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Public Meeting : Monday 16th Feb 2026

“NYC Harbours' Strategy”

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Agenda

  • Introduction & Open Consultations - WCN
  • NYMNP “Voices in Nature” - Jayne Barnard, River Esk Reconnect project facilitation lead. See https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/nature-recovery/riveresk
  • NYC Harbours Strategy 2026-2036
  • WCN Updates : Langdale Fire - Chief Fire Officer and Ben Illsley, Neighbourhood Plan, Education
  • AOB

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Open Consultations (page 1)

  • Warm Homes Local Grant satisfaction survey – for those that have used the grant, what impact has it had? Closes 4 Jun 2028.
  • Draft Harbours Strategy consultation - your views wanted on helping to shape NYCs ten-year plan to revitalise Whitby harbour - closes 22 March. See agenda.
  • Government’s Open Consultation - Tourist Tax Levy: encouraged to engage directly - closes 18 February
  • Parks & Open Space Satisfaction Survey – how do people use parks and open spaces and what could be improved? Note : only gives the option of “Pannett Park” in Whitby!!!
  • Whitby Fish Market Improvement Project – community engagement on Tuesday Feb 10th & Thursday Feb 12th from 3pm to 7pm in the Marine Discovery Centre.

See the NYC Consultations web page

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement

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Open Consultations (page 2)

  • Whitby Fish Market Improvement Project – community engagement on Tuesday Feb 10th & Thursday Feb 12th from 3pm to 7pm in the Marine Discovery Centre.
  • Whitby & Esk Valley Active Travel : Walk and Cycle to School Survey. What can we do to make it safer?

https://shorturl.at/7Ft3X To be used for funding bid to Mayors Active Travel Fund.

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NYC Harbours Strategy 2026-2036 : Vision & Mission

Vision: “To fulfil the potential of Scarborough and Whitby Harbours and Filey Coble Landing, by providing safe, and sustainable facilities, which celebrate their rich maritime heritage and embrace innovation and economic growth. Our harbours will be environmentally responsible, resilient to future challenges, and welcoming to all — offering accessible, and engaging spaces for residents, visitors and businesses alike. Through collaboration and investment, we will ensure that our Harbours remain cherished and dynamic destinations for generations to come.”

Mission: Manage harbours to benefit current and future communities while preserving their historic value.

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8 Strategic Objectives

Safety and high standards,

Stakeholder relationships,

Efficiency and resilience,

Maintain and upgrade infrastructure,

Growth,

Develop markets in fishing, leisure, tourism and renewables,

Robust financial management,

Environment and net zero

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Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

Ageing infrastructure, fishing industry decline, climate change and funding gaps

Opportunities

Offshore wind supply chain, tourism, maritime training and improved harbour facilities

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Strategic Actions

  • Infrastructure upgrades
  • New Developments
  • Environmental initiative
  • Enhanced stakeholder engagement and financial planning

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Executive summary conclusion

This strategy provides a clear roadmap to secure the long term future of North Yorkshire's harbours through investment, innovation and collaboration.

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Contents of the draft strategy

Purpose and Aims

Governance and Legislation

Overview – where we are today

SWOT

Consultation and Strategy Development

Strategic Aims and Plans

Conclusion

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Strategic Action Plans – objective 1

To provide safe working harbours and the highest practicable levels of service to our customers and stakeholders

  • Implement guidance in the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code
  • Promote, educate and enforce marine safety
  • Clear staff roles and responsibilities
  • Improve compliance

Who? - All

By when? - ongoing

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Strategic Action Plans – objective 2

To strengthen relationships with harbour users and stakeholders and work in partnership to achieve common goals

  • Improve customer service approach
  • Re-establish Harbour User Groups
  • Improve consultation and engagement on developments
  • Develop and communications plan by March 2026

Who? - All

By when? - ongoing except for the Communications Plan

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Strategic Action Plans – objective 3

To consolidate and optimise operations and practise together with the utilisation of resources to drive up commercial viability of the Harbour undertakings

  • Review staffing structure to build resilience and ensure succession planning (December 2026)
  • Implement policy to ensure vessels are seaworthy
  • Review harbours policies and procedures (March 2027)
  • Implement the recommendations of the harbours audit (Dec 2025)

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Objective 3 Actions ctd.

  • Dredging – (Scarborough and Whitby)
  • Harbours' Management System (March 2027)

Who? - All unless stated

By when? - ongoing unless stated

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Strategic Action Plan – objective 4

To maintain the existing infrastructure, property and facilities to a necessary standard to sustain current harbour activity.

  • Annual condition survey
  • Maintain dredge depths; proactive renewal of licences with MMO
  • Undertake repairs to West Pier inner sheet steel piles (Scarborough)

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Objective 4 Actions ctd

  • Replace sheet steel piles to Eskdale Wharf Whitby (2 stage process carry out works 2026)
  • Refurbish West Pier Lighthouse, Whitby (Dec 2028)
  • Phase 2 N. Wharf Scarborough (Dec 2029)
  • Protection measures Endeavour Wharf (Dec 2032)
  • Piers coast protection Whitby (2032 to 2040 subject to grant aid)
  • Bring Fuel supply in-house (Scarborough 2025, Whitby 2032 at end of lease)

By – Scarborough or Whitby, When – as stated

Note – subject to affordability and prioritisation

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Strategic Action Plan – objective 5

To invest in new overarching infrastructure, property and facilities necessary to grow future harbour activity and attract growth sector and activities.

Note - most dependent on successful funding bids

  • Improve dredge depths
  • Extend the West Pier (Scarborough 2026)
  • Improve moorings to meet need (Scarborough and Whitby Dec 2027)
  • Improve existing or provide new onshore facilities (Scarborough and Whitby 2036)

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Objective 5 Actions ctd

  • Replace Vincent Pier Crane (Scarborough December 2026)
  • Explore provision of boat lift (Scarborough and Whitby date TBC)
  • New management arrangements to FCL (Filey Dec 2025)
  • Complete construction of Whitby Maritime Hub 2026

Not funded at present.

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Strategic Action Plan – objective 6

To provide a significant focus of effort on the development of growth markets – commercial fishing, leisure, tourism and renewables

  • Deliver the "Beyond the Shoreline" report actions (2009)
  • Marketing
  • Continue engagement with the renewables sector.
  • Deliver education and training from the Whitby Maritime Hub.

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Objective 6 Actions ctd

  • Refocus of future lettings of harbour properties in the first instance to maritime related uses.
  • Progress and enter into Memorandums of Understanding with key organisations in the offshore renewables sector supply chain. (Scarborough)

Who? - All unless stated

By when? - ongoing unless stated

Refocus of future lettings of harbour properties in the first instance to maritime related uses.

Progress and enter into Memorandums of Understanding with key organisations in the offshore renewables sector supply chain. (Scarborough)

Who? - All unless stated

By when? - ongoing unless state

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Strategic Action Plan – objective 7

Ensure the commercial and financial management is robust, market led and enables the Statutory Harbour Authority to deliver its statutory duties and fund harbour operations and maintenance.

  • Manage movements to reserves for future investment
  • Review harbour fees and charges on an annual basis
  • Explore external funding opportunities

Who? - All

By when? - ongoing

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Strategic Action Plan – objective 8

To rise to the challenge of net zero by identifying long-term decarbonisation opportunities for reducing carbon emissions, increasing sustainability and biodiversity, and improving the environment

  • Manage water quality
  • Facilitate biodiversity net-gain
  • Investigate the shoreside power energy opportunities at Whitby and Scarborough harbours, and Filey Coble Landing to provide an alternative option to power vessels when operating in the harbour. (Scarborough and Whitby 2030)

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Objective 8 Actions ctd

  • Align with the Shoreline and Management Plan and Coastal defence strategies
  • Actively engage in opportunities and protect the natural environment.

Who? - All unless stated

By when? - ongoing unless stated

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Did the Strategy deliver what it said it would?

  • Consultation?
  • Residents’ views?
  • Narrow perspective?
  • Ambitious?
  • Finances?
  • Whitby and Scarborough together?

Next steps?

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Update : Whitby Neighbourhood Plan

Remaining Stages done locally, as follows:

  • Stage 7 : Write a draft Neighbourhood Plan document

  • Stage 8 : 6-week consultation on the draft plan Dec 1 – Jan 30

  • Stage 9 : Review the consultation results and amend the plan

  • Stage 10 : Submit the revised plan to NYC.

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Update : Whitby Secondary School

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Next WCN Public Meeting

Monday 16th March 2026

Topic : to be confirmed

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Whitby Community Network CIC“Campaigning on the problems facing Whitby & District”

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