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28
Apr 2023
Civic society backs creation of Harrogate town council
Harrogate Civic Society has backed plans to create a Harrogate Town Council.
A second consultation on whether to set-up a town council runs until May 5.
North Yorkshire County Council said in March the move would require 35,000 households to pay an additional council tax charge of between £40 and £60.
However, in its submission to the consultation the civic society said the establishment of a town council would mean key decisions could be made by local councillors “who live in the town”.
It added it would want to see the authority take on more powers over time.
The areas in Harrogate which would fall under the new town council.
Harrogate and Scarborough are the only parts of the county not to have a parish or town council.
The civic society submission said:
Read more:
- Second consultation to be held on whether to form Harrogate town council
- Just 3.5% responded to Harrogate town council consultation
- Liberal Democrats back creation of Harrogate town council
The group added it wished to work with the town council in future to “keep the town the jewel in the crown of North Yorkshire”.
Last week local Liberal Democrats came out in favour of the creation of a town council.
Eight Liberal Democrats, including former Harrogate borough councillors and current North Yorkshire councillors, signed a letter in support.
They said the move would enable locally-elected councillors to take control of assets such as off-street car parks, the Stray, Royal Hall, Sun Pavilion and Valley Gardens.
A total of 75% favoured setting up a Harrogate town council in last year’s first consultation but only 1,250 homes — 3.5% of those affected — responded. The low response rate triggered concerns about the validity of the response.
A second consultation into the creation of a town council will close next Friday (May 5). You can have your say here.
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