Letter Our district must have louder voice in future

The demand from Government for the reform of local government has included the criteria for the creation of a devolved authority. Where these are satisfied, this would lead to a new “local” structure called a Unitary Authority and funding of 25 million pounds annually, though for how many years is not determined.

This new structure has limits of population size. There cannot be less than 300,000 or more than 600,000 people within the new Unitary Authority created. NYCC as a whole has a greater population and it would presumably be barred from assuming Unitary Authority status, though Councillor Carl Les would wish otherwise, and therefore cannot realise its demand for its area of control to remain the same. There is also the matter of an elected mayor for any Unitary Authority created.

Therefore, the NYCC area would be split to satisfy the criteria. Obviously when considering which particular towns and surrounding areas should be included in any new Unitary Authority there are other considerations such as local shared interests and local support. There are several ways the geographical area could be divided but York wants to be a separate authority based on its historic rights. However, if you want any response from Harrogate District residents, then a much clearer explanation must be presented than we have had to date.

NYCC Councillor Carl Les wonders why there is a wish for an east/west split of the present area comprising North Yorkshire County. I would agree that the size of response to the public consultation he refers to was relatively small, but I suspect there are more who would, if asked, wish to see NYCC authority diluted. It would more than likely be so here, where the majority of people in the Harrogate District have no affinity with such a remote authority that controls our highways, even on highway matters relating to our planning applications.

There are a considerable number of other functions, such as educational provision and social services, that NYCC hold sway.

Harrogate was originally part of the West Riding before the 1974 reorganisation and we are still most aligned with Leeds. Many people travel to Leeds for work. Our connections by public transport are direct to Leeds.

There is a direct link to Leeds-Bradford Airport. Leeds is also the place to go to for greater shopping choices and entertainment. Northallerton may not be very far away but there are no direct public transport links. Residents here, on the few occasions when they do want to interrogate NYCC, find the remoteness of NYCC a considerable disincentive.

They cannot hop on a bus to speak to officials. Harrogate District has suffered many skewed proposals, often as a result of some desktop exercise that bears no relationship to what really happens here, extremely frustrating. Any combination of the present districts such as ours or Craven or York and Selby, who border the Leeds City region, would desire an outcome allowing us greater autonomy to cooperate with it on many projects.

A new secondary school situated on the north side of the town would certainly enhance the chances for the very large number of people who will be taking up residence here in the next few years. The last secondary school built in Harrogate was built by West Yorkshire before 1974! As a result of the combination of planned development on the west and north side of Harrogate there will be created a demand that should be met with a determination made here not in NYCC.

Harrogate is more than twice the size of Northallerton and the largest town in North Yorkshire. The case for Northallerton to retain greater influence in any new structure has not been made. Where are the realistic appraisals of the best way to boost tourism and other business so important to Harrogate District’s prosperity. Nothing Councillor Les or even the Council

Leader here has said in the Harrogate Advertiser convince me that our future best interests will be met.

Any reorganisation will cost a lot of money, so what are the benefits? I would like to see more constructive options and reasons set out that would give my district a louder voice in the future.