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02
Aug 2022
Council leader 'shares disappointment' over lack of HCC funding in devolution deal
The leader of North Yorkshire County Council has said he shares disappointment that funding for Harrogate Convention Centre has not being included in a £540 million devolution deal.
Cllr Carl Les said a bid for funding to support a £47 million HCC redevelopment was included in a request to government, but was turned down.
His comments come as Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, told the Harrogate Advertiser that while he supported the deal, he felt it “fell short” due to a lack of funding for the facility.
The borough council has since had to draw up a bid to the government’s levelling up fund in an effort to support the project.
Cllr Les told the Stray Ferret that the county council would continue to work with the borough council to secure funding for the facility.
He said:
Cllr Les added that the county council “recognised the importance” of the convention centre.
Historic deal
A historic £540 million devolution deal for North Yorkshire and York was announced by government yesterday.
The deal includes £18 million of guaranteed government cash for 30 years and it will also mean the county gets an elected mayor and combined authority.
Read More:
- Have devolution fears that Harrogate will be voiceless come true?
- Mayor for North Yorkshire agreed in £540m historic devolution deal
The agreement has been described as “a one-in-a-generation chance to help tackle regional inequalities by not only reducing the North-South divide nationally, but also helping to resolve economic differences that are being felt between urban and rural areas”.
Speaking after signing the deal in York yesterday, chief secretary to the treasury, Simon Clarke said:
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