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28
Feb 2021
Devolution campaigns ramp up amid consultation
Two campaigns over the future of local government in Harrogate and North Yorkshire have ramped up this week.
Ministers launched a consultation on two models which have been proposed to replace the county’s two-tier council system.
It would see Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the remaining six districts scrapped.
Now, both the county council and districts are trying to get support for their models.
County model "key to devolution"
Earlier this week, the county council called journalists to a press conference on its model for local government reorganisation.
Both Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, and Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council, defended the choice of a single council in the county while keeping York in tact.
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Cllr Les said it was “key to unlocking devolution in the county” and that the authority was best placed to run services.
He said:
County council officials brought in accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to help draw up the model. It would cover 618,000 residents.
Officials said the move could save up to £68.5 million per year after the unitary council is created.
Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said it would also offer the chance for places like Harrogate to have its own town council.
He added that the new authority would offer “double devolution” to those town and parishes, which would mean they could run local assets, libraries and services such as licensing.
'Businesses support east\west split'
Ahead of the launch of the consultation, district council leaders said that hundreds of businesses backed their model.
The six councils have proposed an east/west split with two councils covering the county. It would see the City of York absorbed into an eastern authority.
Officials brought in consultants KPMG to carry out research and draw up an options appraisal before settling on an east/west split.
It would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.
More than 100 businesses have written letters of support for their model, including company owners from Harrogate and Skipton.
Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, speaking on behalf of the council leaders, said at the time:
Council leaders behind the models have maintained that the county's proposal is too big and would amount to a "mega council".
In a report on their model, district officials said they would create eight "locality committees" which would "keep decision making and delivery local and responsive to our diverse areas".
Consultation over councils future
Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, launched a consultation on the future of local councils in the county on Monday.
The consultation seeks the views of businesses and the public on both models proposed for North Yorkshire.
Mr Jenrick said he would make a decision on which, if any, proposal to approve following the consultation.
The consultation will last until April 19. Residents and businesses can give their views on the proposals here.
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