Executive members

The County Council's Constitution sets out how the Council operates. The council is committed to open government. The Executive, consisting of the Leader and six other Councillors, makes most decisions, but decisions about the budget and major policy framework are made by the full Council.

• Councillor John Weighell - leader of the council
• Councillor Carl Les - deputy leader, executive member for central and financial services, assets, IT and procurement
• Councillor Arthur Barker - executive member for schools, 16-19-year-old education, and early years provision
• Councillor Tony Hall - executive member for children's services, special needs, youth justice, youth service and adult learning
• Councillor Clare Wood - executive member for adult social care and health integration
• Councillor Don Mackenzie - executive member for public health and prevention
• Councillor Gareth Dadd - executive member for highways and planning services
• Councillor Chris Metcalfe - executive member for rural services, waste disposal, public passenger transport, trading standards, economic development, and library services

Overview and scrutiny committees

The Council has five overview and scrutiny committees which look into how effectively the Council is serving the needs of its communities and also scrutinise the work of the Executive. In addition, the scrutiny of health committee reviews matters relating to the provision of health services in the county.

• Care and Independence
• Corporate and Partnerships
• Scrutiny of Health
• Transport, Economy and Environment
• Young People

Area committees

The County Council has established seven area committees, each of which deals with County Council business within the area of one of the District Councils in the County: Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

These area committees comprise the County Councillors for each of the electoral divisions in the district, together with representatives of the District Councils, Parish Councils and other local bodies, who are co-opted onto the committees. The committees meet, every three months or more frequently, at venues in their areas. They have responsibilities for promoting key local strategies and over-viewing the effectiveness of public services in their areas; for a range of highways and rights of way matters; and for making grants to local bodies.

• Craven
• Hambleton
• Harrogate
• Richmondshire
• Ryedale
• Selby
• Yorkshire coast and moors

Other committees 

The council also has a standards committee, a planning and regulatory functions committee and four other committees.

• Audit
• Chief officers appointments committee
• Pension fund committee
• Planning and regulatory functions committee
• Standards committee

Councillors - general information

The County Council consists of 72 County Councillors each of whom represents the residents of one of the electoral divisions in the County.  Elections are held every four years, serving Councillors having been elected in 2009, except for those elected at subsequent by elections.

North Yorkshire County Council has a commitment to open government and freedom of information. Public discussion of our policies and the services we provide is an important part of effective local democracy. We therefore give as much information as we can to local people, the press and broadcast media. Including information about decisions to be made at future meeting in the Forward Plan.

You have a right to see decision making in action and the background information to Council decisions. In the great majority of cases meetings are open to the public throughout, but the Committee may resolve to meet in private when discussing personal details about individuals or commercial information about contracts.

Committee agendas, minutes and reports Access upcoming and previous committee agendas, minutes and reports here.