North Yorkshire Council

 

HARROGATE AND KNARESBOROUGH AREA COMMITTEE

 

2025–26 WORK PROGRAMME

 

 

 

Contents

 

1.            Progress on Issues Raised and Actions from Previous Meetings.  Summary of action points raised at previous committee meetings, mid-cycle briefings, and through other submissions from members.

 

2.            Items for Forthcoming Committee Meetings.  A summary of the proposed agenda items for the next two meetings of the Area Committee.

 

3.            Future Items of Work.  List of proposed areas of future work, along with when and how it is proposed to consider them.

 

4.            Working Group Activity.  A summary of the meetings held by Working Groups during the current Civic Year.

 

5.            Record of Informal and Virtual Area Committee Sessions.  A list of the informal sessions and briefings which members have attended during the current Civic Year.

 

Document Author – Edward Maxwell, Senior Democratic Services Officer

Edward.maxwell@northyorks.gov.uk

 

 

 

1.         Progress on Issues Raised and Actions from Previous Meetings

 

Subject and Minute Number

Raised

Current Status

Mayor’s attendance at 25 September 2025 meeting.

Email correspondence with members.

Request for additional lines of enquiry to be submitted to Democratic Services no later than Friday 15 August.

Update on gritting and response to severe weather events.

At Mid Cycle Briefing on 23 January 2025, and through communication with members.

Proposed for consideration at the 11 July 2025 meeting of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee (to be confirmed).  Members to be kept informed of proposed agenda items relating to this event.

Development of the Harrogate Care and Support Hub
(report to Executive, 7 January 2025)

At Mid Cycle Briefing on 23 January 2025.

Member briefings currently being arranged throughout the course of the project – dates to follow.

 

2.         Items for Forthcoming Committee Meetings

 

Thursday 25 September 2025, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

 

Item

Contact Officer

Notes

Mayor David Skaith (Mayor, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority)

Suzanne Wilkinson (Exec Assistant to the Mayor)

Mayor Skaith to attend to discuss the role of the MCA, economic development, and projects in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area, to be accompanied by James Farrar, YNYCA Chief Executive

Work Programme Update (standing item)

Edward Maxwell
(Senior Democratic Services Officer)

Updated version of the committee’s work programme for information, including summary of working group activity and informal sessions.

 

Thursday 27 November 2025, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

 

Item

Contact Officer

Notes

Work Programme Update (standing item)

Edward Maxwell
(Senior Democratic Services Officer)

Updated version of the committee’s work programme for information, including summary of working group activity and informal sessions.

 

 

 

3.         Future Items of Work

(*Denotes an annual update)

 

Item

Contact Officer

Notes

Proposed Activity

Proposed Date

Localities Service Update*

Adele Wilson-Hope (Communities Area Manager (East)

Annual update on the work of the localities service.

Area Committee agenda item
(last update May 2024)

June 2025

Stroke Pathway Performance Update

Gemma O’Neil
(Humber and North Yorkshire ICB)

Stroke Pathway performance update, implemented in December 2024, added following November 2024 meeting.

Area Committee agenda item

Late 2025

Air Quality in Harrogate

Dr Kevin Carr
(Divisional Officer, Scientific)

Members to receive copies of the Council’s Air Status Report annually (added following resident’s query in December 2024).

Report circulated to members

Late 2025

Public Transport Update

 

Update on public transport in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Area Committee agenda item

Late 2025

Parks and Open Spaces Update

Jon Clubb

Update on activities and plans in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

Area Committee agenda item

Late 2025

Harrogate and Knaresborough Youth Councils*

North Yorkshire Voice

Update on activities, with the opportunity to put down a motion for debate by members.

Area Committee agenda item

Early 2026

Knaresborough Flood Investigation Report

Resilience and Emergencies Update

To consider the FIR for the flooding which took place in Knaresborough in May 2024.

Area Committee agenda item

Once FIR complete (awaiting update)

Resilience and Emergencies Briefing*

Matt Robinson
(Head of Resilience and Emergencies)

To receive an update on measures taken to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

Area Committee agenda item

(last update March 2025)

June 2026

Harrogate Station Gateway Scheme Update

Richard Binks
(Head of Major Projects and Infrastructure)

Update on progress of scheme delivery.

Area Committee agenda item or Station Gateway Working Group session

As required (scheme update meeting last took place in February 2025).

Active Travel and Cycle Schemes

Melisa Burnham (Highways Area Manager)

To review the provision of cycling schemes in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area, with an invitation to Cllr Duncan as Cycling Champion.

Area Committee agenda item or member briefing

 

Update from Harrogate BID

 

Harrogate BID to be invited to an AC meeting to express its views incorporating how best to support small businesses.

Area Committee agenda item

 

Update on Beyond Carbon

 

A briefing on how this impacts the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area.

Member briefing

 

 

4.         Working Group Activity

 

Harrogate Station Gateway Working Group

Membership

 

a)            Cllr Chris Aldred (Working Group Chair)

b)            Cllr Hannah Gostlow

c)             Cllr Sam Gibbs

d)            Cllr Paul Haslam

e)            Cllr Robert Windass

 

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

 

Meetings to be arranged approximately quarterly, depending on progress of the scheme.

 

Housing Liaison Working Group

Membership

 

a)            Cllr Peter Lacey

b)            Cllr Sam Gibbs

c)            Cllr Chris Aldred

d)            Vacant

e)            Vacant

 

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

 

·         6 May 2025 – Information and Scene Setting (and written update to all members)

 

 

Climate Change Working Group

Membership

 

a)            Cllr Paul Haslam (Working Group Chair)

b)            Cllr Hannah Gostlow

c)            Cllr Andrew Timothy

d)            Cllr Phillip Broadbank

e)            Vacant

 

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

 

2024 – 25

·         10 April 2025 – Air Quality in Harrogate and Knaresborough

 

Chair attended the Inspiring Community Climate Action event in Harrogate on 22 March 2025.

 

5.         Record of Informal and Virtual Area Committee Sessions (future sessions in italics)

 

a)            23 April 2025 – Economic Development Briefing

 

b)            7 May 2025 – Mid Cycle Briefing (for 5 June 2025 meeting)

 

c)            5 June 2025 – Local Plan Issues and Options Consultation Feedback Session

 

d)            28 August 2026 – Mid Cycle Briefing (for 25 September 2025 meeting)

 

e)            16 January 2026 – Budget Session