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.
6. Forward Plan (Harrogate and Knaresborough). An edited summary of forthcoming Decisions being taken by Council, the Executive, or Officers under delegated powers, which affect the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas.
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 |
Notes |
Status |
|
Knaresborough Flood Investigation Report |
Considered at 25 September 2025 meeting |
Feedback passed to Corporate Director of Environment for Decision. |
Recommendations approved |
|
Request for information on Harrogate CCTV Control Room |
At AC Chairs’ and Vice Chairs’ Meeting on 6 October 2025 |
Briefing note circulated to Committee. Regular C&D update planned for 2026 for follow up and any NYP operational questions. |
Ongoing |
|
Stroke Care Pathway |
Arising from Urgent and Emergency Care Item on 27 November 2024. |
AC members were advised of a new Stroke Care Pathway which would take effect from December 2024, redirecting all patients to York rather than York and Leeds as previously. With agreement of Chairs, an implementation review will take place at Scrutiny of Health, as this is a wider issue affecting residents outside Harrogate and Knaresborough. |
Agenda item planned for Scrutiny of Health on Monday 9 March 2026. |
2. Items for Forthcoming Committee Meetings
(*Denotes an annual update)
Thursday 27 November 2025, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.
|
Item |
Contact Officer |
Notes |
|
Town and Parish Council Communication |
Mark Codman (Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Manager) |
To discuss the work of the Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Team. |
|
Active Travel Updates |
Melisa Burnham (Highways Area 6 Team Leader) |
Update on the progress of delivery of active travel schemes in the area. |
|
Air Quality Management Update |
Dr Kevin Carr (Divisional Officer, Scientific) |
Update on air quality management in the area to include briefing information on smoke control areas. |
|
Business Representation in Harrogate |
Martin Mann (CEX of HDCC) and Phill Holdsworth (President of HDCC) |
To discuss the concerns of the business community, and how NYC can support and assist them. |
|
Waste Performance Update* (Written Report) |
Harry Briggs (Head of Waste Operations and Street Scene) |
Written report to include written narrative, summary of current position, and key datapoints. (Regular update for next several meetings, to support performance monitoring by the AC). |
Thursday 26 March 2026, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.
|
Item |
Contact Officer |
Notes |
|
Harrogate and Knaresborough Youth Councils* (TBC) |
North Yorkshire Voice |
Update on activities, with the opportunity to put down a motion for debate by members. |
|
Annual School Update Report* |
Jon
Holden |
Educational landscape, achievement and financial challenges, |
|
Active Travel Updates |
Jasmin Gibson (Improvement Project Delivery Manager (Area 6) |
Update on the progress of delivery of active travel schemes in the area. |
|
Waste Performance Update* (Written Report) |
Harry Briggs (Head of Waste Operations and Street Scene) |
Written report to include written narrative, summary of current position, and key datapoints. (Regular update for next several meetings, to support performance monitoring by the AC). |
3. Future Items of Work
(*Denotes an annual update)
|
Item |
Contact Officer |
Notes |
Proposed Activity |
Proposed Date |
|
Traffic Management and Roadworks |
TBC |
To consider the processes in place for managing and administering traffic management in Harrogate and Knaresborough and seek feedback from AC. |
Area Committee agenda item |
TBC |
|
Winter Weather Response |
TBC |
To address concerns about gritting performance in the area, particularly considering the upcoming winter season, and specific plans relating to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area which was badly affected in January 2025. |
Area Committee agenda item |
TBC |
|
Public Transport Functions |
TBC |
Discussion on co-operation between NYC and YNYCA on delivering local transport functions in Harrogate and Knaresborough. |
Area Committee agenda item |
Early 2026 – CA’s Transport Advisory Board starting to meet in November |
|
Parks and Open Spaces Update |
Jon Clubb (Head of Parks and Grounds) |
Update on activities and plans in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area. |
Area Committee agenda item |
Early 2026 |
|
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 |
March 2026* |
|
Annual School Update Report* |
Jon Holden |
Educational landscape, achievement and financial challenges, |
Area Committee agenda
item |
March 2026* |
|
Resilience and Emergencies Briefing* |
Matt Robinson |
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* |
|
Localities Service Update* |
Adele Wilson-Hope (Communities Area Manager (East) |
Annual update on the work of the localities service. |
Area Committee agenda
item |
June 2026* |
|
Update from Tom Gordon MP |
Tom Gordon MP |
Update from the MP on activities and projects that affect the area. |
Area Committee
agenda |
June 2026* |
|
Update from Mayor David Skaith, YNYCA |
Mayor David Skaith |
Update from the Mayor on activities and projects that affect the area. |
Area Committee
agenda |
September 2026* |
|
Planning Enforcement |
Chris Keddle (Senior Planning Enforcement Officer) |
Monitor and comment on Planning Enforcement matters of significance to the Harrogate and Knaresborough area. |
Ongoing monitoring |
|
|
Active Travel and Cycle Schemes |
Melisa Burnham (Highways Area Manager) |
To review the provision of cycling schemes in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area. |
Area Committee agenda item or member briefing |
Briefing planned for October 2025, agenda item for November 2025 committee meeting. |
|
Update on Beyond Carbon |
|
A briefing on how this impacts the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area. |
Member briefing |
|
|
Development of the Harrogate Care and Support Hub |
At Mid Cycle Briefing on 23 January 2025. |
Member briefings currently being arranged throughout the course of the project – dates to follow. (report to Executive, 7 January 2025) |
Member briefings |
Mid 2026 |
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.
· 17 September 2025 – update meeting.
|
|
Housing Liaison Working Group |
|
|
Membership
a) Cllr Matt Walker (Working Group Chair) b) Cllr Sam Gibbs c) Cllr Chris Aldred d) Cllr Peter Lacey e) Vacant
|
Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)
· 6 May 2025 – scene setting and update meeting. · 25 November 2025 – update meeting.
|
|
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)
· 15 July 2025 – Yorkshire Storm Alliance update. · 3 November 2025 - Yorkshire Water Investment in Harrogate and Knaresborough
|
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 2025 – Mid Cycle Briefing (for 25 September 2025 meeting)
e) 8 September 2025 – Harrogate and Knaresborough Cycle Network Development – joint session with Harrogate Town Council and Knaresborough Town Council.
f) 22 October 2025 – Active Travel Updates
g) 23 October 2025 – Mid Cycle Briefing (for 27 November meeting)
h) 3 November 2025 – Yorkshire Water Investment in Harrogate and Knaresborough
i) 25 November 2025 – Housing Liaison Working Group (update session).
j) 16 January 2026 – Budget Session
6. Forward Plan (Harrogate and Knaresborough)
The forward plan is published weekly and is a list of the Council’s key decisions that will be made over the next one to four months. These decisions will be made by either the Executive or by officers who have been delegated authority by the Executive. Below is a short summary of decisions which affect the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas. The list is not exhaustive; to see the complete Forward Plan please see the Council’s Forward Plan page.
|
Item |
Notice of proposed decision first published |
Decision due |
Lead member |
Lead director |
Contact |
|
Harrogate Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) Proposal |
18 Sep 2025 |
11 Nov 2025 by Corporate Director of Community Development |
Executive Member for Open to Business |
Corporate Director of Community Development |
Julian Rudd, Head of Economic Development Regeneration |
|
Harrogate Transforming Cities Fund - Project update and Contract Entry Authority |
27 Nov 2025 |
18 Nov 2025 by Executive |
Executive Member for Highways & Transportation |
Corporate Director of Environment |
Richard Binks, Head of Major Projects & Infrastructure |
|
30 May 2025 |
19 Dec 2025 by Corporate Director of Environment |
Executive Member for Highways & Transportation |
Corporate Director of Environment |
Louise Neale |