North Yorkshire Council

Executive

15 October 2024

Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

1.0	PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1	To enable appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies to be considered.

2.0       BACKGROUND

2.1       There is currently a vacancy on the Humber Strategy Forum which is an Outside Body appointed to by the Executive. Historically the Executive Member with portfolio is appointed to this role. It is therefore proposed that Councillor Keane Duncan be appointed in his capacity as Executive Member for Executive Member for Highways and Transportation including Parking Services, Street Scene, Parks & Grounds, Integrated Passenger Transport, Public Rights of Way, Coastal Protection & Flooding, and relationship with Internal Drainage Boards.

3.0       HUMBER STRATEGY FORUM

3.1       North Yorkshire Council is currently signed up to a partnership project with eleven neighbouring authorities and the Environment Agency to develop a tidal flood risk management strategy for the Humber Estuary up to the year 2100. Predicted sea level rise poses a significant risk to communities even as far in land as Selby due to the funnelling effect of the tide as it moves in land. The strategy aims to manage tidal flooding in an adaptive pathway approach by allowing some areas of land to flood. It is therefore imperative that North Yorkshire Council engage in the strategy process to ensure our assets are protected and our communities not put at additional flood risk.

3.2       As the strategy covers an area with shared authorities and a varied political landscape, ensuring a political consensus within elected members is critical. Furthermore, the agreed governance structure for the strategy includes an Elected Members Forum as the top tier of decision making. The Elected Members Forum comprises of the flood risk management portfolio holders for each authority. The Elected Members Forum together with the Board of Directors are influential in decision making and steering the strategy.

3.3        Historically, as two separate authorities North Yorkshire County Council and Selby District Council sent an Elected Member each. Now that we have transitioned to North Yorkshire Council, only one member would be required.

4.0        ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

4.1        No alternative options were considered.

5.0       IMPLICATIONS

5.1       There are no equalities, finance, legal or climate change implications arising from the recommendations in this report.

6.0       REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1       The agreed governance structure for the strategy includes an Elected Members Forum as the top tier of decision making. The Elected Members Forum comprises of the flood risk management portfolio holders for each authority.

7.0	RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1	That the Executive appoint Councillor Keane Duncan to the Humber Strategy Forum.

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

24 September 2024

Report Author: 

Christine Phillipson

Principal Democratic Services Officer

Background documents:  None