Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to St John Harris of Democratic Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Tuesday, 25 November, 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);
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Minutes:
There were two public questions submitted to the committee. Cllr Linda Wild was not present at the meeting.
1.
George Wakely, Scarborough Pride
Could the committee please look into why the council are trying to charge Scarborough Pride upwards of £1,000 for parking services for a community event?
Reply
Thank you for your question regarding the Scarborough Pride
event and the concerns raised about NYC raising charges for this.
North Yorkshire Council recognises the Scarborough Pride as
a cherished community event that brings significant cultural value to the town.
We appreciate the dedication of the event organisers and the many volunteers
who make this event possible.
As part of our ongoing review of fees and charges across the
county, including those related to car park usage, we are mindful of the impact
any changes may have on community-led events. The current schedule for
Scarborough Spa car parks outlines standard charges that have been applied to
cover the costs of these suspensions. However, we also understand that under
previous arrangements with Scarborough Borough Council, events were not subject
to these fees.
We want to reassure you that North Yorkshire Council is
committed to supporting volunteer-led initiatives and maintaining the goodwill
that underpins events like Scarborough Pride. While the council must ensure
consistency and transparency in its charging policies, we are actively
reviewing how best to accommodate exceptional community events within our
framework.
Your request to maintain the existing arrangements for the Scarborough Pride will be considered as part of this review. We will engage with relevant stakeholders, including the event organisers, to explore options that balance financial sustainability with community benefit.
2.
Cllr Linda Wild, Whitby Town Council
Can a reassurance be given that NY Council are giving priority to the replacement of the Whalebones in Whitby? The whalebones are at home and internationally a renowned landmark. We are aware that very capably, an officer is consulting with authorities in Alaska but we just need assurance that NY Council are supportive and totally behind the urgency of solving the problem.
Reply
Chris Bourne, Head of Harbours and Coastal
Infrastructure provided the following reply:
‘In June 2025, Whitby Town Council formally asked North Yorkshire
Council to undertake urgent investigations into the future of the whalebones in
Whitby and provide costed options for:
· Replacement
· Refurbishment/protection
· Alternatives
e.g. replica replacement
North Yorkshire Council takes any formal request seriously and Whitby
Town Council can be reassured that the request is being progressed. An update was last provided to Whitby Town
Council by email on 12 November 2025.’
The detailed update below, although not read out at the meeting was
circulated to members of the committee.
I would
firstly apologise for not coming back to you sooner, but as you can imagine
these things take time and I assure you that I am committed to bringing the
matter to a conclusion at the earliest opportunity, having dealt with procuring
the existing bones some twenty-five years ago.
No doubt
some would wish to have a real set of Bowhead Whale bones installed, and I am
in communication with the mayor’s office in Anchorage, Alaska about this. They
are currently trying to speak to those involved previously at North Slope
Borough (Barrow) but clearly many years have passed
and it is regrettable that some of those people are no longer with us, but they
will respond once those efforts are complete.
If a new set
of bones were available that is where other issues begin. Firstly
it would be likely the bones would be in a very remote location on the Arctic
iceshelf and there would have to be a willingness for the residents to recover
and move them to a suitable location. Secondly the bones would require thorough
cleaning before any logistics company would carry them on aircraft. Thirdly,
and perhaps the biggest hurdle, would be gaining the permissions required to
export/import the bones to the UK given that the species (Balaena Mystecitus) is protected under CITES regulations which was
a lengthy time-consuming process last time and may not be achievable this time
around.
If these
hurdles can be overcome then there is the task of transport to the UK and
whilst I am confident I can arrange this, there is a
significant distance in the US to deal with and it would require a great deal
of effort over there to get the bones from Barrow via Anchorage to Seattle.
However,
some would be concerned at the connotations of displaying real whale bones.
There is greater concern globally about hunting and it is somewhat less
socially acceptable to display real bones. Using imitation whale bones – with
an information board explaining the history – some would argue would be more
fitting in addition to extending the shelf life of the bones.
Once I have
some further information and realistic options for the future of the Whalebone Arch I will come back to you, and those options will be
considered by the Council’s Executive/Members and clearly your input is most
important in the future of what is one of Whitby’s most enjoyed landmarks.
As of the
date of Cllr Wild's question, we have still not received any further response
on the availability of whalebones from Alaska, but have sent, and will continue
to send chasing emails. We have also
sent email requests to other countries but again with no response.’