Harrogate's fight to get 'fair' devolution deal takes hit as government sends signal that super council plan could work

Leaders at North Yorkshire County Council last month revealed plans for a new unitary authority to run almost all council services for the region's 610,000 residents, under a deal which will mean the end of seven district councils including Harrogate.

It has been met with opposition from Harrogate Borough Council's leader Richard Cooper who branded it a "nightmare vision" and launched talks with other district bosses with plans for two different authorities - each based on a population of 400,000 - to cover North Yorkshire and York.

However, the county council says its super authority plan has now received an early nod of approval from the Local Government Minister Simon Clarke MP who confirmed in a letter that a unitary with a population of 610,000 would be within scope.

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Coun Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said he hoped the confirmation would lay the district council leader's counter-arguments "to rest once and for all".

"It’s there in black and white to be read by anyone who would like to see it so now we get on with the important business of preparing our bid", he said.

“Not only will a new single, strong, sustainable council for North Yorkshire protect outstanding services which safeguard our most vulnerable people, but it is the only bid which will keep the county together and prevent the huge disruption to frontline public services that splitting them up would deliver."

The letter follows government orders that the current two-tier council structure must end in what is set to be the biggest local government shake up in 40 years.

The district council's plans for a restructuring have indicated they would split North Yorkshire in half and potentially include the City of York – something the city, which is already a unitary council, has said it would not support.

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Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said it is "crystal clear" that a single council for the entire county - whilst leaving York untouched - is the only way forward.

"We are working hard on our bid and very much focused on ensuring it is based on facts and evidence", he said.

"It is already crystal clear that one new council would retain extremely valuable high quality services for children and adults across the county, simplify things for residents and businesses, strengthen our voice at a national level and save in excess of £25 million a year.

“Such benefits, based on a single council serving a county footprint, are well demonstrated by the likes of Durham and Cornwall. We must not be left behind.

“Equally importantly, North Yorkshire has a globally recognised brand and the people who live, work and visit here recognise that value. It must not be broken up.”

The government has not yet officially confirmed when the devolution plans must be submitted but all involved are working to a deadline sometime in September.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter