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13
Dec 2021
North Yorkshire parish councils will not have to cover early election costs
The leader of a council undergoing its biggest transformation in almost half a century has said “common sense has prevailed” after all seven of North Yorkshire’s borough and district councils have agreed to fund next year’s parish council elections.
North Yorkshire County Council leader Councillor Carl Les was speaking after it emerged Richmondshire District Council had joined the six other second-tier authorities in the county in taking on the extraordinary and unexpected cost of parish council elections next year.
It had previously been agreed parish councils with contested seats should hold their elections a year early next May to bring their polls into line with ones for North Yorkshire’s new unitary authority and save taxpayers money.
However, parish councils had been told some by some district authorities they would face charges for the election despite having little time to raise funding.
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Some parishes had stated due to their lack of resources they faced having to double their tax demand from residents to cover the election, which it was claimed had been “foisted” on them by the county council.
Despite the potential charges being levied by district and borough councils, the county council’s leader Coun Les had faced pressure to ensure parishes did not go into the red.
Cllr Les said
County council opposition leader Councillor Stuart Parsons said it had been disappointing that a campaign had been necessary to ensure parishes were not burdened with the costs.
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