Council

Potential Delays by Richmondshire District Council Planners

RDC has announced the following at its website here: https://www.richmondshire.gov.uk/planning-and-climate-change/planning-permission/contact-with-planning-officers/

Planning service

Changes have been made to the way in which we operate our planning service. This has been brought on by acute pressure on the service as a result of exceptionally high workloads.

From 13 September 2021 the following measures will be introduced:

  • the duty service will be restricted to cover emergency cases such as Tree Preservation Orders and Listed Buildings. Help and information can be found on our protected trees page and listed buildings page. Queries should be sent to duty.planner@richmondshire.gov.uk
  • the pre-application service will be suspended with customers directed to alternative resources. Advice can also be sought from private planning consultants
  • charges will be made for informal search requests including copies of s106 agreements

The measures will free up officer time to allow them to concentrate on case work that has been validated and requires a formal decision to be made.

The pressure has been caused by several factors:

  • there has been a noticeable rise in the number of planning applications coming in despite the lockdown period
  • as well as a backlog of cases awaiting determination where further information is needed
  • we also have several vacant posts within the team and recruitment of replacement staff is proving difficult as there is a national shortage of qualified planning officers

All the measures will be kept under review and will be reassessed in the new year/ in six months.

September 15, 2021 in Council

NOTICE OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR

Parish of Middleham

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that due to the resignation of Martin Cade, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council.

If by 4 October, 2021 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

If an election is called, it will take place not later than 6 December, 2021.

Dated 14 September, 2021

Tony Clark, Returning Officer

Mercury House

Station Road

Richmond

North Yorkshire

DL10 4JX

September 15, 2021 in Council

Next Council Meeting 8 September 2021

The meeting will be held in the Key Centre starting at 7pm.  There is always a public forum at the beginning of the meeting for up to 15 minutes if you wish to ask questions or make a statement.

The agenda may be viewed here:

https://middlehamtowncouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21-09-08-Agenda.pdf

September 2, 2021 in Council

Future of local government – one council for the whole of North Yorkshire

The Government has announced that local councils in North Yorkshire will be reorganised to form one council across the whole of the county, covering a population of 618,000.

The announcement, made in Parliament today (July 21), leaves York as a separate, small unitary council with 211,000.

The Government decision follows a consultation held earlier this year on the future of local government in North Yorkshire and York.

Government ministers had told councils in July 2020 that they wished to see local government in the area reorganised into unitary councils, which would provide all services to residents.

Six of the seven district and borough councils – Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby – had joined together to propose an East and West model of local government.

Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton would have formed a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000. Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough would have formed a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.

However, the Government has decided not to implement the East and West proposal, and instead has accepted North Yorkshire County Council’s bid to create one council across the whole of the county.

Councillor Angie Dale, Leader of Richmondshire District Council, said: “I am extremely disappointed that the Government has chosen to create one huge council across the whole of North Yorkshire.

“This is not the best option for our district or the county. The East and West model would have created two balanced unitary authorities, with similar population sizes and economic strengths. It would also have unlocked the potential of York, by including the city within the proposals for reorganisation.

“We will now have the most ‘un-local’ local government in the country. But we will work together to make sure this new system of local government works for the residents and businesses of Richmondshire and for North Yorkshire. There is a great deal of hard work ahead of us, to make sure that our excellent services continue as we prepare for the new council to take shape by 2023. I will make sure that our district has a voice during the transition, so that local places and the interests of our staff are represented.”

North Yorkshire County Council and the district and borough councils of Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby will continue to operate until March 2023.

After this, they will cease to exist and the new unitary authority will come into operation. Council staff will continue to be employed by their current council until March 2023, after which the vast majority will be transferred to the new authority.

August 3, 2021 in Council, Local Government Reorganisation

Council Office Closed Week commencing Monday 26 July 2021

The Clerk’s Office will be closed whilst the Clerk is on leave from 4pm on Thursday 22 July, all of the following week and re-open at 9am Tuesday 3 August.  Usual Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9 am until 4 pm

The receptionist in the Key Centre may be able to take messages and help with your enquiry.

You may send an email to office@middlehamtowncouncil.co.uk.  Any messages left will be dealt with after the Clerk returns.

Any urgent matters should be submitted to Town Councillors on any of the following numbers

Councillor Susan Fairhurst: 01969 622993

Councillor Honor Byford: 01969 625304

Councillor Martin Cade: 01969 622090

Councillor Lorna Skelton: 07793 673240

Councillor Simon Wheeler: 07753 543589

Councillor Nigel Hopper: 07594 814524

Councillor Greg Fortune: 07521 626743

July 21, 2021 in Council

Town Council – annual report and accounts

MIDDLEHAM TOWN COUNCIL has submitted its Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2021 to the government-appointed external auditor.  These have already been subject to review by the Council’s internal auditor.

As a smaller authority whose income and expenditure does not exceed £25,000 the return to the government only comprises the certificate of exemption.  The full annual return,  together with additional documents required by the Transparency Directive, may be viewed here.

The statutory period for public right of inspection commences on Thursday 1 July and ends on Wednesday 11 August 2021

July 1, 2021 in Council

Council Office Opening Hours from 1 July 2021

Following relaxation of Covid restrictions, Council has reviewed office opening times.  For an interim period the Clerk’s Office in the Key Centre will open once a fortnight as most of Council’s day to day business can be carried out by the Clerk whilst working from home with Councillors dealing with local issues and meeting with residents as required.

The Clerk will attend outside those times as and when needed.  David may be contacted in the usual way by email to office@middlehamtowncouncil.co.uk or by phone on 07531 580499.  Please note this is the Clerk’s personal phone number so please only call between 9am and 6pm.

You may also raise issues and concerns with your Town Councillors on the following numbers:  please do not call late in the evening.

Councillor Susan Fairhurst: 01969 622993

Councillor Honor Byford: 01969 625304

Councillor Martin Cade: 01969 622090

Councillor Lorna Skelton: 07793 673240

Councillor Simon Wheeler: 07753 543589

Councillor Nigel Hopper: 07594 814524

Councillor Greg Fortune: 07521 626743

June 29, 2021 in Council

Council Meeting Wednesday 23 June 2021

The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 June at 7pm in the Key Centre.  The agenda is here.

As with all Council meetings, the public are entitled to attend. Councillors and the Clerk have carried out a risk assessment that the meeting can safely be held. If you come to the meeting, please bring a mask with you.

June 16, 2021 in Council, Uncategorized

Council Meetings to Resume in the Key Centre

After a year of holding virtual meetings, the next Council meeting will be held in the Key Centre on Wednesday 23 June at 7pm.  As with all Council meetings, the public are able to attend.  Agendas and minutes are published under the Documents section of this website.

June 15, 2021 in Council

Mayor’s and Clerk’s Reports to Annual Town Meeting 2021

The Annual Town Meeting was held on 6 May 2021.  Minutes will be published in due course, in the meantime, copies of the report presented by the Mayor and the financial overview from the Clerk / Responsible Financial Officer are available here: https://middlehamtowncouncil.co.uk/document-category/townmeets/

May 19, 2021 in Council