North Yorkshire Council
Executive
15 April 2025
Area Committee Feedback Report
Report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services
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1.0
1.1
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To bring to the attention of the Executive key issues considered at recent meetings of the Area Committees (ACs). |
2.0 HARROGATE AND KNARESBOROUGH AC – 20 MARCH 2025
2.1 The Area Committee received an update from Harrogate Youth Council, outlining their current activities and challenges. There remained a high turnover of members as students left education or began their exam period, and funding remained challenging, but the Youth Council was recruiting actively and working to build relationships with NYC, the local MP, and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. It was agreed that the Youth Councils would be invited to the Area Committee annually, and given the opportunity to participate in a debate. Members also agreed to engage in their programme of events and asked to be kept informed.
2.2 Children and Young People’s Services attended the meeting and provided an update on Schools Performance in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area. Discussion focussed on the provision of s106 agreements, and how funds were released to schools. Members asked that good communication be maintained with schools on the progress of individual agreements. The arrangement of School Planning Areas were considered, as there appeared to be some geographic anomalies. Officers agreed to provide mapping and further information on these, but confirmed that they were set in accordance with Department for Education guidance, and to provide reliable data over a long period these were kept static. Specific issues including secondary school provision in the north of Harrogate were discussed, but there were currently no plans to directly address this.
2.3 The Local Nature Recovery Strategy was discussed, and members considered a report outlining the progress on delivering this strategy in the local area. A range of topics were discussed, including how the policy would interact with the new local plan and the council’s housebuilding targets. The strategy, which covered North Yorkshire and included a focus on rural areas, was also discussed in the context of Harrogate and Knaresborough which was much smaller and more urban.
2.4 The Area Committee also received an update on the progress of a range of Active Travel schemes in the area. This covered a range of projects and provided specific information on the delivery of individual schemes. Members provided comment and feedback which was noted by officers, and agreed to provide regular future updates, both formally to the committee and informally to individual members whose divisions were affected.
2.5 The Community and Voluntary Sector Working group was stood down, having helped to bridge the gap between NYC’s establishment and the inception of Harrogate Town Council, and its members were thanked for their time. Members also agreed to establish a Housing Liaison Working Group be formed to receive updates on the use of second homes premium, and the background housing needs and priorities of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.
2.2 Further information about the meeting can be found here –
3.0 SKIPTON AND RIPON AC – 6 MARCH 2025
3.1 The following issues were discussed with the Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP: home to school transport; planning developments within the area; increases in inheritance tax for farms and employer national insurance; the need for increased SEND provision; the closure of businesses within the area; the cost of heating oil and vehicle fuel; the condition of towpaths; smart meter connectivity; limited mobile phone signals; and the how information from RAF Menwith Hill is shared.
3.2 The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire provided an update on the work that the Mayoral Combined Authority are carrying out and shared details of funding opportunities. Members had pre-submitted eight questions which the Mayor went through in turn. Members made several comments which related to how the Area Committee can be involved in the work of the MCA; improved public transport to rural areas and with neighbouring counties; support for farmers; increases in housing numbers; road safety.
3.3 Two members of the public made statements regarding NYC's new Home to School Transport Policy. These focused on how the 2026 review will take place, what the review will cover, the impact of the Policy on areas with catchment schools, and specifics about the costs and savings for certain villages.
3.4 An update on the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy was provided and Members made the following comments: the importance of integrating nature recovery, food production and power generation; the importance of promoting nature recovery that is natural for the area, rather than developing new climates.
3.5 An update on the climate change activity within the area was provided. Members noted that there are difficulties in converting more traditional houses but were pleased that there had been success in converting more modern council houses. It was queried whether there was funding available to retrofit community assets and Members were asked to advise those that are interested to sign up to the Climate Change Newsletter. Concerns were raised at the inconsistency of funding availability.
3.6 An annual update on school standards, SEND, finances and school place planning was provided. Members raised queries that related to the following: the impact of the Home to School Policy on these statistics and any adjustments that have been made; the indicative numbers for specific schools; the training that is available to assist teachers and parents to identify certain medical conditions; whether NYC is meeting the demand for educational health care plans; the surplus capacity figures.
3.7 Further information about the meeting can be found here –
4.0 SCARBOROUGH AND WHITBY AC – 21 MARCH 2025
4.1 Public questions submitted to the committee concerned educational attainment in Whitby, the future sustainability of Whitby School, the future of existing leisure facilities on the new site of Scalby School, the impact of the new Home to School Travel Policy on schools in the Esk Valley, the likelihood that a new boat hoist will be built on Scarborough West Pier, and the council’s appropriation of land on the West Pier.
4.2 The Chief Executive of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, James Farrar delivered a presentation on the background, structure, and development of the new combined authority, together with the opportunities the devolution deal provided to the region and to the Scarborough and Whitby area. He shared details of the £540m Mayoral Investment Fund across the different areas of housing, skills, net zero, transport and business, the £30m invested to date, and highlighted the Mayor’s vision for healthy and thriving communities, and for the Mayoral Investment Fund to be owned and driven locally. Mr Farrar then answered members’ questions on a range of issues including the offshore renewables industry, local rail and bus services and connectivity, the development of much needed social housing and the prioritisation of schemes.
4.3 Local MP, Alison Hume provided a snapshot of her recent activities: public meetings she had convened about heather burning in Goathland, about NHS improvements at The Street in Scarborough, and about home to school travel in Danby. She estimated that 60% of her work consisted of lobbying behind the scenes on a variety of matters including inshore fisheries, safety of female politicians, and disability rights. Earlier in the week she had invited local constituents to a meeting in Westminster about non-functioning smart meters in the north of England on which she had been campaigning for some months. Ms Hume was keenly aware of the specific challenges and opportunities facing the coast, and warmly welcomed the recent announcement of £20m Government investment in Scarborough.
4.4 The committee received presentations by Victoria Turner and Dr Gill Kelly, Consultants in Public Health on the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report on Healthy Ageing and the results tailored locally of the Growing Up in North Yorkshire Survey 2024. The Healthy Ageing presentation centred on the report’s overarching recommendation that all agencies and services in North Yorkshire should ensure that the infrastructure was in place to prepare for the projected increase in the elderly population across the principal areas of health, housing, financial security, and age-friendly places. The Growing Up in North Yorkshire Survey 2024 results presented an overall positive picture of improvements across several metrics such as resilience and wellbeing, online safety, healthy lifestyle and bullying, although areas of concern remained around, for example, that improvements in resilience were not consistent between sexes, age groups and social identity groups.
4.5 The committee considered an update on the development of Community Safety Hubs across the county which built on the co-location model and the already successful interactions with Neighbourhood Policing to deliver an enhanced, holistic, intelligence led approach to community safety.
4.6 The committee received a comprehensive report on educational attainment across the 49 schools and academies in the Scarborough and Whitby area as at 31 August 2024. The report prompted members’ questions on local SEND provision and the number of school leavers in education, training or employment.
4.7 Finally, the committee received an update on the six projects endorsed by the committee as part of their Project Development Fund allocation including exploring offshore economic opportunities and the Scarborough 400 project commemorating the town’s history as a resort.
4.8 Further information about the meeting can be found here:
5.0 THIRSK AND MALTON AC – 28 MARCH 2025
5.1 Annual update from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. The Mayor provided an update on the work of the Mayoral Combined Authority (CA) since his appointment in May 2024.
This included details of the operating model of the CA, its main funding streams,
An its ambitions going forward.
The mayor also responded to the committee’s pre-submitted questions and to questions from the floor.
5.2 Update on the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
5.3 The local MPs Kevin Hollinrake and Sir Alec Shelbrooke provided written updates on their work over the last quarter.
5.4 The committee noted an annual update report on the local educational landscape, educational achievement and the financial challenges which affect schools in the Thirsk and Malton committee area.
5.5 The committee noted an update on the climate change activities that have taken place in the Thirsk and Malton Area.
5.6 Further information about the meeting can be found here.
6.0 RICHMOND (YORKS) AC – 17 MARCH 2025
6.1 North Yorkshire Council's Petition Scheme - 'Rethink North
Yorkshire School Transport Cuts'
Consideration was given to a petition under the Council’s petition scheme requesting that Members ‘Rethink North Yorkshire School Transport Cuts’. Details of the petition were outlined and debated by Members. It was agreed, in line with the petition scheme, that no action be taken in respect of the petition as the Chair of the Council had agreed to an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, to take place on a date to be determined, to consider this matter further.
6.2 Annual update from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined
Authority
The Mayor and CEO outlined the structure, purpose and initial work of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Issues discussed with the Mayor included:-
· the process for identifying opportunities for economic and environmental improvements
· funding available for businesses in the Richmond area
· the availability and affordability of housing, particularly in rural areas
· the designation of Important Network Roads and how they fit into the development strategy
· developing green transport systems alongside neighbouring authorities
· tourism in Hawes and the wider Yorkshire Dales
· the development of Food Partnerships
· assisting with the development of integrated transport and access to public transport
· a strategy for the battery storage facilities required for renewable energy sources
6.3 Annual Schools Update Report
An update on Schools Performance in the Committee area was provided. Issues discussed included:-
· Suspensions from the area’s schools
· Performance of KS4 Maths
· Special School provision
6.4 Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Members considered a report outlining the progress on delivering this strategy in the local area. Issues discussed included:-
· DEFRA Sustainable Farming Initiative
· Liaison with YDNPA
6.5 Climate Change Activity
Members considered a report outlining climate change activity taking place in the local area. Issues discussed included:-
· The provision of EVC points throughout the area
· The ‘pros and cons’ of heat pumps
6.6 Resilience and Emergencies Annual Report Richmond (Yorks) Area Committee
A report was provided updating Members on issues raised at the September meeting of the Committee.
6.7 £50k Seed Funding
Updates were provided on the three projects approved by the Committee to utilise this funding.
6.8 Further information about the meeting can be found here:
7.0 FINANCIAL & LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
7.1 The financial and legal implications of the issues raised in this summary report are included in the reports that went to the meetings of the Area Committees in March 2025.
8.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
8.1 The climate change implications of the issues raised in this summary report are included in the reports that went to the meetings of the Area Committees in March 2025.
9.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
9.1 The equalities implications of the issues raised in this summary report are included in the reports that went to the meetings of the Area Committees in March 2025.
10.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
10.1 The recommendations to the Executive have been made by the Area Committees as part of their consideration of local issues at their March 2025 round of committee meetings.
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11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
11.1 The Executive is asked to note the report and consider any matters arising from the work of the Area Committees detailed above, that merit further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level. |
Barry Khan
Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services
County Hall
Northallerton
Report Author:
Elizabeth Jackson – Principal Democratic Services Officer
elizabeth.jackson@northyorks.gov.uk
Background Documents:
Agenda, papers and minutes of the six Area Committee meetings in March 2025, which can be accessed via the following link - https://edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk/mgListCommittees.aspx?bcr=1
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.