Presentation from Knaresborough Town Councillor David Goode covering community development activities in Knaresborough. Preparedness for Double Devolution. Issues Knaresborough faces and Asks of ACC/NYC.
Minutes:
Presentation from
Knaresborough Town Council: Thriving Knaresborough – 2030:
Knaresborough Town
Councillor David Goode introduced this item and thanked the Committee for the
invite to the meeting. He explained the history of Knaresborough and its
Community highlighting the many challenges facing the town. These included
maintaining a competitive local economy in a very competitive market, maintaining
standards and growing services to cope with the influx of new residents due to
2000 plus new homes being built. The town suffered from congestion, anti-social
behaviour, high house prices, low paid jobs, with a significant number of
residents commuting to work on a daily basis. As a tourist destination the town
suffered from lack of transport connectivity, a lack of hotel and other
accommodation, poor tourism promotion and a slow growth in new business in the
town.
Knaresborough Town Council was a well-established Council
with a budget that delivered a number of services to and on behalf of residents
in the town. It had a Mayor, whose duties ranged from supporting local business
and causes and representing the Town in the wider region. The Town Council worked
with North Yorkshire Council in a variety of areas including emergency response
and was also part of North Yorkshire Council’s implementation of the new
community development strategy with community networks/anchor organisations.
The Town Council was looking at the potential opportunities that double
devolution offered the Town and had submitted proposals as part of the process
with North Yorkshire Council. The town council recognised that devolution
opportunities related to the transfer of assets, and/or the delivery of
services.
Cllr Goode went on to brief the Committee on the workshops
that the Town Council had held to look at issues facing the town and also how
the Community could work together to tackle environmental and climate change
issues. He explained how the town had successfully run events all of which
contributed to a ‘thriving town. He gave an overview of the competing
priorities facing the town and how the town would have to rely and build on
relationships to deliver solutions and any double devolution success. He
concluded with an overview of the issues the town was facing and what the town
Council was asking from the Area Committee and North Yorkshire Council.
The Chair
thanked Cllr Goode for his presentation.
In response to questions further information was requested
about anchor organisations and Cllr Goode provided information about the Parish
Precept.
Members discussed the benefits of sorting lease arrangements
for the Castle Grounds and Councillor Walker offered his services as a Champion
of economic development in Knaresborough and to be a conduit between the Town
Council and the Duchy.
Councillor Walker proposed the following motion, the motion
was seconded by Councillor Gostlow:
The Council should learn from the past and strengthen
communication and engagement between the Town Council and North Yorkshire
Council:
-
Councillor Walker to be the link on behalf of the
Committee between Knaresborough Town Council and North Yorkshire Council for
supporting Economic Development and working with a named officer once
identified
-
Councillor
Walker to work with the officer responsible for negotiating an extension to the
lease for the castle grounds
A vote was taken on the substantive motion and nine members
voted for the motion and there was one abstention.
Resolved –
That the ACC supports the motion proposed by Councillor Matt Walker.