Care and Independence and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Karin Sedgwick

Scope: To scrutinise the needs of vulnerable adults, older people and people whose independence needs to be supported by intervention from the public or voluntary sector.

Council Ambition: Every adult has a longer, healthier and independent life.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement activities and updates received over the last 12 months:

Annual reports

· State of the Nation Annual Update – Councillor Michael Harrison provided an overview of the scale of the Directorate and what it covered, and the Corporate Director for Health & Adult Services gave a detailed presentation. The ‘State of the Nation’ annual report provides information to identify lines of inquiry for the municipal year.

· North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report (NYSAB) 2023/24 - the Chair of the NYSAB provided a detailed overview of the work and outcomes achieved over the last year.

· Public Health Annual Report 2023/24 – the Director of Public Health gave a summary of the report which has focussed on older people and four healthy ageing priorities for North Yorkshire.

· Older People’s Champion Annual Report 2024/25 - Councillor Caroline Dickinson gave her annual report.

Updates, presentations and briefings

· Service Development & Transformation Plan – a presentation by the Assistant Director for Prevention and Service Development.

· Overview of Adult Social Care (ASC) Assurance Peer Challenge Findings – this included a workshop and a follow-up question and answer session with the Independent Lead on 3-stage Peer Review of NYC Health and Adult Services.

· Overview of performance and the top seven ASC key improvement areas – a presentation by Health and Adult Services.

· Overview of hospital discharges and the associated cost pressures and demand issues – an overview from the Assistant Director for Prevention and Service Development.

· In-depth look at Substance Use caseloads, activity, effectiveness, and service re-design – a presentation on substance use delivered by the Public Health Manager.

· Health and Adult Services (HAS) Local Account 2023/24 – the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services summarised an annual statement, detailing progress against the Directorate’s improvement priorities for 2023-24.

· Update on Direct Payments – a presentation by the Head of Targeted Prevention.

· Update on Support for Carers – an update provided by the Assistant Director for Prevention and Service Development.

· Update of Young Adults Complex Care – a summary by the Assistant Director, Adult Social Care.

Additional scrutiny activities

· Adult Social Care Assurance Peer Challenge Private Workshop.

· Informal Question and Answer session on Assurance Peer Challenge.

· Informal session to prepare Scrutiny Members for ASC Assurance Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

· The Chair has attended a number of informal meetings alongside the Chair of the Scrutiny of Health Committee to consider matters that are potentially cross-cutting across both Committee’s remits. This has not yet resulted in any formal joint projects, but we will continue to consider opportunities for cross-directorate working.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

Annual Reports

· State of the Nation Annual Update - key performance indicators and improvement priorities to help identify areas for the committee’s focus over the 2025/26 municipal year.

· North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report.

· Public Health Annual Report 2024.

· HAS Local Account 2023/24.

· Older People’s Champion Annual Report 2025/26.

Updates, Presentations and Briefings

· ASC Market Transformation - update on the move to Adult Social Care specialist teams.

· Living Well Review- update on the outcomes and future plans.

· Waiting Well – overview of Action Plan and Implementation.

· Bi-annual Performance Update.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Barbara Brodigan

Scope: To scrutinise the planning, commissioning, and delivery of services for children, young people and their families, including education, care and protection, and family support.

Council Ambitions: Every child and young person has the best possible start in life.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement activities and updates received over the last 12 months:

Notice of Motions at Full Council

· Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic – a Motion for the Council to consider Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic so that they are treated the same as other equality groups outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

A Care Experience Task and Finish Group

This group was established in response to a Motion being presented to Full Council on 15 May 2024 for North Yorkshire Council to join over sixty other local councils by treating care experience as if it is a protected characteristic. After referring the Motion to the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee, we received a report from Children’s Services and heard first-hand experience from a member of staff who was a care leaver themselves. The Committee supported the recommendation of establishing a cross-directorate Task and Finish Group which would meet to fully consider the implications of adopting care experience as a protected characteristic. Discussions focussed on current practices of each service and heard feed-back from care experienced individuals and other stakeholders. The group were pleased to hear that North Yorkshire Council is already doing lots of effective work to support care experienced individuals, and in some cases, they are already being treated as a protective characteristic. They reported back to the Committee on 29 January 2025, where it was unanimously agreed to support the Motion to the Full Council meeting on 26 February. The Motion was rejected however, officers are working across Directorates to offer support on promoting our wider care leaver offer and the good practices utilised by Children & Families Directorate.

Annual Reports

· Young Person’s Champion Annual Report 2023/24 – a report presented by Councillor Alyson Baker.

· Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) Annual Report 2023/24 – a summary from the Chair of the CDOP.

· North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) 2023/24 – a presentation from the Chair of NYSCP.

· Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023/24 – the Corporate Director of Public Health summarised the main outcomes from the recommendations in the 2023/24 Annual Report.

· N Yorks SACRE Annual Report 2023/24 – a summary from the School Improvement Team.

Updates, Presentations and Briefings

· School Governance – Senior officers from Children’s Services gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of Governing Boards and the relationship between Local Authority and Maintained Schools.

· Food, Entertainment, Art and Sport Together (FEAST) – the Holiday Activities and Food Co-ordinator from Children’s Services presented the FEAST Impact Report 2023.

· Fostering North Yorkshire Update – the Assistant Director for Children and Families provided an update.

· Treating Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic Motion – the Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Service spoke about the Council’s duty as corporate parents. Following on from this, the Committee asked the Corporate Parenting Group to conduct a consultation with care experienced young people to gauge their views on care experience becoming a protected characteristic. This then led to establishing the Care Experience Task and Finish Group.

· Children Accessing Alternative Provision – a presentation from the Head of Alternative Provision.

· Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Provision in the Scarborough and Whitby Area Update – the Head of SEND Strategic Planning provided an update following on from the recommendations of the Scarborough and Whitby Area SEND Provision Task and Finish Group in 2023.

· Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Employment Forum – an update from the Head of SEND Strategic Planning.

· Criminal Exploitation – the Group Manager Children and Families provided an update on children and young people exploitation.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

Annual Reports

· Young Person’s Champion 2024/25.

· Child Death Overview Panel 2024/25.

· North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) 2024/25.

· North Yorkshire SACRE 2024/5.

Updates, Presentations and Briefings

· AI - how the Council is utilising AI techniques.

· Children’s Wellbeing Bill - a summary of the Bill and implications for the Council.

· Minority Inclusion Support – update on the Minority Inclusion Support provided by the Council.

· Foster Care – general update.

· Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Employment Forum – general update.

· Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) – progress update of the SEND action plan.

· Schools Update – an update on North Yorkshire Schools and Academies in relation to performance, funding and strategic planning.

· School Attendance – an update of attendance and exclusion of primary and secondary school children.

· Adoption – adoption processes and support.

· Criminal exploitation - update on the areas where criminals seek to exploit children and young people.

Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Andrew Williams

Scope: To consider the Council’s corporate organisation and structure, resource allocation, asset management, procurement policy, equalities, people strategy, performance managements, communications, and access to services. Partnership working, community development, community engagement, community strategies and community safety.

Council Ambitions: Leading for North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire is a place with a strong economy and a commitment to sustainable growth; Innovative and forward-thinking Council.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement and updates received over the last 12 months:

Notice of Motions at Full Council

The Committee considered the following Notices of Motion:

· Right to Grow – a Motion that sought resident’s right to grow.

· Youth Council Engagement – a Motion to encourage more young people to engage on political issues.

· Community Impact of Council Decisions – a Motion to adopt appropriate means to ensure that policies and decisions made by the Council were properly informed by their impact on local communities.

Annual Reports and Updates

· Annual Workforce Update – the Head of Human Resources provided an overview, which included workforce data for the new Council.

· Annual North Yorkshire Refugee Resettlement Update – the Refugee Resettlement Manager presented a progress report on refugee resettlement in North Yorkshire relating to the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme and Afghan resettlement programme.

· Annual Review of Locality Budgets – the Assistant Chief Executive Local Engagement provided a breakdown of the organisations and types of projects/activities that had been supported throughout the year.

· Resilience and Emergencies Annual Update 2023-24 – the Head of Resilience & Emergencies gave an overview of the Gold, Silver and Bronze commander posts for the east, west and central areas, and their role in times of an emergency.

· Annual Youth Justice Update – presented by the Head of Early Help the Youth Justice Team Manager.

Updates, Presentations and Briefings

· Draft Transformation Strategy – the Corporate Director of Resources and the Director of Transformation provided a general overview of the ongoing work to transform services in the new Council.

· Update on attendance levels and wellbeing and emerging HR related themes 18 months into new Council.

· Customer Services Update – the Assistant Director, Customer, Revenue and Benefits gave an update on customer services, the customer experience and customer strategy.

· Update on Council Plan Refresh including Review of Council Priorities.

· Bi-annual updates on Localities work - presented by the Head of Localities and the Communities Area Manager, East.

· Bi-annual updates on Community Safety – the Assistant Chief Constable and the Prevent Sergeant presented a report based around local Prevent arrangements.

· Regular updates on Transformation work including individual reports on:

§ The planned new approach to customer services.

§ The customer strategy and customer service systems.

§ Property disposals.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

Jo Coles, York and North Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime will be attending the Committee’s June 2025 meeting to introduce the new Police & Crime Plan for 2025-2029 and new Fire & Rescue Plan, and to give her views on crime, ASB and the services commissioned to provide support to victims etc.

Annual Reports and Updates

· Annual Workforce Update

· Progress update on convergence and transformation of services

· North Yorkshire Refugee Resettlement Update

· Annual Review of Locality Budgets

· Annual overview of the National Resilience Standards and NYC’s current performance

· Annual Youth Justice Update Performance Update

· Bi-annual updates on Localities work

· Bi-annual updates on Community Safety

Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Malcolm Taylor

Scope: To review policy, service improvement and governance arrangements to help ensure compliance with provision and regulation of social housing, and housing services for which the Council is responsible, including housing strategy, homelessness and housing needs, the delivery of affordable housing as well as private sector housing renewal. It also scrutinises cultural issues and the Council’s role as a provider of leisure services.

Council Ambitions: Good quality, affordable and sustainable housing that meets the needs of our communities. Culture, heritage, arts and sustainable tourism all play their part in the economic growth of the county.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement and updates received over the last 12 months:

Annual Reports and Updates

· Housing Growth Update – the Head of Housing Delivery and Partnership gave an overview of the proposed joint venture with private sector partner.

· Regular updates on Housing Regulatory and Housing improvements – presented by the Assistant Director for Housing.

· Regular updates on Housing Complaints Handling – the Assistant Director for Housing provided updates on complaints handling performance, including Ombudsman cases.

· Draft Cultural Strategy for NYC – the Head of Culture and Archives provided a background to the new Strategy.

· Regular updates on the ongoing Strategic Leisure Review – the Assistant Director for Leisure and Culture provided progress updates on ongoing work to transition and transform services into a single new in-house model and identified any property related issues.

· Annual Review of Libraries Service and update on the Mobile Library Service – presented by the General Manager of Libraries.

Presentations and Briefings

· Housing Service Overview – the Assistant Director for Housing gave a presentation which included a breakdown of the different components that made up the Service.

· Consumer Standards Compliance Self-Assessment and Housing Improvement Plan – the Director for Community Development spoke about the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) consumer standards.

· Current housing performance and service improvement planning – the Head of Housing Management & Landlord Services summarised the findings from the Housing Review 2023/24.

· Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Policies across Housing Landlord Services and Housing Standards - the Assistant Director for Housing gave a presentation on the HRA Policy Framework.

· Leisure & Culture Overview and Key Priorities – the Assistant Director for Leisure and Culture gave an overview of both service areas, including key challenges, opportunities, and priorities.

Consultations and Workshops

· Consultation on draft Tenancy Policy – introduced by the Head of Housing Management and Landlord Services. The Policy aims to harmonise the three existing policies from former district councils.

· Consultation on the draft Anti-Social Behaviour Policy (Landlord Services) – the Head of Housing Management and Landlord Services introduced the draft that harmonised the three existing policies of the legacy stock-holding authorities and met the expectations within the relevant standard.

· Consultation on draft Tenant Involvement Strategy – the Committee received verbal updates on the ongoing consultation.

· Consultation on draft Homelessness Strategy – led by the Head of Housing Needs.

· Engagement with the Executive Member for Culture, Arts & Housing - an informal consultation meeting to consider and comment on the finalised draft Cultural Strategy to inform the Executive Member report.

· An Informal workshop to receive updates on the development of the Joint Venture and a proposal to introduce a framework of housing initiatives funded through revenue generated from Second Homes Council Tax.

Task Groups

A Task Group review to assist in the development of a Lettable Standard for NYC social housing stock, detailing the condition which a property will be brought up to once a tenancy ends, in preparation for an incoming tenant/mutual exchange. The new Council inherited three varying void standards across the stock holding localities.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

The remit of the Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee supports the Council’s commitment to improving tenant engagement and satisfaction. Moving forward, it is intended this Committee will engage directly with tenants through its Task Group review work. The Committee’s developing work programme for 2025/26 includes regular updates on the Council ongoing work to achieve Consumer Standards compliance. The planned Task Group reviews are intended to assist in the development of some of the necessary Standards, Policies and Procedures required to achieve compliance, and will evidence Member involvement in the process (a requirement of the Consumer Standards).

The Committee has identified three Task Group reviews it intends to undertake in 2025/26. These are:

· Grounds Maintenance Policy - harmonising the three existing Grounds Maintenance Policies for NYC Tenants. Currently tenants receive a different service depending on locality.

· Housing Fees and Charges Policy – There are currently 3 separate approaches to service charges and what services are offered to NYC tenants across the stock holding localities. This is a large piece of work which will require thorough consultation with tenants.

· Compensation Policy - To review / harmonise the tenant / leaseholder compensation policy, taking into account legacy policies, best practice, consumer standards and the Housing Ombudsman Code.

Scrutiny of Health Committee

Chair: Councillor Andrew Lee

Scope: To review any matter relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the County, including Ambulance Trusts and the policies of the Health and Care Partnerships. To act as a lever to improve the health of local people, ensuring that the needs of the local people are considered as an integral part of the delivery and development of health services.

Council Ambitions: Every child and young person has the best possible start in life; Every adult has a longer, healthier an independent life.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement and updates received over the last 12 months:

Annual Reports

· Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2022/23 and 2023/24 – presented by the Director of Public Health.

· Healthwatch Annual Report 2022/23 - presented by the Chief Executive of Healthwatch North Yorkshire.

Consultations

· Community Water Fluoridation Expansion in the Northeast of England – the Committee was invited to comment on a government consultation regarding the water fluoridation expansion, which would affect some northern areas of North Yorkshire.

Updates, Presentations, Reviews and Briefings

· Better Care Fund 2023/25 update report – presented by the Director of Public Health, which included the Quarterly Report for Quarters 2, 3, and 4 for 2023-24.

· Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) – several senior officers from YAS attended and provided an update on service delivery, challenges and recent developments.

· NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board Annual Report 2023/24 – an overview of the report presented by the Place Director and the Deputy Place Director.

· York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – the Director of Midwifery and the Chief Nurse Designate gave an update on the progress against CQC inspection outcomes into maternity services.

· Airedale Hospital – the Communications Team from Airedale NHS Foundation Trust provided a development update.

· Review of Motion regarding the Council’s use of Glyphosates and Neocotinoids in Operational Services – the Head of Parks and Grounds, the Area Manager, Highways, and the Public Health Consultant delivered a report which outlined the Council’s use of glyphosate and provided an overview of wider implications for public health.

· Independent Public Inquiry into the Government Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Review of Module 1 Outcomes – the Public Health Consultant) delivered a presentation, which included local implications for the Council.

· Review of the council’s draft Autism Strategy.and End of Life Care. – update from the North Yorkshire Hospices

· Public Health Commissioning – an overview was delivered, which included grant spend, performance and ambitions following the peer review.

· North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Health – an update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Joint Working

This year has continued to see the Committee develop joint working with other Council Overview and Scrutiny Committees on issues of interest and where a more co-ordinated approach is of benefit. This has included a ‘Change NHS’ workshop held for the Committee and members from the Care and Independence Committee to consider the three shifts outlined in the government’s 10-Year Plan for the NHS (January 2025).

There has also been a workshop led by the Health Committee and comprising Members from Care and Independence and Children and Families Committee to review the council’s draft all-age Autism Strategy (February 2025).

Other Lines of Enquiry

The Committee has written to the York and Scarborough Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to express concern regarding changes to or closure of specific services in Scarborough. These included the closure of a biomedical facility and changes to haematology services at Scarborough Hospital. This has resulted in senior officers responded to the committee to set out steps taken to ensure provision of services is maintained for residents, and a verbal update was also provided on haematology at the Committee’s Mid-Cycle Briefing in January 2025. The Committee will continue to keep a watching brief on such issues where there is potential for adverse impacts on residents.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

Updates and Performance Reviews

· Performance on emergency and urgent care.

· Renal Services – an update on the impact on patients making long journeys to access services.

· Crisis care response – Scrutiny of the response to crisis care in relation to Tees, Esk and Wear Valley’s (TEWV) oversight of the Right Care, Right Person model and how support is delivered.

· Review of the draft Pharmacy Needs Assessment for York and North Yorkshire.

· Update on the implementation of electronic records.

· NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB Performance and Progression – annual update report

· Access to mental health care.

· Performance on emergency and urgent care.

Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor David Staveley

Scope: To scrutinise the transport and communications infrastructure of all kinds, and how the transport needs of the community are met. Support businesses, economic development and regeneration, helping people develop their skills, including lifelong learning. Sustainable development, climate change strategy, countryside management, waste management, environmental conservation and enhancement flooding and cultural issues.

Council Ambitions: North Yorkshire is a place with a strong economy and a commitment to sustainable growth; Innovative and forward-thinking Council.

Summary of issues addressed, engagement and updates received over the last 12 months:

Notice of Motions at Full Council

The Committee considered the following Notices of Motion:

· Support for Climate and Nature Bill – a Motion asking the Council to support in principle the Climate and Nature Bill.

· Active Travel Strategy – a Motion asking the Council to develop and implement an Active Travel Strategy by December 2025.

Updates, Presentations and Briefings

· National Highways Update – provided by the A66 Project Team Director from National Highways setting out the structure of the organisation, comprising teams in strategy, operations and major projects.

· NY Highways Performance and Progress – the Head of Highways Operations gave an update on the progress and performance of North Yorkshire Highways on gully cleaning and maintenance over the last 12 months.

· Climate Change Strategy Performance – the Climate Change Strategy Manager gave bi-annual updates.

· Development of a Tree and Woodland Policy – the Head of Parks and Grounds and the Tree and Woodland Manager provided a progress update on the development of North Yorkshire Council’s first Tree and Woodlands Policy.

· The Committee held informal briefings with officers on the North Yorkshire Destination Management Plan and the commercial operation of Allerton Waste Recovery Park to develop their knowledge and understanding in these areas.

Reviews

· Six and Twelve Month Reviews of Motion on Water Quality for improvements in health, wildlife, biodiversity and economy – the Principal Environmental Policy and Project Officer has continued to update the Committee on progress with actioning the water quality motion that was agreed by Full Council in November 2023.

· Review of Household Waste Collection Options – officers from the Waste Team and Environmental Services attended to seek views on the plans for the future harmonisation of waste and recycling services across North Yorkshire.

· Review of Household Recycling and Waste Collection Guidance – the Waste Team updated the Committee on the future harmonisation of waste and recycling guidance across North Yorkshire.

· Review of North Yorkshire Council’s Response to January 2025 wintry weather – following heavy snow, widespread ice and torrential downpours in early January 2025, parts of North Yorkshire experienced treacherous conditions. Officers are set to review the response of the Council to ensure lessons are learnt for future events.

The Committee’s planned work programme for 2025/26

Annual Reports, Updates and Performance Reviews

· Air Quality Management Areas – Annual Status Report 2024/25.

· Bi-annual Climate Change Strategy Performance.

· National Highways – a report on major project delivery and route and maintenance activity from National Highways

· North Yorkshire Destination Management Plan Annual Review.

· Public Conveniences.

· Attendance of water companies at meeting.

· Vertical Farming and Development of Land at Allerton Waste Recovery Park.

· Highways Verge Management.

· HGV Weight Orders / Enforcement / Rest Area Provision.

The Committee may also look at further scrutiny of:

· Parks and Open Space Commercialisation.

· Street Lighting Investment Programme.