How a North Yorkshire super-council offers maximum benefits – Carl Les

Ministers view English devolution as a means of creating better, fairer life chances for people in all parts of the country by addressing historic funding inequalities. This is crucial to economic renewal following the impact of Covid-19.

Government is therefore pressing a number of regions to move at pace if they wish to pursue strong devolution deals. North Yorkshire and York as a combined authority is one of them. But the Government has a new requirement. To secure a deal, we are ordered to remove our current two-tier local government system and unitise. We need to act now to ensure we are not left behind.

We believe maximum gain and minimum disruption will come from the creation of a single strong, sustainable council for everyone in North Yorkshire, based on the current map and population. This would work in dynamic partnership with the City of York, respecting its integrity as a single-tier council but strengthening shared service opportunities.

Not only will a single North Yorkshire council simplify things for people and businesses, but it will protect and strengthen high-quality frontline services.

Now is not the time to break up services such as our adult services, public health and highways which have protected people’s lives through recent emergencies like flooding and Covid-19 and continue to do so. What would be the sense in splitting our children’s services which are recognised as the best in the country?

A single, sustainable council will end the duplication of a two-tier system and operate at scale to secure maximum efficiency and drive innovation.

We estimate savings in excess of £25m every year, offering the best value for money for everyone. No other bid would be able to match these benefits. Equally importantly it will protect a global and recognised brand which is crucial for our visitor economy.

But the single council would also be driven by a new dynamic localism – a far cry from the remote “mega council” portrayed by detractors.

We know our communities. For every £5 spent on council services in North Yorkshire, £4 is already delivered by us.

We work with local people intimately every day delivering social care into their homes, educating children and offering support for families and businesses across every parish of the county, mending the roads outside their front doors.

And we do this to exceptional standards.

Our children’s services are graded outstanding across the board; our highways service is among the best performing in the UK, our library service, run in an innovative partnership with our communities, is among the top 10 in England.

This is only possible because we work at grassroots level to understand the problems and help to remove barriers. We are co-ordinating the response to support people in isolation during the pandemic in North Yorkshire – literally knocking on people’s doors to ensure they are safe. Without doubt the new North Yorkshire council would operate locally.

In a “double devolution” proposal, our plan would see greater powers and funding passed to parish and town councils than currently exist.

Only two areas of the county – Harrogate and Scarborough – do not have town councils so we would offer to create them. They could then benefit from “double devo” and draw down substantial powers if their residents want it.

We would give people, voluntary organisations and businesses a louder voice via 25 community networks based around market town areas which would be the drivers of renewal and innovation from the bottom up.

We would improve transparency through area constituency committees to oversee their local areas, champion their cause, strengthen relationships with their MPs and make important decisions locally on things such as planning and licensing. They would hold a North Yorkshire council to account.

Our towns and villages, surrounded by our glorious countryside, have the unparalleled chance to attract a new generation as the shift to home working due to Covid brings changes to the country’s way of life.

Our drive towards localism would help to bring renewed dynamism to these communities.

Our bid would also follow in the success of other single councils serving whole counties of a similar population size and make-up to ours, such Durham and Cornwall. Colleagues in Leeds would argue they serve a population of circa 800,000 with considerable success – the pattern is clear.

Things will be simpler – by removing confusion over which council does what and providing a single contact point for people and businesses.

And savings will be made – tens of millions of pounds every year– by reducing duplication and by having one single council instead of eight.

Let’s do what we are famous for by getting on with it together and build a brighter future with a new excellent council and renewed economic prospects.

Carl Les is a Conservative councillor and leader of North Yorkshire 
County Council.

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