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14
Oct 2020
North Yorkshire devolution: what happens now?
The ball is now rolling for a shake-up of local government in North Yorkshire.
Last week, Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, began the process by inviting councils to submit plans for a new-look local authority model.
It would see the current two-tier system, which is made up of North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, scrapped and replaced with either one or two unitary authorities.
The process also opens the door for an elected mayor.
Former local government minister, Simon Clarke, made reorganisation a requirement ahead of any devolution bid.
Read more:
- Government invites North Yorkshire councils to submit restructure plans
- Lib Dems call for ‘secret devolution report’ to be published
However, the government has yet to publish its white paper outlining plans for further devolution in England. The paper is expected to be revealed next year.
Following Mr Jenrick’s invitation, Cllr Keane Duncan, leader of Ryedale District Council, tweeted that it was “game on”.
The district councils and the county council have different views on how the new structure should look.
The county council wants a single council alongside the City of York; the district councils want two councils — one in the east and another in the west.
But how does the process work and when will we see a new local government system in the county?
What next?
Now both camps have been invited to submit plans, the government will choose its preferred option and consult with the public, councils and other public bodies on that model.
The government has asked for outline plans to be submitted by November 9, with a full proposal no later than December 9.
Once the minister has received all the responses, he will decide whether to set up a new authority. This would require legislation.
Councils would not get a vote on the new authority – the process would be handled by Parliament.
The government has said it intends to establish any unitary council plan by April 2023.
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