore the Old Town Hall building bringing it back into use with a more vibrant Market Place. However, we did receive a number of concerns regarding the second platform at the bottom of the Market Place around vehicle access, its safety and the impact it would have on the setting of the Market Place. As a result of this feedback, the project team amended the proposals put forward and this second platform was removed from the plans leaving the Market Place to slope away as currently and just the upper platform remaining to allow safe access from the Market Place to the undercroft and vice versa.

 

The planning application submitted for approval showed the platform and steps in its entirety from all elevations. The materials that will be used for the construction of these steps will be matched to existing materials within the Market place and Old Town Hall building to ensure it is in keeping with the setting.

 

Terri-Anne Jones

 

I speak to you today as a concerned parent of a current year 6 student and member of the community. NYC declare you are "active at the heart of your local communities, listen to concerns and respond to the needs of the public to deal with issues that are important to where we live" Whitby children need you to get answers so they have the best future possible.

 

The concerns about the amalgamation of Eskdale school and Caedmon College Whitby, which were raised in both consultation periods and ignored by NYC and the governors have become a reality that will damage generations of children.

 

The federation is in such a mess that there is an external executive management team trying to sort things out, the exec head has left, both co chairs have stepped down to be replaced with the CEO of Coast and Vale Academy Trust - none of this publicly announced by the trust. They also delayed an Ofted inspection, but it is predicted requires improvement at best.

 

The college themselves have issued an email about the drop off and collection of children, they advertised there is parking on Mayfield Road, this is one of the main roads in and out of Whitby, have highways been consulted with the situation set to get worse next year?

 

The big thing from the consultation was that Whitby needs 6th form, I don’t disagree but it needs to be financially viable, and should not be at the cost of every 11-16 year old in the area. Since 2019 Caedmon College has received over £600,000 of council and government money for a sustainable and thriving 6th form -136 students last year and they won’t give this years figures without an FOI. There has never been an impact report for this money, how do they know the impact on education, how do we know that the money was well spent?

 

I feel that my child's education is at risk going to Caedmon College but because she’s only going in to year 7 there are no options, unlike post 16 there is no subsidised travel to another area, there is no travel to any other school, so what happens to children who are unhappy, excluded, bullied or needs not met?

 

The trust between the governors, NYC, the community and parents has been destroyed since January. From parents and children up to Whitby Town Council everyone has been ignored when they called for answers.

 

I ask today that a meeting of NYC, the governors and the community is held so the plan going forward is explained in detail, so parents like myself can reassure our children that they will get the best education, they will be safe and have access to the basic human needs like food at lunch time. Every child in the Whitby Area deserves better, the community deserve honesty and clarity about what's happening in education in Whitby.

Every parent should have confidence in the school their child attends, not looking if they can afford to travel over 80 miles a day dropping off and collecting their child, or if home schooling is the only realistic option, especially with the cost of living crisis.

 

WHO IS EDUCATION FOR?

 

Officer Response

 

Thank you for your comments.

 

The Council’s Executive Committee considered the proposal to amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School at their meeting on 20 June 2023. We note that you spoke at that meeting and at a previous meeting when the amalgamation was on the agenda on 18 April.

 

The drop off and collection of children was considered in the Executive report (section 7.27). Parents have a role to play in reducing congestion and increasing pupil safety and are responsible for parking safely around school sites. The amalgamation will be implemented in September 2024, and before this time a traffic assessment is being carried out to see if any appropriate improvements to the local highway infrastructure are required.

 

With regards to the sixth form, many queries were raised and considered during the Council’s consultation process. As for all schools with sixth forms, the quality of education is inspected as part of Ofsted’s routine inspections.

 

We note your comments about the risk of children being bullied. Schools are responsible for ensuring children are supported and any identified bullying is addressed. Children from the school who spoke to Local Authority’s officers reported that they were confident staff would tackle bullying; parents of children already in the school also shared this view.

 

A petition containing 2468 signatures was previously considered at this committee in March. At the Council’s Executive Committee meeting in June, it was confirmed that the Council has complied with the legislation for publishing the statutory proposals and regarding consultations being carried out prior to any proposal to close a maintained school. The petition, 463 written consultation responses, over 100 emails to the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills and 26 items of correspondence to officers as well as the views of public gathered at two public meetings (attended by 237 people) were considered prior to the decision being made.

 

School leaders are now responsible for liaising with parents, children and staff about how the amalgamation will be implemented and what this means for pupils. Through local management of schools, governors are responsible for oversight of their schools. Officers are aware that plans are being made for school leaders to meet with parents and to communicate their plans at different stages of the school year. The Local Authority will continue to support and work with school leaders as the school manages this transition period.

 

It is hoped that this offers some assurance to you, however if you continue to have concerns about the operation of the school we would encourage you to contact the school to discuss and address these.

 

 

Jean Spink

 

Taking into account the concerns about poorer health outcomes of those living in coastal areas and intense public local concern on the East Coast:

Could the method of data collection of Standardised Mortality for people who die from Stroke be clarified for the public and agreed upon by the relevant; Integrated Care Boards, Providers of Stroke Services, North Yorkshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee and other relevant County Councils in their scrutiny mechanisms?

 

This would take account of the fact that individuals who have a catastrophic stroke and live on the East Coast may be cared for (transported to) a range of different care providers and localities eg York, Hull or Middlesbrough.

 

I request this so that it may be established the extent to which the Scarborough Area people suffer from the lack of immediate care following a stroke. It would be useful to the committee to have comparable data (and data collected in the same way) with reference to different hospitals as the population receives care which crosses administrative boundaries. The committee needs to compare outcomes across 3 different hospitals

 

Officer Response

 

The Council works closely with the NHS Trust, who were at the recent Scrutiny of Health Committee where this subject was discussed at length. Due to the complexity of the question we have forwarded it onto the Trust for comment. When the information becomes available a response will be communicated back to you.

 

Rory Newman

 

What progress if any has been made towards the promised extra care housing development on the Whitby Hospital site? What are the current plans for 1 Larpool Lane?

 

Officer Response

 

The Council continues to work actively on the extra care development in Whitby. Delivery has been impacted by COVID disruption and the rising costs of construction and materials. However, we are hopeful that we will be able to bring proposals to Executive in the near future. Whitby is one of our key sites for extra care.

 

Larpool Lane continues to provide a residential service. At such a time as the new Whitby Extra Care scheme is secured, we will review the future of Larpool Lane and the potential use of the building and site.

 

Lynne Walker

 

The W.I. 2023 Resolution is to work with local and national authorities as well as the public to highlight pollution of any river or sea to improve water to Bathing Water standard. The River Esk is particularly concerning as is the storm outlet at Sandsend into the North Sea and to this end we have already mounted an exhibition in Whitby Library which will remain until mid October.

 

Can we ask North Yorkshire Council to support Whitby WI’s campaign in order for the River Esk and the North Sea (Staithes to Robin Hoods Bay) to be restored back to bathing water standards?

 

Officer Response

 

The Council is alert to the concerns raised within this question. Our last meeting of this committee on the 6 June 2023 invited the Environmental Agency to discuss the issues in depth. In December, the committee will meet with representatives from Yorkshire Water as part of our ongoing role in monitoring the situation. Minutes from these meeting are available online for the public to review should they wish to observe the progress being made.

 

We continue to cooperate with all stakeholders involved in resolving these shared concerns.

 

Adrian Perry

 

Speaking on behalf of the members of the Civic Society and Friends of South Cliff Gardens I wish to express our deep concern regarding the recent practice of individuals setting up tents in public areas in Scarborough. While I understand the importance of providing assistance and support to those in need, I believe that allowing tents in public parkland poses significant challenges and concerns for our community.

 

First and foremost, it is essential to recognize that public gardens and shelters are established with the primary goal of providing enjoyment for the general public. Allowing individuals to set up tents in these areas can lead to several issues:

 

Safety Concerns: Tents within shelters increasing the risk of accidents, fires, and the spread of diseases. It is crucial to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for everyone.

 

Access to Resources: When some individuals are allowed to set up tents in shelters, it creates an unfair distribution of resources, by excluding those who wish to make use of the publicly funded resource.

 

Community Perception: Allowing tents in public gardens may negatively affect our community's perception of these facilities and discourage donations and support from the public, making it harder to maintain and improve them.

 

Surely it is against a law to behave in this way. What are the legalities relating to this issue and how can the behaviour be curtailed?

 

Officer Response (provided after the meeting)

 

I would like to confirm that the Council is also concerned with the recent practice of tents/encampments being set up in public areas in Scarborough. The Council’s initial approach to these individuals is one of providing support and guidance from our Homelessness and Safer Communities teams and if necessary a welfare assessment is carried out. If the individual refuses to leave then a formal letter is served on them and if required the Council will exercise its right to remove them using reasonable force with the assistance of bailiffs.

 

I would like to assure you that the Council is not ‘allowing’ individuals to camp on public land and where such an issue is brought to our attention then suitable action is taken.