North Yorkshire Council
Executive
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17th September 2024 commencing at 11.00 am.
Councillor Carl Les in the Chair. Councillors Keane Duncan, Michael Harrison, Simon Myers, Heather Phillips, Janet Sanderson, Greg White and Annabel Wilkinson.
In attendance: Councillors George Jabbour, Andy Brown (remote) and Paul Haslam (remote).
Officers present: Richard Flinton, Gary Fielding, Karl Battersby, Richard Webb, Stuart Carlton (remote), Andrew Rowe, Barry Khan, Daniel Harry, Elizabeth Jackson, Rachel Joyce, Marie-Ann Jackson, Callum McKeon (remote), Linda Marfitt (remote), Ruth Parker (remote) and Lynne Williams (remote).
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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523 |
Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mark Crane and Gareth Dadd.
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524 |
Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 August 2024
Resolved –
That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 August 2024, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chairman as a correct record.
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525 |
Declarations of Interest
Councillor Janet Sanderson declared an interest in Minute 527 on the basis that she was leading one of the pilot community partnerships.
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526 |
Public Participation
There were no public questions or statements.
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527 |
Localities Programme
Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Local Engagement which provided an update on progress against priorities within the Localities programme and recommended revisions to the scope for the operation of community partnerships.
Councillor Heather Phillips, the Executive Member for Corporate Services, introduced the report which presented the work of the Localities team in delivering against the four pillars of the locality based delivery model of local services and access, local accountability, local action and local empowerment. Work focused around double devolution of services, increased liaison with town and parish councils and the development of community partnerships.
Councillor Janet Sanderson referred to work with the Forest and Dale Community Partnership, where other communities were showing an interest in learnings, particularly in relation to flooding issues. The Head of Localities agreed to provide detailed information and updates on the work of each community partnership for discussion by Executive Members and confirmed that four of the five partnerships had selected emergency planning, resilience and flooding as a priority. There was now capacity within the team for additional community partnerships to be brought forward.
Resolved – that:
i) There is a review of the approved Expressions of Interest by the Assistant Director for Local Engagement with a further report to the Executive. This will consider all Double Devolution proposals and identify those that may be more suitably progressed through operational decision-making arrangements due to the smaller size and nature of the proposals being developed.
ii) The Scope and Terms of Reference for the operation of Community Partnerships be amended to remove the requirement for Community Partnerships to operate only as informal groups.
iii) The Community Partnerships programme is opened to all Members who wish to bring forward the development of a partnership in their area.
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528 |
Housing Assistance and Disabled Adaptations Policy
Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development presenting a new Housing Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grant Policy for adoption. The policy would ensure that the Council would meet its statutory obligations, bringing together the different policies from the legacy councils to provide consistency across the county and within all tenures.
Councillor Simon Myers, the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing introduced the report and reported that the policy covered a large group of discretionary grants covering major adaptations beyond statutory works which were intended to support people to live independently in their own homes and also to enable people to get out of hospital more quickly. The service would be delivered in-house, rather than by external partners.
Resolved:
That the proposed Housing Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grant Policy for the North Yorkshire Council be adopted.
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529 |
Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited
Considered – A report of the Assistant Director Regulatory Services and Registration, Coroner and Bereavement Services in which approval was sought to wind up Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited and to bring in-house operations currently run through them and to transfer any associated assets to the Council. The main objective of Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP was for Hambleton District Council to establish and operate a crematorium.
The Assistant Director introduced the report and advised that bringing the crematorium operation in-house would realise savings of approximately £100k per year through being able to reclaim VAT. The service could be contained within the VAT Partial Exemption limit, which was not available to the smaller council. It was confirmed that there would be no changes to any of the services available at Maple Park.
Resolved (unanimously) – that:
i) The transfer to the Council of the services currently operated through Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited be approved, ii) The winding up of Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited be approved, iii) The Company’s directors be authorised to apply to Companies House for the voluntary Strike Off of the LLP and Company, iv) Any decisions relating to the financial implications of winding up the LLP and Company be delegated to the Corporate Director Resources; and v) The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to take all other necessary steps to facilitate the strike off of the LLP and Company.
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530 |
Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area Strategy and Masterplan
Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development presenting Heritage, People and Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey, known as the Masterplan, which was a requirement of the adopted Craven District Local Plan Policy EC4A.
Councillor Simon Myers, the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing introduced the report and advised that the Masterplan set out guidelines for high quality tourism related development, sensitive to the character of the area.
Councillor Andy Brown addressed the Executive and referred to consideration of the Masterplan at the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee and concerns in relation to development at Bolton Bridge.
Resolved (unanimously) – that:
i) The Masterplan be endorsed and it be confirmed that it has been prepared to the satisfaction of the Council as Local Planning Authority for part of the Masterplan area. ii) The Masterplan will form a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications in the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area. iii) The Masterplan is published on the NYC website.
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531 |
Forward Plan
Considered –
The Forward Plan for 9 September 2024 to 30 September 2025 was presented.
Resolved – That the Forward Plan be noted.
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532 |
Date of Next Meeting - 15 October 2024
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The meeting concluded at 11:29 am.