Agenda item

Proposer: Cllr. Hannah Gostlow

Seconder: Cllr. Peter Lacey

 

Council notes that Community Transport provides essential, flexible, and locally responsive services across North Yorkshire, supporting independence, wellbeing, and social inclusion - particularly for older residents, disabled people and those experiencing isolation. It enables access to healthcare, education, employment, and social opportunities, and contributes to safer travel for all.

 

Provision varies across the county, with some communities experiencing limited or inconsistent access. Community Transport is most effective when community led, place based and supported through strong partnership working, with the Council acting in an enabling role. There is an opportunity to improve the consistency, visibility, and coordination of support across North Yorkshire, alongside wider regional transport work.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.            Request a report setting out the current Community Transport landscape across North Yorkshire, including:

·         existing schemes and coverage

·         current forms of Council support

·         links with health, social care, and other partners

·         alignment with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

·         gaps, inconsistencies, or barriers to sustainability.

2.         Ask officers to outline options for a strengthened Community Transport support framework, including:

·         improved coordination and information sharing

·         enhanced visibility of existing schemes

·         volunteer recruitment and retention

·         access to funding and external opportunities.

·         the potential role of commissioning or procurement, where appropriate

3.         Work with partners, including the Combined Authority, Integrated Care Board, and community organisations, to ensure Community Transport is appropriately reflected in emerging transport plans and pilots.

4.         Establish a cross sector Working Group comprising elected Members, relevant Council officers and representatives from the Community Transport sector and partner organisations, to support coordination, share best practice and shape proportionate, locally responsive recommendations.

5.         Report back to the relevant committee within 6–12 months with findings and recommendations that build on existing work and avoid duplication.

 

Impact considerations

This motion is not expected to create significant new cost pressures, but rather to strengthen understanding, coordination, and the effectiveness of existing activity.  It also recognises North Yorkshire Council’s previous investment in Community Transport, ensuring that this valuable foundation is not lost but brought back into the current conversation - linking past initiatives with emerging approaches to shared and demand responsive transport, and maximising social value through collaboration and community benefit.

 

As mentioned, this motion has been viewed and discussed by officers prior to submission, ensuring alignment with current workstreams and that proposals complement existing commitments.

 

In aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it reinforces the Council’s commitment to fair, inclusive, and sustainable transport - contributing locally to global objectives for climate action, equality, wellbeing, and partnership working.

 

I feel it supports:

·         Climate objectives (SDG 13 – Climate Action) by encouraging shared and demand responsive transport, reducing reliance on private car use

·         Equality and rural inclusion (SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities) by addressing disparities in access to transport

·         Health and wellbeing (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well Being) through improved access to services and reduced isolation

·         Local economic participation (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth) by supporting access to employment and services

·         Social value and community transport (SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals) by building on existing community led transport initiatives and ensuring investment delivers wider public benefit.

 

This motion was referred from the Council meeting on 20 May 2026 to Scrutiny Board and then to the meeting of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6 July 2026.

 

Council were requested to consider the recommendation of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee following consideration of a Notice of Motion which had been referred from the Council meting on 20 May 2026 to the Scrutiny Board and then the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The motion stated:

 

Council notes that Community Transport provides essential, flexible, and locally responsive services across North Yorkshire, supporting independence, wellbeing, and social inclusion - particularly for older residents, disabled people and those experiencing isolation. It enables access to healthcare, education, employment, and social opportunities, and contributes to safer travel for all.

 

Provision varies across the county, with some communities experiencing limited or

inconsistent access. Community Transport is most effective when community led, place based and supported through strong partnership working, with the Council acting in an enabling role. There is an opportunity to improve the consistency, visibility, and coordination of support across North Yorkshire, alongside wider regional transport work.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.     Request a report setting out the current Community Transport landscape across North Yorkshire, including:

·       existing schemes and coverage

·       current forms of Council support

·       links with health, social care, and other partners

·       alignment with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

·       gaps, inconsistencies, or barriers to sustainability.

2.     Ask officers to outline options for a strengthened Community Transport support framework, including:

·       improved coordination and information sharing

·       enhanced visibility of existing schemes

·       volunteer recruitment and retention

·       access to funding and external opportunities.

·       the potential role of commissioning or procurement, where appropriate

3.     Work with partners, including the Combined Authority, Integrated Care Board, and community organisations, to ensure Community Transport is appropriately reflected in emerging transport plans and pilots.

4.     Establish a cross sector Working Group comprising elected Members, relevant Council officers and representatives from the Community Transport sector and partner organisations, to support coordination, share best practice and shape proportionate, locally responsive recommendations.

5.     Report back to the relevant committee within 6–12 months with findings and recommendations that build on existing work and avoid duplication.

 

Impact considerations

 

This motion is not expected to create significant new cost pressures, but rather to strengthen understanding, coordination, and the effectiveness of existing activity.  It also recognises North Yorkshire Council’s previous investment in Community Transport, ensuring that this valuable foundation is not lost but brought back into the current conversation - linking past initiatives with emerging approaches to shared and demand responsive transport, and maximising social value through collaboration and community benefit.

 

As mentioned, this motion has been viewed and discussed by officers prior to submission, ensuring alignment with current workstreams and that proposals complement existing commitments.

 

In aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it reinforces the Council’s commitment to fair, inclusive, and sustainable transport – contributing locally to global objectives for climate action, equality, wellbeing, and partnership working.

 

I feel it supports:

·       Climate objectives (SDG 13 – Climate Action) by encouraging shared and demand responsive transport, reducing reliance on private car use

·       Equality and rural inclusion (SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities) by addressing disparities in access to transport

·       Health and wellbeing (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well Being) through improved access to services and reduced isolation

·       Local economic participation (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth) by supporting access to employment and services

·       Social value and community transport (SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals) by building on existing community led transport initiatives and ensuring investment delivers wider public benefit.

 

Proposer – Councillor Hannah Gostlow

Seconder – Councillor Peter Lacey

 

The recommendations of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee were set out in the report at page 29 of the agenda and in the Minute Book at page 6107 and were that:

 

(a)   That the original Motion as written regarding Supporting and Strengthening Community Transport is not upheld

 

(b)   That a letter is sent to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority requesting that the issues raised within the Notice of Motion be considered as part of the future policy and strategy for Public and Community Transport, and the ongoing work to transfer the responsibility for the funding and delivery of the service from 1 April 2027. It is recommended this letter is signed by all group leaders, and

 

(c)   That the correspondence (set out in b) be circulated to the members of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority overview and scrutiny committee, to inform future scrutiny in Community Transport following the transfer of responsibilities.

 

The motion was moved by Councillor David Staveley and seconded by Councillor Derek Bastiman.

 

The mover of the original motion, Councillor Hannah Gostlow, then spoke in support of the original notice of motion.

 

On a vote being taken 52 members voted for the motion, 15 voted against and there were 8 abstentions.  The recommendations of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee were declared carried and the original motion was not upheld.

 

(Councillor Yvonne Peacock declared an interest and left the meeting room during consideration of the item)