Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mason, who was substituted by Councillor Hook.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see the attached sheet for further guidance for Members.]

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on the agenda if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

Councillor Nelson declared an interest in item 5, Neighbourhood Model Update, in that her husband was a social worker at City of York Council (CYC).

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Monday, 6 October 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2025.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2025 be approved as a correct record.

This report updates the Committee on work taking place towards implementing a neighbourhood working or ‘Integrated Neighbourhood Team’ (INT) Model. The model aims to deliver improved outcomes for individuals, for communities, and for the wider system of services in the city.

The Director of Housing and Communities and Assistant Director, Customer, Communities and Inclusion presented the report and noted that efforts had now moved on from design principles to building the Neighbourhood Model, in which the main aim was to ensure joint up local services and closer working together.

In response to questions from Members, the Director of Housing and Communities and Assistant Director, Customer, Communities and Inclusion confirmed that:

·                 Funding through the Housing Estate Improvement Programme (HEIP) was no longer available and had instead been replaced by funding available through the Neighbourhood Improvement Plan. Proposals would come through officers and members where necessary for local improvement priorities.

·                 There was an intention for community involvement to be included in the plan shortly and would grow organically and differently through differences in areas of the city.

·                 Areas of the city as identified in the plan were not finite - if transport would be needed then sustainable transport options would be considered, and it was advised that someone in the East area could access services in other areas if it were geographically preferable. It was understood that people, especially in more rural areas, would need to travel for some services.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities highlighted that residents and councillors had the opportunity to identify schemes within communities, as done previously with funding through HEIP.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care advised that some areas would need different services than other areas dependent on health needs among other reasons and as such work was ongoing with different areas to highlight necessity.

Members and Officers discussed the report and feedback was provided. The following points were made:

·                 Local estate Walkabouts needed to be better aligned, and work was continuing to ensure closer working between services.

·                 Residents in greater and more rural areas would need support as a large amount of travel may be required.

It was resolved that:

i.                The People Scrutiny Committee would request an update from Officers detailing the difference in responsibilities between Estate Workers, Public Realm, and Neighbourhood Caretakers, and that details of staffing levels and capacity of each team, with a geographic breakdown,

Reason:

·                 To ensure that members and ward councillors can see what coverage there is in their respective areas and enable the public and members to understand what can be done overall to tackle street level issues.

ii.               The People Scrutiny Committee would request an update from Officers on access to the Neighbourhood Improvement Plan.

Reason:

·                 To ensure that tenants and members can apply for funding improvements in their respective areas.

iii.             The People Scrutiny Committee noted the progress made on workstreams and considered any comments or recommendations for consideration in the November report to Executive.

Reason:

·                 To enable Scrutiny to contribute to the development of the Neighbourhood Model ahead of further work and reporting to Executive.

[The Committee adjourned from 6:40pm to 6:45pm]

This report outlines the approach taken to develop a new Adult Social Care Strategy for 2025-2028.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care presented the report and noted that the strategy had been created with every resident in mind in order to allow them to live with dignity. It was acknowledged that CYC was currently underway on working on many of the next steps.

The Corporate Director of Adult Social Care highlighted that consultation had been extended and was open for a long period of time to receive feedback.

In response to questions from members, the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care, and the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care confirmed that:

·       Valuing carers was important, and involvement of the carers action group had been sought through the strategy. As many carers didn’t identify as carers more work could be done to improve the knowledge of support available to them.

·       Much of the vision contained within the strategy was statutory, and Best Value guidance would be considered when considering all social care needs.

·       Feedback from the formal adult social care questionnaire continued to be sought on a continuous cycle. The questionnaire as seen on page 42 of the agenda showed a snapshot of the data at the time of reporting. Feedback had also identified the need for a workforce development strategy.

·       One main goal was for people’s safety, but it was understood that this might not be people’s first priority as people may take risks in order to live more independently etc.

·       SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals would follow in the next steps of the plan.

It was resolved that the People Scrutiny Committee:

i.                Supported the vision, commitments, approaches, and priorities outlined in the Strategy.

Reason: To allow a shared understanding of direction and purpose of Adult Social Care across the system.

ii.               Supported publication of the Adult Social Care Strategy.

Reason: To enable clear communication of the city’s vision and priorities for adult social care.

iii.             Supported the next actions.

Reason: To enable clear accountability for implementation and delivery on the strategy and ensure continued involvement from interested parties.

This report presents York Learning’s end of year performance against their strategic aims for the academic year 2024/25.

The Head of Adult Learning Service - York Learning presented the report and noted that the plan was based on an accountability agreement which must be agreed, before academic year, with the Executive. The Report showed how York Learning performed against the accountability agreement, and how government funding was used to achieve objectives.

The Head of Adult Learning Service - York Learning reported that Trailblazer was a project to help people with issues through health, access, and/or get back into work. York Learning help by investigating work vacancies and in helping develop CVs.

In response to questions from members, the Head of Adult Learning Service - York Learning confirmed that:

·       Working with teachers from York College to teach learners in specific subjects to introduce a familiar face. To this end, cyber security was being taught to combat a gap in the job market for cyber security.

·       York Learning are also providing a pathway via trailblazers for post-16 age education who are currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and who don’t suit college education – which is a group of people where there was a lack of funding for.

·       Development within York Learning had been made to ensure the organisation was best placed for supporting those whose achievements had been affected by mental health issues.

·       Regarding functional skills maths achievement results, York Learning were working nationally with Government bodies and exam boards on different wording of questions to ensure that level 2 maths questions are written in level 2 English (equivalent to GCSE level).

·       Bootcamps fit a specific funding stream and identified skills need which would be funded by the Government, and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Bootcamps did not run if they didn’t fit the right criteria.

Resolved:

·       That the People Scrutiny Committee considered the Strategic/Service Plan, as seen in the agenda, and approved it.

Reason: To help monitor the service and provide sound governance arrangement for York Learning Services.

To consider the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year 2025-2026.

Resolved: That Members considered the Committee’s workplan for the current municipal year.

Reason: To keep the committee’s work plan for the 2025/26 municipal year updated.