North Yorkshire Council approved and adopted its new Housing Strategy 2024-2029. The council also approved a new Pay Policy for Senior Managers and the arrangements for School Admissions in 2025-2026.

Second Homes Council Tax Premium

The council approved the application of a 100% Council Tax premium on second homes from the 1st of April 2025. The premium on empty homes will come into effect on the 1st of April 2024.

This is intended to address the negative impact that the proliferation of second homes is having on communities in North Yorkshire.

In short we have a duty for the betterment and promotion of our communities. In some localities of this county we have communities which have been decimated by second homes with the resulting, unintended as they are, consequences on schools and other community assets. We all know the effects of this and this is one tool in this authority’s toolbox.

Selby District Local Plan

The council approved the latest draft of the Selby District Local Plan. This plan sets out the council's long-term strategy for new development in the area.

The plan has been controversial because the targets for affordable housing on new developments has been reduced. Councillor Derek Bastiman, Executive Member for Open to Business, explained that this was because of the high cost of building new infrastructure on new developments.

There are many ‘asks’ on development, alongside providing affordable homes new developments also have to provide and or contribute towards new infrastructure such as schools, transport improvements, community and health care facilities, with increasing costs as well new building regulations requirements to tackle climate change and mandatory requirements such as biodiversity net gain. This all imposes increased costs on development, and this is the changed economic circumstances to which I referred. In conclusion the 40% target that was contained in the Core strategy is no longer supported by the evidence.

Maltkiln New Settlement

The council resolved to submit the Maltkiln New Settlement Development Plan Document to the Secretary of State for examination. This is a significant development that has been planned for many years and will provide up to 4,000 new homes in the area.

The plan has been controversial because of the negative impact it will have on the surrounding villages.

Almost half the development land isn’t controlled by the developer any more, and about a quarter of it never has been. It looks like nobody checked this properly and just took the developer’s word as gospel. Surely the land issue has to be sorted out before going to the next stage. Otherwise the scheme risks being delayed by a lengthy legal battle.

Council Tax

The council approved a 4.99% increase in Council Tax from April 2024. This is the maximum increase allowed by the Government without triggering a referendum. 2% of this increase is ringfenced for Adult Social Care.

An amendment to lower the increase to 3.99% was defeated. The amendment pointed to additional money provided by the Government for social care, and the Conservative's manifesto pledge to keep Council Tax low.

“The Government’s manifesto commits to continuing to protect local taxpayers from excessive council tax increases.”

Revenue Budget 2024/25

An amendment to the revenue budget was approved that will see North Yorkshire Council commence investment in new council and/or social housing. The funding for this investment will come from the Council Tax premium on second homes.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The council agreed to adopt the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a framework for its future policies. An amendment to the motion from the Audit Committee was withdrawn and the recommendations of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee were approved.

Constitution

The council approved amendments to its Constitution relating to procedures for the acceptance of grants and to update the membership of the Standards and Governance Committee.

The council considered a number of changes to its rules on public questions and motions. It was agreed that public questions will continue to be allowed at most council meetings but that there will be a maximum time of 30 minutes for questions and that no supplementary questions will be allowed. It was also agreed that motions will be moved higher up the order of business and that the Scrutiny Board will decide which committee is the most appropriate to consider motions referred to it by the council. A six-month embargo on bringing matters back for review under Rule 14 of the Constitution was also approved.

The council also approved the creation of a new Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise the council's housing policies and services. Councillor Simon Myers, the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, explained that the new committee will meet the increased scrutiny requirements of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.

“The Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be able to cultivate putting customers back at the forefront of all conversations around housing. The board will be made up of the executive team of housing and communities, cabinet members, the chair of the newly forming Customer Assurance Board, and the two independent members.”

Town Council for Harrogate

A motion to create a Town Council for Harrogate was defeated.