Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies from members of the Executive.  An apology had been received from Councillor Andrew Williams.

Resolved

That the public Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2025, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Michael Harrison declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Minute 729 as his employer was listed within the Treasury Management Quarter 1 report.  As he had previously been granted a dispensation by the Standards Committee he remained in the meeting room and took part in the debate and vote on the item.

Councillor Gareth Dadd declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Minute 729 in relation to second homes.  As he had previously been granted a dispensation by the Standards Committee he remained in the meeting room and took part in the debate and vote on the item.

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 14 August 2025, 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

That the Executive

(i) notes the forecast outturn position against the 2025/26 Revenue

Budget, as summarised in paragraph 2.2.1.

(ii) notes the position on reserves in Section 2.5

(iii) notes the position on the Council’s Treasury Management activities

during the second quarter of 2025/26

(iv) refers this report to the Audit Committee for their consideration as part

of the overall monitoring arrangements for Treasury Management.

(v) approves the refreshed Capital Plan summarised at paragraph 4.2.3

Considered – A joint report of the Chief Executive and Corporate Director Resources bringing together key aspects of the Council’s performance on a quarterly basis.

The Executive Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Heather Phillips, introduced the report which covered the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 and drew Members’ attention to the following:

·         This was a new Council Plan for 2025 to 2029 with a new format and five new Council ambitions, which were:

o   Thriving Places and Empowered Communities

o   Sustainable and Connected Places

o   Safe, Healthy and Living Well

o   Maximise the Potential

o   One Council.

·         A new feature included monthly reporting on the Landlord Service, reflecting its ongoing development

·         Key performance highlights for the quarter included:

­   Increase in museum and cultural hub visits, following resolution of issues at certain venues.

­   Strong performance in highways services.

­   Lowest level of referrals to children’s social care in two years.

­   Growth in reablement packages, providing more support to individuals.

­   Improved timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

·         Areas of concern noted included homelessness, child protection plans, short-term bed-based placements and an increase in permanent school exclusions

The Leader welcomed Members of Scrutiny Board to the meeting, including Councillor Sam Gibbs who was attending his first meeting as Chair of the Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  In response to questions to Executive Members from Scrutiny Chairs and Member Champions the following was confirmed:

Thriving Places and Empowered Communities

·         It was confirmed that improved cultural venues had contributed to increased town centre footfall, although a slight dip in visitor numbers during the quarter was attributed to warm weather.

·         Homelessness challenges were reported to be consistent across the county, with a new strategy due in September.  Actions underway included partnership working, data use, and investment in temporary and supported accommodation.

·         The integration of the Young Person’s Pathway had improved planning and support for care leavers through closer collaboration between children’s and adult services.

·         Planning performance had exceeded national targets despite staffing shortages.  Future reports were expected to include enforcement metrics, with improvements already underway in previously underperforming areas.

·         Average re-let times for council housing remained high due to refurbishment needs, but the number of voids was decreasing and the Executive Member reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to not letting substandard properties.

Sustainable and Connected Places

·         Issues were reported with the implementation of new waste collection rounds, particularly in the Harrogate area, though staff had adapted well to the four-day week and lessons had been learned to improve future rollouts.  Additional operational changes had been introduced across the waste service, including the end of task-and-finish, standardised start/finish times, depot-based working, and strengthened management practices, all aimed at delivering a consistent service countywide.

·         A significant increase in fly-tipping incidents was noted, with no clear local cause identified.  A new fixed penalty notice policy and enforcement strategy were being developed to address the issue more robustly.

·         It was confirmed that national trends and seasonal factors, such as lighter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 729.

Recommendations

It is recommended that:

1. the Executive approve the award of a ten-year waste contract to Yorwaste Limited with an initial Term of 5 years with options to extend for a further five years, with effect from 18 September 2025; and
2. The Executive delegate negotiating and agreeing the terms of the new contract and any other actions required to facilitate the Council entering into the new contract with Yorwaste Limited to the Assistant Director Environment and Transport in consultation with the Corporate Director Resources, the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Executive Member for Managing our Environment. 

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment seeking approval to enter into a new contract with Yorwaste Ltd.  The contract term is for a maximum of 10 years with an initial five-year period, with options to extend up to a maximum of a further five years.

The Executive Member for Managing our Environment introduced the report and advised that the current contract with Yorwaste was coming to an end.  The previous contract had been agreed when the former district and borough councils had been the waste collection authorities and NYCC was the waste disposal authority.  Now that North Yorkshire Council was a unitary council responsible for both collection and disposal of waste it was considered that a new contract would better reflect the new powers and duties and enable the Council to respond to changes in national legislation.   

Resolved (unanimously)

It is recommended that:

1)    the Executive approve the award of a ten-year waste contract to Yorwaste Limited with an initial Term of 5 years with options to extend for a further five years, with effect from 18 September 2025; and

2)    The Executive delegate negotiating and agreeing the terms of the new contract and any other actions required to facilitate the Council entering into the new contract with Yorwaste Limited to the Assistant Director Environment and Transport in consultation with the Corporate Director Resources, the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Executive Member for Managing our Environment. 

Reasons for recommendations

The recommendations allow for the Council to continue to benefit from the services provided by Yorwaste Limited but with a more modern, fit for purpose contract in place.

Alternative options considered

No other options are put forward for consideration.  Before making the decision not to extend the existing contract, options to provide the services through third party contracts were considered and discounted due to the Council’s ability to directly award the contract to provide waste Services to its own company (vertical exemption) under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023.

The contract duration has been considered. Given the likelihood of changes in legislation, ways of working and infrastructure, an initial term of five years with the ability to vary the service agreement and individual Schedules, plus further options to extend by up to a further five years, affords the council maximum flexibility.

(Councillor Gareth Dadd was not present in the meeting room for this item)

Recommendation

That the Executive agrees to adopt the Parking Principles Document.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment presenting the draft Strategic Parking Principles which would provide an overall framework for how the council would approach parking strategy and management throughout North Yorkshire.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transportation introduced the report advising that these principles would replace the range of policies inherited from the former district councils which were currently in place.  Key themes of the principles included providing a value for money and customer focussed service reflecting local need and linking to other transport options and providing fairness across 170 car parks.  The principles would support town centres, reduce congestion, improve air quality and make communities more accessible and attractive. The council was committed to working with residents, businesses and other stakeholders as the principles were implemented.

The Corporate Director Environment, Karl Battersby, advised that local variations would be dealt with through local action plans, although there were some elements which would be applied across the whole county.  Conversations in relation to local action plans would commence in the autumn involving local Members and town and parish councils.

Councillor Chris Aldred spoke to welcome the report and requested further information on timelines, blue badge parking and disc parking schemes.  The Head of Parking Services, Steve Brown, provided further information in relation to multi-storey car parks in Harrogate in response to questions from Councillor Paul Haslam, and confirmed that in due course an app which would enable users to extend parking time in pay and display car parks would be re-introduced.  The Executive Member agreed to provide further information to Councillors Aldred and Haslam.

Resolved

That the Executive agrees to adopt the Parking Principles document.

Reasons for recommendations

The reason for adoption is to enable the planning and authoring of countywide policy where applicable and to create the necessary conditions to begin the local area action planning as already described.

Alternative options considered

The alternative to retain the existing approaches and not adopt a new policy is not feasible.

Recommendations

       i.         The Executive agrees to the application of grant funding of three million one hundred and seventy-five thousand and eight hundred pounds (£3,175,800.00) to support the Government’s Connect to Work Scheme (Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme) and in the event that the application is successful:

     ii.         That the acceptance of the Grant be delegated to the Corporate Director- Resources; and

    iii.         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 grant funding of £3,175,800.00 from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to support the Government’s Connect to Work Scheme, also known as the Get Britian Working Trailblazer programme.  Approval was sought for the application for the funding, and for acceptance of the grant to be delegated to the Corporate Director Resources in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Adult Services.

The Executive Member for Health and Adult Services introduced the report which described the Council’s proposals to deliver support to economically inactive groups facing barriers to employment.  The Corporate Director confirmed that the proposals built on pre-existing work carried out by the council helping people with mental health issues, learning and physical difficulties and advised that as Department of Work and Pensions terms and conditions still needed to be finalised delegated authority was sought to enter into the final agreement.

Resolved (unanimously)

1)    The Executive agrees to the application of grant funding of three million one hundred and seventy-five thousand and eight hundred pounds (£3,175,800.00) to support the Government’s Connect to Work Scheme (Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme) and in the event that the application is successful:

2)    That the acceptance of the Grant be delegated to the Corporate Director - Resources in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Adult 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.

Reasons for recommendations

The Executive is asked to approve the acceptance of the grant funding subject to the Grant Agreement being acceptable to allow the proposed activities to proceed. These are intended to support people to find and maintain meaningful employment, providing better outcomes for people and supporting North Yorkshire’s economy.

Alternative options considered

Not to bid for and accept the funding: this was rejected as the funding scheme provides external funding which provides the opportunity for the Council to deliver on multiple objectives, as above.

Recommendation

That the Executive note the urgent decision taken by the Executive Member for Finance on 21 July 2025 and note that the decision was urgent in order to allow cashflow headroom and allow the company time for sales to be received over the next few months. Additional loan headroom was required to ensure Brierley Homes could make all payments due in the event of some delayed sales.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Resources providing details of the urgent decision taken by the Executive Member for Finance and Resources to approve additional loan facility to Brierley Homes of £1.4m to enable the provision of affordable homes.  The decision was urgent in order to allow cashflow headroom in advance of sales being made over the next few months to enable payments to be made to suppliers.

The Corporate Director Resources, Gary Fielding, reported that whilst Brierley Homes had originally been established to deliver market housing it was now delivering more affordable and social housing and as a consequence its loan facility was inadequate.  The company paid the council interest above the Bank of England base rate, so delivered significant shareholder value to the council, whilst also delivering affordable housing in excess of policy requirements, so providing additional benefit.  It was confirmed that the additional £1.4m loan was at base rate without interest, thus enabling the policy value of the affordable homes to be realised.  The urgency had arisen due to a number of sales having fallen through in the preceding weeks, leading to a risk that suppliers wouldn’t get paid.  A further report would be brought to the next meeting of the Executive following a review of funding arrangements and cash flow management.

Resolved

That the Executive note the urgent decision taken by the Executive Member for Finance on 21 July 2025 and note that the decision was urgent in order to allow cashflow headroom and allow the company time for sales to be received over the next few months. Additional loan headroom was required to ensure Brierley Homes could make all payments due in the event of some delayed sales.

Reasons for Recommendation

To report the urgent decision taken on the 21 July 2025 to Executive in line with the Council’s governance process.

Alternative options considered

There are no other options as this report is informing Executive of an urgent decision that has been taken.

Recommendation

That the Executive appoints Councillor Annabel Wilkinson to the Shareholder Committee in place of Councillor Mark Crane.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services in relation to a change of substitute Member for the Shareholder Committee.  The Shareholder Committee is a committee of the Executive and appointments to it are made by and from the Executive.  Following recent changes to Executive a vacancy had arisen for a substitute member of the Shareholder Committee.

Resolved

That the Executive appoints Councillor Annabel Wilkinson as a substitute for the Shareholder Committee in place of Councillor Greg White.

Considered – The Forward Plan for the period 8 August 2025 to 31 August 2026 was presented.

Resolved

That the Forward Plan be noted.