Harrogate leader calls for clarity over local government shake-up
Under the planned changes, Harrogate Borough Council is one of seven in North Yorkshire to be scrapped and replaced with one unitary authority.
The leader of Harrogate Borough Council is calling for clarity over a decision to abolish seven of North Yorkshire's district councils.
The government has announced North Yorkshire’s two-tier councils – including Harrogate – will be scrapped and replaced with a single unitary authority in what will mark the biggest changes to local government in the county in almost 50 years.
Reacting to the announcement, councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said the government’s decision “flies in the face” of its own criteria and added that he hoped for clarity on how it was reached.
He said: “Naturally, I am disappointed at this decision and I will be interested in due course to read the government’s reasoning.
“I have always been in favour of unitary government. It is less confusing for residents who will only have one council to go to for all services and it avoids the expense of duplication.
“My argument has always been that any unitary for our area needs to be of the right size and structure to deliver efficient and responsive services to residents.
“The county council deliver some services exceptionally – children’s services and adult social care to name two. In other areas they let our borough down.
“My job now as the leader of Harrogate Borough Council is to explore how the new unitary authority, based on the county structure, can improve these shortcomings.”
Councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, also said: “It was not our choice to go down this line and we did not support either of the two proposals but, if pushed, our preferred option would have been a north/south split.
“Of the options that were actually on the table, the single council does make the most sense.
“We will fight to get parishes the power and control they want and we have already started the process of assuring that Harrogate town becomes parished.
“We don’t want the local voice lost in a large anonymous organisation.”