North Yorkshire Council
Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 March 2026
Young People’s Member Champion Annual Report 2025/26
Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services
1.0 Purpose of Report
1.1 To provide an annual update to the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the activities carried out by Councillor Alyson Baker, Young People’s Member Champion.
2.0 Background
2.1 The Young People’s Member Champion Annual Report 2025/26 is provided at Appendix A.
3.0 Young People’s Member Champion Annual Report 2025/26
3.1 Member Champions are elected Members who act as an advocate or spokesperson for a specific area of the Council’s business. The main responsibility of each Member Champion is to encourage communication and positive action over the issue they represent. In doing so, they will:
i) represent their area of interest both within and outside the Council in line with Council policy.
ii) contribute to the review and development of policies pertaining to their area of interest.
iii) challenge and question the Council, the Executive Members and the Chairs of Committees on issues relevant to their area of responsibility.
iv) monitor the Forward Plan and seek information from the Leader, Committee Chairs and Officers about forthcoming business and exert influence on behalf of the interest.
v) keep Members of all parties up to date with activities in relevant to the area of interest.
vi) provide positive support and on occasions constructive challenge to Officers on relevant issues.
vii) act as the Council’s representative on relevant external bodies where appointed to by the Council.
3.2 This report highlights the meetings and events attended by the Young Peoples’ Member Champion over the period from May 2025 to February 2026. It also details some performance areas that required further investigation, and the questions that were put forward to the Executive. The Member Champion has shown particular interest in finding out more about the rising number of permanent exclusions in primary schools, as well as in how the Council is supporting schools to manage the increasing cohort of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
4.0 Alternative options considered
4.1 No alternative options were considered.
5.0 Financial, legal and climate change implications
5.1 There are no significant implications arising from this report.
6.0 Equalities implications
6.1 The report focuses on services and support for children and young people.
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7.0
7.1
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Recommendations
The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee is invited to:
i) note the report; ii) receive an annual update next year. |
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Appendices:
Appendix A – The Young People’s Member Champion Annual Report 2025/26
Barry Khan
Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services
County Hall
Northallerton
10 March 2026
Report Author – Alice Fox, Senior Scrutiny Officer
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.