Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Dadd, Janet Sanderson, Malcolm Taylor and Greg White.

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 and provided the text to democraticservices.east@northyorks.gov.uk no later than midday on 27 July 2026, three working days before the day of the meeting. Each speaker should limit themselves to three minutes on any item. 

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

From Caroline Garrod

Cauwood is not just a service; it is a necessity for the disabled adults who attend and for the families who depend on it.

This centre is a lifeline for those who use it. It is the only one of its kind in the Ryedale and provides dedicated changing facilities, including the only fully accessible changing space in Malton. Cauwood also holds National Autism Accreditation status and offers gardens, sensory room, dedicated art room and breakout rooms. The main hall has access to the gardens, wildlife area and orchard, all of which are accessible.

The staff who dedicate their working lives to Cauwood are the heart of the centre. Their care, experience and commitment provide vital stability for the disabled adults and families who rely on them every day. Without them, that essential support would be lost.

The disabled adults of Ryedale need somewhere they can go each day where they feel safe, are cared for with dignity and respect, and can meet their peers and enjoy activities in a friendly, relaxed environment.

Not all disabled adults want to be out in the community. Some need the freedom and security of a safe space like Cauwood, where they can spend their days, use a sensory room, relax, be cared for and express themselves in ways that make them happy. A community setting does not meet everyone’s needs. Some struggle with noise and can feel overwhelmed in places such as cafes or garden centres. Others have physical disabilities that make being out in the community challenging, particularly in relation to personal care. Cauwood gives them the space, support and activities they need to enjoy their lives to their fullest potential.

As a parent, I ask you to listen to us and to other parents. Please engage with us and take the time to understand what we and the clients need. Do not make assumptions simply because the current trend is community-based day care. For many that is not always the right answer.

Cauwood was named after Reverend Cauwood, whose ethos and vision were to create a day care service to help support disabled adults. Let’s not forget that, especially as the service has worked and met the user’s needs for the past 35 years.

Over the past few months, we have spoken with former workers, people whose families used to use the centre, and other families of disabled adults who did not know Cauwood existed but, would like to send their loved ones there now and in the future. Please listen to the families, and let’s keep Cauwood in the way it was created for now and for future years.

By working together, we may be able to develop Cauwood into something even stronger and more impressive for the people who need it most.

My plea to you as councillors is this: please do not close Cauwood until parents have full knowledge and written confirmation of the proposed new location, so that we can agree together  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Councillor Keane Duncan presented the petition to the Committee.

Members were advised that the Save Cauwood petition had attracted 1,855 signatures and sought to protect the Cauwood service, either within its current building or a suitable replacement facility, and to safeguard specialist day care provision in Ryedale.

The campaign had focused on preserving the service, its specialist care provision, trusted staff and local accessibility, rather than solely retaining the existing Cauwood building. Campaigners had recognised from the outset that a suitable alternative premises could meet the needs of service users.

At that time of the Executive report considered in April 2025 regarding the proposed closure of Cauwood, no replacement building had been identified, and concerns had been raised regarding the future location of staff and the potential for redundancies. Families had expressed significant concern and the Executive agreed to pause the process and undertake consultation before reaching a final decision.

Councillor Duncan welcomed the consultation and the contributions of families, staff and the wider community, as well as the cross-party support received from councillors, town and parish councils and the local Member of Parliament.

The revised Executive report recommended closure of the existing Cauwood building, that the Cauwood service itself would continue from a new building-based facility in the Ryedale area, specifically Malton, retaining the Cauwood name and with the intention that the existing staff team would continue to deliver the service. This was welcomed as a positive development which would preserve the service, its identity, staff and specialist care provision.

It was suggested that the Committee recommend to the Executive that:

1.     Supports the action requested within the petition, namely “to protect the service Cauwood provides - whether in its current building or a suitable new one”

2.     Recognises the positive additions in the new executive report and commitment to a new Cauwood building following the consultation and community campaign

3.     Requests the Executive strengthens the recommendations to make it expressly clear that the current Cauwood building will remain open until an alternative site in the Ryedale area has been identified, is demonstrated to have the support of service users and their families, and is fully operational to guarantee the continuity of quality care

4.     Seeks assurance that any replacement provision delivers an equivalent (or improved) service, retains local access to a Changing Places facility, and ensures there is no reduction in the safety, dignity, accessibility or quality of care experienced by current service users

The campaign had begun out of concern that the Cauwood service would be lost altogether. The revised proposals were welcomed as providing reassurance that, while the building may change, the service itself would continue, subject to the safeguards outlined above.

Councillor Mason proposed the following amendment to point 4 of the recommendation:

1. Seeks assurance that any replacement provision delivers equivalent (or improved) facilities and services, that the level of accreditation currently held by Cauwood is maintained, retains local access to a Changing Places facility, and ensures there is no reduction in the safety,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Councillor George Jabbour had resigned his seat on the Howard Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor Duncan and seconded by Councillor Knapton that Councillor Steve Mason be appointed to the committee.

Decision

That Councillor Steve Mason be appointed to the Howard Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

Councillor Joy Andrews spoke to offer her and the Committee’s condolences to the parents, family and friends of those involved in a recent serious accident on the A170 near Pickering.

Councillor Andrews asked that road safety be added to the committee’s work programme as a matter of urgency to raise awareness to reduce or prevent as many accidents as possible in the future.

Members also asked for more information about suicide prevention and drug awareness.

Friday, 25 September 2026 at 10.00am.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Friday 25, September 2026 at 10.00 am.