Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from

·       Councillor Peter Lacey, substituted by Councillor Andrew Murday

·       Councillor Monika Slater, substituted by Councillor Steve Mason

·       Councillor Robert Windass, substituted by Councillor Yvonne Peacock

Resolved – That the draft Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2026 be taken as read and confirmed by the Chair as a correct record.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Melanie Carr of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (see contact details below) by midday on Wednesday 15 April 2026, 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 Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

Four public questions / statements were received as follows:

Olivia Rathbone - Arkengarthdale resident

The planned closure of Reeth Medical Centre is not simply a service change. It removes our only locally accessible primary care service.

This is not a failing practice. Reeth Medical Centre has been recognised as one of the highest-performing GP practices in the country. The issue here is not quality—it is the withdrawal of provision.  The consequences are predictable.

For many, travelling to alternative practices is not a realistic option, particularly in winter. Access to routine care will become significantly harder—and for some, effectively unachievable. The closure also removes dispensing services, creating an additional barrier to accessing medication.

Many of those affected are older and clinically vulnerable. Some live in sheltered housing in Reeth and rely on the practice being within walking distance. Without it, they face reduced access to care, worsening health, increased hospital admissions—or being forced to leave their community for higher-cost, council supported care elsewhere.

This is not just a healthcare issue—it will increase demand for adult social care, which this council is directly responsible for funding. That is a foreseeable system impact.

So this is not just about access. It is about system design, cost-shifting, and equity.  If patients cannot access primary care locally, they do not disappear from the system. They present later, sicker, and more expensively—through urgent care, hospital admissions, and social care.

If the current process were paused, there are alternatives. In Coniston, an interim GP service has been maintained while a long-term solution is developed. In Rotherfield, Sussex, the community bought the surgery building.

Our community is strong and resourceful. Dales communities already run essential services—from a post office to a filling station and more. We can be part of the solution and help sustain local provision, while reducing pressure on the wider system and on council-funded care. You can give us that chance.

So my question is this - What is the evidence that closing this practice will not lead to higher overall system costs and worse patient outcomes—and on what basis is that risk considered acceptable?

Gill Fawcett - Arkengarthdale resident of

Please help us save Reeth Medical Centre

There are a lot of people like me that are having sleepless nights. Some are devastated, wondering how they will get their medication or see their doctor, especially the old and those suffering with ME, Fibromyalgia and Long Covid. All this worry will aggravate their health. 

I am lucky and can still drive, but with advancing years I may not always be able to remain in the family home of 40 years, that I made with my late husband. Without a doctor I may now have to move away for healthcare, but where would I go?

There are a lot of people that can’t drive anymore and who don’t have family members living near. There is no public transport. We feel left behind. A neighbour said, ‘if there are no doctors, people are going to die’. 

Not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

Considered – The annual report of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NYSAB) for 2024-2025.

Adrian Green, Chair of the NYSAB introduced the annual report and drew attention to the Board’s strategic vision and priorities.  He went to provide an overview of the work undertaken and its delivery outcomes for the 2024-25 year.  This included:

·          The Board’s partners and use of local safeguarding partnerships.

·          The safeguarding data collected throughout 2024-25 in order to review practice and standards.

·          The statistics detailed in the report.

·          The events and activity undertaken during two Safeguarding Weeks held in June and November 2024.

·          The Safeguarding Adult Review policy refresh, and the number of reviews undertaken (8 legacy reviews and 6 new ones) and the themes emerging from them.

·          The work underway on a new delivery plan.

·          The new strategic priorities for 2025-28

It was noted that 18% of the desired outcomes of Section 42 Enquires were only being partly achieved, and Members queried when the figures for 2025-26 would be available to see if that percentage changed.  In response it was confirmed that the next annual report was likely to be published in late September 2026.

Attention was also drawn to the ethnicity data in the report which showed only a minimum of referred concerns were being raised from within other ethnic groups.  Members agreed this needed to be addressed.

Members recognised the potential impact of a GP practice closure on identifying issues within communities.  Adrian Green acknowledged that the most trusted gateway for people was a physical gateway such as a PG practice or medical centre.  However he drew attention to the growing use of social media and the benefits arising from its use and agreed Councillors could be used as a conduit for sharing information.

In regard to domestic abuse, Adrian Green confirmed the focus of the Board was on those abusers and victims with recognised care needs.

The Chair thanked Adrian Green for his attendance at the meeting, and it was

Resolved – That:

i.      The report be noted

ii.     The next Annual Report be added to the work programme for the committee’s meeting in January 2027

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director for Health & Adult Services providing an update on the current position, performance and ongoing review of the Living Well Service.

Chris Watson, Ad for Adult Social Care introduced the report outlining the contribution of the Service to the council’s prevention agenda.  He confirmed the ongoing review would reaffirm the service’s purpose and develop a sustainable operating model.

Members notes the reduction in core services and queried whether it was due to a reduction in budget.  In response it was confirmed:

·         There had been no uplift in budget for some time and therefore the number of staff had decreased as staff costs had risen. 

·         The drain on resources of some hidden/unexpected activity e.g. emergency support for those on the cusp of care

·         The impact on delivery as a result of a major incident

Councillor Steve Mason drew attention to the planned closure of Cauwood Day Service in Malton and the potential for an additional draw on resources it might bring.

Officers went on to confirm:

·         The Service was currently working with individuals on average for 10 weeks, but suggested a longer working period would be beneficial. 

·         The Community Anchor Organisations had limited core funding so were only able to deliver services to address low level less complex needs. Whereas the Living Well Service was best placed to meet the needs of those with higher levels of complexity.

·         The benefits arising from social and nature prescribing.

Members noted the objectives for the three phases of the ongoing Review and agreed they would like a further update once work had been completed to create a Target Operating Model for the next 5 years (Phase 2 Objective).

The Chair thanked officers for their update, and it was

Resolved – That

i.       The update on the Living Well Service Review be noted.

ii.      A further update on the progress of the Living Well Service Review be added to the  work programme for the Committee’s meeting in October 2027.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director for Health & Adult Services providing an update on the three major programmes of work within Health & Adult Services.

Natalie Smith, Head of HAS Planning introduced the report and provided a brief overview of the ongoing work on the three key programmes.  In particular attention was drawn to:

·         The development of a tool to strengthen practitioners’ ability to make complex decisions.

·         The four progressive stages of the trauma informed phase approach being introduced to reduce the long-term negative impacts of trauma across the life course

·         The Trauma Aware Leadership and Management training being delivered across the organisation.

·         The introduction of a new intensive Support Team in early 2026 and the ongoing exploration of a ‘Multi-Agency Team Around the Person’ approach (MATAP).

Members welcomed the update and were pleased to note the progress made across the three programme areas, in particular the expectation that a finalised model for MATAP would be in place by Autumn 2026

Resolved – That a  more in-depth update on the o finalised model for MATAP be brought to the Committee’s October meeting.

The Committee received a presentation from Josh Lumb, Head of intermediate Care on the performance of the Discharge Hub

Attention was drawn to the four discharge pathways and the Pre Covid vs Post Covid Comparison data.  Members noted the annual average increase between 19/20 and 25/26 of 19.9%.

It was confirmed that Pathway 0 included those patients who had a package of care in place prior to going into hospital, who would be returning to the same package of care after discharge.

Members discussed the minimal use of step-up step-down beds across the county, and it was confirmed that plans were underway to dramatically increase their usage.  Attention was also drawn to previously identified transport challenges in the twelve weeks leading up to Christmas, and it was confirmed these had now been resolved.

The committee noted they had been receiving fairly regular updates on discharges and agreed it remained an ongoing challenge for the authority.  It was therefore

Resolved - That a further update be provided at the committee’s meeting in October 2027

Councillor Caroline Dickinson, North Yorkshire Council’s Older People’s Champion introduced her annual report for 2024-25 which detailed her involvement in the many activities, events, and services available across the county, for the benefit of older people.

Members noted the volume of work undertaken by the Older People’s Champion and in particular discussed what more could be done to encourage an increase in the uptake of Pension Credit.  They also agreed it would be helpful if the annual report was circulated to all Parish Council’s as it would help promote the wide range of activities and events available across the County for older people.

The Chair thanked the Older People’s Champion for her work throughout the year, and it was

Resolved – That:

i.       The Annual Update for 2025-26 be noted.

ii.      The Annual Report to circulated to Parish Councils

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Health and Adult Services providing the Committee with an update on progress following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of Adult Social Care in North Yorkshire in 2025.

Abigail Barron, Corporate Director for Health & Adul Services introduced the report confirming the Action Plan consolidated all activity arising from the CQC assessment into a single, coherent programme of work.

Members welcomed the integration of CQC actions into existing practice, performance monitoring and assurance activity, to enable the required improvements to be delivered through business as usual and allow progress on those actions to be mapped through the directorate’s improvement journey.

Overall, Members were pleased to note progress across the board. in particular:

·         The strengthening of the Waiting Well Service

·         The improvements to Carers support

·         The strengthening of Advocacy capacity through a new contract

·         The ongoing inclusion work informed by Rural Health Needs Assessments

·         The ongoing work to reduce the delays in information sharing

Members also noted the Council’s contribution to shaping future CQC Assurance developments and it was confirmed that work would continue to look and regional and national trends.

The Chair thanked the officer for the update, and it was

Resolved – That:

i.    The progress made against the CQC Action Plan be noted.

ii.    The Directorate’s approach to preparing for future CQC assurance be endorsed.

iii.   Future progress updates be added to the Committee’s work programme for 2026-27

Considered – The draft work programme for the 2026-27 municipal year presented by the Senior Scrutiny Officer.

Members took account of the discussions on previous agenda items and agreed to add  the following progress updates to their work programme for their meeting on 19 October 2026:

·         Development of Living Well Targeted Operating Model

·         Development of Multi-Agency Team Around the Person approach (MATAP)  

·         Hospital Discharges

·         Progress against CQC Action Plan

Members also agreed to bring forward their NYSAB Annual Report for 2025-26 to their meeting on 18 January 2027.

Resolved – That the work programme document be updated as above.