Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee
Annual report 2025/26
4 June 2026
Membership
Councillors Andrew Timothy, Monika Slater, Chris Aldred, Philip Broadbank, Sam Gibbs, Hannah Gostlow (Vice-Chair), Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Peter Lacey (Chair), John Mann, Mike Schofield, Matt Walker and Robert Windass.
Introduction
Area Committees (ACs) are a forum for visible local democracy and accountability, where members of the public and local groups can raise specific issues which affect the local area. ACs can also act as consultees for the development of plans and policies which affect the area and monitor performance data to ensure services are being delivered effectively and efficiently. ACs can provide meaningful scrutiny of local issues within their area, complementing the strategic work undertaken by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
The Annual Report 2025/26 provides a summary of the committee’s activity over the last year and an overview of what it has achieved.
Looking Back: 2025/26
There were four formal meetings of the committee in the 2025/26. The agendas, reports, and minutes of those meetings are available on the council website.
A summary of the key themes at each meeting are as follows:
· Heard an update from Tom Gordon MP and conducted a Q&A.
· Considered the Community Safety Annual Report.
· Executive Member consulted the Committee on a forthcoming decision affecting their area.
· Heard an update from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and conducted a Q&A.
· Discussed a devolution pilot, where Knaresborough Town Council were to take on management and responsibility for the weekly charter market.
· Considered the Section 19 Investigation Report into the 6 May 2024 Knaresborough Flooding, making a series of recommendations to Yorkshire Water and the Flooding team.
· Received an update on air quality management in the Harrogate area following the submission of the council’s 2025 Air Quality Annual Status Report to DEFRA.
· Committee were updated on the progress of Active Travel schemes in the area, recommending to the Executive Member and Corporate Director that progress be expedited, and that Scrutiny consider delivery of the schemes.
· The Parish Liaison and Local Devolution Team explained how they were engaging with Town and Parish Councils in the area.
· Received a written update on missed bin collections in the area.
· Committee were updated on the progress of Active Travel schemes in the area.
· Considered an update on the performance of schools in the area.
· Written updates:
o On the referrals made following the Section 19 report in September 2025.
o From Harrogate Youth Council on issues of concern to the local youth community.
o On the progress of the Town Investment Plan for Harrogate.
o Received a further written update on missed bin collections in the area.
In addition, there were 12 informal briefings and updates to the members (typically held remotely via MS Teams) which helped to inform the work of the committee by providing context and background on issues in the area. They also provided an opportunity for members to provide specific local feedback to council officers. These sessions included the following issues:
· Providing local feedback on the Council’s Budget.
· Receiving regular updates on the delivery of the Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.
· Updates from Yorkshire Water on infrastructure works in the area.
· Progress on the delivery of active travel schemes in the area.
· Briefings from partner organisations and agencies.
Public Participation
A key element of the work of the committee is engagement with local people and organisations and listening to concerns raised. In 2025/26, there were 9 public questions and statements, an increase on 6 from the previous year. There was also one petition, considered under the Council’s petition’s scheme. The public raised issues of concern including:
· Road safety
· Active travel
· Local development
· Preservation of local heritage assets.
The meetings of the committees are recorded and either broadcast live, or a recording published after the meeting has taken place. 439 people accessed the meetings through these recordings, in addition to those who attended the meetings in person.
Recordings of the meetings are available here - Live meetings | North Yorkshire Council
Looking Forward: 2026/27
Work Programme
The committee’s work programme is a document which sets out the topics and subjects it wants to consider over the course of the next civic year. It is a live document that is owned by the committee. Members can suggest items for inclusion, both as part of discussions and debate at meetings of the committee as well as in between meetings. Any item identified for inclusion with the work programme will be reviewed by the supporting officer and at the MCB to determine:
1) whether it is within the scope of the committee;
2) what the expected outcome of the debate and discussions would be;
3) whether it is being reviewed by another committee of the Council; and
4) whether it could be considered as part of an informal briefing as opposed to at a formal committee meeting.
Key Themes for 2026/27
Some of the key areas of investigation currently included in the draft work programme for 2026/27 are:
Core place & public realm
· Street scene, parks and open spaces focus (cleanliness, visitor readiness, maintenance)
· Tree lighting and public realm assets (Stray, memorial/seasonal lighting issues)
· Regular engagement with MP and Combined Authority Mayor
Transport, highways & movement
· Traffic management and roadworks scrutiny
· Parking strategy and enforcement (incl. major 2026 consultation)
· Active travel / cycling schemes rollout
· Wider public transport coordination with Combined Authority
Infrastructure, resilience & environment
· Winter weather response (gritting performance lessons)
· Flood response scrutiny (Knaresborough 2024 event follow-up)
· Emergency planning and resilience arrangements
· Climate change and water infrastructure discussions
Growth, regeneration & investment
· Harrogate Town Investment Plan (ongoing delivery oversight, including of Knaresborough TIP as it comes forward)
· Care and Support Hub development
· Neighbourhood planning and local development frameworks
Community safety & local services
· Community safety and CCTV performance (with Police input)
· Localities service delivery and community engagement
· Planning enforcement monitoring
People, communities & outcomes
· Youth council engagement and democratic participation
· Annual schools update
· Housing liaison activity (via working group)
Contact Information
Chair
Cllr Peter Lacey
cllr.peter.lacey@northyorks.gov.uk
Vice Chair
Councillor Hannah Gostlow
cllr.hannah.gostlow@northyorks.gov.uk
Democratic Services
Edward Maxwell