Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Simon Myers.  Apologies had also been received from Richard Flinton and Karl Battersby.

Resolved

That the public Minutes of the meetings held on 9 June 2025 and 17 June 2025, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors Mark Crane and Carl Les declared an interest in Minute 719 on the basis that they were Directors of NYNet. They left the meeting room during the debate and vote on the item.  Barry Khan also declared an interest in that item and left the room.

Members are recommended to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of each of the items of business listed in Column 1 of the following table on the grounds that they each involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph(s) specified in column 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to information)(Variation) Order 2006:-

It was noted that the reports relating to Minute 714 – Whitby Maritime Training Hub Tenancies and Minute 718 – Redeployment of Hambleton Civic Centre both contained an exempt appendix.  As the contents of the appendices were not discussed there was no requirement to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of these items.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Elizabeth Jackson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, and supplied the text by midday on Thursday 10 July, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:

·         at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·         when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Leader who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There were no public questions or statements.

Recommendations

1)    To seek approval from the Executive to enter into the agreement to lease for five years with the prospective tenant.

2)    To also seek approval from the Executive to give delegated decision-making power on all future tenancies over 5 years for the Whitby Maritime Training Hub to be granted to the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the Corporate Director of Environment.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director of Community Development in which approval was sought to enter into a tenancy agreement for a commercial space within the Whitby Maritime Training Hub development for the length of five years pursuant to the Whitby Urban Council Act 1905.  Delegated authority was requested to be granted to the Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with the Corporate Director if Environment and the Executive Member for Finance and Resources, to be able to complete tenancy agreements for all commercial units within the development.

The Executive Member for Open to Business, Councillor Mark Crane, welcomed the report and confirmed that work had started on construction of the Whitby Maritime Training Hub.  Tenants were being sought for the Hub and one party was now ready to sign an agreement to lease for 5 years.  In order to achieve financial security for the Council and companies a 5 year lease was proposed.  The council had received representation that a 3 year lease should be offered, however the Council did not agree as this would make investment into the facility less desirable for the tenant.

Resolved (unanimously)

1)    That Executive approve to enter into the agreement to lease for five years with the prospective tenant.

2)    That Executive give delegated decision-making power on all future tenancies over 5 years for the Whitby Maritime Training Hub to be granted to the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the Corporate Director of Environment and the Executive Member for Finance and Resources.

Recommendations

The Executive:

1)    approve progressing with the scheme and approves entering the second stage of the contract with Neom Engineering Limited under NEC4 ECC Option A to conduct the works to the inner West Pier in Scarborough.

2)    approve a capital budget of £1,840k to carry out the repair works.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Director Regulation and Harbours providing information on an ongoing former Scarborough Borough Council legacy harbour project to repair a section of the Inner West Pier in Scarborough and to consider a proposal to award a construction contract to Neom Engineering Limited. 

The Executive Member for Open to Business introduced the report, advising that the works would enable to pier to withstand the pressure of the water for another 10 years.  It was proposed that any additional project costs would be borne by the Council and a contingency sum had been included in the budget for the project.

In response to a question from Councillor Liz Collings, the Corporate Director Resources responded that the costs would be met from the separate ringfenced harbour account, which would inevitably go into deficit.  The project would be underwritten by the council’s reserves and the borrowing would be repayable once sufficient funds were available.  It was not proposed that interest would be charged on the overdrawn balance.

Resolved (unanimously)

1)    That Executive approve progressing with the scheme and approves entering the second stage of the contract with Neom Engineering Limited under NEC4 ECC Option A to conduct the works to the inner West Pier in Scarborough

2)    That Executive approve a capital budget of £1,840k to carry out the repair works and agree that use of the contingency budget over £100k will be following approval by the Corporate Director Environment in consultation with the Corporate Director Resources and the Executive Member for Finance and Resources.

Recommendations

1)    The Executive agrees to the application of grant funding of four million, three hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and six pounds (£4,391,906) to support the Government’s Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme; and in the event that the application is approved

2)    That the acceptance of the Grant be delegated to the Corporate Director- Resources; and

3)    To delegate authority to agree and enter into any associated agreements, including but not limited to the Grant Agreement with the YNYCA to access and deliver these funds, to the Corporate Director- Resources in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Health and Adult Services in relation to the application for and acceptance of grant funding in the sum of £4,391,906 to support the Government’s Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme, subject to confirmation that grant funding agreements were acceptable to North Yorkshire Council.

The Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, introduced the item and reported that the purpose of the Fund was to mobilise local, work, health and skills support to enable everyone who wanted to work to get the joined-up support they needed.  The learning from the Trailblazer would support the development of national policy and work in practice in England and Wales and the focus was on projects which could be mobilised quickly.

The Corporate Director Health and Adult Services, Richard Webb, advised that the primary focus was on removing health barriers to people entering the labour market.  The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was the accountable body and lead on the programme and £10m had been made available to be spent within the current financial year across the whole Combined Authority Area.  This report was an enabling measure to ensure that the money can be received and invested, subject to satisfactory agreement of terms and conditions with the Combined Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Resolved (unanimously)

1)    The Executive agrees to the application of grant funding of four million, three hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and six pounds (£4,391,906) to support the Government’s Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme; and in the event that the application is approved

2)    That the acceptance of the Grant be delegated to the Corporate Director Resources in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Services

3)    To delegate authority to agree and enter into any associated agreements, including but not limited to the Grant Agreement with the YNYCA to access and deliver these funds, to the Corporate Director Resources in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the North Yorkshire Council Executive approve the acceptance of £10.8m capital and £0.5m revenue from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Local Transport Grant

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment in which approval was sought to accept £10.8m capital and £0.5m revenue from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Local Transport Grant.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transportation introduced the report which set out capital schemes of £12.3m and revenue schemes of £600k which had been put forward for funding.  Schemes were required to meet all the priorities and be able to deliver by April 2026.

The Transport Planning Team Leader addressed concerns expressed by Executive Members in relation to the relative allocations between North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council and provided further details on how the funding had been allocated.  Whilst regular highways funding was distributed in line with the historic formula, this was a one-off funding allocation and deprivation across the whole area had been taken into account in the calculation.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the North Yorkshire Council Executive approve the acceptance of £10.8m capital and £0.5m revenue from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Local Transport Grant.

Recommendation

That the disposal of Stonecross is approved by the Executive on Terms to be agreed by the Corporate Director – Resources.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Resources in which approval was sought to approve the sale of Northallerton Civic Centre, Stone Cross, following public marketing of the building.

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources introduced the item which was the first major capital disposal as part of the capital rationalisation programme.  Following local government reorganisation it had been possible to relocate council activities from Stone Cross to other council owned buildings in Northallerton, including a new Customer Hub at the Treadmills which was providing a better customer experience.  In addition to the capital receipt from sale of the building the council was also saving £150-200k revenue savings in building running costs.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the disposal of Stone Cross is approved by the Executive on Terms to be agreed by the Corporate Director Resources.

Recommendations

It is recommend that the Executive:

1)    notes the successful work carried out by the Superfast North Yorkshire programme in helping over 200,000 homes and businesses to become broadband-enabled over the last 13 years.

2)    notes the successful receipt of overage funding (over £27m) arising from higher than anticipated take-up of broadband in the areas where SFNY has made an intervention. (Para 2.4)

3)    approves the application of £1.65m from the overage reserve to reimburse NYNet 100 for the costs of delivering Phase 1 of the SFNY programme.

4)    delegates authority to the Corporate Director – Resources to proceed with the winding-up of NYNet 100 in conjunction with the Board of the company.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Resources which provided an update on work that had taken place on delivery of superfast broadband to residents of North Yorkshire over the last 15 years.  Approval was sought on the winding up of the wholly owned Company NYNet 100 that had been created to deliver the Superfast North Yorkshire (SFNY) programme.

Councillors Mark Crane and Carl Les and the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services (ACELDS), Barry Khan, declared interests in the item on the basis that they were directors of NYNet and left the room.  The ACELDS confirmed that they were unpaid directors on the company however as the recommendations contained a recommendation to give funding to NYNet then an interest should be declared.

The Corporate Director Resources, Gary Fielding, introduced the report and gave an overview of the key points:

·       North Yorkshire County Council had led on the roll-out of superfast broadband through the creation of NYNet 100 and were unique in England for being a council leading on this

·       Project Gigabit was now assuming responsibility for the roll-out, and NYNet 100 could be wound up as a separate company

·       The SFNY programme had enabled over 200k homes to be upgraded to superfast broadband

·       The council had been innovative in that the contract with commercial suppliers had led to the suppliers repaying public subsidies of £27m once it had been proven that there was a sufficient commercially viable demand

·       It was proposed that £1.6m be taken from the overage fund and applied to NYNet 100 to cover the balance owed on SFNY phase 1 costs and enabling the company to be wound up

Executive Members commented on the success of the project which had enabled superfast broadband to be provided to homes and business in areas of North Yorkshire which had not been covered by commercial providers.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the Executive:

1)    notes the successful work carried out by the Superfast North Yorkshire programme in helping over 200,000 homes and businesses to become broadband-enabled over the last 13 years.

2)    notes the successful receipt of overage funding (over £27m) arising from higher than anticipated take-up of broadband in the areas where SFNY has made an intervention. (Para 2.4)

3)    approves the application of £1.65m from the overage reserve to reimburse NYNet 100 for the costs of delivering Phase 1 of the SFNY programme.

4)    delegates authority to the Corporate Director Resources to proceed with the winding-up of NYNet 100 in conjunction with the Board of the company.

Recommendation

That the Executive notes the report and considers any matters arising from the work of the six Area Committees, that merits further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level.

Considered– A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services providing an overview of the key issues considered at the June 2025 round of meetings of the Area Committees. 

The Leader referred to paragraph 8.3 of the report and advised that he and the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills had received the questions referred to them from the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee and would be giving them consideration in due course.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Recommendations

1)    That the Executive recommends to Council that Councillor Derek Bastiman be nominated to the vacant NYC seat on the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2)    That the Executive appoints Councillor Andy Solloway to the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.

3)    That the Executive appoints the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation to the Humber Strategy Forum and Rail North.

4)    That the Executive appoints Councillor Joy Andrews to the Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board.

5)    That the Executive appoint Councillor Derek Bastiman as the named substitute to the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Management Committee and that a substitute be created for the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Procurement Holdings and that Councillor Derek Bastiman be appointed as the named substitute.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services detailing proposed changes to outside bodies.  Following recent changes to Executive vacancies had arisen due to newly appointed Executive Members stepping down from outside bodies and for those appointments where the portfolio holder was the appointment.  In addition, a nomination had been received for a vacant seat on the board of the vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board. 

It was noted that the vacancy on the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee was for Council to make a nomination.  The appointment to the vacant seat would need to be made by the YNYCA.

Resolved

1)    That the Executive recommends to Council that Councillor Derek Bastiman be nominated to the vacant NYC seat on the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2)    That the Executive appoints Councillor Andy Solloway to the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.

3)    That the Executive appoints the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation to the Humber Strategy Forum and Rail North.

4)    That the Executive appoints Councillor Joy Andrews to the Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board.

5)    That the Executive appoint Councillor Derek Bastiman as the named substitute to the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Management Committee and that a substitute be created for the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Procurement Holdings and that Councillor Derek Bastiman be appointed as the named substitute.

Considered – The Forward Plan for the period 4 July 2025 to 31 July 2026 was presented.

Resolved

That the Forward Plan be noted.

Recommendation

That Executive agree to accept the Adult Skills Fund Grant from the ESFA

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Service seeking approval for acceptance of the Adult Skills Fund of approximately £2.7m from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to enable the Adult Learning and Skills Service to meet the needs of North Yorkshire Residents.

The item had been brought to Executive under special urgency procedures, following agreement by the Chair of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred as failure to agree funding would delay the receipt of income and funding would not be provided to support adult learners in the county.  The Leader had also agreed to its inclusion on the agenda.

The Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, reported that this funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency had previously been received direct from the Department for Education, but would be received through the Combined Authority from 1 August 2025. 

Resolved (unanimously)

That Executive agree to accept the Adult Skills Fund Grant from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.