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24
Oct
Reform UK recruits candidates for Harrogate Town Council election
Reform UK has begun recruiting candidates to stand for election on the new Harrogate Town Council.
Inaugural town council elections will take place on May 1 next year.
With just over six months to go, the Harrogate and Knaresborough branch of Reform held a launch event for supporters and prospective candidates on Tuesday this week (October 22).
Branch chairman and event organiser Jonathan Swales said:
We were thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement from the members, particularly their suggestions for a survey on local issues, to inform our campaign.
This meeting was an essential step in motivating members to stand as candidates as well as empowering voters to make informed decisions during the elections that will bring local decision-making back to the town.
Mike Jordan, a Reform UK councillor on North Yorkshire Council Reform who also chairs the party's Wetherby and Easingwold branch, spoke about the responsibilities and duties of councillors.
Mr Swales said more than 30 people attended and the party expected to field candidates in “most, if not all wards”. He added it already had candidates lined-up for more than half of them.
He added:
Our aim is to win enough wards to give us a controlling presence on the new town council.
Harrogate and Scarborough are currently the only unparished parts of North Yorkshire.
The parish of Harrogate is due to come into effect on April 1, and the first elections will take place a month later.
Like Ripon City Council, Knaresborough Town Council, Boroughbridge Town Council, Pateley Bridge Town Council and Masham Town Council, Harrogate Town Council will be a parish council with limited powers. But it is hoped it will give the town a voice and organise events.
North Yorkshire Council has said council taxpayers in Harrogate can expect to pay an additional £40 to £60 on their council tax bills to fund its work.
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