To confirm the minutes of the Special meeting and the ordinary meeting held on 13 December 2023 (C.24 and C.25 - C.28), attached.

The decision:

That the minutes of the Special meeting and the ordinary meeting held on  13 December 2022 (C.24 and C.25 - C.28), previously circulated, be signed as a correct record.

Chief Executive’s Announcement

The Chief Executive, Dr Justin Ives, wished to thank all Members for their support during his time in office as Chief Executive. Dr Ives said that it had been both a privilege and an honour to be the Authority’s Chief Executive over the last 7 years.  The District Council had achieved some amazing projects such as the Treadmills, C4Di, Hambleton Skills Village, Maple Park Crematorium, the provision of 24/7 leisure facilities and the soon to be completed Everyman Cinema in Northallerton.  Dr Ives thanked all Members for trusting his advice and judgement and for taking risks.  Dr Ives also wished to thank all Officers for their hard work, dedication and support.  He wished everyone the very best for their future and hoped that the new Unitary Authority would take the very best of the eight local authorities to ensure the continued delivery of the best services for all residents.

The Chairman, on behalf of Council, thanked Dr Ives for his hard work and dedication and congratulated him on doing a superb job for the Authority.

Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman presented Long Service Awards to a number of staff: Catherine Briggs, for 40 years’ service; Sam Thompson, for 30 years’ service; Moira Robinson, for 20 years’ service and Leanne Dunning, for 20 years’ service.  The Chairman also presented a special retirement award to Judith McKenzie, for an outstanding 44 years’ service to the authority.

The Chairman presented a Long Service Award to Councillor Mrs Bridget Fortune for 20 years’ service as an Elected Member.

The Chairman announced that during his term of office he had raised a total sum of £955.45 in support of his chosen charity, the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.  Funds were raised at a staff fundraiser and a raffle held at the annual Civic Dinner.  Graham Cooper, a representative of the Charity, wished to thank Members and Officers for their support and for raising awareness of this charity.

Date of Meeting                     Minute Nos

7 February 2023                    CA.42 to CA.44

The Leader stated that, after almost 24 years as an Elected Member and 10 years as Council Leader, Hambleton District Council would be no more after 31 March.  There had been difficult and challenging times, not least during Covid.  The Leader firmly believed that continuation of the two tier system was the best way to deliver services and did not support the implementation of a Unitary Authority.  The Leader stated that he believed that the residents of Hambleton would suffer as a result of reorganisation and that he hoped the new Authority would continue the legacy of the District Council.

The legacy of the District Council included delivery of major projects such as the first crematorium in Hambleton; the loan to Broadacres; the Treadmills and Northallerton High Street development; multi-screen Cinema; major investment in the leisure centres and opening the first 24 hour gym facilities; the industrial estate at Leeming and Dalton and facilitating the new bridge/access road at Dalton and the new bridge and link road at North Northallerton;  LEP funding of approximately £18 million; sports villages at Sowerby and Northallerton; the Lambert Hospital providing hospice care and the most up-to-date Local Plan in North Yorkshire.  The Leader had also introduced  the Making a Difference Grants which had helped support many local organisation and communities.

The Leader stated that, it was not just about the projects that had been delivered, the staff, despite the challenging times, had always delivered high quality services with a customer focus.

The Leader wished to thank all the officers for their work at this authority who always go over and above to ensure the high quality services that the residents of Hambleton deserved.  The Leader thanked Members, both past and present for their continued support.

The Leader concluded by stating that all staff and Members should leave the authority at the end of March with heads held high and knowing that they had made a difference to Hambleton becoming a better place to live and work.

Councillor P Atkin, Leader of the Independent Group, also made a statement and concluded by stating that he hoped that the residents of Hambleton would not see a demise in services as a result of Local Government Reorganisation.

The Leader moved Cabinet minutes CA.42 – CA.44.

The Decision:

That the reports, resolutions and recommendations of the following meetings of the Cabinet be received, approved and adopted:-

(a)     Councillor P R Wilkinson, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Finance, wished to thank all officers for the delivery of all the Economic Development projects and schemes.  Councillor Wilkinson wished to thank the Leader for his strategic leadership and for making the District Council a business friendly authority, thus leaving a strong legacy.  The recent Business Awards highlighted what had been achieved as a team.  Projects included: Dalton Industrial Estate; Northallerton Prison Site (Treadmills); Northallerton Link Road; business engagement including delivery of grants; development and support of business groups; the Local Plan and the Heritage Hub.  Councillor Wilkinson also wished to acknowledge the support from the LEP.  Councillor Wilkinson concluded by saying that it had been a privilege and an honour to serve for the last 16 years and thanked officers and fellow Councillors.  It had been a real team effort.

(b)     Councillor P R Thompson, Portfolio Holder for Leisure made a statement regarding the Sports Village; Northallerton Sports Village; Leisure Centre upgrade at Stokesley; Wi-Fi in Bedale, Northallerton and Stokesley and the one year anniversary of the opening of the Maple Park Crematorium.  Councillor Thompson wished to thank all officers in the Leisure and Communities Team who had worked tirelessly to deliver excellent services in the award winning leisure facilities.  Councillor Thompson also wished to thank the Director of Leisure and Communities, Stephen Lister, for his support.  Councillor Thompson concluded by stating that it had been an honour and a pleasure to work with everyone and there was a legacy to be proud of.

(c)     Councillor Mrs I Sanderson, Portfolio Holder for Governance wished to thank all officers and Members for their support and hoped that she had ‘proved her worthiness to be called a Hambleton District Councillor and have served her residents’.  Councillor Sanderson stated that it had been a privilege and wished to thank all staff who had worked tirelessly to make the Authority function.

(d)     Councillor D A Webster, Portfolio Holder for Planning made a statement regarding the adoption of the Local Plan, which had passed through the period of judicial review without challenge.  No progress had been made on any Supplementary Planning Documents, and these would now be matters for the new Unitary Authority to take forward.  Staffing restructuring and recruitment was currently on hold pending Local Government Reorganisation.  With regard to Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, senior posts had been filled.  Councillor Webster concluded by thanking all officers within the Planning Department who had helped make his job very much easier.  He also wished to thank fellow Members, especially those on Planning Committee.  Councillor Webster wished to thank the Leader, Councillor Robson, for giving him the opportunity to be on Cabinet.  A question was asked regarding the location and frequency of Planning meetings in the new Authority which was responded to at the meeting.

(e)     Councillor S Watson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, Waste and Recycling wished to record his thanks to all Members and Officers for their continued support and efforts in  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.32