Devo latest: Famous Harrogate figures back districts' in battle for who runs North Yorkshire

Harrogate's care heroes get a festive treat with help of local businesses

The well-known figures are quoted in strength in a full business case being presented to the Government this week by six district councils in the county, including Harrogate's.

But a rival proposal for how local government should be organised in North Yorkshire as part of devolution for York and North Yorkshire by the county council has also been submitted to the Government, leaving ministers to decide how the county will be run in years ahead.

Local leaders in North Yorkshire were told earlier this year that they must form one or more unitary authorities in order to unlock new devolution powers and funding coming to the region from the Government.

North Yorkshire County Council has submitted a rival bid proposed creating one single unitary authority for the majority of North Yorkshire, covering 618,000 people, while leaving the City of York to continue as its own authority with a population of 211,000.

But the majority of district council leaders want an east and west model, which would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the west, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together in the east.

The “East & West” model would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.

The Government is now expected to choose its preferred option early next year before putting it to a public consultation in North Yorkshire.

What North Yorkshire County Council says

County council leader Coun Carl Les said: “Our bid for a new unitary council for the whole county would save at least £30m a year through cutting red tape and reducing unnecessary senior manager and elected member costs.

"We already deliver nationally-acclaimed services to every home in North Yorkshire and our bid for a single council to serve all our residents and businesses draws on a wealth of local knowledge and experience.

"Our unique understanding of the needs of the whole of North Yorkshire is based on decades of providing high-quality services to every single person here.

"Our bid has been developed in collaboration with the public, our partner agencies, the county’s businesses and the community and voluntary sector.

"Over five years it has the potential to transform public services and save £252m to plough back into local services."

What the district council say

Coun Richard Foster, leader of Craven District Council, speaking on behalf of the district council leaders, said: “Our East and West model is the only option that fits the Government’s ideal population range for a unitary council, between 300,000 and 600,000 people.

"It is the only proposal that delivers two equal partners to sit within a Mayoral Combined Authority – which is important for the success of devolution.

"Our proposal will help drive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and build a better economic future for the whole area."

The district councils' business case for their version of change

This week the districts submitted a 54-page document called East & West Is Best: Get Change Right for York and North Yorkshire in a bid to show how the creation of two new unitary councils East & West would build a better future for residents and businesses across York and North Yorkshire.

The districts' bid is based on a KPMG research study, which claims to set out strong and compelling evidence that the creation of two unitary authorities of balanced size would provide the strongest local leadership, the most effective services, the fairest democratic representation, significant financial savings, and the strongest approach to unlocking billions of pounds for the area through devolution.

The document ends with a lengthy list of figures in North Yorkshire public life supporting the districts' proposals.

The names are drawn from a wide cross-section - business leaders, union leaders, auctioneers, Michelin-starred chefs, leading race horse trainers, arts organisers, property developers, community leaders, sports administrators, retail owners, a chief constable and MPs.

Just a few of the figures in the Harrogate area giving their official backing to the districts' case for local government reorganisation include Nigel Pulling, chief executive of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the Great Yorkshire; Clare Morrow, chair of the Board, Bettys and Taylors Group, renowned chain of tearooms and manufacturer of Yorkshire Tea; Fiona Movley, chairman of Harrogate International Festivals and Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals and Andrew Keeble, owner and manager of HECK, Bedale, branded food manufacturer.

Comments from Harrogate figures

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said: "I believe that the East & West proposal is the correct one for York and North Yorkshire.

"The proposal addresses the necessity for local government to be close to the people it serves through area-based groups, removing the remoteness that many feel currently exists with the functions provided by North Yorkshire County Council. "

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park in Harrogate, the national award-winning independent hotel, said the East/West model would most suit Harrogate's interests and aspirations.

Mr Bank said: "Without doubt, the current system of two tier government is inefficient and confusing for the general public and businesses.

"The demands of the coastal towns in North Yorkshire are very different to those in Harrogate and in a single mega unitary authority balancing those differing demands so that each community was properly served could be very difficult, if not impossible.

"The obvious compromise option is the East/West model."

Garry Plant, Garry Plant, managing director of Harrogate Town AFC, the League Two football club, said the East/West model would be good for business.

Mr Plant said: "It is apparent that East/West offers residents a fair split in terms of the economy, population and similar urban centres.

"The potential £2 billion plus investment the model will entice is the safeguard business needs to flourish in what will hopefully soon be a post-Covid world."

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