A Harrogate councillor has claimed Ripon City Council’s bid to take control of the city’s town hall and market square is a “done deal” despite the process not being completed yet.

At a full meeting of North Yorkshire Council in Northallerton today, Cllr Chris Aldred, who represents High Harrogate & Kingsley for the Liberal Democrats, asked Conservative council leader Carl Les why he was recently quoted in local media saying he “would be amazed” if Ripon wasn’t selected for the double devolution pilot — even though final recommendations are still to be brought before councillors.

Cllr Les’s comments, which were made to the Stray Ferret earlier this month. followed the decision by independent Ripon Minster & Moorside councillor Andrew Williams to join a new Independents and Conservatives group on NYC.

Cllr Williams, who is also leader of Ripon City Council, has previously denied a deal has been struck with the Tories to shore-up the party’s control in Northallerton in return for Ripon being selected in the pilot.

Cllr Aldred said: 

Cllr Les responded: 

He added:

Cllr Les said that 12 bids from town or parish councils have been received with up to six moving forward to the pilot stage, which are expected to begin next year.

Read more:

• Ripon councillor rejects ‘Tory puppet’ accusations


• Ripon Independent councillor Andrew Williams joins Tory alliance


• ‘Ripon did not want a Tory and now they have one’, claims councillor