The Liberal Democrat group on Harrogate Borough Council last night walked out of a special meeting on local government reorganisation, branding it a “waste of time and money”.

Councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the Lib Dems, said she “could not genuinely understand” why the virtual meeting called to submit a consultation response on how the future of North Yorkshire councils should take shape was needed as the authority had already made an official bid five months ago.

All seven Lib Dem councillors left the meeting halfway through in what the Conservatives described as a “stunt” – with council leader Richard Cooper accusing them of a “total abdication” of their responsibilities as councillors.

He said:

The government-run consultation follows an announcement last summer that North Yorkshire’s two-tier councils will be replaced by a unitary structure in order for the county to unlock a devolution deal.

Harrogate Borough Council – along with six other districts – has submitted a bid for two unitary councils split on an east/west basis, while North Yorkshire County Council is behind proposals for a single authority for the entire county.

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It was agreed last night that the council would submit two responses to the consultation – one in support of the east/west model and one opposing the single council bid.

A final decision on which path to take will be made by Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick this summer and subject to Parliamentary approval.

It is expected that any new unitary council would be fully operational from April 2023 with transitional arrangements and elections expected to be in place in 2022.

The consultation is open to anyone and will run until 19 April.

To have your say visit here.