East-West split is least-worst option for North Yorkshire shake-up: Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Martin Malone, Harrogate.
What will North Yorkshire devolution mean for resorts like Scarborough?What will North Yorkshire devolution mean for resorts like Scarborough?
What will North Yorkshire devolution mean for resorts like Scarborough?

Classic nonsense and double-speak from Robert Goodwill MP as he set out why York and North Yorkshire need a mayor (The Yorkshire Post, January 21).

Whilst his comments focused on the undeniable benefits of a devolved mayoral administration, they glossed over the key issue of democratic representation.

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In one part of his column he refers to a reduction in the number of councillors, by creating a mega North Yorkshire authority, whilst in another he advocates the creation of what would be a large number of town councils.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill.Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill.
Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill.

In Mr Goodwill’s preferred option, real power, and the purse strings, would be held in Northallerton, at a considerable distance from the largest centres of population.

Meanwhile town councils, such as the ones he proposes for Harrogate and Scarborough, would be left to decide how much to invest in floral gardens and public notice boards.

Toothless town councils would be elected, with more councillors and less power. The ‘two tier’ confusion about who does what would continue.

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One of the key elements of local democracy is that real power should be held as locally as is practicable.

This is why the unitary councils that exist in large conurbations such as West Yorkshire are more highly regarded by their electors than the confusing mix of district and county councils in many other places.

If local government re-organisation is to have any chance of success in North Yorkshire, then the least-worst option has to be the so-called east-west split, with the new centres of power at least a little closer to the people.

This option also recognises the clear differences in needs and interests between Harrogate, Skipton and the Dales in the west, and the coastal towns and moors in the east.

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