No change to frequency of Scarborough Town Council’s harbour meetings
There will be no change to the frequency of Scarborough Town Council’s harbour committee meetings following a motion to hold them ‘when required’.
At the second meeting of STC’s harbour committee on Wednesday, November 5, councillors discussed a proposal to amend the frequency of the committee’s meetings “from quarterly to an as-and-when-required basis”.
The motion added: “And, if deemed appropriate, to recommend to full council that the harbour committee’s terms of reference be amended accordingly.”
At its first meeting in August, Coun Norman Murphy was elected as the chair of the committee.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked Coun Murphy whether changes to the frequency of the meetings had been approved and what that would mean for Reform’s commitment locally to champion harbour users.
In July, Thomas Murray, the mayor of the Reform-led authority, said that “a main focus” was to set up a harbours committee to act as a “conduit between the harbour users and North Yorkshire Council”.
Scarborough Town Council’s town clerk replied on behalf of Coun Murphy, telling the LDRS: “At last night’s harbour committee meeting, members agreed to continue holding meetings on a quarterly basis, with additional extraordinary meetings to be convened as needed should any significant matters arise in the interim.”
Two members of the public, both long-term harbour users, attended the meeting last night at the chair’s invitation, the clerk added.
“North Yorkshire Council was invited to attend our harbour committee meetings, but has declined the invitation.”
Other agenda items at Wednesday’s meeting included a discussion on North Yorkshire Council’s response to questions sent by the committee.
According to the agenda, STC was also invited to nominate a member to the Harbour Users Group.
It states: “North Yorkshire Councillor Janet Jefferson is already a member.
“At September’s full council meeting, Coun Thomas Murray was elected as the council’s representative.
"Coun Murray confirmed that in the intervening time, no invitation to attend a Harbour Users Group meeting has been received.”
The Harbour Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, 2026.