What Lib Dems say 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 Lib Dems says

By Harrogate Lib Dem leader Coun Pat Marsh

1. Local democracy at risk

Devolution which means that power and decision making comes further away from local residents is not the kind of devolution that Lib Dems would like to see.

Lib Dems believe in devolution where powers come down to a local level and local people make decisions on the areas they live in and on issues that impact on their lives.

Having an elected mayor who could come from any other part of the UK cannot replace local knowledge or local pride.

2. Why the rush for major upheaval?

However, we are where we are with a Government pushing this once in a lifetime reorganisation of local democracy at a time when a Pandemic is the issue uppermost in most people’s minds.

Why the rush? Why if devolution was to come then why not a whole Yorkshire Devolution with maybe a Yorkshire Parliament?

It would have been a national/international Brand. Unfortunately, we are where we are and we need to consider the best solution to the issue.

3. Size matters

It can’t be a whole North Yorkshire County Councik solution it is too large the Government wants authorities of about 400,000.

The best way to achieve this is to divide North Yorkshire into two combined authorities, one South block consisting of York, Harrogate and Selby.

These authorities are part of the Leeds City Region so have a lot in common, all being urban focused, with manufacturing bases, well connected, by road and rail and socio- economically very similar, eggs with eggs.

Whereas North, North Yorkshire, is rural by nature and has lots in common having National Parks, an outstanding coastline and small rural market towns with lots of similarities and shared interests.

It would have a strong agricultural base, again eggs with eggs rather than trying to mix urban and agricultural economies.

4. Harrogate needs urban partners

Therefore, I feel that Harrogate district will be best served by joining with York and Selby there would be shared issues, such as heritage, international recognition, well connected with each other, rail and road and well connected to the wider world.

With manufacturing bases of national recognition, Yorkshire Tea, Harrogate Water to sit alongside those in York. Urban facing and connecting two cities, Ripon & York.

The economy of Harrogate district is not rural and, therefore, to be placed where agriculture is the dominant economic base would be at odds with our International Conference Centre which underpins our local economy.

5. Harrogate needs to link up with like-minded people

Any other division would be disastrous for Harrogate district residents and would reduce our influence in the region and would risk losing future inward investment into the area.

Harrogate needs to be with like-minded people who have a similar outlook on how we see the future of the places we all love and want to enhance and that means joining with York & Selby.

We would also want to see the election of the combined authorities to be done by PR, so every vote will count.

By North Yorkshire County Council's Liberal Democrats group leader Coun Geoff Webber

1. Harrogate should look to Leeds

A north/south split would maintain our already close links with the Leeds City Region. Harrogate, York and Selby already look to Leeds as the “northern powerhouse” for economic regeneration.

The Liberal Democrats believe that the residents of Harrogate would be better served by strengthening existing links with the Leeds City Region rather than looking northwards to the mainly rural area of Hambleton, Richmondshire etc.

2. Natural transport links

We already have major transport and infrastructure connections with Leeds, including good transport links to Leeds/Bradford airport. There is already significant workplace travel between Harrogate and Leeds.

3. Devolution is disguised centralisation

The Oxford Dictionary definition of devolution is “the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration”.

A reorganisation which transfers all of the powers of the seven North Yorkshire district councils to one very large council based on the existing county boundary is not devolution – it is centralisation.

4. Too much power in too few hands

Whilst it is true that a combined authority could attract additional government funding with an elected mayor, it is also true that it puts a lot of power into the hands of one person who, between elections, is effectively unaccountable to the electorate.

London’s “Garden Bridge” scheme comes to mind as the sort of thing that can go very wrong when power is in the hands of one person.

5. Best solution is a north/south divide

If a two-tier local government is to be discontinued, and I would not wish to defend some of the anomalies it has created, then it is important that the successor authority retains close links with the existing Harrogate district.

A new single council based on the existing county boundary would be too big in terms of both area and population and would find it difficult to balance the more urban interest of the south against the essentially rural interests of the north.

That is why the Liberal Democrats favour a north/south divide over an east/west divide or a unitary county.

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

Harrogate Borough Council is likely to be scrapped under devolution deal for North Yorkshire, but 'local decision making will not be diluted'

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