Bettys and Flamingo Land on opposite sides of North Yorkshire local government reorganisation row

Rival documents setting out the future of local politics in England's largest county have been sent in to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, with a host of backers for both sides.

And council leaders on both sides of the argument say their propositions have strong support ahead of an expected public consultation to be carried out early next year.

The prospect of two councils for North Yorkshire split along east/west lines has been backed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show, and Bettys and Taylors Group, which makes Yorkshire Tea, among others, according to the documents submitted to Ministers.

Meanwhile bosses at Flamingo Land and Black Sheep Brewery have thrown their support behind plans for a single unitary authority for all of North Yorkshire.

Public service leaders have also taken different sides. North Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan says a single council would "provide a better overall service and outcomes" but North Yorkshire's Chief Fire Officer Andrew Brodie says the greater benefits would come with an east/west split.

The North Yorkshire branch of the union Unison also backs the county’s bid but the secretaries of the Harrogate, Scarborough and Ryedale branches say the east/west proposal offers a better balance.

The Government told political leaders last year that to get the benefits of devolution they must end the current two-tier system of local government where the county council runs some services and seven district councils run others.

In response, North Yorkshire County Council proposes a single unitary council for its 600,000 population with City of York Council, representing around 200,000 people, remaining as it is.

But district leaders have submitted plans for two new councils, with one covering Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby and York and the other representing Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire.

It is hoped the new structure would allow a powerful metro mayor to be elected for North Yorkshire so the county could get up to £.24bn in benefits from a devolution deal with the Government.

The county council's document includes support from health officials including the Chief Executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust as well as Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for England.

But the districts' proposal is backed by a host of well-known North Yorkshire names including Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern, bosses at Harrogate International Festivals and MPs Julian Sturdy and Andrew Jones.

Gordon Gibb, CEO of Flamingo Land Ltd, wrote: “As one of the UK’s most popular visitor attractions, we know the value of the North Yorkshire brand and its importance to the regional economy.

"We continue to invest in the future of our business and see the single unitary authority as essential for developing the next generation of talent for our workforce.”

But Clare Morrow, chair of the board at Bettys and Taylors Group, said: "We are keen to ensure that any changes to the way North Yorkshire is governed give equal weight to the two key centres of York and Harrogate, which are so important in driving the economic growth of the county.

"On balance we think the more proportionate split of the county that the East/West model offers is more likely to enable a balanced approach to be taken, provided sufficient investment and support is given to the two new authorities to enable them to develop quickly so that they can operate at the right level to unlock the potential of each area."

North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les said: “The support for our proposal is undeniable and just common sense for North Yorkshire – that is what we are hearing.

"Our partners and the public have spoken to us with passion about the need to deliver the necessary change in the most effective way to minimise disruption and maximise the benefits to people and businesses right across the county."

Richard Foster, Leader of Craven District Council, speaking on behalf of the district council leaders, said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve services and create the best possible future for the area. Through our East & West proposal, we are taking that opportunity to get change right."

Not all district leaders have backed te east/west split, as Hambleton council has called on the Government to abandon its plans to replace the existing structure.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged North Yorkshire councils to "engage with [the] formal process and see if a local consensus can be reached".

His letter on November 25, seen by The Yorkshire Post, was in response to Ryedale council chief executive Stacey Burlet a month earlier questioning why the Government is pushing ahead with local government reform.

Ms Burlet told the PM that district leaders were "surprised and disappointed" to be asked to submit proposals to the Government on October 9, "especially since you have publicly expressed your view that, given the pressures councils face this winter with the pandemic, now is not the right time to progress, or focus on, ideas for reform".