Liberal Democrat councillors have called for the formation of a Harrogate Town Council once Harrogate Borough Council is scrapped.
The current two-tier council system in North Yorkshire is set to be replaced as part of the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s.
It means North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils — including Harrogate — will no longer exist.
The county council and the seven districts are submitting rivals plans to government on how a new single-tier structure should look.
Now, Liberal Democrat councillors have urged both Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, and Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, to include a town council for Harrogate as part of their plans.
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Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Lib Dems on the borough council, said:
“It seems almost certain now that the days of two-tier government are numbered and that the borough council will soon be dissolved, with powers and responsibilities transferred to a new unitary authority.
“I believe that it is essential that services that apply to Harrogate only are devolved to a local level and to do that we will need to form a new town council, along the same lines as Ripon City Council and Knaresborough Town Council.”
Cllr Geoff Webber, leader of the Lib Dems on the county council, also supports the move.
What would a town council do?
Town and parish councils run services such as community centres and play areas, as well as maintaining bus shelters. Councillors are elected to serve on them.
The councils can also charge a precept as part of council tax bills to fund the services provided.
Under its plans, the county council has promised further powers for towns and parishes in a move it describes as ‘double devolution’.
The district’s plan for an east/west model has also pledged to hand further powers to parishes, should they want it.
It would see the councils able to run services and take on additional responsibilities.
The Stray Ferret has approached both council leaders for a comment on the issue, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Devolution — the story so far
Councils are in the process of submitting plans to ministers on how they would shake-up local government in North Yorkshire.
County councillors voted to submit the authority’s single council plan on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Harrogate Borough Council, Scarborough Borough Council and Craven District Council have all backed submitting an east/west model.
Ryedale District Council, Richmondshire District Council, Hambleton District Council and Selby District Council voted on the issue last night.
Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, will decide on the government’s preferred option.
Whichever proposal he chooses, it will result in both the county council and the district and borough councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, being scrapped and replaced by one or more single-tier authority.
