North Yorkshire devolution could be ‘at risk’, says county council leader

A devolution deal for North Yorkshire could be at risk and clarity is needed on the future of local government, says North Yorkshire County Council’s leader.

Cllr Carl Les told the Stray Ferret that he was “hopeful” that a deal could still be put on the table.

But he added there were concerns the government is considering delaying publishing a white paper on devolution amid the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit negotiations.

A meeting between Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Mr Jenrick was due to take place today over devolution.

Ministers approached the council leaders in the county in July over devolved powers. Former local government minister Simon Clarke – who resigned earlier this month – made it a requirement to shake up the current council structure ahead of any devolution bid.

Councils were supposed to be invited to submit plans for a restructure of local government on September 7.

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But Cllr Les said the authority is still waiting for a letter of invitation from ministers to lodge the new authority plans.

Following a meeting with the County Council Network, which represents county councils across the country, council leaders agreed that the current situation “was not helpful”.

As a result, Cllr Les wrote to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Local Government, last Friday urging him for clarity and to express his “deepest concerns” over a potential deal.

North Yorkshire County Council leader, Carl Les.

North Yorkshire County Council leader, Carl Les.

He said that county council leaders were “despondent” at the current position, with some, including Surrey County Council’s leader, fearing plans for reform were “dead”.

In his letter to Mr Jenrick, Cllr Les said:

“To be clear this is the future and opportunity for more than 800,000 people at a critical moment, as we all strive to drive renewed economies and create jobs for people following the body blow delivered by the coronavirus pandemic.

“As you are aware, and amongst other pressures that we have been dealing with extremely effectively, we have been working hard with your ministers and officials to secure a devolution deal for the benefit of everyone here.

“One that will level up life chances and outcomes for people across the county and seek to end the North-South divide, powering up the North so it can play its full part in the national economy and agenda.

“I am alarmed to hear that this deal could be at risk and want to say to you in the strongest possible terms that it is needed now, more than ever.”

He added that should devolution not be introduced across England, the county would be willing to pilot mayoral authorities for rural areas.

He said:

“I call upon you and the Prime Minister to use all of the innovative thinking at your disposal to consider how our position could fit into a northern concept.

“Should you decide not to introduce devolution deals across the whole of England – I am confident that I, and colleagues across the north would be willing to pilot the idea of mayoral authorities for rural areas here.

“The north has always been willing to be the first to implement new thinking and new ideas. I ask you to keep to your commitment for devolution for the north, follow up on your promises and ask of us, and deliver for all of Yorkshire. Do not leave North Yorkshire and York behind – we need to move on now.”

Cllr Les said he had also sent a private note to both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor over the issue.

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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government maintained that it will set out “detailed plans” in the white paper this Autumn.

A spokesperson said: 

“We want to decentralise giving more power to local communities, providing opportunities for them to enjoy devolution. There will be no blanket abolishment of district councils and no top-down restructuring of local government.

“The devolution white paper, which will be published this Autumn, will set out our detailed plans and we continue to work closely with local areas to establish solutions to local government reform.”

What was the timetable for devolution?

The two camps – district councils and county council – have to wait for an invitation from government to submit their proposals. 

Once that is done, the government will choose its preferred option and consult with the public, councils and other public bodies on that model. 

Once the minister has received all the responses, he will decide on whether to set up a new authority. 

To do this, the government will have to pass a piece of legislation through Parliament to create the new authority. No new council will be created until it is approved.

Councils do not get another vote on the new authority – the process is handled by Parliament.

While no specific timetable has been set for the reorganisation, government had told council officials that they would like to see a new authority by 2022. 

County council bosses are confident that their model could meet this timescale, but the districts believe it is more likely that a new authority would be in place by 2023. 

Devolution: good or bad for local voices in planning?

Residents groups in Harrogate are divided on whether devolution will increase the strength of local voice in the planning process.

Central government wants fewer, bigger local authorities as part of its plans to devolve power making.

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed creating one large authority that would serve all 610,000 people in the county besides York.

The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, have put forward an alternative east / west model that would result in two slightly smaller authorities.

Whatever happens will have major implications on how planning decisions are made in the district.

The Stray Ferret spoke to three local residents groups for their views.

Kingsley, Harrogate

John Hansard, from the Kingsley Ward Action Group, is worried that a larger authority would make it more difficult for the group’s voice to be heard in the planning process.

Currently, housing decisions are made by HBC’s planning committee, which is made up of local councillors. But Mr Hansard said that if a future planning committee were run from Northallerton, with members from places like Skipton or Scarborough, they wouldn’t have the same local insight as HBC councillors have.

He said:

“If you have a planning issue you can rely on local councillors to come down to the area and have a look. With NYCC you’d have no chance. We’d lose our local voice if it was put into their hands. It would be a step backwards.”

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Harlow and Pannal Ash

Rene Dziabas, chairman of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association (HAPARA), spoke in a personal capacity to the Stray Ferret and said he has become frustrated with how Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council pass issues back and forth. He said a unitary authority would improve accountability.

He said:

“The majority of functions here are carried out by NYCC but other functions, like planning, are run by HBC. I’ve attended many meetings over the past few years and you get the bounce between the two. HBC says ‘it’s nothing to do with us’, and NYCC says the same thing. That needs sorting out.”

Mr Dziabas added that whatever organisation ends up taking control of Harrogate, they “must be more proactive” in taking on board the opinions of residents.

He said:

“There is a great feeling at the moment that whatever you say is ignored. In the whole devolution process, they must build in localism, so local people feel that they are involved in the things where they live.”

Ripon

Barbara Brodigan represents Ripon Residents Action Group and is mobilising local people against Homes England’s 1,300-home proposal at Ripon Barracks.

She said Ripon felt left out of decisions made by Harrogate Borough Council:

“That is the feeling from residents. They always feel like we are the Cinderella and the poor relation in the district.”

Ms Brodigan said whichever devolution model was adopted, the voices of local residents must be heard.

She added:

“How much local power cities or town councils will have over planning is generally a worry, as are the government’s planning reforms, which will take away a lot of local decisions.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s days are numbered, admits leader

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has conceded the authority will cease to exist after devolution.

Political leaders in North Yorkshire are locked in a debate over two future models of local government – neither of which includes HBC.

Speaking at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday, HBC leader Cllr Richard Cooper, said:

“At the end of this process, there will be no Harrogate Borough Council in any way, shape or form.

“We came into this with an open mind. We are not battling to take on more powers and we have no vested interests.”

Cllr Cooper and Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, both said they had no “vested interest” in whatever model the government chooses as part of its plans to devolve local government.

The meeting comes as county council and district council officials have been presenting their proposals to the public and business leaders across the county.

Cllr Cooper addressed the chamber meeting on behalf of the county’s seven district authorities. which have opted for an east/west model,

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Cllr Cooper said he supported an overhaul of the council structure as the two-tier system was “costly”.

Cllr Cooper described the county council’s model, which would see a single authority covering North Yorkshire alongside the City of York, as a “continuity county council”.

But Mr Flinton said the authority did not have an interest in carrying on as it is and that the new authority would not be “a county council mark two”.

He said:

“This will be a totally new authority with a new way of operating.”

He added that his position, along with those of other senior council officers, would be open for applications under the new system.

The government is expected to publish a white paper on restructuring local government this autumn.

Under the government’s timetable, a new council could be in place as soon as 2022.

Earlier this week, Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, asked Simon Clarke, former local government minister, what the minimum population size for the unitary authorities would be.

However, Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He added that the white paper would give more details on the matter.

District councillors are expected to vote on their model this month ahead of a submission to ministers.

Andrew Jones MP enters devolution debate

Local government minister Simon Clarke has sidestepped a request by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones to state the minimum population size for a new unitary authority.

Mr Jones submitted a written question asking what the minimum size should be to achieve value for money and quality service delivery.

But Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He said:

“Whilst traditionally various population ranges for unitary councils have been referred to, where a unitary council is proposed its particular circumstances need to be considered when assessing whether its population would be appropriate.”

Mr Clarke added the government’s devolution and local recovery white paper, due to be published this autumn, would provide more details.

‘Too big and remote’

Population size is a critical issue in the ongoing devolution debate in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed creating one large authority that would serve all 610,000 people in the county besides York, which would remain a separate unitary authority.

The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, have put forward an alternative east / west model that would result in two smaller authorities.

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The district councils claim the county council’s model is too big and remote and their alternative suggestion would lead to more responsive local government.

In June, Mr Clarke said the size of unitary authorities “depended on local circumstances but as a rule of thumb are expected to be substantially in excess of 300,000 to 400,000”.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he was satisfied with Mr Clarke’s response and his view on the best devolution model for North Yorkshire but he had not replied by the time of publication.

Councils clash over local government shake-up plans

Council bosses have clashed over proposals for how North Yorkshire’s local councils should be organised in future as each looks to sell its vision to the public.

Last night, Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, and Cllr Richard Cooper, Harrogate Borough Council leader, along with chief executives of both authorities, addressed a virtual meeting of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce over the issue.

While both camps said they agreed that the county needed devolved powers, they differed over how to reorganise local government – which is a requirement from ministers to negotiate for devolution. The county council wants one single authority to govern the county, while the seven district leaders have outlined plans for two councils, splitting the county between east and west.

Cllr Cooper – who also sits on the county council – was critical of the county council’s existing services, saying he had been forced to go and pull weeds out of the road on Commercial Street himself because the authority had failed to do so. Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said he would not be drawn into a “tit for tat” argument with the borough council, but pointed out that any restructure would create a completely new authority, rather than a continuation of the existing county council.

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He presented the authority’s case for a single council for the whole region except the City of York, which will remain as it is.

Mr Flinton argued that the proposal would not be centralised and would allow for more local powers through local action groups and devolving further powers to town and parish councils.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, made the authority’s case for a single council last night.

He added that the single council, which would cover 610,000 residents, would also save the most money at around £25 million a year, and serve rural areas better.

Mr Flinton said:

“What we need is a single service to deliver for those areas and to carry the cost of delivering in rural areas.

“We believe that the model we are putting forward will deliver more savings. I suspect that will be a dispute with the districts.”

The county council is working with PricewaterhouseCooper on its plans and Mr Flinton said the savings figure could change “once that piece of work is done”.

He added that a single council for a large county was “not unique” and had already been replicated elsewhere in Durham and Cornwall where districts have been scrapped in favour of one authority.

But Cllr Cooper, who has joined the six other district councils in devising an alternative proposal, said a single council alongside York would cause “disharmony and disfunction” in the new structure.

Both Cllr Cooper and Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, said there would be an “imbalance” in the county council’s plan. Mr Sampson said there needed to be “parity” between the two councils in the new structure.

Addressing the county council’s proposal, Mr Sampson said:

“There is a feeling that what is being proposed is a single model. There will be two authorities, but you will have one large and a relatively smaller York.

“We do not think that is good governance moving forward.”

Instead, the districts have proposed two councils – one in the east covering 465,000 people and another in the west which would cover 363,000.

Mr Sampson said the model would focus on being “as local as possible” and would have shared services across the two authorities. He added that the model, which has been devised between the district councils and KPMG, would save between £33 million and £53 million.

He said some services in York could be improved by joining with other councils into an east authority and that Harrogate would be better off economically under the district model.

It comes as government minsters have made a reduction in the number of councils in North Yorkshire a requirement of any devolution bid.

Councils across the county are currently in the process of agreeing a list of “asks” to submit to ministers, which propose £2 billion worth of investment as part of a devolution bid.

Just 22 people tune into district’s first devolution event

Just 22 people tuned into the first public engagement event about the future of local government held by the seven district councils in North Yorkshire.

The seven councils are staging a series of online events on Zoom for the public to find out more about their proposed east/west model for a restructure of local government.

The government is keen to extend devolution but in July ministers made it a requirement to reduce the number of councils before it could happen.

The district councils want an east/west model but North Yorkshire County Council would prefer a single unitary authority.

Among the 22 online for the event were Keane Duncan, the leader of Ryedale District Council and members of the public. Further events will be held this month specifically aimed at businesses and community groups.

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Cllr Duncan gave a presentation and answered residents’ concerns about issues such as the future of highways, children’s services, adult social care and libraries, which are currently run by NYCC.

Cllr Duncan said the model proposed by the districts would bring services “closer to people”, have stronger democratic representation and have scope for shared services between the two councils.

Under the district councils’ plans, the west authority would serve Harrogate, Craven, Hambleton and Richmondshire while the east would cover York, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

The west authority would cover 363,000 residents and the east authority would cover 465,000 people.

Officials said this would meet the threshold of around 400,000 set by Simon Clarke, local government minister, back in July.

Cllr Duncan said the plan would save £56 million a year and meet the government’s requirements for the restructure.

He said:

“This is the only one that ticks the boxes of government.

“We do feel that this model can deliver services more closer to people.”

NYCC’s alternative proposal for a single authority, alongside City of York, would cover 610,000 residents.

Last week, the county council revealed a “double devolution” model under its proposal which would see town and parishes councils receive more funding and powers.

Harrogate Chief Exec and Leader criticised for not divulging key information ahead of major vote

The Chief Executive and Leader of Harrogate Borough Council had both been told that the council could be scrapped as part of the government’s wider devolution plans the day before a big vote on the shake up of leisure services – yet failed to make councillors aware of it.

Cllr Chris Aldred, chair of the overview and scrutiny board, told the Stray Ferret he and fellow councillors should have been told about the government’s position on devolution before they agreed to support the leisure project.

He and fellow councillors voted on July 8 to spend £300,000 on creating a new company called Brimhams Active to run leisure facilities in the Harrogate district. They also voted to borrow £26 million to invest in centres in the district.

But they had not been informed council leader Richard Cooper and chief executive Wallace Sampson, along with other local authority leaders had met local government minister Simon Clarke the previous day.

Mr Clarke told the leaders that any devolution bid would be dependent on a reduction in the number of councils, which could ultimately lead to HBC being replaced.

Cllr Aldred said councillors should have known about this when they made such a key financial decision.

But he said they were not told about the outcome of the Clarke meeting until late at night on July 9.

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Cllr Aldred, a Liberal Democrat, told the Stray Ferret:

“Surely this should have been disclosed at that meeting and not revealed to councillors in a late night e-mail the day after that decision on the local authority control company was taken? 

“Didn’t the 39 other councillors have the right to know this fundamental fact, prior to casting their vote that night?”

A spokesman for HBC said the two issues were entirely separate and it will take several years before services can be fully integrated once a local government structure is agreed.

The spokesman said:

“The reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire and the creation of a new local authority controlled company to run sport and leisure services in the Harrogate district are two, entirely separate, issues.

“One is not dependent on the other.

“Once agreement has been reached on a future structure for local government for the county, it will take several years before services are fully integrated and teams brought together.

“That’s why we are continuing with projects and initiatives such as the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre, the leisure investment strategy and creating Brimhams Active as our local authority controlled company.

“Operating our sport and leisure services through a local authority controlled company will save money in the long run and enable us to support our critical council services.”

Brimhams Active, a local authority controlled company, will run 11 leisure facilities in the district.

HBC is proceeding with several costly projects despite uncertainty over its future.

It is spending £1 million on consultants to draw up plans for a £47 million renovation of Harrogate Convention Centre.

But the decision to reduce the number of councils across the county as part of the government’s devolution agenda has thrown the future of public services into uncertainty.

Both district and county leaders are expected to propose different models to ministers this month.

It could see the seven district councils, including Harrogate, scrapped and replaced by one or two super-authorities.

District officials are already consulting with residents and have proposed that an east/west council organisation should replace the current structure.

People urged to have say on North Yorkshire council reorganisation

District council leaders have urged people in North Yorkshire to have their say on the future of local government and public services in the county.

It comes amid government plans to reduce the number of local councils in England as part of its devolution agenda.

County council and district council bosses in North Yorkshire will this month submit separate proposals on how they want to see local government look.

County council bosses want one unitary authority, which would see the seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, scrapped.

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But district council leaders have said two authorities – one in the east and another in the west of the county – would work better and claim such a model would save up to £56 million a year.

The west authority would serve Harrogate, Craven, Hambleton and Richmondshire, while the east would cover York, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

Now the district councils have invited residents and businesses to have their say on the topic at a series of virtual engagement events, beginning tomorrow.

Speaking on behalf of the seven council leaders, Cllr Steve Siddons, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said:

“The reorganisation of local government services may not sound like the most exciting thing on earth, but the reality is that it will affect everybody who lives, works or runs a business in North Yorkshire and York.

“It is not only about how your everyday services will be delivered in the future, it is about the ability of communities to shape the future of where they live, and determine how we can bring new investment, jobs and growth to our region. That’s why it is so important that people have their say.”

The move comes as the PR war over the future of local government is set to heat up this month ahead of a deadline for proposals to be submitted to government.

The trade union Unison, Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen and Terry Collins, the chief executive of Durham County Council are among those who have spoken out recently.

To find out more on the series of engagement events being held by the district councils, click here.

Debate over North Yorkshire devolution to ramp up in September

A month of battles over how devolution should look, whether district councils should be scrapped and what benefits a bid would bring to York and North Yorkshire, awaits residents in September.

As the process for grappling back powers from Westminster takes further steps forward, so too does the relentless battle to get each side of the argument out onto the airwaves and in the press.

So far, the battle has been solely on council reorganisation as the districts pitted themselves against the county council and its plan for a single unitary authority.

Ministers set a deadline for proposals from council leaders for a shake-up of local government to be submitted by September.

The latest in the PR war came from outside both camps as the County Council Network released a report which said scrapping upper-tier councils and replacing them with one authority in each area could save £2.94 billion nationally over five years.

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But the districts will have their own consultants’ report in the shape of KPMG which could soon be used to bat the claims back.

Ahead of a busy month, both sides will make their case on September 7 when Cllr Carl Les, county council leader, and borough council leader Cllr Richard Cooper, are set to speak at a Harrogate Chamber of Commerce meeting on the topic.

They’ll be joined by chief executives from both authorities – Richard Flinton from the county council and Wallace Sampson of the borough council.

But, while the debate rages on about council reorganisation, others from outside the county and from other organisations have sought to argue for and against the bigger picture.

Arguments on the bigger picture for devolution

Across the county border into the Tees Valley, residents already have devolution and with it an elected mayor, Ben Houchen.

As previously reported, county council leaders routinely cite Mr Houchen and the region as the closest example of what they desire from devolved powers.

Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen.

Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen. Picture credit: Thames Valley Combined Authority.

This week, Mr Houchen weighed in on the debate in North Yorkshire and called on the county not to be left behind in wrestling powers back from ministers.

He said: 

“North Yorkshire is at a critical crossroads at a key moment.  As we recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the need to deliver economic growth, create good quality jobs and boost skills has never been more important. We need to take every opportunity to bridge the economic gap between north and south and provide fairer opportunities for all.

“A strong mayor working across the border with the Tees Valley would undoubtedly help me to make the case for the north and ensure it punches its weight nationally and internationally.

“This all starts, though, with a strong devolution deal and York and North Yorkshire must not miss the moment and risk getting left behind.

“I sincerely hope that councils across York and North Yorkshire will seize this moment and make sure that all proposals for the future local government in the county are given due consideration by the government without delay. The Tees Valley benefitted from its councils coming together and getting its devolution deal over the line while other areas found reasons to disagree, now North Yorkshire has a similar choice.”

Elsewhere, the effect of devolution and what it will mean for those that work in local government has not gone unnoticed.

Unison branches across local government in North Yorkshire have called for a “jobs first” deal which will protect jobs and redundancies, level up pay and conditions and minimise disruption to staff and services.

Wendy Nichols, regional convenor for Unison, said: 

“Our members are busy delivering essential public services and supporting the response to the covid-19 emergency. Local government reorganisation is the last thing that they need now.

“However, we are pragmatic and we recognise that the government’s intentions are clear. 

“They want a unitary system of local government from April 2022 and our focus across all our local government branches in North Yorkshire will be to secure the best outcome for our members and the communities they serve.”

Harrogate council backs £2bn devolution proposals

Harrogate Borough Council is to press ahead and support a list of devolution proposals, which includes £2 billion worth of spending power for York and North Yorkshire.

The borough council will support the proposals, known as “asks”, after the authority’s overview and scrutiny commission found “no fundamental concerns” with the council leader’s decision to approve the report earlier this month.

It comes as each council needs to approve the asks ahead of a submission to government. North Yorkshire County Council supported the document last month, along with City of York Council and Scarborough District Council.

But Hambleton District Council has voted to defer a decision until the publication of the government’s white paper in the autumn, which leaves uncertainty over when the submission will be made.

Once all councils have agreed, the requests are tabled to government and ministers will produce a formal devolution deal for authorities to vote on.

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The “asks” document is intended to start negotiations with government over what the county wants from a devolution deal. It is separate from the proposals for local government reorganisation and how the new authority or authorities would be structured.

More powers over transport, skills, regeneration and energy are included in the submission, as well as a mayoral funding pot worth £750 million over 25 years.

Both Cllr Richard Cooper and chief executive Wallace Sampson, top middle and top left, addressed the committee over the devolution “asks”.

Further funding proposals include a five-year transport settlement worth £250 million, £520 million of devolved funding for fibre connectivity, and a £230 million fund for the new mayor to share between the county’s towns.

Liberal Democrat councillors, including opposition leader Cllr Pat Marsh, said the report was “heavily about York” and there was little in the requests which covered Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

But Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of the council, told the scrutiny meeting today that the document outlined plans which would benefit the wider district.

Abolishing districts “could save £2.94 billion”

Meanwhile, County Councils Network today released a report which said the replacement of two-tier systems with a single unitary authority in areas would save £2.94 billion nationally over five years.

The report by PricewaterhouseCoopers said replacing county and district councils with two unitary authorities in each area would reduce the financial benefit to £1 billion.

It comes as the government has set a requirement that any devolution bid must come with reorganisation of local government.

Cllr David Williams, chairman of the County Councils Network, said:

“The consequences of coronavirus for local government finances, and the need to work quickly to support the economic recovery, means more councils want to look again at how local government is structured in their area.

“This government has already signalled that it wants to see many more unitary councils created and it is important we get it right for our residents – we do not want to look back on this period as a missed opportunity.

“The findings from PwC show there is a compelling financial case for the creation of more unitary counties where councils seek reorganisation. They will provide significant savings to support frontline services and the stability needed to safeguard care services as we continue to mitigate the impact of coronavirus. Crucially, it will create councils of the necessary size to support local economies to recover from the pandemic and drive forward the devolution and levelling up agendas.”