NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

 

15 July 2026

 

STATEMENT OF THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING & LEISURE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

 

The Housing & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the Council’s role and remit as a social landlord, including policy review, service improvement and governance arrangements to ensure compliance with the regulation of social housing. The Committee also oversees housing strategy, homelessness and housing needs, the delivery of affordable housing, private sector housing renewal, cultural services and the Council’s responsibilities as a provider of leisure services.

 

Since the last meeting of Council on 20 May 2026, the Housing & Leisure Overview & Scrutiny Committee has met once on 10 June 2026.   At that meeting, we received updates on the following:

·         Leisure & Culture Performance

·         Active North Yorkshire Pricing Review

·         Survey findings relating to Empty Homes

·         Implementation of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030

·         Housing Performance & Service Improvement Annual Report

·         Housing Strategy Review

 

The Leisure & Culture performance update highlighted the work undertaken in the last year to bring systems and services together and deliver a more accurate and consistent performance framework, and we provided feedback on other areas of data/information they would like to see on a more regular basis. 

 

In regard to the Active NY pricing review, we welcomed the new health and wellbeing memberships that had been established to support users accessing services via referral pathways or health related schemes.  We were also pleased to note the new approach for children in care, care leavers and Foster Carers, and the inclusion of veterans and the armed forces.

 

Noting the work underway to introduce virtual online memberships, enabling access to wider health services et, and the options for the new corporate offer scheduled for implementation in September, we suggested the proposed number of employees of individual companies in North Yorkshire for corporate membership (15) was a little high as it may exclude the high number of smaller companies across the county from signing up. 

 

We have continued our focus on Empty Homes.  We received a breakdown of the number of empty homes across the county, together with information on Council Tax exemptions, the reasons for properties being empty and the restrictions on returning them to use. Having considered the options moving forward and the potential associated implications, the Committee agreed to set up a Task Group to undertake a scrutiny review to inform the development of an Empty Homes Strategy for the Council.

 

We received an update on the progress made during the first 6 months of the 5-year Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 and were pleased to note that the prevention activity being undertaken was starting to have a positive effect.

 

The Housing Performance & Service Improvement Annual Report provided an update on the progress made toward compliance with the requirements of the Social Housing (Regulation Act).  We agreed it was an encouraging report but sought reassurance around the actions underway to address a drop in complaints performance.

 

The Committee considered the findings of the 2026 review of the Council’s Housing Strategy (2024–2029) and overall, was pleased to note the positive feedback from the Regulator of Social Housing on the progress made.  We also noted the actions undertaken in response to significant national policy changes and emerging local needs, and the work completed to date to unify teams and systems. 

 

Finally, at our June meeting we also considered and endorsed the draft final report arising from our task group review of Grounds Maintenance. Our review final report and the review recommendations are due to be considered for approval by the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing on 12 August 2026, when he will also consider the draft Grounds Maintenance Policy arising from the Committee’s review findings.

 

 

COUNCILLOR STEVE SHAW-WRIGHT