What Labour says on Harrogate's future in local government shake-up

It's a question which not only existing ruling councils across the county are currently trying to answer in their different ways but opposition political parties, too, who, so far, feel excluded from the process.

Councils in North Yorkshire have only a few weeks now to submit their ‘asks’ from a devolution deal to the Government that would see new powers and millions of pounds in funding handed over from Westminster to a new ‘super mayor’ across the region and two new ‘unitary authorities’ running council services below it.

With many district councils, including Harrogate’s, set to bite the dust in the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974, it’s no surprise that a tit-for-tat battle has broken out at times between different councils and political parties.

But all sides in the debate remain convinced they have the best deal for voters in time for the new authority structure and elections to take place by April 2022 to meet the Government’s timetable.

The future of local government: what Harrogate & Knaresborough Labour Party says

5 practical ways our vision of devolution would help Harrogate

Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party favours a North /South division to form two Unitary Authorities with Harrogate and Knaresborough towns being in the Southern Urban Authority alongside York, Selby and possibly Craven.

(An E/W split would most likely place Northallerton as the administrative centre of the “west”. As part of NYCC, Harrogate and Knaresborough feel remote from Northallerton: an E/W split would exacerbate this division and foment growing hostility over time.)

1. Boundaries

We would support the opportunity for this devolution process to undertake a complete review of boundaries as these will all but disappear in any realignment anyway OR the Constituency boundaries could be utilised.

This would avoid the antagonism levelled at Harrogate by our current northern, rural areas.

This antagonism is already palpable in the present Harrogate District with areas such as Ripon and Masham feeling disconnected from Harrogate. Recently a Ripon Councillor has apparently described the proposed investment in the Harrogate Convention Centre as “obscene”.

This realignment would mean that Harrogate and Knaresborough could focus on their urban interests in partnership with York and Selby as part of the Leeds City Region.

2.Local democracy

Unlike the current North Yorkshire County Council proposal whereby all of North Yorkshire becomes a single Unitary Authority, (against Government recommendations), our vision would be more democratic and ensure a greater voice and involvement for people in Harrogate in decision-making affecting their everyday lives.

3. An urban character

If we were in an urban southern authority with York and Selby (and possibly Craven), we could focus on improving travel to work for the working population who daily travel between Harrogate and Leeds, Selby and Leeds, York and Harrogate, Selby and York.

A southern urban authority could work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in Integrated Transport Plans to facilitate easier, more cost-effective and reduced carbon footprints for commuters but also for tourists and conference / exhibition attendees, the latter bringing in more trade to the area and supporting the service sector.

4. Making economic sense

Harrogate shares common economic interests with York such as being urban/heritage tourist/conference exhibition /technology / innovation/retail and service industry/entertainment/hospitality, restaurant, hotel economy focused, performing as a strong player to the dynamism of the Leeds City Region which is a major national power house and to which it relates.

This large economic base should, therefore, result in significant investment to the benefit of the whole population.

5. Sharing education interests

With Harrogate schools taking in students from North Leeds, there are clear educational links with Leeds City Region which has one of the highest concentrations of Higher Education in Europe.

In addition, Harrogate College is part of the Luminate Group – with all the many Leeds FE facilities available to enhance college and work-based training.

York, of course, has its two universities so if we were in a YSH Unitary Authority, there would be opportunity for closer links, potential for research within Harrogate, spin-off companies being located here to the benefit of young people and the economy.

Sad day as Harrogate rail station loses its newsagents

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