NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

20 MAY 2026

STATEMENT OF THE CHAIR OF TRANSPORT, ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND ENTERPRISE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The latest meeting of the Transport, Economy, Environment & Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee took place on Wednesday 29 April 2026. The reports covered at that meeting were as follows:

Highways Maintenance Capital Funding 26/27 to 29/30

Following the announcement from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority regarding changes to the financial formula for highways maintenance and improvements, the committee felt further understanding of the rationale for the changes was needed and the potential impacts for North Yorkshire. An invitation was sent to the Mayor’s office for a representative to attend the meeting, so it was disappointing this was not taken up.

At the meeting, following the officer introduction to the report and a contribution from the Executive Member for Finance and Resources, committee members were given the opportunity to ask questions to officers and comment on the report. As part of this, the following key points were raised:

·      The increase in highways and transportation funding from the Department for Transport made available nationally was welcomed by committee members, as well as the long-term certainty the four-year funding period of the consolidated transport settlement will bring, running from the current financial year 2026/27 through to 2029/30. This will allow North Yorkshire Council as the Local Highway Authority to plan ahead to make the best use of funding allocations received.

 

·      However, members discussed significant concerns regarding the revised Combined Authority 90:10 highways maintenance allocation split between North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, noting the lack of clear justification for the change to the previous 92.7:7.3 split, and the uncertainty over whether the new ratio will continue beyond the current financial year.

 

·      It was also highlighted that the Mayor’s decision to shift funding from highway maintenance to improvement schemes would leave North Yorkshire with a substantial real‑terms reduction over the four year funding period, stressing that maintenance funding underpins network safety and resilience and should not be compromised.

 

·      The purpose of the Mayor’s Road Maintenance Fund was queried and the criteria for funding to be agreed and delivered as part of this.

 

·      As part of the discussion, the committee received details of the varied causes of highway deterioration across North Yorkshire, including weather exposure, altitude, heavy traffic and ageing road structures, and noted the ongoing innovation in maintenance techniques such as the use of rejuvenation treatments, retexturing and undertaking larger patch repairs.

 

·      Members emphasised the importance of preventative measures, particularly drainage and gully maintenance, as water ingress remains a major driver of road failure. Officers confirmed that drainage improvements form part of the highways capital programme.

 

·      The committee discussed the differing rural and urban priorities for highways maintenance and improvement capital funding, recognising the need for funding approaches that reflect these varied local circumstances.

 

·      Members also considered road safety issues, including the potential future use of fixed and average speed cameras in York and North Yorkshire. In response to points raised in correspondence received from the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, officers noted that the task and finish group reviewing these matters had not yet concluded its work.

 

·      Officers confirmed that active travel and improvement schemes would continue to be progressed, with committee members highlighting the continued challenges of delivering rural active travel infrastructure.

After over two hours of questions and debate on the issues raised, I noted the wide range of views expressed on the topic and the potential need for greater awareness amongst elected members of the highway maintenance funding changes made by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Following this, the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolved to refer the report to the Executive for its consideration of these matters, which was set to take place on Tuesday 12 May 2026.

Development and Adoption of a Tree and Woodland Policy
Officers presented the proposed Tree and Woodland Policy to provide a single, consistent framework for managing council‑owned trees following local government reorganisation. The report has been in development for some time and the detailed work of the team was appreciated by committee members, particularly given the importance of the policy and the previous inconsistencies created by the absence of an adopted policy across the county.

 

The key points raised in introducing the report were:

·      The policy addresses the Council’s statutory duty of care, setting out a proportionate, risk‑based approach to tree safety, inspection and maintenance.

 

·      It focuses on tree management rather than planting, with a separate Tree Planting Strategy to follow.

 

·      The policy seeks to balance public safety and liability with the environmental, amenity and climate benefits provided by trees.

 

·      Extensive internal consultation across council services has informed the policy, which is intended to improve consistency, transparency and decision‑making.

 

Following this introduction, discussion points raised by committee members included:

·      Members broadly welcomed the policy, recognising it as a long awaited, robust framework to improve consistency in tree management following local government reorganisation.

 

·      The discussion focused on the need for stronger planning controls, particularly in relation to development sites, retention of existing trees and hedgerows, and clearer articulation of amenity value and enforcement through Tree Preservation Orders.

 

·      Committee members raised concerns about tree equity, urban tree cover, and the importance of targeting tree planting in areas of deprivation. These issues would be addressed as part of a future Tree Planting Strategy.

 

·      The valuation of trees as assets was also discussed, including use of monetary and ecosystem service values (e.g. carbon, cooling, wellbeing) to support negotiations, investment decisions and climate objectives, while noting accounting and balance sheet considerations.

 

·      Clarification was provided on hedges, ancient woodland and species choice, including the legal definitions and limitations of protection. The importance of providing guidance and advice for residents, developers and town & parish councils to sit alongside the policy was also emphasised.

Officers agreed to include the feedback points raised by members in the report going to Executive next month.

 

Climate Change Delivery Pathway Performance Report

In introducing the report, officers outlined progress in delivering the Climate Change Strategy since the last update to the committee in October 2025, such as:

 

·      Key national and regional developments, including work on the Regional Energy Strategic Plan and the forthcoming Local Transport Plan, all of which have significant implications for grid capacity and transport emissions in North Yorkshire.

 

·      Officers updated members on work in various areas across the council such as the completion of a Climate Change Adaptation Study, publication of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and progress on meeting the Council’s biodiversity duty.

 

Following the report introduction, members raised the following points:

 

·      Members raised concerns about the clarity, transparency and ability to measure the progress of the Climate Change Delivery Pathway, in particular the need for clear baselines, targets and reporting.

 

·      Officers confirmed work is underway to develop a performance dashboard to track progress (including emissions, energy use, mileage and waste), acknowledging delays and the technical complexity involved in developing this.

 

·      The discussion also focused on carbon accounting, including limitations in current data, challenges in measuring Scope 3 emissions (notably procurement and commissioned services), and the risk of double counting.

 

·      Members queried the strength and consistency of climate commitments and timescales, including perceived changes to the target years, and how much influence the Council can exert over area‑wide emission goals.

 

·      Concerns were expressed about member involvement and scrutiny of the Combined Authority ‘Strategy for a Sustainable Future’, with the public consultation period currently ongoing.

 

Annual Report of the Climate Change Member Champion

It was pleasing to see the extent of the work carried out by Councillor David Hugill in his role as Climate Change Member Champion over the last 12 months. His report has featured as part of our agenda papers today, but feedback from committee members in April included:

 

·      Ways of strengthening the impact of the Member Champion role to help accelerate progress and shout more about our achievements as a council to tackle climate change.

 

·      Greater emphasis on local environmental issues in future reports.

 

·      His visit to Drax and what he had learnt to inform his Member Champion work.

 

·      An update on work underway to diversify North Yorkshire Pension Fund investments away from fossil fuels.

 

·      A suggestion to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology in Powys, Wales.

 

·      The integration between biodiversity, food production and solar, as well as advocating for more community involvement when developing projects.

 

The next meeting of the committee will take place on Monday 6 July 2026 at County Hall, starting at 10am.

 

COUNCILLOR DAVID STAVELEY