More than 100 businesses in North Yorkshire have backed an east/west model to replace the current two-tier council system in the county.
The proposal has been submitted to government by the six district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, as part of reorganisation plans.
It would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.
A rival model, submitted by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York, would see one unitary council for North Yorkshire with the York authority remaining in place.
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The government has told councils it will go to consultation on local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire and York this month.
Now, more than 100 businesses have written letters of support and backed the east/west proposal.
Among them is Kevin Towers, MCEO of Techbuyer which is based in Harrogate.
He said:
“We are a high growth employer, planning to add another 100 jobs in the next three years. We believe the east and west model will offer many advantages to local communities and the business sector.
“It will enable more place-based local government and joined-up thinking on planning, transport and development that will help promote and support sustainable growth. Our experience of developing new business units in a number of different countries suggests that this is the best route to success.”
Meanwhile, Alan Cutler, deputy managing director of The PEEL Entertainment Group, based in Skipton, said:
“Two equally balanced unitary authorities in the east and west will help maintain close connections between local government and businesses.
“Looking further forward to devolution, the east and west model would create a balanced combined authority, which will be more effective in delivering levelling-up and clean growth, attracting and retaining a younger workforce and expanding our strong skills base.”
Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, speaking on behalf of the council leaders, said:
“Our east and west model will help drive recovery from the covid-19 pandemic and build a better economic future for the whole area. It is the only proposal that delivers two equal partners to sit within a mayoral combined authority – which is important for the success of devolution.”
County plan would “cut through red tape”
Meanwhile, the county council has said its plan would help to support businesses across North Yorkshire.
In its plans, it said companies would “only ever need to deal with one council” and make the council more accountable.
It said:
“Businesses would only ever need to deal with one council. It would mean an end to having to deal with several councils with different roles and policies.
“It would be business-friendly and streamlined, with strong local services and systems – the same for businesses in Skipton as for those in Scarborough – and a single organisation responsible for economic development, housing, planning, highways, trading standards and other essential services.
“To ensure that there are decision-making powers on a local level, a single authority for North Yorkshire would work closely with parish and town councils, enabling them to run services, where they wanted to, that we would fund. We would put in place new ways of working with communities, understanding the issues and driving the change that is needed.
“The clarity of one council working for the public and businesses will make that council more accountable.”
Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough, added in an open letter that devolution was “essential in attracting investment, supporting business and protecting and creating jobs as we rebuild our bruised communities”.
He said the county council’s model would provide “strength, scale and experience” for North Yorkshire.
Mr Goodwill said:
“This way you would replace the current wasteful and confusing two-tier system of local government and create one council for the entire county working in partnership with the City of York to create a devolved authority under an elected mayor. It would be a powerful voice in the North.”
