The clock is ticking on the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council, which could leave Harrogate itself without any lower tier authority.
The borough council will no longer exist come April 1, 2023, as part of the biggest shake-up in local government since 1974.
This has led to calls for North Yorkshire County Council to create a Harrogate Town Council. But what is a town council, what powers will it have and how will it be funded?
What is a town council?
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 but they are not paid.
The councils can also charge a precept as part of council tax bills to fund the services provided, meaning there is a cost to the people they serve.
In the Harrogate district, there are town councils in areas such as Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Kirby Hill.
Because Harrogate does not currently have a lower tier council, it raises questions over what its boundaries would be.
What powers would a Harrogate Town Council have?
North Yorkshire County Council officials have promised further powers for towns and parishes in a move described as ‘double devolution’.
It would see the councils able to run services and take on additional responsibilities.
Council bosses have looked at areas such as Cornwall as an example of this.
Read more:
- Harrogate town council referendum will be held ‘as soon as possible’
- Harrogate town council: will it be created and what would it cost?
In 2009, Cornwall scrapped its six districts and county council and set up a single unitary authority — just as North Yorkshire is doing now.
In an effort to reach out to local areas, it started a process of double devolution to its 197 parish and town councils. This saw town and parish councils take on more assets and, in theory, given more control.
Truro City Council took over the city’s library, youth centre, sports hall and open spaces, such as Lemon Quay.
Other town councils opted for more modest bids and took control of art galleries and CCTV services.
If a town council is created in Harrogate, it would raise questions over what assets it could feasibly take control of, and what assets would remain with North Yorkshire Council.
How would it be funded?
Parish and town councils are largely funded through a local precept, which goes on top of general council tax.
Those who live in Knaresborough, Ripon and other parishes already pay a parish precept on their bills in addition to the precepts for North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Ripon City Council has frozen its precept for the average band D at £71.89 for the last two years, while Knaresborough Town Council set its share at £25.27.
Ripon Town Hall, where the city council sits.
People in Harrogate do not currently pay a parish precept. But they would if a town council is created in order to fund services it runs.
The more powers it took on as part of the double devolution agenda, the more its bills could increase.
Many of the town and parishes in Cornwall have taken control of car parks in order to raise money.
Should a Harrogate town council want to replicate the model in Cornwall, it could mean similar actions being taken.
When will a town council be created?
Some newly elected county councillors have pushed for action but no formal moves have begun yet.
Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Hookstone division, last week called for a town council to be created at “as soon as possible”.
Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.
In order to create a new parish, county council officials would have to begin a process known as a community governance review, which would be consulted on with the public.
Cllr Carl Les, leader of the authority, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently that it would be up to residents to decide if plans should go-ahead.
He said:
“I’m a great advocate of parish and town councils, and I do believe Harrogate and Scarborough would be well served if they had them.
“That said, it is for the people to decide whether they want them or not.
“I’m very keen that we start the process as soon as possible and we will go to the public in Harrogate and Scarborough at the earliest opportunity.”
With North Yorkshire Council not coming into existence until April 1, it is doubtful whether moves to create a Harrogate Town Council will seriously begin until then so it could be some years before one is up and running — if residents decide to create one.
