Council cabinet backs bid to merge Harrogate with Craven, Hambleton and Richmondshire for devolution

Cabinet members met tonight and signalled their support to the plan which would also see Scarborough, Selby, Ryedale and York combine.

The proposed east/west split of North Yorkshire is linked to a devolution deal with the government which said in July that tens of millions of pounds and decision-making powers would be transferred to the region - but only if the current two-tier council system is scrapped.

Wallace Sampson, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council, tonight won the unanimous backing of cabinet members to submit the proposal to government and will seek further support at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

He said: "I can't underestimate the amount of work that has gone into building these proposals. It's a really strong, evidence-based piece of work and very clearly identifies the east/west model being the most appropriate."

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Mr Sampson said the proposal - which was drawn up by the seven district council leaders in North Yorkshire - could save between £33m and £56m a year.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council is proposing one unitary authority to run the entire region in a move that it claims will give annual savings of between £50m and £67m.

The county council will also meet on Wednesday to approve its submission ahead of the 9 November deadline for all authorities to send their proposals to the government.

The final decision on which plan to use will be taken by ministers following a public consultation in summer 2021.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter