NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

15 JULY 2026

STATEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENT

Waste and Street Scenes

I am pleased to report that we are continuing to see strong and positive progress across our waste and street scene services. Missed bins are continuing to decline across the county as a whole, reflecting the sustained effort and commitment of our teams to improve reliability and consistency. While some localised challenges remain, targeted work is in place to address them. As we move forward from the changes introduced in 2025, it is essential that the service maintains a clear and sustained focus on this key performance measure. In Harrogate we have seen a particularly significant improvement in service, with customer contact down by 80% in May this year compared to the same period last year. This is a clear indication of the progress being made locally and the real impact of the changes we’ve introduced to improve the overall customer experience.

Alongside this, the service is working at pace to deliver the rollout of the new waste collection service in the Richmond locality. Over the coming months, more than 40,000 bins will be delivered ahead of the new service going live this autumn, enabling residents to recycle more of their waste. We have built on the learning from the successful rollout in Malton and are continuing to refine our approach as we prepare to expand these changes across the County. I’m also pleased that officers have engaged with local division members to capture valuable local knowledge and help ensure the transition is as smooth and successful as possible.

During May, the heatwave placed significant additional pressure on our coastal services, from street cleansing through to commercial waste and our public convenience network. I would like to recognise how effectively teams responded - additional resources were quickly mobilised, and services worked collaboratively to maintain standards. Crucially, we have also captured key learning from that period to strengthen our resilience ahead of future peaks in demand.

Along the Coast, our public convenience service continues to operate in challenging circumstances, particularly where temporary facilities are in place at West Pier and Royal Parade. Despite this, the team has been proactive in responding to demand, and we are already expanding provision in Filey to help reduce waiting times during busy periods and improve the experience for both residents and visitors.

Overall, this demonstrates a service that is not only improving performance at pace but is also planning ahead to ensure it delivers efficient and effective services across the County.

Waste Contracts

As part of our commitment to promoting sustainability, reducing waste and supporting residents in accessing affordable, environmentally friendly products, we are pleased to launch a new reusable period products pilot scheme. A contract was let earlier this year to run a reusable period product incentive scheme for residents across North Yorkshire.  The aims of the pilot were to introduce residents to high quality/affordable reusable period products if they have never used them before, to encourage sustainable practices and reduce reliance on single-use products through education and support. 

The scheme was promoted at a series of targeted face-to-face events where Waste and Recycling Officers could discuss the benefits of making the switch and answer any questions.

A follow-up survey will be sent to those who have taken part in the pilot as part of the project evaluation.

Regulatory Services

Licensing

Since the last report to Executive on 12 May, a statutory notice has been placed in the Yorkshire Post giving the details of our proposals to increase fares by 5% further to representations about increased fuel and running costs. All drivers have also been emailed directly to allow them to comment. Only five comments were received from nearly 2,000 drivers in the 21-day period. One reiterates his original request asking for more than 5%. One misunderstood the proposals and, once explained, seemed happy. One comments on how long changes take. Two commented that fares should be left as they are. The matter was reported to Executive on 14 July for a final decision.

World Cup football – Government has given automatic licence hour extensions for matches involving England. The Team has processed Temporary Event Notices which give further extensions in around 40 pubs in support of their plans.

National consultations – we are still awaiting final detail on revisions to taxi licensing law and new requirements to licence the sale of vapes and tobacco products.

National Trading Standards eCrime Team and NYtech

Additional grant funded workstreams

We have begun delivery for our newly funded workstreams.  Funding provided from the Department for Health and Social Care and National Trading Standards is being used to deliver online illicit vapes enforcement and a national capacity building programme respectively.  The vapes work focuses on identifying and disrupting the supply of illicit vaping products on social media and other online platforms.  The national capacity building programme aims to train and develop front trading standards staff across England and Wales, building their skills in conducting online investigations and dealing with cases involving digital evidence.

Registration, Coroners and Bereavement Services

Registration Service

Rollout of the new national Digital Registration System is almost complete, and by the autumn all registrars will be using this new system to register deaths. Further changes in the civil registration transformation programme will continue across all aspects of registration.

Coroners Service

The Coroner's Service is commencing a project with James Cook University Hospital to pilot Post-Mortem Computed Tomography as an alternative to an invasive post-mortem. This uses the same process as a CT Scanner and can provide a cause of death in a high percentage of cases and providing less distress to the bereaved.

Bereavement Service

A new role of Bereavement Service Manager has been successfully recruited, who in addition to managing their local crematorium team will take a role leading the daily operational aspects across the whole service. This appointment will allow us to move the service forward, accelerate harmonisation and allow us to develop and implement some of our transformational ideas for bereavement services.

This new role will also help co-ordinate work our Parks and Grounds Service on the maintenance of all our cemeteries.

COUNCILLOR RICHARD FOSTER