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03
Jan
Looking ahead: Creation of Harrogate Town Council is just months away
Last year had its fair share of election drama — but the next 12 months may yet deliver the same.
The general election and mayoral election dominated the 2024 political agenda. And although the creation of Harrogate Town Council won't generate the same national coverage, locally it will be major news.
The devolution agenda which lit a bomb under the Harrogate district two years ago, by signalling the end of Harrogate Borough Council and the creation of North Yorkshire Council, moved local decision-making from Harrogate to Northallerton. It is hoped the new town council will fill the void.
The new parish of Harrogate will come into effect on April 1, 2025, with the first elections taking place a month later.
There will be 19 councillors on the town council who will each represent wards previously used by the defunct Harrogate Borough Council such as Saltergate, Coppice Valley and Valley Gardens.
But progress has not been smooth.
First, a disagreement over ward boundaries led to the town council creation being pushed back so North Yorkshire Council could re-draw the boundaries.
This led to three rounds of public consultation, which Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred branded a “waste of time”.
Lib Dem Chris Aldred (left) and Conservative Michael Harrison. Credit: LDRS
Conservative councillors were concerned about the proposal to charge households a precept on their council tax before the council had decided what it will do.
During a debate over the setting of the charge, Cllr Michael Harrison, Conservative councillor and member of North Yorkshire Council's executive, pressed for a lower figure to be levied on council tax bills.
He said:
I agree that there is a lot what the town council can do. But there is a responsibility for the tax to be as low as possible.
Councillors eventually agreed a budget that set the inaugural precept at £12.73 by four votes to three.
Heading to the polls
Despite the concern and delay, the town council will come into force in three months' time.
Voters will head to the polls and politicians of all colours will once again be vying for power.
Elections on May 1, 2025 will see 19 members elected to 19 wards on the council.
Each of these wards will represent an area of the town, such Harlow and St Georges, Saltergate and Fairfax and Starbeck.
The cost of the first election is expected to be paid for by North Yorkshire Council. However, subsequent elections will fall on the town council’s budget.
While it may not matter much beyond Harrogate, those inside the boundary of the spa town will be treading into uncharted waters with a new parish and a new layer of local government.
In four months' time its political colour will be known.
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