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23
Jul 2021
Harrogate council CEO: Authority is committed to projects despite devolution
The chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council has said the authority will press ahead with its investment projects despite the government deciding to abolish the authority in two years time.
The decision is a seismic change for the district and raised key questions over the borough council and the future of its projects, in particular the potential £46.8 million renovation of the town’s convention centre.
On Wednesday, Robert Jenrick MP, secretary of state for local government, announced that a single super council will be set up in North Yorkshire by April 2023 - which means the borough, county and other district councils will all be scrapped.
The Stray Ferret requested an interview with Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, on the implications of the announcement on the authority, but did not receive a response. The council later said he was unavailable.
However, Mr Sampson has now said the council is committed to delivering on a number of its projects.
In response to the decision, he said:
Read more:
- What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
- The key questions facing Harrogate after devolution
But, Mr Sampson did not address the future of HBC's Knapping Mount headquarters, the investment in the convention centre or the destination management organisation.
Previously, the council has said that no final decision will be made on the refurbishment of the convention centre until 2022 and that reorganisation and the investment “are two entirely separate things”.
Mr Sampson told the Stray Ferret in March that the reorganisation would not affect the use of the civic centre.
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