NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

 

15 July 2026

 

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26

 

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

 

1.0       Purpose of Report

 

1.1         To present the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report, which summarises the activity and achievements of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function over the past municipal year.

 

 

2.0       Background  

 

2.1       Overview and Scrutiny play a key role in supporting the Council’s governance arrangements by holding decision-makers to account, assisting in policy development, participating in consultation and providing a constructive challenge to improve outcomes for residents of North Yorkshire.

 

2.2       This Annual Report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees during the 2025/2026 municipal year. It is submitted to Full Council for approval.

           

3.0       Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26

           

3.1       The report highlights the range of activities by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function during the last municipal year. It identifies examples where scrutiny has added value, influenced decision making, and supported service improvement.

 

3.2       A new addition to each Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme has been an increased focus on key performance indicators. All committees have received performance monitoring reports providing the latest data. This has enabled Members to undertake deeper scrutiny, ask more informed questions, and better understand the context behind the figures. These reports will continue to evolve to support each committee in making more effective use of performance information in their scrutiny work.

 

3.3       A number of Task and Finish Groups have been established, enabling Members to undertake more detailed examination of specific issues identified as requiring further investigation.

 

3.4       Several additional and extraordinary meetings have convened at the request of Councillors to address emerging or time-sensitive matters.

 

3.5       There has been an increase in the number of public statements and questions this year, which is welcomed as it enhances public engagement and involvement in the Council’s decision-making processes.

 

3.6       All decision-making Committees continue to meet in person once, with some Committees utilising a successful and pragmatic hybrid option for external presenters and additional attendees when possible.

 

 

 

4.0       Alternative options considered

 

4.1       No alternative options were considered.

 

5.0       Financial, Legal, Equalities and Climate Change Implications

 

5.1       There are no significant implications.

 

6.0       Reasons for Recommendations

 

6.1       To share with Full Council the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees during 2025/26.

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

7.1

 

7.2

Recommendation (s)           

 

Council is invited to:

 

approve the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025/26; and

 

consider whether there are any issues arising from the Annual Report which need to be factored into the work programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in 2026/27.

 

 

 

            Appendices:

 

            Appendix A – Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26

 

           

Background Documents:

None

 

 

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

7 July 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.