Scarborough Borough Councillors to debate and vote on devolution plan

A debate and vote is set to take place today by Scarborough Borough Councillors on a devolution plan.

Two bids are being put forward which would see the current two-tier system in the county scrapped.

Steve Siddons, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said:

"We are putting in a separate bid which is to split the area into two; so there will be an east model and a west model in North Yorkshire.

"We think that's the best proposal for people who live here.

"We want to make sure that the Government have more than one choice.

"We believe that our proposal serves the residents of this borough best because being in a huge, mega council which is managed from Northallerton, certainly isn't localism working.

"We know that some members are in support of the County Council's model and that's absolutely fine.

"You know everyone will have their own view about that. So we want to make sure that there's more than one model that's going to be put forward."

Both bids have to be submitted by December.

Cllr Siddons added:

"They will hold a public consultation which will probably take place early in the new year and last for eight weeks.

"So every resident of the Borough of Scarborough will have the opportunity to comment on that and the Government will look at those and make a final decision."