Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice (including the text of the question/statement) to Edward Maxwell of Democratic Services (contact details below) by midday on Monday 17 March. 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 Chair who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.
Minutes:
Three public statements had been submitted:
· By Christopher Dunn, in relation to an issue which was not part of the agenda.
· By Emily Penn and Dave Simpson, in relation to Minute 108.
Statement submitted by Christopher Dunn
Crag Hill Cottage was built circa 1953 one year later than the creation of the definitive PROW map, the builder developer apparently ignored this legal map page and moved PROW 1565/3 away from ‘his’ new front garden into the field beyond the white ‘fence’ in the photo , this new access point to 1565/3 from Crag hill lane imposed steps, no handrail and cross membered fence as a ‘stile’. The tree stump in the photo was/still is the legal access point to 1565/3. It obstructs the low one step stone ORIGINAL stile. Crag Hill cottage enjoyed a planning application some few years back and answered the standard PROW question incorrectly, i.e. PROW NO impact! The owner now has rebuilt his front wall as shown in the photo by consuming the verge, NYC highway searches confirms that the 1200mm is highway property. The owner has also at the far end of the new wall has increased his driveway x2 with impermeable driveway material, this driveway discharges water on to highway, Crag Hill Lane.
The following joint response was read out from Highways and Public Rights of Way:
North Yorkshire Council is currently processing a diversion to resolve the issues with the public footpath at Crag Hill Cottage. Mr Dunn has raised an objection to the diversion, but the Council has made an executive decision to support the diversion, and we are currently preparing the case for determination by the Planning Inspectorate. Mr Dunn will be kept advised of what he needs to do to input into the process.
Statement submitted by Emily Penn and Dave Simpson
Can the council confirm that villages will still have transport to their catchment schools, even if the proposed changes mean it is no longer subsidised? Specifically, will Tockwith pupils attending the catchment secondaries of King James and Tadcaster be guaranteed transport, as is currently provided?
The following response was read out from Jon Holden (Strategic Planning Manager:
The Council’s Home to School Travel Policy was approved at the meeting of the Full Council in July 2024, and came into effect on 1 September 2024.
The revised policy aligns with the Department for Education’s Statutory Guidance for Home to School Travel, including in respect of the main eligibility criteria for home to school travel which is that transport will be provided to the nearest suitable school with available places.
In determining the revised policy, the Council agreed that it should be implemented over a phased period so that pupils with existing eligibility under the old policy would not be affected unless there was a change in their circumstances. As a consequence, any pupils who became eligible for assistance with Home to School Travel under the previous policy will continue to be eligible for assistance to their existing school unless there is a change in circumstances.
However, with effect from 1 September 2024 assistance with home to school travel is normally only provided to the nearest suitable school with available places. The Home to School Travel Policy governs the arrangements for home to school travel only. The arrangements for school admissions are governed separately, and parents continue to be able to preference places at a multiple number of schools when applying for a place for their child.
If a pupil attends their catchment school, but that school is not their nearest suitable school with places available, then there is no requirement for the Council to provide transport. If there is spare capacity within transport that has been arranged for eligible pupils to the respective school, then a travel permit may be able to be offered on a paid for basis. Where this is the case, however, parents should be aware that that place could be withdrawn at short notice in the event that a seat is required to meet the needs of an eligible pupil.