Report of the Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee – July 2025

1. At the March Full Council revised arrangements for the operation of the council’s Scrutiny function were agreed (subsequently ratified at Annual Council) and it was resolved to establish a cross-party working group to lead on and oversee the work to embed a new way of working.

2. With support from Democratic Services, the working group has made good progress and I’d like to thank all involved for their time and effort in getting the new scrutiny arrangements up and running. The working group has discussed and agreed a draft Shared Vision for Scrutiny and a draft Executive / Scrutiny Protocol. The next step is for these to be shared for review by the Leader and Deputy Leader on behalf of the Executive.

3. The period between May and July has seen the three new scrutiny committees (Corporate, People and Place) hold their first meetings. There has inevitably been a transition period during which outstanding business from the predecessor committees has been concluded whilst discussions get underway with Executive Members and officers to help inform the committees’ work plans from September onwards. As well as identifying issues to come to formal committee meetings, these discussions have helped to identify topics that can come to informal briefing sessions or which could form the basis for Task & Finish Group work.

4. I am keen that over the coming weeks we document the new arrangements so that councillors, officers and residents are clear about how this all should work. The functioning of the new arrangements will be kept under review.

Corporate Scrutiny Committee

Corporate Services, Climate Change & Scrutiny Management Committee

5. At its 14 April meeting the committee received an update on progress with the delivery of schemes supported by the Combined Authority’s Net Zero Fund. CYC officers were joined by Combined Authority colleagues for a discussion on the process to update York and North Yorkshire’s Routemap to Carbon Negative and the draft York and North Yorkshire Retrofit Strategy. Members provided feedback on a range of issues which would be considered as this work progresses.

6. At its 12 May meeting the committee discussed the council’s draft Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and provided feedback to be considered as the strategy is finalised. Members reviewed the status of petitions received by the council and approved council motions and agreed the terms of reference for a Task & Finish Group on preparing for changes to sickness and disability benefits.

Corporate Services Committee

7. At the first meeting of the new committee on 9 June officers updated members on the status of two major projects – York Outer Ring Road and York Station Gateway – and comments were fed back to help inform a decision report to go to Executive in July. Members also agreed a proposal to establish a Task & Finish Group to help inform the shaping of budget proposals for 2026/27.

People Scrutiny Committee

Health, Housing & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

8. At its 2 April meeting the committee received an update on dental services across York and a report on Oral Health projects commissioned by Public Health in collaboration with the Integrated Care Board and other partners.

9. At its 21 May meeting members received an update on the implementation of a Trauma-Informed Care model within the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Members’ views were also sought on the Autism and ADHD Health Needs Assessment (HNA) prior to its publication

Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee

10. At its 1 April meeting the committee received updates on York Museums Trust’s performance during the year 2024/25 and on the work of the York Citizens’ Theatre Trust. Members also received an update on the work of the York Cultural Education Partnership, REACH.

11. At its 1 May meeting the committee received an update on the delivery of the ‘Clear Hold Build’ initiative in the Clifton area following its launch in March 2024.

People Scrutiny Committee

12. At the first meeting of the new committee on 11 June members discussed the creation of a work plan for the municipal year.

Place Scrutiny Committee

Economy, Place, Access and Transport Scrutiny Committee

13. At its 25 March meeting the committee received a high-level report on parking provision in the city and had an opportunity to discuss the retender of the Park & Ride contract, with a number of recommendations agreed.

14. At its 29 April meeting the committee received an update on how the Council prepares for emergencies and a number of recommendations were agreed. Members also received an update on the progress of the bags to bins project, challenges faced, and upcoming plans for implementation and reviews.

15. At its 20 May meeting the committee received a report on the council’s strategy for tree planting and tree maintenance, with a number of recommendations agreed. The committee also received a report on the council’s approach to managing the creation, implementation and tracking of Section 106 agreements, with a number of recommendations agreed.

Place Scrutiny Committee

16. At the first meeting of the new committee on 24 June members’ views were sought on the criteria to be used in allocating £500,000 under the council’s parks investment fund. The meeting was also used to discuss future workplan items in advance of an informal meeting in July.