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12
Oct
Will town hall turmoil scupper Ripon’s bid to run local assets?
For three years, Ripon City Council has been trying to take control of key city assets, including the town hall.
The assets are currently managed by North Yorkshire Council, whose leader Councillor Carl Les invited town and parish councils to submit bids to run local assets as part of his ‘double devolution’ pledge.
Double devolution, Cllr Les said in 2021, would see powers transferred firstly from Whitehall to County Hall in Northallerton and then to town and parish councils across North Yorkshire.
Having people in Ripon make decisions about assets in Ripon would fulfil his commitment to local decision-making, made at a time when district councils were being abolished and the new unitary authority being formed.
Town and parish councils were invited to submit double devolution expressions of interest in November 2022 and in October 2023 Ripon City Council was one of 12 organisations chosen for pilot schemes that would see business cases drawn up.
Ripon’s bid was the most ambitious in the county: it involved the city council managing Ripon Town Hall, the Market Place and car park, public toilets and the Wakeman’s House Cafe.
Hugh Ripley Hall could be transferred to city council control.
But has the recent turbulence at Ripon City Council damaged — or even destroyed — its double devolution bid?
The last month has seen the mayor, Councillor Jackie Crozier, resign; her successor, Cllr Barbara Brodigan, face a public vote of no confidence; the leader and deputy leader roles abolished; new committees established; councillors resign; and three of four staff members depart.
While Knaresborough Town Council stands on the brink of securing its double devolution deal to run the weekly market, Ripon’s position appears uncertain.
We asked Cllr Les whether recent events had jeopardised the process. He said:
I remain committed to double devolution of services where appropriate. However, this is a process of the delegation, not abdication, of responsibilities, so it is vital that organisations have capacity and stability. I understand that we are arranging meetings with Ripon City Council to discuss their position on staffing and governance. Until then we will continue to deliver services on behalf of the citizens of Ripon.
Cllr Brodigan said the city council expected to receive a double devolution update from North Yorkshire Council on November 10 and councillors “remain fully supportive of the principle of double devolution”.
But Cllr Brodigan, who along with Cllr Pauline McHardy campaigned to save Ripon Market from changes that force traders to set up their own stalls — a move that was voted down by the city council under Cllr Williams’ leadership — added:
Ripon City Council submitted an ambitious bid as part of the double devolution process. However, during negotiations between Cllr Williams and North Yorkshire Council, the scope of the bid was revised and ultimately reduced to the proposed asset transfer of three buildings: the town hall, Hugh Ripley Hall, and Wakeman’s café.
Political wrangling
Ripon is split into pro-Brodigan and pro-Williams camps. Besides being the main players on the city council, the two politicians are also the city’s only North Yorkshire councillors. She is a Liberal Democrat; he is an independent who recently joined the Conservative Party and is now part of the ruling Conservative and Independents group led by Cllr Les at Northallerton.
We asked Cllr Brodigan if her less close relationship with Cllr Les could hamper Ripon’s chances. She said:
Any suggestion that Cllr Williams’s recent change in political affiliation could somehow benefit Ripon in the context of double devolution is unfounded. The negotiation process is not – and should not be – influenced by party politics. Officers from North Yorkshire Council are impartial, and I am confident that neither my political stance nor that of my colleagues will hinder constructive and professional discussions moving forward.
Cllr Williams speaking at Monday's city council meeting.
Cllr Williams reacted angrily to the suggestion that he had personally taken double devolution decisions during his time as leader. He said no leader had delegated or executive powers, and “it simply wasn’t possible for me to make any decision on my own as leader, nor would I have wanted to”.
He added:
To make such false claims is also to allege that the staff of Ripon City Council have allowed such breaches of our governance rules to take place. This is deeply offensive to their professional integrity. All decisions of Ripon City Council are clearly recorded and the minutes of meetings published on our website and are therefore open to public scrutiny.
I have at all times acted in accordance within local government law and in the best interests of the city I was born in, educated within and have lived all my life and generations of my family before me.
The will to continue double devolution seems present on all sides. But no clear path forward is apparent right now.
Matters could become clearer after the meeting on November 10. But for now, decisions affecting Ripon assets will continue to be made in Northallerton.
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