UN SDGs Motion

North Yorkshire Council

12 November 2025

Report of the Scrutiny of Health Committee concerning Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness, following a referral at the meeting of Council on 16 July 2025

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

1.0

Purpose of the Report

To provide Council with a summary of the deliberations and recommendations of the Scrutiny of Health Committee concerning a Notice of Motion on Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness, following a referral at the meeting of Council on 16 July 2025.

2.0 Background

2.1 At the meeting of Council on 16 July 2025, the Chair agreed that a Notice of Motion regarding Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness should be referred to Scrutiny Board, for the purpose of determining which overview and scrutiny committee would be most appropriate to consider the Motion further and to bring back its recommendations to Council. Scrutiny Board determined on 18 July 2025 that the Motion would be referred to the Scrutiny of Health Committee.

2.2 The Notice of Motion referred to the Committee was proposed by Councillor Andrew Murday and seconded by Councillor Andrew Timothy. The wording was as follows:

This Council, recognising that prostate cancer can develop without obvious symptoms, will write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting, seeking a reassurance that a national testing scheme will be made available to men aged 40+ and those men with a family history of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer as a priority supporting Prostate cancer UK’s “Faster Fairer Better campaign”.

This Council will promote an awareness campaign by publishing the risk to certain groups and to promote awareness by siting posters in male toilets and the council-owned estate such as council offices, depots, and leisure centres encouraging men over 40 and those most at risk to ask their doctor for a PSA blood test to detect more cases early in the progress of the disease.

It has been requested that this Motion be debated on the day of Council and not referred to a committee for consideration. The reason given by the proposer and seconder is:

That the issue of prostate cancer screening is very important as a public health issue, and hopefully the actions which the motion asks for are not politically controversial and require very little in terms of resource. I believe that referral to the executive or to health scrutiny will not serve any useful purpose.

2.3 Under section 11 of the Council’s Procedure Rules, where a Motion is referred from Council to a committee (such as overview and scrutiny), the committee considers the Motion and reports back with its recommendations. As such it is the committee’s recommendations which then become the substantive Motion put before the Council, and not the original Motion.

2.4 The Constitution also guides that at Council, “there will be no moving of amendments in relation to, questions upon or any other discussion of or questions on the Motion prior to the vote upon it.” As such it is important that the committee provides clear, concise recommendations in its report, including any necessary amendments made to the Motion.

2.5 The Scrutiny of Health committee met on 3 October 2025 to consider the Motion further, with a view to reporting back with its recommendation to full Council on 12 November 2025.

3.0 Consideration of the Motion by the Scrutiny of Health Committee on 3 October 2025

3.1 The papers for the meeting of the Scrutiny of Health meeting on can be accessed via the following links:

· Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness – Notice of Motion

· Appendix A – Public Health Supporting Evidence

3.0 Meeting of the Scrutiny of Health Committee on 3 October 2025

3.1 The Scrutiny of Health Committee considered the report at its meeting on 3 October 2025. The report was presented by Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer), and Victoria Turner (Public Health Consultant). Councillor Murday, as the mover of the original motion, was present as a member of Scrutiny of Health and took part in the discussion.

3.2 The supporting evidence outlined that while prostate cancer is a significant health concern, current screening methods, particularly PSA testing, do not meet national criteria for a population-wide programme due to risks of overdiagnosis and false results. The report highlighted that North Yorkshire Council already promotes awareness through campaigns and resources.

3.3 Members broadly acknowledged the complexity of prostate cancer screening, noting that PSA testing is an initial but imperfect tool that can lead to false positives and unnecessary interventions. While some expressed concern about overdiagnosis and the limits of current screening methods, others emphasised the importance of early detection and public awareness. There was consensus that any recommendation should align with expert advice from the National Screening Committee and Prostate Cancer UK, with support expressed for targeted awareness and a timely review of screening evidence.

3.4 Members noted the existing work done to promote health awareness through its internal communications, including prostate cancer, and heard that a range of health conditions were highlighted and resources shared as part of this programme.

3.5 Having considered the officer reports in full, together with the representations by Councillor Murday and the discussion of the Members at the committee meeting, Scrutiny of Health agreed to recommend the following to full Council:

4.0 Recommendation of the Scrutiny of Health Committee

4.1 Having reviewed the officer report and considered the views expressed by Members at the meeting, the committee resolved unanimously to agree the following amended Notice of Motion, and recommend it to Council:

a) “This Council will write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting, asking that the National Screening Committee undertake its evidence review, which was scheduled for 2023/24, in as timely manner as possible.”

b) “This Council will continue to promote awareness of prostate cancer symptoms through its existing Public Health initiatives, and that Public Health investigate displaying material across council-operated buildings.”

4.2 The reasons for these amendments were that since the Motion was proposed in July, Prostate Cancer UK have stopped supporting the “Faster, Fairer, Better” campaign. Instead, PCUK are advocating for the National Screening Committee to conduct its evidence review. The wording of the Motion has been amended to reflect this. A number of other changes were made following discussion and based on information in the Appendix A report.

5.0 Financial Implications

5.1 It is anticipated that there are no significant financial implications which would arise from the agreement of the amended Notice of Motion. In particular, the activities proposed in 4.1.b would largely fall under existing internal and digital communications programmes.

6.0 Legal Implications

6.1 There are no significant legal implications associated with the amended Notice of Motion.

7.0 Climate Change Implications

7.1 There are no significant climate change implications associated with the amended Notice of Motion.

8.0 Equalities Implications

8.1 There are no significant equalities change implications associated with the amended Notice of Motion

9.0

9.1

Recommendations

That Council considers the following amended Notice of Motion, as recommended by the Scrutiny of Health Committee:

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

27 October 2025

Report author: Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer)

Background documents:

· Constitution of North Yorkshire Council

· Agenda for the meeting of the Scrutiny of Health Committee, 3 October 2025

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.