Full Council
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 12 November 2025 commencing at 10.30 am.
Councillor George Jabbour in the Chair. Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Philip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Nick Brown, Lindsay Burr MBE, David Chance, Liz Colling, Mark Crane, Sam Cross, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Gareth Dadd, Melanie Davis, Caroline Dickinson, Stephanie Duckett, Keane Duncan, Kevin Foster, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, David Hugill, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, David Jeffels, Janet Jefferson, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Peter Lacey, Carl Les OBE, John Mann, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Heather Moorhouse, Andrew Murday, Simon Myers, David Noland, Bob Packham, Andy Paraskos, Stuart Parsons, Yvonne Peacock, Heather Phillips, Kirsty Poskitt, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Janet Sanderson, Mike Schofield, Karin Sedgwick, Tom Seston, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Dan Sladden, Monika Slater, Andy Solloway, David Staveley, Neil Swannick, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Andrew Timothy, Matt Walker, Arnold Warneken, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2025
It was moved and seconded that the Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting of the Council held on 16 July 2025 having been printed and circulated, are confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
The vote was taken and the motion declared carried.
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Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Cattanach, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Andrew Lee, Cliff Lunn, Clive Pearson and Phil Trumper.
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Declarations of Interest
The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services referred to Minute 236 – Report and Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) for Member Allowances 2026-27. He advised that the law provided that members could vote on the recommendations of the IRP and all members could remain in the meeting room and take part in the item.
Declarations of interest were made as follows:
Councillor George Jabbour at Minute 242 as he was a Non-Executive Director of Border to Coast Pensions Partnership.
Councillor Yvonne Peacock at Minute 231(3) as she was a private hire driver. As this was a disclosable pecuniary interest she left the meeting during consideration of the item.
Councillor Gareth Dadd in relation to the second homes premium, for which he had been granted a dispensation enabling him to take part.
Councillor Karl Arthur at Minute 248(i) in relation to the Transforming Cities Fund as he worked for Network Rail.
Councillor John Weighell at Minute 235 in relation to the Maltkiln Development Plan Document.
Councillor Nick Brown at Minute 235 in relation to the Maltkiln Development Plan Document.
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Chair's Announcements
The Chair welcomed the Honorary Aldermen and members of the public and press who were present.
The Chair also welcomed Councillor Andrew Semple, Chair of Cumberland Council, and Councillor Doug Rathbone, Chair of Westmorland and Furness Council, as together with North Yorkshire Council were the three local authorities through which the Coast to Coast long distance footpath ran. The three Chairs has agreed to meet to champion the Coast to Coast path ahead of it becoming a national trail next year and welcomed the opportunity to promote local economies.
The Chair informed Members of the usual arrangements for the meeting.
The death of former North Yorkshire County Councillor and Selby District Councillor, John Duggan, was noted. Cllr Duggan had also served as Chair of Selby District Council.
The death of former North Yorkshire County Councillor David Lloyd-Williams was also noted. Cllr Lloyd-Williams had also served as Mayor of Malton and Mayor of Norton.
The Chair also noted the death of former Selby District Councillor Judith Chilvers who had served on Selby District Council for 8 years and was also a co-opted member of the North Yorkshire County Council Scrutiny of Health Committee.
The Chair also informed members of the death of former Richmondshire District Councillor Campbell Dawson.
A minutes silence was held in memory of former Councillors John Duggan, David Lloyd-Williams, Judith Chilvers and Campbell Dawson.
The Chair noted that all Members had been given a copy of the Armed Forces Covenant Guide 2025/26 which would assist in understanding how to support armed forces communities and veterans.
The Chair thanked Members for supporting him during his Coast to Coast walk in August to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and Members’ continued generous donations were appreciated.
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Statement by the Leader of the Council
The Leader, Councillor Carl Les OBE, made a statement and answered questions under Council Procedure Rule 2.3 as Leader of the Council, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 21 to 23 of the agenda pack and in the Minute Book at pages 3745 to 3747.
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Public Questions or Statements
There was one public statement, as follows:
1. The following public statement was read out by Richard Cooper, Chief Executive of Harrogate Homeless project
My name is Richard Cooper and I am the Chief Executive of Harrogate Homeless Project.
Thank you for allowing me to speak to you and I do so to support the North Yorkshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025 to 2030.
Our charity was founded in 1991 and has grown into an organisation at the forefront of homelessness support in North Yorkshire. We provide over 40 rooms in accommodation across Harrogate which help us provide a journey for our clients from a life on the streets to independent living. The people we support often have chaotic lives characterised by drug and alcohol addiction, crime, poor mental and physical health, relationship breakdown, unemployment and more.
Our support is not just residential. At our Springboard day centre in Harrogate alongside hot, nutritious food we partner with health professionals to provide a weekly GP, Hepatitis testing, smoking cessation session and much more alongside a series of activities to help our clients develop healthy lifestyles and speed their path to full recovery, accommodation and work.
One of our closest working relationship is with the housing team at North Yorkshire Council and I commend you and your officers for the impressive emphasis you place on supporting entrenched rough sleepers and the homeless.
To me, the new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy is further evidence of the council’s commitment to support the least fortunate and most marginalised.
The document merits a lengthier introduction than I am able to give and I am sure the executive member and officers will do this much more adequately than I am able to.
Nonetheless I would like to highlight some key aspects of the strategy which I believe can contribute to a step change in how we help rough sleepers recover from those issues.
The key area to my mind that the strategy addresses is homelessness prevention including making homelessness a once-only occurrence – preventing it happening twice if you like.
This recognises that giving a rough sleeper a property without addressing the issues that put them on the streets in the first place is unlikely to result in a positive outcome. To do so simply sets someone up to fail.
I spoke earlier of the mental and physical health issues our clients face, of the addiction battles, of family breakdown and of unemployment. Getting someone into a house doesn’t solve these problems. And I guarantee you, in nine cases out of 10 you will see that person in crisis again within weeks.
The strategy recognises this and through its actions around what is called ‘multiple disadvantage’ and the wrap around model the council is implementing with it’s Make Every Adult Matter work – or MEAM as it is called – these issues stand a fighting chance of being addressed.
There are other elements of the strategy that I would briefly like to highlight in the time I have available. Working with probation to ensure that people leaving prison don’t go straight onto the streets is critical. How do we expect people to reintegrate into society and not to re-offend if the life we give them outside prison is a shop doorway and a sleeping bag?
Expanding the successful REACH model with its emphasis on mental health support is welcomed. We don’t have this kind of support in Harrogate, yet over 90 per cent of our residential clients have diagnosed mental health issues.
To close, Chair, at Harrogate Homeless Project we have aligned our priorities with yours so that we can deliver support for rough sleepers and homeless people together. Our partnership with the council officers and with councillors from all sides of this august chamber delivers better outcomes for the most marginalised in society.
This strategy will strengthen our approach and we, at Harrogate Homeless Project, offer our full support in implementing it should council be minded to approve it.
The Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers, thanked Mr Cooper for the support and thanked the Harrogate Homeless Project for its work in addressing these complex issues.
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Notices of Motion
The Chair informed Members that there were four notices of motion on the agenda. The Chair was required to give a ruling on whether motions should be debated at the meeting or referred to the Scrutiny Board to determine which committee was the most appropriate to consider the matter.
1) Taxi licensing – that the motion be debated at the meeting 2) Supporting Area Committee decision making – that the motion be referred to the Scrutiny Board 3) Restore the Policy Implementation Review Timeline for School Transport – that the motion be debated at the meeting 4) The Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education regarding the SEND review – that the motion be referred to the Scrutiny Board
The Chair reminded Members that when considering notices of motion where a motion had been referred to the Scrutiny Board by the Chair the mover of that motion could move ‘that the motion be considered now’ and a vote taken. The mover of the notice of motion could speak for five minutes on that motion, the seconder should second without comment, and one Member could speak for five minutes against.
231(1) Taxi Licensing
This council urges the government to amend primary legislation to ensure that licences to operate and drive private hire vehicles and hackney carriages (otherwise known as taxis) are only granted to persons who live or work within that local government area.
This council urges the government to amend primary legislation to ensure that licences to operate or drive such vehicles are only granted to persons living or working within that local government area. Currently we are vulnerable to operators and drivers operating with North Yorkshire who may not have been authorised as proscriptively as our own.
Proposer – Councillor Mark Crane Seconder – Councillor Tim Grogan
The notice of motion was moved by Councillor Mark Crane and seconded by Councillor Tim Grogan.
The motion was then debated.
On a vote being taken 71 Members voted for the motion, 10 voted against and there were 2 abstentions.
(Councillor Yvonne Peacock left the room during consideration of the item.)
231(2) Supporting Area Committee decision making
Council acknowledges the commitment made in advance of assuming Unitary status to being the most local large unitary Authority. Council further recognises the means by which such localism is being pursued including double devolution and the development of community partnerships. However, in a recent officer review of delegated powers by Area Committees a number of these powers were not being regularly exercised. Council recognises that it is for Area Committees to determine their own work programme but equally that delegated powers should and could be better facilitated and enabled by changes in the way that Council business is run.
Council therefore commits:
1. To ensure that the data and intelligence necessary for Area Committees to exercise their powers is aligned to the new Divisions expected to be finalised in January 2027 and therefore no longer reflects former District and Borough boundaries wherever possible and by September 2026 at the latest. 2. To put in a place a robust process to enable Area Committees to exercise delegated power 20 to “make recommendations to the Corporate Director of Community Development on the expenditure of Community Infrastructure Levy and appropriate section 106 expenditure”. 3. To develop a list of services likely to be more effectively delivered by Town and Parish Councils and/or in partnership with local community and voluntary groups and that, subject to business cases, there would be a presumption for double devolution for these services. 4. To ensure that once County-wide policies are agreed, and where there is a commitment to locally sensitive implementation, that Area Committees are provided with the necessary officer support to develop and sign off plans, for example in the cases of Town Investment Plans or Local Parking Plans, consistent with delegated powers 17-19, 21 & 22 concerned local economic development. 5. To undertake the equivalent of a post implementation review of activities designed to promote localism that identifies the most up to date best practice in local governance arrangements in similar large Unitary Authorities and learn from this by bringing a report and recommendations back to the appropriate decision-making body including any recommendations on the extent, effectiveness and realisation of delegated powers in the NYC Constitution.
Proposer - Councillor Peter Lacey Seconder - Councillor Kirsty Poskitt
The motion was moved and seconded and referred to the Scrutiny Board to determine the most appropriate overview and scrutiny committee.
231(3) Restore the Policy Implementation Review Timeline for School Transport
When councillors approved the Home to School Transport Policy in July 2024, we were promised that a Post-Implementation Review would take place in July 2025 as a key equality safeguard to monitor the impact on rural families.
The Children & Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee has since been told the review will not begin until 2026, meaning no changes could be made before September 2028 at the earliest. Since coming into force fourteen months ago, the impact on children, families and schools has become clear and the problems are consuming increasing Council time and resources through appeals and complaints.
Council therefore resolves to:
Reverse the decision to delay the Post-Implementation Review so it is completed, consulted on, and reported to Full Council for approval in July 2026 — allowing improvements to be implemented in time for children starting new schools in September 2027.
Proposer - Councillor Barbara Brodigan Seconder - Councillor Chris Aldred
The notice of motion was moved by Councillor Barbara Brodigan and seconded by Councillor Chris Aldred.
Councillor Barbara Brodigan then moved an amendment to the motion under CPR 12(g) that the motion be amended to read:
When councillors
approved the Home to School Transport Policy in July 2024,
The Children & Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee has since been told the review will not begin until 2026, meaning no changes could be made before September 2028 at the earliest. Since coming into force fourteen months ago, the impact on children, families and schools has become clear and the problems are consuming increasing Council time and resources through appeals and complaints.
Council therefore resolves to:
Reverse the decision to delay the Post-Implementation Review so it is completed, consulted on, and reported to Full Council for approval in July 2026 — allowing improvements to be implemented in time for children starting new schools in September 2027.
Proposer - Councillor Barbara Brodigan Seconder - Councillor Chris Aldred
(Additional wording in italics)
It was moved by Councillor Nigel Knapton and seconded by Councillor Andy Paraskos that the question be now put and Council move to the vote.
On a vote being taken on moving to the vote on the motion, 41 members voted for the motion, 32 voted against and there were 8 abstentions.
The mover of the amendment, Councillor Barbara Brodigan then exercised her right to reply at the close of the debate on the amendment and moved that a named vote be taken. At least 20 Members stood in their places in support of a named vote on the amendment.
On a vote being taken 30 Members voted for the motion, 40 voted against and there were 11 abstentions.
For: Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Karl Arthur, Philip Barrett, Philip Broadbank, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Sam Cross, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Kevin Foster, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Paul Haslam, Janet Jefferson, Mike Jordan, Peter Lacey, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Stuart Parsons, Kirsty Poskitt, Mike Schofield, Tom Seston, Monika Slater, Andy Solloway, Andrew Timothy, Matt Walker and Arnold Warneken.
Against: Councillors Alyson Baker, Derek Bastiman, Nick Brown, David Chance, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Keane Duncan, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Robert Heseltine, David Hugill, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Tom Jones, Nigel Knapton, Carl Les OBE, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Andy Paraskos, Heather Phillips, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, David Staveley, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson and Andrew Williams.
Abstentions: Councillors Eric Broadbent, Liz Colling, Melanie Davis, Stephanie Duckett, Bob Packham, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Neil Swannick and Robert Windass.
The original notice of motion was then debated.
On a vote being taken on the original motion 40 members voted for the motion, 28 voted against and there were 12 abstentions.
(Councillor Robert Windass arrived at the meeting part way through consideration of the item.)
(Councillor Yvonne Peacock left the room during consideration of the item.)
231(4) The Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education regarding the SEND review
Council notes that:
· In December 2024 the Government introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with an overall aim to better protect children and raise standards in education. · The Government also announced £740 million in new funding to support SEND pupils and those needing alternative education within mainstream schools. Inclusion remains the overarching policy, so that our children and young people are educated together with their peers in their own community, where appropriate. · The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system is under severe strain, with some families struggling to secure vital support for their children which is compounded by some schools and councils struggling to provide the necessary support. · Children with SEND deserve the same opportunities as every child, including access to the support they need to thrive both in school and in life. · Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that private equity–backed SEND providers are making over £100 million a year in profits, with some achieving margins of over 20%. · Many of these companies are backed by firms registered in tax havens or foreign sovereign wealth funds.
Council believes that:
· Profiteering from the needs of children with SEND is unacceptable and must end. · Children with SEND are not commodities for profit and should never be treated as such. · Resources must be directed into improving provision and outcomes for children, not into shareholder dividends or inflated executive pay. · North Yorkshire Council should be supported to provide sustainable, high-quality inclusive SEND provision within both their mainstream and specialist settings; including by building and operating their own schools to accommodate those with the most complex needs if necessary.
Council welcomes:
· Government action to curb profiteering in children’s social care. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it has introduced powers to cap the profits of providers of illegal or exploitative children’s homes, alongside enhancing financial transparency and greater enforcement by Ofsted. · The Government review of the SEND and Alternative Provision system which is due to be published in the Autumn. · The proactive work of hard-working officers in North Yorkshire Council to improve our SEND services.
Council resolves to:
· Call on the Government to eradicate the profits of private SEND providers, including sanctions against providers who breach this, with any profits returned to local authorities. · Support further reforms to boost the SEND system, including strong financial oversight of providers, transparency, and new powers and funding for councils to build and manage local mainstream and specialist provision directly. · Endorse the principle that Government SEND reforms must put children first—not corporate greed. · Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education to ask that the SEND review consider action in line with the above.
Proposer - Councillor Barbara Brodigan Seconder - Councillor Andrew Timothy
The motion was moved and seconded and referred to the Scrutiny Board to determine the most appropriate overview and scrutiny committee.
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Notice of Motion - Prostate Cancer Awareness and Screening
Council were requested to consider the recommendation of the Scrutiny of Health Committee following consideration of a Notice of Motion which had been referred from the Council meeting on 16 July 2025 to the Scrutiny Board and then the Scrutiny of Health Committee.
The motion stated:
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”
Proposer – Councillor Andrew Murday Seconder – Councillor Andrew Timothy
The recommendations of the Scrutiny of Health Committee were set out in the report of that Committee at page 27 of the agenda and were that:
That Council considers the following amended Notice of Motion, as recommended by the Scrutiny of Health Committee:
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.”
The motion was moved by Councillor Liz Colling and seconded by Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright.
The mover of the original Notice of Motion, Councillor Andrew Murday, then spoke in support of the recommendations of the Scrutiny of Health Committee.
On a vote being taken the notice of motion, as amended by the Scrutiny of Health Committee, was unanimously approved.
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Notice of Motion - Support for Dualling of the A64
Council were requested to consider the recommendation of the Transport, Economy and Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee following consideration of a Notice of Motion which had been referred from the Council meeting on 16 July 2025 to the Scrutiny Board and then the Transport, Economy and Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The motion stated:
This council: · Reiterates its support for the dualling of the A64; · Agrees to write to the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire and the Members of Parliament for York Outer, Thirsk & Malton and Scarborough & Whitby requesting confirmation of their support for this essential upgrade; · Commits to working on a cross-party basis with national and local political representatives to secure this essential upgrade at long last.
Proposer – Councillor Keane Duncan Seconder – Councillor Derek Bastiman
The recommendations of the Transport, Economy and Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee were set out in the report of that Committee at page 31 of the agenda and were that:
That full Council considers the recommendation of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, namely to uphold the Motion as written (see 2.3) regarding A64 dualling.
This council: · Reiterates its support for the dualling of the A64; · Agrees to write to the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire and the Members of Parliament for York Outer, Thirsk & Malton and Scarborough & Whitby requesting confirmation of their support for this essential upgrade; · Commits to working on a cross-party basis with national and local political representatives to secure this essential upgrade at long last.
The motion was moved by Councillor David Staveley and seconded by Councillor David Ireton.
The mover of the original Notice of Motion, Councillor Keane Duncan, then spoke in support of the recommendations of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
On a vote being taken 72 Members voted for the motion, 2 voted against and there were six abstentions. The notice of motion was declared approved.
(Councillor Lindsay Burr left the room during consideration of this item)
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To consider the report and recommendations of the Executive and make decisions on them
The Executive had recommended five matters to Council for a decision, which were:
· To consider adoption of the New Settlement (Maltkiln) Development Plan Document · Report and Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Member allowances for 2026/27 · Amendments to the Council’s Constitution · Neighbourhood Planning – Making the Clapham cum Newby Neighbourhood Development Plan · Draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025 to 2030
The decisions were considered as separate items at minutes 235, 236, 237, 239 and 240 respectively.
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235 |
To consider adoption of the New Settlement (Maltkiln) Development Plan Document
The recommendations at page 49 of the agenda pack (page 3773 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
On a vote being taken 74 members voted for the motion, 6 voted against and there were no abstentions.
Resolved
That the Council
1) adopts the New Settlement (Maltkiln) DPD and accompanying Policy Map, incorporating the Inspector’s recommended Main Modifications and Council’s Additional Modifications.
2) approves that the Corporate Director of Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to make further additional modifications to the DPD. Those modifications may relate exclusively to factual updates, grammatical and formatting corrections.
3) approves that that the Corporate Director of Community Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to publicise the adoption of the DPD and to prepare and publicise a post adoption Sustainability Appraisal Statement in accordance with the relevant Regulations.
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236 |
Report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Member Allowances for 2026-27
The recommendations at page 585 of the agenda pack (page 4309 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
The following amendment was moved by Councillor Kevin Foster and seconded by Councillor Arnold Warneken:
While accepting the Panel’s recommendation for an increase in the basic allowance of 3.6%, Council does not accept the proposed increases to special responsibility allowances at this time.
This decision is made with no criticism of the Panel or its findings, but in recognition that we are living through challenging financial times, and it is right that councillors share in the restraint being asked of the residents of North Yorkshire.
Accordingly, Council resolves to:
1. Approve the 3.6% increase to the basic councillor allowance; and 2. Reject the proposed increases to special responsibility allowances for the next financial year.
A vote was taken on the amendment, 11 members voted for, 64 voted against and there were 5 abstentions. The amendment therefore fell.
On a vote being taken on the substantive motion 62 members voted for the motion, 8 voted against and there were 10 abstentions.
Resolved
1) That the report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Member Allowances be accepted, as below:
i. The Basic Allowance paid to each councillor should increase by 3.6% (June 2025 CPI) from the existing £17,340 to £17,964 for 2026/27. ii. The Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) paid to those councillors who take on additional duties and responsibilities should increase by 3.6% (June 2025 CPI) for 2026/27. iii. The SRA paid to the Chair and members of the Licensing Sub-Committees should be amended so that the maximum amount payable for meeting attendance is increased from £750 to £1000 per person per annum. iv. For the sake of clarity, the eligibility threshold for payments to leaders and secretaries of the third largest political group should be increased from 7 to 9 members (in line with the 10% threshold). v. The mileage rates paid to councillors should continue to be aligned with the rates paid to officers. vi. The subsistence rates paid to councillors should be amended so that they are aligned with those paid to officers
2) That the Independent Remuneration Panel be asked to consider, when next convening in June 2026, that from 2027-28 any future increases in the allowances be aligned to inflation indices or the pay award for officers of the Council, with an in-depth review of the member allowances scheme undertaken every four years.
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Proposed Changes to the Council's Constitution
The recommendations at page 634 and 635 of the agenda pack (pages 4358 to 4359 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
A separate vote was requested on recommendation (e) in relation to impact assessments on motions on notice. On a vote being taken on recommendation (e) there were 69 votes for the motion, 12 against and there was one abstention, the motion was therefore carried.
On a vote being taken on the remainder of the recommendations the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved
That Council note and approve proposed changes to the Constitution as recommended to Council by Executive:
(a) The amendments to the Constitution set out in Part B of Appendix 1 to this report, made by the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services under his delegated powers, for reporting back to full Council for information, be noted;
(b) The proposed amendments to the petitions scheme set out at Appendix 2 approved by the Executive be noted;
(c) The Leader delegates to the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation in consultation with the local Member, the power to make decisions on the Council’s response to petitions under the Council’s Parking Petitions Scheme and the consequential amendments to the Executive Members’ Delegation Scheme as set out at Appendix 3A be recommended to full Council for inclusion in the Constitution;
(d) The proposed amendments to the parking restrictions petitions scheme set out at Appendix 3 approved by the Executive be noted;
(e) The proposed amendments to Council Procedure Rule 11 as set out in Appendix 4 be approved;
(f) The schedule of proposed amendments to the Constitution to clarify notice requirements as set out in Appendix 4A be approved;
(g) The proposed amendments to the Council Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 5 be approved;
(h) The draft Protocol re calling an extraordinary meeting attached at Appendix 6 be approved (not to form part of the Constitution);
(i) The proposed amendments to the Protocol on Audio/Visual Recording and Photography at Meetings attached at Appendix 7 be approved;
(j) The proposed amendments to Article 14 and the Officers’ Delegation Scheme as set out in Appendix 9 be approved;
(k) The proposed amendments to the Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules set out at Appendix 10 be approved.
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Final Recommendations of the Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Parish Community Governance Review
The recommendations at page 730 of the agenda pack (page 4454 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved – that
(a) The dissolving of Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Parish Council and replacing it with two parish meetings named Kirby Grindalythe Parish Meeting and Duggleby Parish Meeting, to take effect in April 2026, be approved
(b) The external boundary of Luttons parish be amended to include the properties in Sheepwalk Lane (6) within Luttons parish which currently fall within Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Parish Council (and will form part of the Kirby Grindalythe Parish Meeting area from April 2026) to take affect from April 2027.
(c) The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services be appointed to act on behalf of North Yorkshire Council as Parish Trustee of the new parish meetings of both (1) Kirby Grindalythe and (2) Duggleby with the Chairperson of those parish meetings (as and when appointed); and
(d) That the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make Reorganisation of Community Governance Orders as appropriate.
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239 |
Making/Adopting of the Clapham cum Newby Neighbourhood Plan
The recommendations at page 762 of the agenda pack (page 4486 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved
(a) That the Clapham cum Newby Neighbourhood Plan be made on or before 13 November 2025
(b) That the Regulation 19 Decision Statement set out at Appendix A to the report be approved
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240 |
Homeless and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030
The recommendation at page 778 of the agenda pack (page 4502 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
On a vote being taken the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved
That Council adopts the North Yorkshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030.
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241 |
To consider the Annual Report and recommendations of the Audit Committee
The Annual Report of the Audit Committee as set out Appendix A was considered. The recommendation on page 821 of the agenda pack (page 4545 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
As Council were asked to note the report no vote was taken.
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242 |
To consider the Annual Report and recommendations of the Pension Board
The Annual Report of the Pension Board was considered. The recommendations at page 833 of the agenda pack (page 4557 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved
The Annual Report of the Pension Board 2024/25 be approved.
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243 |
To approve the Corporate Calendar 2026/2027
The Corporate Calendar of committee meetings for 2026/27 was considered. The recommendation on page 874 (page 4598 of the Minute Book) was that Council note the dates and times of committee meetings for 2026/27 as set out at Appendix A and this was moved and seconded.
As Council were asked to note the report no vote was taken.
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244 |
Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies
The recommendations at page 897 of the agenda pack (page 4622 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
Resolved
(a) Police, Fire and Crime Panel Councillor Lindsay Burr MBE to come off the committee and Councillor Kevin Foster to be appointed
(b) Appeals (Home to School) Transport Committee That Councillors Derek Bastiman, David Jeffels and Andy Paraskos be appointed as named substitutes on the committee
(c) Employment Appeals Committee Councillor Malcolm Taylor to come off the committee and Councillor Alyson Baker to be appointed in his place
(d) North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority Councillor Joy Andrews to come off the National Park Authority and Councillor Steve Mason to be appointed in her place
(e) Health and Wellbeing Board To note that the Chief Executive is to step down as a ‘Local Authority Representative’
(f) Audit Committee Councillor Kevin Foster to stand down and Councillor Andy Brown to be appointed in his place.
(g) Pension Fund Committee Councillor George Jabbour to stand down and Councillor Alyson Baker to be appointed in his place.
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245 |
Appointments to committee according to political proportionality
The recommendations at page 901 of the agenda pack (page 4625 of the Minute Book) and also the updated paper in relation to the proportionality calculation circulated subsequently were moved and seconded.
On a vote being taken the motion was declared carried unanimously.
Resolved
(a) Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee Councillor Karl Arthur to come off and Councillor David Jeffels to be appointed to the Conservative and Independents’ seat
Councillor Mike Jordan to be appointed to the seat Reform UK have gained from the unaffiliated independents which was previously vacant.
(b) Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee Councillor Karl Arthur to come off and Councillor David Chance to be appointed to the Conservative and Independents’ seat
Councillor Karl Arthur to be appointed to the seat Reform UK have gained from the unaffiliated independents which was previously vacant.
(c) Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee Councillor Karl Arthur to come off and Councillor Roberta Swiers to be appointed to the Conservative and Independents’ seat
(d) Selby and Ainsty Area Planning Committee Councillor Karl Arthur be appointed to the seat Reform UK have gained from the Conservative and Independent group, resulting in no change to the committee membership
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246 |
Appointment of Corporate Director - Children and Young People Service
Council were asked to note the appointment of El Mayhew as the new Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Service.
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247 |
Statements of Executive Members and Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees
The written statements of the Executive Members and Chairmen of the Scrutiny Board and Overview and Scrutiny Committees having previously been circulated were noted.
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247(a) |
Executive Member for Health and Adult Services - Councillor Michael Harrison
Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 909 to 910 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4633 to 4634).
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247(b) |
Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing - Councillor Simon Myers
Councillor Simon Myers, Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 911 to 916 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4635 to 4639).
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247(c) |
Executive Member for Children and Families - Councillor Janet Sanderson
Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children and Families, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 917 to 918 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4641 to 4642).
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247(d) |
Executive Member for Managing our Environment - Councillor Richard Foster
Councillor Richard Foster, Executive Member for Managing our Environment, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 919 to 922 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4643 to 4645).
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247(e) |
Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills - Councillor Annabel Wilkinson
Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 923 to 924 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4647 to 4648).
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247(f) |
Executive Member for Finance and Assets - Councillor Gareth Dadd
Councillor Gareth Dadd, Executive Member for Finance and Assets, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 925 to 928 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4649 to 4651).
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247(g) |
Executive Member for Open to Business - Councillor Mark Crane
Councillor Mark Crane, Executive Member for Open to Business, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 929 to 932 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4653 to 4656).
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247(h) |
Executive Member for Corporate Services - Councillor Heather Phillips
Councillor Heather Phillips, Executive Member for Corporate Services, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 933 to 938 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4657 to 4661).
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247(i) |
Executive Member for Highways and Transportation - Councillor Malcolm Taylor
Councillor Malcolm Taylor, Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points which had previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 939 to 946 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4663 to 4669).
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247(j) |
Scrutiny Board (Chair: Councillor Karin Sedgwick)
The written statement of Councillor Karin Sedgwick having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 947 to 948 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4671 to 4672), was noted.
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247(k) |
Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Chair: Councillor Karin Sedgwick)
The written statement of Councillor Karin Sedgwick having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 949 to 950 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4673 to 4674), was noted.
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247(l) |
Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Chair: Councillor Andrew Williams)
The written statement of Councillor Andrew Williams having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 951 to 952 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4675 to 4676), was noted.
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247(m) |
Scrutiny of Health (Chair: Councillor Andrew Lee)
The written statement of Councillor Andrew Lee having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 953 to 954 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4677 to 4678), was noted.
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247(n) |
Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Chair: Councillor David Staveley)
The written statement of Councillor Andrew Staveley having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 955 to 958 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4679 to 4681), was noted.
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247(o) |
Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Chair: Councillor Barbara Brodigan)
The written statement of Councillor Barbara Brodigan having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 959 to 960 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4683 to 4684), was noted.
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247(p) |
Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Chair: Councillor Sam Gibbs)
The written statement of Councillor Sam Gibbs having previously been circulated and which appeared at pages 961 to 962 of the agenda pack and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 4685 to 4686), was noted.
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248 |
Use of special urgency procedures since the last meeting of Council - Report of the Leader
The report on the Use of Special Urgency Procedures since the meeting of the Council on 16 July 2025 was considered and the recommendation at page 966 of the agenda pack (page 4690 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
Resolved
That Council receives and notes the report.
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249 |
Council Procedure Rule 10 Questions
Councillor Andrew Murday asked a question in relation to arrangements for reporting back to Council on meetings of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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The meeting concluded at 2.45 pm.