Another £500,000 could be pumped into ‘oven-ready’ Harrogate Station GatewayConcern that combined authority already ‘York-centric’Nine Harrogate homes included in £9.2 million housing scheme

Nine new homes are set to be built in Harrogate and Boroughbridge as part of a £9.2 million housing fund.

The move comes as part of a York and North Yorkshire brownfield housing fund, which was approved this month.

The money will see 700 new homes built across the county, including 252 affordable homes.

A total of nine projects have been agreed, which will see developments built in Catterick, York, Easingwold, Harrogate and Boroughbridge.

Funding was agreed, subject to further due diligence, at a meeting of the York and North Yorkshire Joint Devolution Committee.

If progressed, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will administer the fund. Investment has been secured from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, said: 

“North Yorkshire is one of the most desirable places to live in the country, but with that comes a massive demand for housing, especially for more affordable homes.

“We want people to be able to continue to live in the communities where they grew up, while also allowing others to move to the county to help to bring in the skills and experience which are needed to boost the economy.

“This is a significant moment for both York and North Yorkshire to see more than £9 million being used to fund hundreds of new properties, especially with more than a third of them being affordable homes.”

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Looking ahead: A new mayor and combined authority for North Yorkshire

From a new mayor to another layer of governance, the next year is set to bring a wave of political change in North Yorkshire.

Much like in neighbouring Tees Valley, the county is set to get its first metro mayor.

While for some the prospect of another elected politician will raise eyebrows, the role will come with significant powers.

From bus franchising to police and crime commissioner powers, the mayor will wield some influence in the county.

The race to secure the role has already started.

Three political parties – the Conservatives, Labour and Greens – have already unveiled their candidates for the election in May 2024.

Keane Duncan, who currently holds a senior position on North Yorkshire Council’s executive, will fight the contest for the Tories, while Kevin Foster and David Skaith will stand for the Greens and Labour. Keith Tordoff, a businessman from Pateley Bridge, will stand as an independent.

The whole prospect signals a shift in how politics will be carried out in the county beyond jostling for control of North Yorkshire Council and individual parliamentary constituencies.

A new layer of governance

Aside from a new political position, a new layer of governance is also set to be created.

As part of the devolution deal which was announced in August 2022, a combined authority will be set up for North Yorkshire and York.

The move will be historic for the county as it joins Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley in setting up such an authority.  

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The combined authority, which will be overseen by the directly elected mayor, is expected to have powers to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

At the moment, talk of the authority appears to be couched in intangible and esoteric concepts such as “gainshare”.

But, for Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, the new organisation will show “tangible benefits” for residents across the county.

He said:

“The prospect of bringing more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in additional funding from the government will bring real and tangible benefits for hundreds of thousands of people in York and North Yorkshire.”

Its formation will be overseen by Harrogate-born James Farrar as chief operating officer in its transition year.

The new authority could be launched in January amid delays with the parliamentary process.

Regardless, its formation, along with the directly elected mayor, are set to represent a shift in how politics is carried out across North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire combined authority could be launched in January

A combined authority in York and North Yorkshire could be in operation in the new year after an order was laid before parliament.

The combined authority, which will be overseen by a directly elected mayor, is expected to have powers to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

An order which would establish the organisation was laid before Parliament on Tuesday (November 7).

It paves the way for a North Yorkshire devolution deal, which is worth £540 million over 30 years, to become law.

MPs are now expected to consider the draft order before Christmas. 

James Farrar, interim director of transition for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: 

“Subject to progress, a new combined authority could be operational in January and formally launched in February. 

“A mayoral election would take place on 2nd May 2024.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, added:

“The prospect of bringing more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in additional funding from the government will bring real and tangible benefits for hundreds of thousands of people in York and North Yorkshire.”

The move to set up a combined authority comes as North Yorkshire agreed a historic devolution deal with government.

The proposed devolution deal includes a £7 million investment to drive green economic growth towards the ambition of York and North Yorkshire becoming the country’s first carbon negative region.

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There is also proposed investment of up to £2.65 million to deliver affordable low-carbon housing, and £13 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land during 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The elected mayor will make decisions on investments in strategic priorities such as for transport, housing, and adult education.

The mayor will also have responsibilities for community safety and strategic responsibility for the totality of policing, fire and crime for York and North Yorkshire.

They will appoint a deputy mayor to carry out many of the powers and duties of the role currently known as police, fire and crime commissioner.

Start date for North Yorkshire combined authority delayed

The establishment of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority looks set to be delayed, according to a council report.

The combined authority, which will be overseen by a directly elected mayor, is expected to have powers to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

Its formation will be overseen by Harrogate-born James Farrar as chief operating officer in its transition year.

The authority had been due to be set up this year and begin operation in May.

However, according to a North Yorkshire Council report, the establishment of the authority looks set to be delayed as parliament debates the devolution deal later this month.

The Stray Ferret asked York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which is helping to form the combined authority, when the start date would be delayed to.

In response, a spokesperson said:

“Assumptions used to form the combined authority budget were set against a timeline of key milestones, including a parliamentary debate period starting in September.

“This milestone is now anticipated to begin later this month and therefore reflects an amendment of the assumed start date. The timeline remains on track for mayoral elections to run in May 2024.”

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An order is expected be laid before parliament later in the autumn, which will include provisions for powers and funding tied to a devolution deal as well as paving the way for the creation of the authority.

The move to set up a combined authority comes as North Yorkshire agreed a historic devolution deal with government.

The proposed devolution deal includes a £7 million investment to drive green economic growth towards the ambition of York and North Yorkshire becoming the country’s first carbon negative region.

There is also proposed investment of up to £2.65 million to deliver affordable low-carbon housing, and £13 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land during 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The elected mayor will make decisions on investments in strategic priorities such as for transport, housing, and adult education.

The mayor will also have responsibilities for community safety and strategic responsibility for the totality of policing, fire and crime for York and North Yorkshire.

They will appoint a deputy mayor to carry out many of the powers and duties of the role currently known as police, fire and crime commissioner.

An election for the mayor will be held in May 2024. 

Council to pay additional £1m in North Yorkshire combined authority set-up cost

North Yorkshire Council looks set to pay an additional £1 million to set up a combined authority for the county and York.

The combined authority, which will be headed by an elected mayor, is scheduled to be launched in November this year.

It will include councillors from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council and make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

So far, North Yorkshire Council has footed £582,000 worth of costs for consultation and staff redeployment to help set up the combined authority.

In a report due before a joint devolution committee next week, the council will be recommended to fund a further £1 million in costs ahead of its implementation in four months time.

The money would cover areas such as IT infrastructure, project management, human resources and contingency plans.

However, the council has said that it expects the cash to be paid back once government funding for the combined authority is released.

It said:

“North Yorkshire Council will continue to cash flow the implementation and set up costs of the combined authority on the understanding that these costs will be repaid once funding is released on creation of the combined authority in November.”

Councillors will discuss the funding at a meeting on July 24.

What is a combined authority?

A combined authority is a body set up for two or more councils to make joint decisions.

In this case, North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council would come together to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

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It will be a separate body to North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

The closest example of this is West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which recently has led on the £11.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, as well as similar schemes in Skipton and Selby.

The combined authority would be headed by a mayor who is directly elected by the public.

An election for the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is set to be held in May 2024.

The Conservatives selected Cllr Keane Duncan, the executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire Council, at a meeting on Friday.

Knaresborough urged to ‘think big’ to maximise growth opportunity

Experts have urged Knaresborough to ‘think big’ to help the town’s economy make the most of upcoming major political changes.

They said the town needs to focus on something eye-catching and big — such as a cliff lift — to maximise the potential of North Yorkshire devolution.

Knaresborough and District Chamber of Trade invited the experts to talk about how to seize the opportunities presented by the creation of a combined authority and mayor for North Yorkshire and York in 2024.

The changes will bring  £540 million into the county over a 30-year period and see transport, skills and education decision-making powers devolved to the mayor from central government.

James Farrar, chief operating officer for the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said town centres would be a major focus of whoever is elected mayor because the county does not have a large urban city.

He recommended the town focus on securing funding for one major, eye-catching initiative that would appeal to the whoever is elected mayor.

“Town centres will be important to the mayor and the places that do well will be the places that have a plan.

“Don’t wait for the money — get on the front foot. Have a clear plan and understand your priorities.

“Think about the one thing you want in Knaresborough.”

This week’s chamber meeting. Pic: Charlotte Gale 

Mr Farrar added many businesses were looking to move out of York because there was no more space to expand and towns like Knaresborough could take advantage.

Alan Reiss, director of strategy for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, told the meeting devolution “massively amplifies the voice of a region” and that North Yorkshire looked like securing a “great deal” financially.

Christian Spence, an economist from Open Innovations, a not-for-profit organisation that uses data to help people make decisions, told the meeting the Knaresborough area was growing rapidly but not in the town centre itself.

By contrast, he said growth had doubled in the south of Knaresborough and Follifoot, over the last 10 years.

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Peter Lacey, an executive member of the chamber who owns a nationwide consulting firm, said Knaresborough had lots great ideas but needed to find a common purpose.

He was one of several people at the meeting to suggest a cliff lift could be the big idea that levered funding into Knaresborough. He said:

“We’ve got some great companies based here, but to date there’s been little joined-up thinking about how we can all add to the wellbeing of local residents, the community and how we see the future of the town as a thriving centre of innovation and growth.”

Eight-week consultation to be held on creating North Yorkshire mayor

An eight-week public consultation looks set to start in October asking people in North Yorkshire if they support devolution and the election of a mayor.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will be asked to agree to the consultation when it meets on September 6.

It will also be asked to pay an initial £600,000 to cover the costs of the consultation exercise and other early implementation costs.

If devolution goes ahead, it will lead to the creation of a combined authority for North Yorkshire and York and the election of a mayor for the region.

A draft deal was signed on August 1, which is Yorkshire Day, in York. The 32-page document promised £540 million over 30 years and more devolved powers over skills, transport and energy.

Now councillors are being asked to move to the next stage of the process.

Councillor Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the county council, hailed the deal as “life-changing for the region’s economy”, adding:

“I have been a huge supporter of the devolution of powers and money from Whitehall to the Town Hall and of local-led decision making set against our own priorities.

“I have no problem in recommending the acceptance of the draft deal and of asking my executive colleagues to agree a public consultation.”

Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats in Harrogate and Knaresborough called for a public vote on the deal saying it gave too much power to one person. 

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If the consultation is agreed, it will run through the autumn and close before Christmas.

York and North Yorkshire councillors will then consider the results and make a decision on a submission back to the UK government in the spring.

The current timeline then outlines the formation of a combined authority for the region in winter 2023, with the public electing a mayor in May 2024.

The deal can be found on the Government’s website, here.

The executive paper can be read here.

 

 

Explained: What is North Yorkshire’s combined authority?

As part of a devolution deal which was announced this week, a combined authority will be set up for North Yorkshire and York.

The move will be historic for the county as it joins Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley in setting up such an authority.

Should it be given the go-ahead, a combined authority could be set up for North Yorkshire and York by autumn 2023.

But what is a combined authority and how would it work?

What is a combined authority?

A combined authority is a body set up for two or more councils to make joint decisions.

In this case, the upcoming North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council would come together to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

The combined authority will be chaired by the elected mayor of North Yorkshire and York.

It will be a separate body to North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

Four councillors from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council will sit on the mayor’s executive, should it wish to operate on such a system.

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An overview and scrutiny committee will also be set up to scrutinise the decisions of both the mayor and combined authority. Six councillors from each council will be nominated to sit on the committee.

The closest example of this is West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which recently has led on the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme, as well as similar schemes in Skipton and Selby.

In West Yorkshire, Labour and Co-Operative representative Tracy Brabin has been the elected mayor of the county and head of the combined authority since 2021.

What decisions will it make?

The combined authority’s powers focus mainly on overarching matters that affect more than one place, for example transport and economic development.

Under the devolution deal agreed this week, the authority would also oversee skills and adult education.

Services such as bin collections and highways will remain with the unitary council.

Why do we need one?

Under the devolution deal agreed with government, a mayor and combined authority must be set up in order to access further funding for areas such as housing and economic development.

It is also required for some powers to be devolved from Westminster to North Yorkshire and York.

North Yorkshire council officials feel the move will help the county be able to make strategic decisions jointly with York.