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13
Nov
Harrogate Reform councillor calls for council to prioritise potholes and bin collections
A Reform UK councillor has called on North Yorkshire Council to focus on essential services such as fixing potholes, cleaning streets and collecting rubbish as it faces mounting budget pressures.
Cllr John Mann, who represents Oatlands and Pannal in Harrogate, wants the council to reduce its financial risks and concentrate spending on what he describes as its “core statutory functions”.
The council's financial forecasts show annual funding shortfalls of £17m in 2026/27, £17.3m in 2027/28 and almost £25m in 2028/29.
It plans to use £59.3m of its reserves over the three years to balance its budgets if further savings are not identified.
Cllr Mann has submitted a motion for the next full council meeting on November 18, calling for a plan to eliminate the recurring deficit by the end of 2028/29.
North Yorkshire Council's headquarters in Northallerton.
He argues that the authority should concentrate its resources on services residents rely on, including street cleaning, pothole repairs, reliable bin collections, winter gritting and council housing maintenance.
He also wants a review of non-core activities and commercial ventures, including climate activities and the council-owned housebuilding company Brierley Homes.
Brierley Homes recorded a £7.8m loss in 2025/26, despite previously being forecast to make a modest profit.
The motion says: “Financial management must become more prudent both in-year and over the medium term.”
It calls on the council to produce a “clear, costed plan to eliminate the recurring deficit by the end of 2028/29 without further routine reliance on reserves”.
A full council meeting at County Hall, Northallerton.
Cllr Mann told the Stray Ferret that continued reliance on reserves to balance the budget was “not sustainable”.
His motion, seconded by fellow Reform UK councillor Mike Jordan, is one of six submitted for the November 18 full council meeting.
Whether it is debated in the chamber will be decided by council chair Cllr David Chance. Under the council's procedure rules, motions can be referred to a scrutiny committee rather than debated by the full council.
Cllr Mann has asked for his motion to be debated at the meeting, arguing that the council's financial position needs to be discussed while preparations for next year's budget are still under way.
He said:
I would be grateful if the motion could be debated in the chamber on the day rather than referred to another committee.
The motion concerns the council's medium-term financial position and the need for timely action to support the sustainability of reserves and core services.
Given that budget preparations for 2027/28 are already under way, an open discussion at full council would allow members to consider the issues while they remain current.
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