North Yorkshire Council

Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee

6 June 2025

Update on the Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive for Local Engagement

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To update members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee on the work of the Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force.

2.0 SUMMARY

2.1 This report provides an update on activity since the creation of the Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force, which first met in January 2025, including the £250K investment in delivering improvements across the town centre.

3.0 BACKGROUND

3.1 With a significant amount of activity taking place in Scarborough to address a variety of priorities in the town, it was agreed that a cross-service group of officers be established to provide enhanced focus on the town centre and drive forward improvements for Scarborough. As such, a report was taken to Scarborough & Whitby Area Committee on the 29^th of November 2024 setting out that intention and the priorities of the group.

3.2 To oversee and coordinate activity, Rachel Joyce, Assistant Chief Executive for Local Engagement, chairs a monthly meeting of the Task Force to discuss actions that compliment and build on existing service provision.

3.3 The Task Force continues to 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 will consider this.

3.4 As outlined in the November Area Committee meeting, the focus the initial activities of the Task Force, three key issues are proposed as the priority areas. The internal action plan is structured around these three priority areas:

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

3.5 The Task Force will also engage with the priorities identified 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 Investment Plans.

4.0 LOOK AND FEEL

4.1 Initially, members of the Task Force sought to identify actions to drive improvements concerned with the ‘look and feel’ of the town centre, linked to the consultation feedback received via the Let’s Talk Scarborough consultation. As such, several early improvements were identified via the already developed Sprucing Up Scarborough plan.

4.2 £250K was put forward to help improve the street cleaning resource in the town centre, tackle run down areas and undertake a series of public realm improvements. In summary, this initial set of actions included:

- A new electric utility vehicle to assist with street cleaning.

- New chewing gum removal equipment.

- Chemicals to tackle difficult to clean spots (for example, seagull mess).

- A new cleaning ‘glutton’.

- Vinyl wrapping of empty units in the town centre.

- The development of a new design guide, to help ensure future development stays within the unique and historic character of Scarborough.

- Creation of pocket parks.

- Delivery of a new mural in the town.

- The creation of new Town Centre Caretakers posts.

- A series of public realm improvements, including replacement seating, new bins and new signage.

- Resource and equipment for a community Spring Clean event.

4.3 The programme includes more than 30 projects that boost civic pride and support local businesses, creating a cleaner and more welcoming place for everyone. Work continues to progress on developing a new town centre design guide to help ensure building improvements and the wider public realm reflect the unique character of Scarborough. The aim is to support high-quality changes that fit in with the town’s look and feel, especially in areas with historic significance.

4.4 As referenced in the list above, a large-scale spring clean took place on 28–29 March, involving over 70 volunteers and council teams, with activities including litter picking, painting 745m of railings, and weeding 500m² of public space. A second clean-up day is planned for 19 June, focused on St Nicholas Gardens. New litter bins have been installed, planting schemes delivered, and benches refurbished or replaced. Town Centre Caretakers are now in place, providing a visible daily presence. All cleaning equipment has been purchased and is in active use, including the Glutton hoover – a wet/dry vacuum.

4.5 Several longer-term improvements are in progress. A tender is live for a Character Area Appraisal and Design Guide to support future development, and permissions are being secured for temporary vinyl wraps and a mural. Lamppost painting and new signage are underway, with quotes being sought for upgraded highways railings in the town centre. A funding bid is in progress to purchase chewing gum removal equipment, and future clean-up activity will include gutter and weed clearance, scheduled outside of bird nesting season.

4.6 Overall, the programme is on track, with strong cross-team delivery and early engagement from local businesses and residents. Funding is being explored to roll out further phases of the sprucing up Scarborough programme.

4.7 Furthermore, within the £250K investment, £8K has been used to launch a new civic pride campaign, supporting the activity above. This campaign will boost pride in the town by highlighting these improvements and encouraging people to keep Scarborough tidy. This includes radio ads via This is the Coast and new branded materials across the town, from posters in high footfall locations to bin wraps and fleet vehicles. Content will also be shared on our social media channels and there will be a video feature in the next edition of Your North Yorkshire.

4.8 The campaign will signpost to the web page www.northyorks.gov.uk/scarborough, where people will find more information about the improvements planned and ways to get involved throughout the summer. There are almost 30 community clean up events listed so far, with information about how people can organise their own litter pick too. Partner packs, which include posters and a window sticker, are available by emailing regeneration.north-east@northyorks.gov.uk.

5.0 COMMUNITY SAFETY

5.1 As part of the Task Force focus on community safety, there is regular cross-service input and engagement with various operations in the town, working in partnership with North Yorkshire Police. Operation Beat and Operation Culture patrols are continuing to reduce ASB amongst young people. There is currently a spike in youth ASB currently and efforts continue with partners to look at how we can try and tackle issues with young people who have moved past the Youth MAPS space but are not yet in a Youth Justice led space currently.

5.2 Officers also continue to support Operation Ambience, which is focusing on areas which have seen an increase in ASB, or where known vulnerable people are being exploited. Activity in relation to this operation have been completed on an almost daily basis in different areas across Scarborough.

5.3 Community Safety Officers, as part of Operation Exile, have also progressed a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order to a court date to address a problematic individual who has been linked to examples of cuckooing and exploitation across the town.

5.4 Early discussions within the Task Force have highlighted an opportunity for Community and Public Health to pilot a potential North Yorkshire Outreach in Scarborough. This would include proactive engagement of individuals with substance / alcohol issues in the town centre, many of which are frequent offenders.

5.5 Officers have also enquired about NYRise (young people’s substance / alcohol misuse service) about undertaking further outreach work specifically aimed at young people with these issues.

5.6 Both PSPO’s continue to be in place and supported. We have issued 16 Fixed Penalty Notices for breaches of the PSPO linked to consumption of alcohol. For context 37 were issued in the period 01/07/2017 – 30/06/2023. The council has also issued 6 Fixed Penalty Notices for breaches of the PSPO linked to urination or defecation. Again, for context, 80 were issued in the period 01/07/2017 – 30/06/2023.

6.0 SUPPORTING THE VULNERABLE

6.1 Whilst many of the actions taken to date have concerned the look and feel of the town centre, it has recognised amongst the Task Force that further work is required to look at tackling some of the more long-term issues in the town, particularly with supporting complex and vulnerable individuals.

6.2 A proposal is being developed and considered to create a Multi Disadvantage targeted team to address substance use within Scarborough town centre. 17 adults and 5 young people were flagged at a recent Task Force meeting as concerning due to their behaviours.

6.3 This proposal outlines a strategy to combat substance use in Scarborough by addressing the root causes and mitigating the adverse effects on individuals and communities. The approach focuses on providing tailored support for those facing multiple disadvantages, such as mental health challenges, socioeconomic deprivation, housing instability, and social isolation.

7.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 No financial implication of this report.

8.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

8.1 No legal implications of this report.

9.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

9.1 No equalities implications of this report.

10.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

10.1 No Climate Change implications of this report.

11.0

RECOMMENDATION(S)

i) To note the update and recent activity of the Scarborough Cross-Council Task Force.

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