Category: News

If you ‘attended’ the online AGM in January, or have read the minutes of the meeting that were circulated, you’ll already be aware of the changes to the line up of the committee that took effect as a result of the meeting.

First of all, Phyllis Barnes of Barnsley Civic Trust retired from the YHACS committee; she’s a busy woman and the pressure of other commitments meant she couldn’t always attend
committee meetings or take part in our discussions.

Meanwhile, three new people joined the committee: Alan Nicholson from Grimsby and Cleethorpes Civic Society, Carolyn Curr from Whitby Civic Society and Judith Blackburn, one of our independent members. One other change is that Margaret Hicks Clarke of Goole Civic Society has stepped into the position of YHACS Vice Chair as David Moss (Selby Civic Society) decided to step down from the post, although he remains on the committee and will continue to edit the newsletter for us. My thanks to everyone on the committee, past and present, for their continued support and a big welcome to our new committee members.

Kevin Trickett was confirmed as Chair; re-elected (unopposed!) for another three-year term, through to January 2024. Under the terms of our Constitution, this will have to be Kevin’s final stint as chair. While he can stay on the committee when his current period of office comes to an end, he cannot continue as chair after that date. YHACS will, therefore, need to find someone to take over and this is the gauntlet thrown down – three years to see who will pick it up

YHACS has called for a Community Engagement Strategy as part of the proposed West Yorkshire Devolution Deal.

YHACS is seeking assurance that community groups, including civic societies, will be consulted by the new elected Mayor for West Yorkshire should the devolution deal be implemented.

Kevin Trickett MBE, Chair of YHACS, has today (17th July 2020) submitted comments on the proposed deal highlighting the need for a Community Engagement Strategy to be implemented as part of the deal.

Mr Trickett said “YHACS represents 40 civic and amenity societies within the Yorkshire and Humber region with 16 of our member societies being based in the West Yorkshire area. Having read through the proposed deal, we were surprised to see no concrete proposals for future engagement between any new elected Mayor and community organisations. The new Mayor will have sweeping powers over regeneration, housing, and transport, all subjects in which the community, and civic societies in particular, have a keen interest and it is important that arrangements are put in place for effective consultation between the Mayor and community groups.

“As drafted, the current deal proposal is rather light on arrangements for such consultation in the future and we are therefore seeking assurances that we will be given the opportunity to comment on any proposals that the new Mayor might wish to put forward on development and regeneration matters.”

The full text of the letter submitted in response to the consultation exercise can be found here.