Julian Smith MP - Annual Report 2013

ANNUAL REPORT JULIAN SMITH Member of Parliament for Skipton & Ripon

2013

Julian Smith MP Annual Report 2013 - 2 Julian Smith MP Annual Report 2013 - 2

Annual Report 2013

Contents

Welcome page 5

Westminster page 6

Skipton & Ripon page 8

Protecting Rural Yorkshire page 10

Broadband page 10

Tour de France page 12

Keep In Touch page 14

4 - Julian Smith MP Annual Report 2013 Julian Smith MP Annual Report 2013 - 4

The Year in Numbers 2013

over 12,000 e-mails sent to [email protected]

over 4,000 constituent cases dealt with

147 speeches made, interventions made or questions asked in Parliament

3,487 followers on twitter

31 MP Surgeries in 13 locations

Data correct at 9 January 2014

Julian Smith MP Annual Report 2013 - 5

locations

Welcome Julian Smith MP 2013 was another busy year both at Westminster and across the constituency.

There are positive signs on the economy’s recovery, both across the constituency and

around the country. I hope the action the Government is taking means that can continue

during the 12 months to come.

One of the main campaigns I worked on is the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire, which I

think will be a highlight for our area and the County in 2014. It is 12 months since we heard

that Yorkshire had won the bid to host the Grand Depart and we are now just a few months

away from it arriving in Craven. There is more on this on page 12 of this Report.

One of the other areas I have been focusing on in 2013 is high speed broadband and

ensuring as many constituents as possible have access to improved broadband services. I

have been working on this since my election in 2010 and progress is being made, but I

know that it can be frustrating if your house or business is one of those who haven’t yet

seen any improvements in speed. Read more about my work on this on page 10.

Also on page 10 is more on another major issue - the planning process. In such a beautiful

constituency as ours, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be conflict between those who

want to build and those who want to preserve the landscape. Getting the balance right is

always important. We need business in this area to provide jobs and services but we also

need to protect the stunning views and amazing countryside that makes this area so

special.

I hope this Annual Report gives a flavour of the work I have been doing across the

constituency and at Westminster and if I can do anything to assist you during 2014, please

do not hesitate to get in touch.


Westminster The Year in Parliament

SUPPORTING PUBS AND

BREWERS ACROSS SKIPTON & RIPON

Julian joined the successful

campaign for a reduction in the duty

on beer which local pubs and

brewers had campaigned for.

RURAL OSCARS CELEBRATE BEST OF ENTERPRISE The constituency had success at the Countryside Alliance Awards with enterprising business parks, pubs and butchers receiving recognition.

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS ACROSS NORTH YORKSHIRE

Julian was appointed by the Prime

Minister as a Small Business

Ambassador for Yorkshire promoting the

work of the firms across the region.

WELCOMING PUPILS FROM SCHOOLS TO WESTMINSTER Schools from across Skipton & Ripon visited in 2013 including Skipton Girls’ High School pupils in the final of the Solutions for the Planet Competition.


Westminster It has been a busy year at Westminster with some important debates on key issues that matter to residents and businesses across Skipton and Ripon. The economy was, of course, a key topic. Statistics show positive economic improvements both in Yorkshire and across Skipton and Ripon. The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance went down by 28% in one year and youth unemployment also went down by a third in 12 months. Through the year, Julian supported the campaign to give a referendum on our membership of the European Union. Although scuppered by Labour and Lib Dem members of the House of Lords, the Conservatives remain committed to giving the British people a say in deciding Britain's future in the EU. Julian believes we must seize the opportunity and give people a choice about the future. Holding people and organisations to account has also been a theme of 2013 in Parliament - from discussing important issues of National Security to the rise in energy prices. Julian focused on Yorkshire Water and has been campaigning for the firm to be much more transparent about their financial information and tax status at a time when they are putting up bills in the constituency. Julian instigated a debate in the House of Commons to discuss the issue and he raised important points about their financial affairs which Yorkshire Water has still failed to answer.

The Year in Parliament

DEBATING ISSUES WITH PUPILS FROM SKIPTON During Ermysted’s visit to Westminster, sixth form pupils had the chance to debate the key issues that matter to them with Julian in a House of Commons Committee Room.

SHOWING OFF THE DALES TO LEADING PARLIAMENTARIANS MPs and Peers were welcomed to the Yorkshire Dales by Julian as they held their annual walk around Ingleton and Settle.


Skipton & Ripon The Year in the Constituency

NEW LOOK POST OFFICE BRANCH OPENED IN SETTLE

Julian re-opened Settle’s Post Office

after a revamp which sees it opening

for longer and offering more services

at the heart of the community.

SEEING WORK TO IMPROVE SKIPTON’S AIREVILLE PARK A group was formed to drive forward improvements to Skipton’s Aireville Park. Julian joined the campaigners to hear about their work.

DISCUSSING FARMING AT ANNUAL AGRICULTURE SUMMIT

Kettlesing was the location for

Julian’s annual Summit focused on

the issues and challenges facing the

farming and agricultural community.

LEARNING MAKATON SIGN LANGUAGE WITH BROOKLANDS’ PUPILS Julian was set the challenge of learning some Makaton sign language. He passed the test and was rewarded with tea and cake!


Skipton & Ripon Ensuring hardworking people see the

benefits of the economic recovery and

that we get investment in Skipton and

Ripon was Julian’s priority in 2013.

There was positive news on fuel duty with

the Chancellor announcing his intention to

freeze duty on petrol and diesel until May

2015.

Julian also campaigned for more security

over the funding for the rural schools. After

campaigning, changes to the way money

could be divided among schools were

introduced giving local authorities greater

flexibility to support those at the heart of

communities. Julian believes this flexibility

will enable the high quality teaching we

have in some of the most rural

communities in the country to continue.

There was more Government investment

confirmed in the constituency, £10m for

the Tour de France’s Grand Depart,

£9.7m for flood defences in Skipton, £2m

for new facilities at Craven College and

£600,000 for school sports across the

constituency.

However, it was with great sadness that

during 2013 Julian heard the news from

the Secretary of State for Defence

in the House of Commons that Claro

Barracks in Ripon was to close after 2017.

Since the announcement, Julian has met

with the Defence Minister and held

meetings in Ripon to ensure all those

affected by the decision are given all the

support possible. Those efforts

will continue in 2014.

The Year in the Constituency

DISCUSSING LIFE AS A MP WITH RIPON EVOLVE STUDENTS Students at Ripon Evolve quizzed Julian about his life as a Member of Parliament and work at Westminster and in the constituency during a visit.

VISITING SETTLE SHOPS ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Julian visited shops and businesses in Settle on Small Business Saturday in December to hear about their work and wish list for 2014.


Broadband North Yorkshire Connecting homes and businesses

LAUNCHING SUPERFAST BROADBAND IN BURTON

LEONARD WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES

Julian went to Burton Leonard to officially launch Superfast Broadband in

the community. Nearly one in five homes and businesses in Burton

Leonard signed up for the scheme and demand is still growing as people

continue to place orders for the increased speeds of up to 80Mbps.

Protecting Rural Yorkshire Ensuring the community’s voice is heard

ENSURING COMMUNITIES HAVE THEIR SAY OVER

THE LOCATION OF ONSHORE WIND FARMS

Julian has supported communities who are campaigning against onshore

wind farms being built in their area during 2013. He also welcomed the

decision by Kelda to remove turbines from Chelker Reservoir after they

were unsuccessful in bids to obtain permission for larger structures.


Broadband North Yorkshire The roll-out of superfast broadband

to North Yorkshire, which Julian led

the campaign for, is on schedule

with the target of 90% of North

Yorkshire having speeds of at least

25Mbs by the end of 2014.

In addition, phase two of the

project to extend superfast speeds

to even more premises is set to

bring high speed connections to

more parts of the County.

Julian urges the Superfast North

Yorkshire team to continue their

roll-out to as many people as

possible as quickly as possible.

Connecting homes and businesses

RIPON GOES SUPERFAST 3,000 homes and businesses across Ripon are now able to benefit from higher broadband speeds. Julian attended the switch-on in July.

Protecting Rural Yorkshire Julian spoke regularly in Parliament

in 2013 about the importance of

local communities having their say

over planning applications in the

areas in which they live.

He continues to be concerned about

the overturning of decisions by the

Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and

will work both at Westminster and in

the constituency to ensure that

decisions made locally, by elected

representatives, are not overturned

by bureaucrats .

More on Julian’s work on the issue

on his website at juliansmithmp.com

Ensuring the community’s voice is heard

RIPON CITY PLAN Neighbourhood Plans are important for the future of communities and Julian has supported Ripon’s efforts to engage residents and businesses in the City Plan process through 2013.


Tour de France

It is 12 months since we heard that

Yorkshire won the bid to host the Grand

Depart and we are now just a few months

away from it arriving in the region.

Julian has held dozens of meetings at

Westminster ahead of the Tour de

France’s arrival. He has worked with the

event’s organisers to ensure plans are in

place and led the effort to secure £10m

of Government funding to fully unlock the

economic benefits for our area.

Julian also went on the road with a

Doorstep Tour - to Skipton, Kettlewell,

Threshfield and Buckden - to encourage

everyone to embrace the opportunity to

promote our area to the world.

Preparing for the Grand Depart

GETTING ON TWO WHEELS FOR THE TOUR DE

FRANCE DOORSTEP TOUR IN BUCKDEN

Julian says: “We are lucky to have so

much of the race coming through our

area on both days of the Grand Depart.

The sight of the cyclists, and the huge

supporting entourage that accompanies

the Tour de France, travelling up Skipton

High Street, through the Dales

to Masham and past Ripon on Day One

and Nidderdale and Bolton Abbey as

backdrops on Day Two, will be stunning.

“The weekend of Saturday 5 and

Sunday 6 July promises to bring tens

of thousands of people to Yorkshire

and I am sure it will bring many more in

the weeks and months following that

weekend as well. It promises to be one of

the spectacles of 2014.”

Photo above courtesy of Steve Garnett at the Craven Herald


Tour de France Preparing for the Grand Depart

HEARING HOW SHOPS

ARE CAPITALISING ON

TDF OPPORTUNITIES

SPEAKING IN MASHAM

ABOUT TDF BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY

DAY 2: SUNDAY 6 JULY BLUBBERHOUSES & BOLTON ABBEY Including the A59 from Harrogate across Menwith Hill and Blubberhouses to Beamsley and Bolton Abbey

DAY 1: SATURDAY 5 JULY SKIPTON, WHARFEDALE, MASHAM & RIPON Including Skipton High Street, Threshfield, Kettlewell, Buckden, Masham, Ripon Bypass and the A61

Find out more about Julian’s

work on the Tour de France on

juliansmithmp.com/tdf

and more on the Grand Depart

itself at letour.yorkshire.com


Keep In Touch Contacting Julian all year round

Julian holds regular MP Surgeries across the constituency. Since 2010 he has taken

these to more parts of the constituency than ever before:

Austwick

Bentham

Bentham Auction Mart

Carleton

Cowling

Dishforth

Grassington

Ingleton

Kettlesing

Kettlewell

Langthorpe

Leathley

Masham

Pateley Bridge

Pateley Bridge Auction Mart

Ripon

Settle

Skipton

Skipton Auction Mart

Sutton-in-Craven

Wath


Keep In Touch Contacting Julian all year round

The House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

7 Gargrave Road, Broughton,

Skipton BD23 3AQ

020 7219 7145

[email protected]

juliansmithmp.com

facebook.com/juliansmithmp

@juliansmithmp

© Julian Smith MP 2014

Promoted by Simon Myers on behalf of Skipton and Ripon Conservatives, both of 19 Otley Street, Skipton BD23 1DY.

Documents

Julian Smith MP - Annual Report 2013