Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Resolved –

That the public Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2025, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and confirmed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors Carl Les and Gareth Dadd declared non-pecuniary interests in Minute 658 as they were Members of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

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 democraticservices.central@northyorks.gov.uk , and supplied the text by midday on Thursday 10 April, 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 Executive:

i)               approves the capital sum of £2,461,850 to be funded from the LGR Reserveto replace the current 429 P&D machines.  Included in this total is £400,000 to replace old sodium lighting with new LED heads and ageing lamp columns where necessary in the council’s surface car parks; and

ii)              notes that with the capital investment, an estimated annual saving of £587k is forecast to be achieved which will contribute to the £1.000m saving target included in the 26/27 financial plan.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment in relation to the requirement to replace the Council’s current stock of Pay and Display machines plus the barrier control systems in two multi-story car parks and to highlight capital funding of £2.062m required to replace the machines and generate an estimated saving of £587k per annum.  A sum of £400k was also requested to replace old sodium lighting with new LED heads and ageing lamp columns where necessary in the council’s surface car parks.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, Councillor Keane Duncan, introduced the report which presented an investment of £2.5m for car parks, which would deliver annual cost savings of £590k. All 430 pay and display machines in the county would be replaced with machines which would accept card, cash and app payments.  The new machines would be solar powered making them more reliable and better for the environment, would be easier to use and be ticketless.  Safety and security in car parks would be upgraded by replacing lighting with new LED lighting which would be more reliable and easier to repair.

Members welcomed the investment which provided an opportunity for the council to invest to save. 

Resolved (unanimously) – that

1)            approval be given for the capital sum of £2,461,850 to be funded from the LGR Reserveto replace the current 429 P&D machines.  Included in this total is £400,000 to replace old sodium lighting with new LED heads and ageing lamp columns where necessary in the council’s surface car parks; and

2)            it be noted that with the capital investment, an estimated annual saving of £587k is forecast to be achieved which will contribute to the £1,000m saving target included in the 26/27 financial plan.

Recommendations

1)    The Executive is asked to consider the information in this report and it is recommended that the Executive:

i)               accepts the extension of the current delegation of the Local Transport Functions from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority until 30 June 2025 and approves the delegation to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into any associated Agreement.

ii)              in the event that such delegation is granted, approves the delegation to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member Highways and Transportation, to accept the delegation of the Local Transport Functions from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for 2025/26 and, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into the associated Agreement.

2)    Subject to the approval of the above recommendation (i), it is further recommended that the Executive:

iii)             authorises the acceptance of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) 4 grant of £5,893,250 and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) of £1,039,698 from the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority and approves the delegation to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in conjunction with the Corporate Director for Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into the associated Agreement.

iv)             approves the outline plan for expenditure for the Council set out in Appendix A and approves the delegation to the Corporate Director for the Environment to agree the details of such expenditure and enter into the associated agreements.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment in relation to arrangements for the accepting of the delegation of Local Transport Functions from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).  Approval was sought for the acceptance of Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) 4 grant from the YNYCA and for the overall plan of expenditure for the associated Delivery Plan.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, Councillor Keane Duncan, introduced the report which requested a continuation of the delegation of some local transport functions to the council until 30 June 2025 and the acceptance of BSIP 4 funding of £5.8m and Bus Service Operator Grant of just over £1m, which would enable continued delivery of public transport functions.

In response to a question from Councillor Kevin Foster in relation to public transport issues in his division, the Executive Member advised that the funding described above was already committed.  Any issues should be raised directly with the Mayor and YNYCA as there would be a revised bus service improvement plan and any issues could be factored into future funding rounds.  It was confirmed that whilst the council was delivering the plan, the decision making and accountability remained with the Mayor and the Combined Authority.

Resolved (unanimously) – that

1)            the extension of the current delegation of the Local Transport Functions from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority until 30 June 2025 be accepted and the delegation be approved to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into any associated Agreement.

2)            the delegation be approved to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member Highways and Transportation, to accept the delegation of the Local Transport Functions from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for 2025/26 and, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into the associated Agreement.

3)            the acceptance of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) 4 grant of £5,893,250 and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) of £1,039,698 from the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority be approved and the delegation be approved to the Corporate Director for the Environment, in conjunction with the Corporate Director for Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), to agree the terms of and enter into the associated Agreement.

4)            the outline plan be approved for expenditure for the Council set out in Appendix A and approves the delegation to the Corporate Director for the Environment to agree the details of such expenditure and enter into the associated agreements.

Recommendations

1)    That Executive approve adoption of the Housing Improvement Plan (Appendix B)

2)    That Executive approve the draft Housing Improvement Strategy (Appendix C) to move forward to consultation with tenants and delegate approving adoption of the strategy to the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development providing an update on progress made toward compliance with the requirements of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.  Following the C3 Regulatory Judgement issued by the Regulator for Social Housing, the Housing Improvement Plan was presented for adoption.  The draft Housing Improvement Strategy was also presented for approval for consultation.

The Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers, introduced the report, referring to the council’s responsibilities as a social landlord responsible for nearly 8,500 homes.  As a social landlord the council was currently non-compliant with the legal requirements of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.  The council had referred itself to the Regulator for Social Housing due to concerns about the lack of data and aspects of health and safety requirements and was subject to a formal C3 grading meaning that significant improvements were required.

Significant work had already taken place to ensure compliance with the regulations including setting up a Housing Improvement Board, reinvigorating tenancy panels, work with Overview and Scrutiny and the development of new policies.  A Housing Improvement Plan had been developed, which Executive were asked to adopt, with delivery supported by £2m from the Housing Revenue Account. 

The Corporate Director Community Development confirmed that prioritisation of works would take place through monitoring complaints, proactive surveys of stock targeting those with known issues and looking at resident data indicating which might be at higher risk.  A viability tool would be used to look at the cost benefits of investing in a property and would highlight where demolition and rebuild may be more viable.

Resolved (unanimously) – that

1)    the Housing Improvement Plan (Appendix B) be adopted

2)    the draft Housing Improvement Strategy (Appendix C) be approved to move forward to consultation with tenants and approval of adoption of the strategy be delegated to the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing.

Recommendations

1)    To request approval from the Executive to authorise the acceptance of an offer for recoverable grant funding of £6,780,994.

2)    Approval is sought from the Executive to delegate signing of the final Grant Funding Agreement to the Corporate Director – Resources.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development recommending acceptance of recoverable grant funding of £6,780,994 from Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) Fund.  Approval was sought for delegation of signing of the final Grant Funding Agreement to the Corporate Director Resources.

The Executive Member for Open to Business, Councillor Mark Crane, gave an overview of the report as follows:

·       Strategic housing sites to the west of Harrogate were proposed to deliver approximately 2,000 new homes as detailed in the Harrogate adopted local plan

·       To ensure appropriate infrastructure, including new primary schools and roads, could be put in place to support the new homes before they were completed the government had offered an interest free loan of £6.7m.

·       The loan would only need to be repaid once the building and the section 106 agreements had been completed

In response to a question Nic Harne, the Corporate Director Community Development, confirmed that this funding had been possible because of the local plan led approach which provided a clear view of what housing would be coming forward. 

Resolved (unanimously) – that

1)    the acceptance of an offer for recoverable grant funding of £6,780,994 be authorised

2)    signing of the final Grant Funding Agreement be delegated to the Corporate Director – Resources.

Recommendation

Thatthe Executive notesthe reportand considersanymatters arisingfrom the workof thesix AreaCommittees,that meritsfurther scrutiny,review orinvestigationat acounty-level.

Considered–  A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services providing an overview of the key issues considered at a recent meeting of the six Area Committees. 

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Considered – The Forward Plan for the period 4 April 2025 to 30 April 2026 was presented.

Resolved

That the Forward Plan be noted.