North Yorkshire Council

HARROGATE AND KNARESBOROUGH AREA COMMITTEE

2026–27 WORK PROGRAMME

Contents

1. Progress on Issues Raised and Actions from Previous Meetings. Summary of action points raised at previous committee meetings, mid-cycle briefings, and through other submissions from members.

2. Items for Forthcoming Committee Meetings. A summary of the proposed agenda items for the next two meetings of the Area Committee.

3. Future Items of Work. List of proposed areas of future work, along with when and how it is proposed to consider them.

4. Working Group Activity. A summary of the meetings held by Working Groups during the current Civic Year.

5. Record of Informal and Virtual Area Committee Sessions. A list of the informal sessions and briefings which members have attended during the current Civic Year.

6. Forward Plan (Harrogate and Knaresborough). An edited summary of forthcoming Decisions being taken by Council, the Executive, or Officers under delegated powers, which affect the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas.

Updates to the work programme since the last ordinary meeting are shown in italics.

Document Author

Edward Maxwell, Senior Democratic Services Officer

Edward.maxwell@northyorks.gov.uk

1. Progress on Issues Raised and Actions from Previous Meetings

Subject and Minute No.	Raised	Notes	Status
Communication with Elected Members During Emergency Events	Raised at Thursday 30 April Mid Cycle Briefing	Members queried the communications protocol that meant Silver Command contact number to the NYC elected member only, and asked whether this could be extended to parish councillors and community groups on an exceptional and discretionary basis – e.g. when an event affected multiple areas in a single division.	Written briefing note circulated to members.
Parking Services Update	Raised at Thursday 28 October 2025 Mid Cycle Briefing	Harrogate and Knaresborough Local Area Action Planning is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, and will include the member consultation phase. Area Committee will be fully engaged in the process during that period.	Post-consultation report planned for late 2026.
Street Scene in Harrogate and Knaresborough	Requested by Chair and Vice Chair	To explore how effectively are Street Scene services planning and delivering work in Harrogate and Knaresborough ahead of the forthcoming tourist season, and what improvements or prioritisation are needed to ensure the area is clean, welcoming and well maintained.	Agenda item for 4 June 2026 meeting.
Traffic Management and Roadworks	Raised at Thursday 28 October 2025 Mid Cycle Briefing	To consider the processes in place for managing and administering traffic management in Harrogate and Knaresborough and seek feedback from AC.	Agenda item for 24 September 2026 meeting.
Winter Weather Response	Raised at Thursday 28 October 2025 Mid Cycle Briefing	To address concerns about gritting performance in the area, and specific plans relating to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area which was affected in January 2025.	Agenda item for 24 September 2026 meeting.

2. Items for Forthcoming Committee Meetings

(*Denotes an annual update)

Thursday 4 June March 2026, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

Mid Cycle Briefing: Thursday 30 April 2026

Item	Contact Officer	Notes
Election of a Chair and Vice Chair	Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer)	To elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2026-27 Civic Year.
Receipt of Petition “Save Knaresborough Castle”	TBC	Receipt of a petition entitled “Save Knaresborough Castle”.
Community Safety Annual Report	Julia Stack (Community Safety & CCTV Manager)	Update on community safety in the area. Joint update with representatives from North Yorkshire Police.
Harrogate Town Investment Plan	Marcin Szczech (Principal Regeneration Officer)	Update on development and implementation of the Harrogate Town Investment Plan. Postponed from March 2026.
Street Scene in Harrogate and Knaresborough	Harry Briggs (Head of Waste Operations and Street Scene)	To explore how effectively are Street Scene services planning and delivering work in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Area Committee Annual Report	Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer)	To hear the annual report summarising the work of the Area Committee in the 2025-26 Civic Year.

2026 – 27 Work Programme (Draft)

Thursday 24 September 2026, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

Mid Cycle Briefing: Thursday 30 July 2026

Item	Contact Officer	Notes
Receipt of Petition “Save Knaresborough Viaduct”	TBC	Receipt of a petition entitled “Save Knaresborough Viaduct”.
Mayor David Skaith (Mayor, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority)	Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer)	Mayor Skaith to attend to discuss the role of the MCA, economic development, and projects in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area
Localities Service Update	Adele Wilson-Hope (Communities Area Manager (East))	Update on the activities of the Localities service in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.
Parking Services Update	Steve Brown (Head of Parking Services)	To hear an update on parking services and enforcement issues within the area.
Winter Weather Response	Nigel Smith (Head of Highways Operations)	To address concerns about gritting performance in the area, and specific plans relating to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area which was affected in January 2025.

Thursday 26 November 2026, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

Mid Cycle Briefing: Thursday 22 October 2026

Item	Contact Officer	Notes
Attendance of Tom Gordon MP	Tom Gordon MP	Update from the MP on activities and projects that affect the area, and opportunity for Members to raise issues of concern.

Thursday 25 March 2027, 10:00, Harrogate Civic Centre.

Mid Cycle Briefing: Thursday 11 February 2027

Item	Contact Officer	Notes
Schools Performance Update 2026/27	Jon Holden (Strategic Planning Manager)	Annual update on educational landscape, achievement and financial challenges.
Harrogate and Knaresborough Youth Councils* (TBC)	TBC	Depending on availability of Youth Council members. Opportunity to raise issues of concern for young people in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

3. Future Items of Work

(*Denotes an annual update)

Item	Contact Officer	Notes	Proposed Activity	Proposed Date
Maintenance of Tree Lighting in the Stray Area	Neil Jackson (Electrical Engineering Manager)	For members to be kept informed of the ongoing review of lightning failures for memorial and seasonal lighting on Otley Road.	Written updates to members.	Throughout 2026 as review progresses.
Active Travel and Cycle Schemes	Melisa Burnham (Highways Area Manager)	To review the delivery of active travel schemes in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.	Area Committee agenda item or member briefing	Ongoing updates. Team attendance at AC once team established in 2026.
Community Safety and CCTV Update*	Paul Romans (Community Safety CCTV Manager)	Update on community safety in the area. Joint update with representatives from North Yorkshire Police.	Area Committee agenda item (last update June 2025)	June 2026*
Town Investment Plan	Marcin Szczech (Principal Regeneration Officer)	Update on development and implementation of the Harrogate Town Investment Plan.	Ongoing updates.	June 2026. Written update circulated April 2026.
Resilience and Emergencies Briefing*	Matt Robinson (Head of Resilience and Emergencies)	To receive an update on measures taken to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.	Area Committee agenda item (last update March 2025)	Answers to written questions circulated May 2025. Future update to be arranged as required.
Localities Service Update*	Adele Wilson-Hope (Communities Area Manager (East)	Annual update on the work of the localities service.	Area Committee agenda item (last update June 2025)	September 2026*
Update from Mayor David Skaith, YNYCA	Mayor David Skaith	Update from the Mayor on activities and projects that affect the area.	Area Committee agenda (last update September 2025)	September 2026*
Traffic Management and Roadworks	Nigel Smith	To consider the processes in place for managing and administering traffic management in Harrogate and Knaresborough and seek feedback from AC.	Area Committee agenda item	September 2026
Winter Weather Response	Raised at Thursday 28 October 2025 Mid Cycle Briefing	To address concerns about gritting performance in the area, and specific plans relating to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area which was affected in January 2025.	Area Committee agenda item	September 2026
Parking Services Update	Steve Brown	Harrogate and Knaresborough Local Area Action Planning is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, and will include the member consultation phase. Area Committee will be fully engaged in the process during that period.	Area Committee agenda item summarising post consultation phase	Late 2026
Update from Tom Gordon MP	Tom Gordon MP	Update from the MP on activities and projects that affect the area.	Area Committee agenda (last update June 2025)	November 2026*
Parks and Open Spaces Update	Jon Clubb (Head of Parks and Grounds)	Update on activities and plans in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.	Area Committee agenda item	Late 2026
Development of the Harrogate Care and Support Hub	Executive Member	Member briefings currently being arranged throughout the course of the project – dates to follow. (report to Executive, 7 January 2025)	Member briefings	Late 2026
Section 19 Investigation Report on the 6 May 2024 Flood Event in Knaresborough	Referred to TEEE OSC	Scrutiny referral to investigate process and response to May 2024 flood event in Knaresborough.	Written updates following next committee meeting in July 2026.	Late 2026
Harrogate and Knaresborough Youth Councils*	Daniel Thomas (Youth Voice Creative Engagement Officer)	Update on activities, with the opportunity to put down a motion for debate by members.	Area Committee agenda item or written update, depending on Member availability. (last update March 2026)	March 2027*
Annual School Update Report*	Jon Holden (Strategic Planning Manager)	Educational landscape, achievement and financial challenges,	Area Committee agenda item (last update March 2026)	March 2027*
Cycling UK 150^th Anniversary	Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer)	Engagement in plans to commemorate 150^th anniversary of Cycling UK on 28 August 2028.	Ongoing consultation and written updates.	Up to anniversary event on 28 August 2028.
CIL and s106 Funding		Comment on the allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy funding and Section 106 monies, in accordance with the delegated powers set out in the Constitution.	TBC	To be discussed at Constitution Working Group as part of “Supporting Area Committee Decision Making” Notice of Motion.
Public Transport Functions		Discussion on co-operation between NYC and YNYCA on delivering local transport functions in Harrogate and Knaresborough.	Ongoing monitoring	Draft Local Transport Plan scheduled for consideration by CA in June 2026, followed by public consultation.
Planning Enforcement	Chris Keddle (Senior Planning Enforcement Officer)	Monitor and comment on Planning Enforcement matters of significance to the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.	Ongoing monitoring	Responses to public enquiries circulated to local members for information, May 2026.
Update on Beyond Carbon		A briefing on how this impacts the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area.	Member briefing	Planned for June 2026 – dates TBC.

4. Working Group Activity

Harrogate Station Gateway Working Group

Membership

a) Cllr Chris Aldred (Working Group Chair)

b) Cllr Hannah Gostlow

c) Cllr Sam Gibbs

d) Cllr Paul Haslam

e) Cllr Robert Windass

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

Meetings to be arranged as required to update Members on progress of the scheme.

Housing Liaison Working Group

Membership

a) Cllr Matt Walker (Working Group Chair)

b) Cllr Sam Gibbs

c) Cllr Chris Aldred

d) Cllr Peter Lacey

e) Cllr Mike Schofield

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

· 29 May 2026

Climate Change Working Group

Membership

a) Cllr Paul Haslam (Working Group Chair)

b) Cllr Hannah Gostlow

c) Cllr Andrew Timothy

d) Cllr Phillip Broadbank

e) Cllr Mike Schofield

Working Group Meetings (future meetings in italics)

· June/July 2026 – Zero Carbon Harrogate (date TBC)

· August 2026 – Yorkshire Water Scheme Update (date TBC)

5. Record of Informal and Virtual Area Committee Sessions (future sessions in italics)

a) 22 May 2026 – Highways Area Network Co-ordination Briefing

b) 15 January 2027 – Budget Session

6. Forward Plan (Harrogate and Knaresborough)

The forward plan is published weekly and is a list of the Council’s key decisions that will be made over the next one to four months. These decisions will be made by either the Executive or by officers who have been delegated authority by the Executive. Below is a short summary of decisions which affect the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas. The list is not exhaustive; to see the complete Forward Plan please see the Council’s Forward Plan page.

Item

Notice of proposed decision first published

Decision due

Lead member (s)

Lead director

Knaresborough Neighbourhood Development Plan: Report of Independent Examination

16 Feb 2026

8 July 2026

Executive Member for Open to Business

Corporate Director of Community Development