Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force

Background

With a significant amount of activity taking place in Scarborough to address a variety of priorities in the town, there are numerous council services working across different groups and boards – some internal, and others also including external stakeholders.

With the large number of groups established (currently over 18), there can sometimes be a duplication of work and meetings, or some activities can come into conflict with the actions of another group.  With North Yorkshire Council (NYC) being established as a new unitary authority, there is a clear opportunity to remove duplication across groups and ensure activity is better coordinated amongst services in order to drive forward improvements for Scarborough. 

Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force

To oversee the coordination of NYC activity, it is proposed that a Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force be established as an internal officer group to regularly meet, discuss and coordinate activities in Scarborough. This group will be chaired by Rachel Joyce, Assistant Chief Executive – Local Engagement.

The Task Force will primarily focus on the geography of Scarborough Town Centre, due to the concentration of issues and impact the town centre has for the wider economic and social success of Scarborough. However, if other issues or opportunities occur outside the town centre, the Task Force can consider this.

Objectives:

For the initial 12 months, the Task Force will focus on the following objectives to drive its work:

· To understand the breadth of projects, programmes and activity already underway in Scarborough to remove duplication and develop a more holistic approach to resolving issues in the town centre.

· Coordinate the Council’s efforts and resources in Scarborough to maximise impact where possible, particularly in response to the priorities identified through the recent Let’s Talk Scarborough consultation.

· Provide reassurance to residents, businesses and partners that the Council is acting and listening to stakeholders’ concerns, including the development of a specific NYC comms plan for Scarborough.

· Identify the most ‘demand intensive’ areas of work and target activity to reduce demand on Council services.

· Look to maximise the value and input of partners, including the voluntary and community sector.

To support the objectives outlined above, actions already underway at service level will be identified against the objectives. After the first 12 months, the objectives will be reviewed.

Membership:

It is proposed that the Task Force will meet monthly and include representation from the following Council services:

- Waste & Street Scene

- Community Safety

- Highways

- Tourism

- Economic Development

- Regeneration

- Public Health

- Adult Social Care

- Children Social Care

- Strategy and Performance

- Parking

- Coastal Infrastructure and Harbours

- Communications

- Parks & Grounds

- Planning

- Environmental Enforcement

- Localities

- Housing

Through the representation of the teams above, the Cross-Council Task Force will link-in and support other Scarborough based groups or partnerships, including the Scarborough Towns Board, the Town Centre Team, the South Bay Summit, and the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee.

Focus:

Members of the Task Force will challenge themselves to address the fundamental issues in the town and identify how services can better come together to tackle long-term issues, including:

- Rough sleeping and homelessness;

- Anti-Social Behaviour;

- The private rented sector and temporary accommodation;

- The high street, including the look and feel of the town centre;

- Alcohol and substance misuse;

- Regeneration opportunities;

- The visitor economy.

To focus the initial activities of the Task Force, three key issues are proposed as the priority areas. These are:

1. Improving the 'on-street' look and feel of the town centre.

2. Enabling residents and visitors to feel safer in Scarborough.

3. Identifying how services can be better joined up to support young or vulnerable residents. 

The creation of an action plan will initially be structured around these three priority areas.

As referenced in the objectives, the Task Force will also engage with the priorities identified by the Let’s Talk Scarborough consultation, and how Council services can better link in with future areas of work associated with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, for example, Town Plans.

The Task Force is designed to bring services together and focus on specific challenges.  Therefore, it should be noted that although the Task Force will coordinate services on specific issues or opportunities, it will not be the main driver for regular operational actions taken at service level Scarborough. 

Engagement on the potential work of the Task Force has already taken place key partners in the town.  Looking forward, the Chair of the Task Force will ensure that key stakeholders, including local members and business leaders, are regularly engaged on the activities and progress of the Task Force.