NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

 

18 March 2026

 

STATEMENT OF THE CHAIR OF THE CARE & INDEPENDENCE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

 

The Care & Independence Overview & Scrutiny Committee scrutinises Adult Social Care, Public Health and related services, including performance, policy development, service transformation and the experiences of people who draw on support.

 

Since my last statement to Council, the Committee has met once on 27 January 2026. The following items were considered:

 

·          Update on Financial Management of Adult Social Care Cost Pressures

·          Public Health Annual Report 2024/25

·          Health & Adult Social Care Local Account 2024/25

·          CQC Inspection – Outcomes & Action Plan

 

The Committee received a detailed presentation covering Adult Social Care budget pressures, increased hospital discharges, the use of short-stay beds, rising placement costs, expansion of Extra Care, workforce changes, and innovation in commissioning and prevention. We noted the potential future cost pressures and debated the age split used to focus service delivery i.e. 18-74 and 75+ and suggested it may be appropriate to also have a clear focus on those aged 18-25, given the potentially high number of young people with complex needs transitioning from Children’s Services to Adult Services.  We also suggested the Council should consider using revenue from second homes council tax to fund the building of specialist housing.

 

The Director of Public Health presented her statutory Public Health Annual Report 2024/25

focusing on partnership working across North Yorkshire. We discussed deprivation hotspots, employer engagement and demographic challenges.  Overall, we commended the report and endorsed its recommendations and agreed to keep a watching brief on their implementation and to take them into consideration when planning future areas of focus for the Committee.

 

In regard to the Health & Adult Social Care Local Account 2024/25, the Committee noted the examples of involvement work, the challenges and the achievements over the 2024-25 year.  We considered the Council’s performance against improvement priorities and discussed opportunities to strengthen future reporting with statistical trend data.

 

Finally, the Committee considered the draft CQC Action Plan arising from the findings of the CQC Inspection undertaken last year.  We queried the timescales for completing the actions and will be considering the finalised plan at a future meeting to inform our 2026–27 work programme.

 

 

COUNCILLOR BARBARA BRODIGAN