Devolution: Time for Harrogate to declare independence from North Yorkshire

DEVOLVED powers for our region could bring huge benefits, but Harrogate does not need another tier of local government.

Devolution could improve accountability at local and regional levels, but North Yorkshire County Council should have no part to play in this.

There is widespread misunderstanding about local government responsibilities in Harrogate.

Many people don’t realise, for example, that whilst refuse collections, leisure facilities and planning are the responsibility of Harrogate Borough Council, roads, libraries and schools are overseen by the County Council in distant Northallerton.

We have two councils whilst many other towns have only one.

Regional devolution would bring finance and accountability for major decisions such as investment in transport, industry and the environment much closer to home.

But it is also an opportunity to reduce our local councils from two tiers to one, by making Harrogate a unitary council, like other local councils throughout West Yorkshire and in the city of York.

Local services and local issues could then be decided locally, rather than in Northallerton, whilst regional strategies and investment would be dealt with at a regional level, rather than in London.

Harrogate’s historic, commercial and cultural ties with West Yorkshire were emphasised through its membership of the Leeds City Region, leading to investment and influence.

Harrogate’s public transport links confirm Leeds, rather than York or rural North Yorkshire, as integral to its economy and employment.

But Harrogate’s partnership with its neighbours has been damaged by Westminster’s decision to exclude it from West Yorkshire regional devolution.

Is this because some politicians at county level have lobbied to preserve their own power base?

Devolution offers an opportunity to improve levels of accountability by making Harrogate council responsible for all local services, whilst creating a regional body that is responsible for decisions currently made by the national government in Westminster.

Since Harrogate is to be prevented from participating in the West Yorkshire region, with which it feels the greatest affinity, then at least, it should be allowed to run its own affairs as a unitary council, within whatever regional government is created for this region.