The North Yorkshire Council Executive was scheduled to meet on 7 October 2025 to discuss options for Richmond Swimming Pool, respond to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Boundary Review Consultation, and review feedback from area committees. The agenda also included a review of the forward plan.

Richmond Swimming Pool Options Appraisal

The Executive was asked to consider the findings of an options appraisal for Richmond Pool, which had been closed since April 2025 after sections of the wooden ceiling became loose and fell into the pool hall.

The report set out several options:

• Undertake essential works only and reopen the pool
• Undertake essential works with refurbishment of changing rooms and accessibility improvements
• Reconfigure the teaching pool to increase health and fitness offer
• Reconfigure to remove both pools and increase health and fitness space and flexible space
• Decommission and demolish
• Dispose of the site for sale/long lease

The report noted that usage of Richmond Pool was lower than other council pools, and that the nearby Catterick Leisure Centre met much of the core leisure needs of the local population. A consultation received over 2200 responses and a petition showed strong feelings about the potential closure of the pool and widespread support for reopening it with essential repairs.

The report recommended that essential repairs are undertaken to a value of approximately £1.2m, funded from the Strategic Capacity Unallocated reserve, to enable Richmond Pool to reopen to the public.

Response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Boundary Review Consultation

The Executive was asked to approve the submission of the Boundary Review Member Working Group's (BRMWG) recommendations to the Boundary Commission on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England¹ (LGBCE) is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements. The BRMWG broadly viewed the latest changes as an improvement, but raised concerns about the three divisions proposed for Ripon, which divide the historic city centre and align it with entirely rural areas to the south, and parish areas where grouped parishes have not been recognised in proposals.

The BRMWG made the following recommendations:

• Align Appletreewick and Barden Parishes within the Upper Wharfedale and Upper Nidderdale division.
• Review whether the A61 and River Skell provide a more sensible boundary for Ripon Cathedral and Spa Division.
• The Commission should consider whether the area to the south of the A64 should remain within Sheriff Hutton and Derwent, consistent with the other villages along the A64 corridor.
• Amend the Commission's draft recommendation to take into account that Haverah Park-with-Beckwithshaw is a grouped parish council, comprised of 2 civil parishes including Haverah Park which needs to be allocated at least 1 councillor seat.
• Alter the division boundary lines to ensure that the parishes of Tockwith and Wilstrop sit in the same division.
• Ensure that Whitwell-on-the-Hill parish and Crambe parish sit in the same division
• Consider altering the North Yorkshire Council division boundary lines to ensure that the parishes of Barden and Appletreewick sit in the same division, namely that Barden moves into Upper Wharfedale and Upper Nidderdale.
• Consider altering the North Yorkshire Council division boundary lines to ensure that the parishes of Bolton-on-Swale, Ellerton-on-Swale and Scorton sit in the same division, namely that Ellerton-on-Swale moves into Brompton and Scorton.

Area Committee Feedback Report

The Executive was asked to note the report and consider any matters arising from the work of the six Area Committees, that merit further scrutiny, review or investigation at a county-level.

The key issues considered at recent meetings of the Area Committees were:

• Harrogate and Knaresborough AC - Transport connectivity, local congestion issues, crime prevention, youth engagement, the proposed devolution of Knaresborough Market to Knaresborough Town Council, and the Section 19 report on the 2024 Knaresborough flood².
• Skipton and Ripon AC - An update from RT Hon Julian Smith MP, the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee Annual Report 2024/25, a verbal update from the Chairman of the Skipton Youth Council, a report on the Nidderdale National Landscape Plan, a presentation on the North Yorkshire Council Strategic Parking Principles, and a presentation providing further details of the Council's Destination Management Plan.
• Scarborough and Whitby AC - An overview of the work of the Combined Authority from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, an update from local MP Alison Hume on the Langdale Moor Fire, future options for Whitby Cliff Lift, and an update on the Playing Pitch Strategy, Built Sports Facilities Strategy and Leisure Investment Strategy.
• Thirsk and Malton AC - Public questions, a written update from Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP and Kevin Hollinrake MP, an annual update of the work of the Community Safety and CCTV service, an update on the Howardian Hills National Landscape management plan, a verbal update on the Town Investment Plan (TIP) for Malton and Norton, and a briefing paper on banking and cash handling services.
• Richmond (Yorks) AC - A petition in support of keeping Richmond Swimming Pool open, a presentation from a representative of Yorkshire Water, and a briefing paper on banking and cash handling in the area.
• Selby and Ainsty AC - A public question, a written update from Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP and Keir Mather MP, a report recommending that the Committee proposes to Executive that they recommend to Full Council that the New Settlement (Maltkiln) DPD and accompanying Policy Map, incorporating the Inspector's recommended Main Modifications, are adopted, and a briefing paper on community centres in the area.

Forward Plan

The Executive was presented with the Forward Plan for the period 5 September 2025 to 30 September 2026, outlining decisions likely to be taken by North Yorkshire Council in the following 12 months.