Agenda item

To consider the proposals set out within the report and adopt a forward plan for future LAF meetings.

Stephen Clark presented the report and Appendix which set out proposals for what NYLAF might consider in its meeting agendas for the next two years.

As part of the discussion at the Forward Plan item during the NYLAF meeting in September 2024, a sub-group had been formed.  The group consisting of Roma Haigh, John Toogood and Stephen had met several times since that meeting and had developed the report, which had also benefitted from constructive input from Ian Kelly.  Mr Clark explained the approach the sub-group had taken; with limited resources the group had set the goal of wanting to make a difference by focussing on strategic items.

The proposals for future content were set out on pages 44 to 47 of the agenda pack and included the purpose of the item, the possible outcomes and timing and priority.  It was felt that if progress was to be made then it was essential that there was good quality engagement between the Forum and those officers responsible within North Yorkshire Council for areas to include tourism, leisure, planning, environment, transport and highways.

Members discussed how best to start a dialogue with the Council, external stakeholders and landowners, and the problems that they had encountered to date.  Councillor Jabbour highlighted that the Council wanted to drive change and improve services for the local communities, but it was sometimes confronted with a lack of resources.  To effect positive change there was a need to attend meetings, make a case and prepare a report, but the subject had to be comprehensive, well researched and be simple to implement, and if the subject could be seen to bring about more footfall, more PROW and better access within North Yorkshire then it was beneficial to the Council.

Mr Brown stated that the Forum had a lot of experience to offer, and as a rural Council the environment, health and rural travel were all high priorities on their agenda, however funding would not be diverted from the core statutory functions such as schools and social care, therefore it was important that the correct services were targeted, for example, Highways had a dedicated highways improvement budget and officers.  It was suggested that the Forum may wish to invite officers at a higher level to attend future meetings to showcase how the Forum could help and complement their service.

Mr Kelly reminded Members that the statutory duty for producing a Local Transport Plan (LTP) now sat with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.  Guidance from central government on the development of LTPs was expected and once received the Highways service would be working with colleagues from the Combined Authority to produce a document that meets the needs of the people who live in, work in and visit North Yorkshire.

Members were assured that the Highways service did want to work with the LAF and as part of the development of the LTP there would be engagement and then at a later date, formal consultation with the LAF.

The Chair thanked the sub-group for their work as he felt that the report had given the Members several topics to focus on and to work through, and that the Forum could make a positive difference as there were a number of Council Strategies that fit the remit for the LAF, and as Councillor Jabbour pointed out, each Council Strategy was allocated a budget to make the Strategy deliverable.

Members considered the proposed topics and chose items 2.1, Review of Rights of Way Improvement Plan and 2.11, Review of Best Practices in Local Access Forums in England as the topics to be looked at in more depth prior to the next meeting of the Forum in May 2025, and it was agreed that two sub-groups would be established.

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan sub-group to consist of Pat Coulson, Belinda Ryan, John Toogood and Rachel Connolly (in an advisory capacity) would look at the briefing note and the questions from page three of the briefing paper within the agenda pack and produce a report with recommendations.

The Chair, Roma Haigh and Stephen Clark volunteered to sit on the sub-group to undertake a Review of Best Practices in Local Access Forums in England.  The Chair informed the group that he was due to attend the next meeting of the Regional Access Forum (RAF) on the 5 March 2025, and that prior to the meeting he would speak to the Members to establish what they regarded as the positives and negatives of being part of the RAF. 

Resolved - That

i)               The Forward Plan be updated in line with the discussions at the meeting.

ii)              A Rights of Way Improvement Plan sub-group be formed, to consist of Pat Coulson, Belinda Ryan, John Toogood and Rachel Connolly (in an advisory capacity).

iii)             The Principal PROW Officer provide the secretary with an electronic copy of North Yorkshire County Council’s 2007 Rights of Way Improvement Plan for circulation to the ROWIP sub-group.

iv)             A sub-group be formed to complete a Review of Best Practices in Local Access Forums in England, to consist of Will Scarlett and Stephen Clark, with Roma Haigh to act as a substitute.