Harrogate's fight to get fair deal as devolution threatens loss of its council

Even as it enters what may turn out to be its final days, Harrogate Borough Council says it is not giving up hopes of getting a fair deal for the town as the timetable for the biggest shake-up in local government for 40 years is shortened dramatically in the face of the financial problems created by Covid-19 and lockdown.

Harrogate council leader Richard Cooper said, even though all district councils were now likely to be scrapped as devolution comes to York and North Yorkshire in a possible North Yorkshire 'super council', the shake-up could bring benefits to the Harrogate district’s economy, services and ratepayers if it was done well.

Coun Cooper said: “We will be fighting our corner for Harrogate’s interests. If devolution is done right, it will work. If it isn’t, it won’t.

"I want our communities to still be able to influence the services they value, appreciate and rely on."

Harrogate Borough Council is hoping to submit a single proposal on its vision of ‘devo’ in conjunction with the six other district councils in the York and North Yorkshire area in time for the Government’s new September deadline.

Coun Cooper said: : “I am committed to working together with council leaders from across York and North Yorkshire to develop a proposal for unitary arrangements which are realistic and deliverable.

“However, I am determined that local decision making will not be diluted."

The council regards making such a significant change to local government arrangements in less than two years would as a considerable challenge.

But whatever vision for the future emerges from Harrogate's talks with its fellow district councils it is almost certain to face rival proposals from two bigger forces - North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York.

Central government in Westminster has been strongly encouraging the set-up of combined authorities.

In last year's Queen’s Speech, they stated how devolving more decision making to the regions would "unleash regional potential" in England.

And in the Conservative's election manifesto last December, the party promised to commit to “full devolution across England…so that every part of our country has the power to shape its own destiny.”

This is what a North Yorkshire ‘super council’ could look like - and what a devolution deal could mean for Harrogate

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