Agenda item

Report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

Purpose of the report:  To ask Members to consider, amend and add to the Committee’s work programme.

Committee Work Programme:

Considered – The report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager that

invited Members to consider, amend and add to the Committee’s work programme.

Mark Codman (Democratic Services) provided an overview of the Committee’s current work programme. He advised that he was still pursuing the Member visit to Bilton Water Treatment Works and was awaiting confirmation from Yorkshire Water.

Climate Change Working Group Update

The Chair invited Councillor Paul Haslam, Chair of the Climate Change Working Group to provide an update/presentation:

-        Cllr Haslam emphasised the importance of climate change action and advocated volunteers to be climate change champions and take on any action suitable to furthering the climate change agenda. The presentation then detailed the Councils developing Local Plan and how critical it was that every opportunity was taken to include climate change objectives within the plan.

Bathing Water Quality Working Group Update

The Chair of the group Cllr Hannah Gostlow confirmed that the group had not met since the last Committee meeting

Station Gateway Working Group Update:

The Station Gateway Working Group had not yet met, Cllr Aldred proposed that a formal meeting of the group be organised for as soon possible after the next Executive meeting (Tuesday 28 November 2023).

o   Members voted unanimously for the proposed motion.

The Voluntary and Community Sector Working Group

The Chair of the Voluntary and Community Sector Working Group Cllr Peter Lacey provided an update. He stated that the group had met with Officers in Localities and reviewed funding arrangements, including routes to funding and the slides were circulated. Cllr Pater Lacey confirmed that the group had been assured that funding was being rolled over and that reviews were ongoing. The group had requested details of the outcomes of the reviews and the arrangements for a community anchor organisation in Harrogate.

Cllr Walker raised concern over public safety issues regarding the collapsed wall on Briggate in Knaresborough, there had been a lack of action to rectify the situation and residents were very concerned that they would be an accident caused by the collapse

-        In response Mark Codman gave the following statement on behalf of the Council:

-        “Officers are aware that Council Walker has raised this with Mr Battersby, the corporate director for environment, Mr Battersby has provided Councillor Walker with a detailed response offering assurances that the team are working diligently with the utility companies and contractors to ensure works are coordinated appropriately. Councillors should be advised that whilst we cannot avoid emergency road works there is a coordinated embargo on strategic route restricting planned utility works from taking place across Harrogate and Knaresborough this embargo commences from 27th of November. Current utility Works in Knaresborough will be complete by Monday the 27th of November, the wall repair at Briggate will commence from Monday the 27th of November to ensure the safety of Highway users the highways team are not able to remove the lights until the wall repair is complete which is why this work has been granted an exception to the Christmas restrictions. The team are aware of the Christmas activities and will ensure the signals are manually control during the Knaresborough market event times to support the movement of traffic. The local highways team are consulted on the events and work with the event organizers to ensure events can take place safely on or in the vicinity of the new highway as well as take into consideration any impact these may have on the wider Network. Thank you.”

Mark Codman confirmed that he was following up the request to discuss the Urgent Care strategy made at the last meeting and to invite representatives from Urgent Care and Harrogate Foundation Trust.

Resolved – 

Members noted the current work programme with amendments.