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20
Nov 2023
A Liberal Democrats councillor has called for elections to be held for a future Harrogate town council in May 2024 rather than 2025.
In July, North Yorkshire Council agreed to pause work on the new council to undertake a third public consultation about how it will be formed.
Harrogate and Scarborough are the only two areas in the county without a parish council and the council is creating them at the same time.
But the Lib Dems have raised concerns that another consultation will mean a longer wait for Harrogate residents to be represented on a town council.
Harrogate Town Council would have far fewer powers than North Yorkshire Council or the former Harrogate Borough Council but it could run some local services.
Cllr Philip Broadbank
Cllr Broadbank, who represents Fairfax and Starbeck, raised the subject at a meeting in Northallerton last week.
He asked if Harrogate could be treated separately from Scarborough and if the process could be speeded up so elections can take place in six months’ time.
Cllr Broadbank said:
However, his proposal was knocked by Conservative executive member for corporate services David Chance, who said a decision had already been taken by councillors in July.
Cllr Chance said:
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