Hambleton leader slams 'irresponsible' claim of 3,000 job losses in Northallerton

Mark Robson, the Conservative leader of Hambleton District Council, described the claim by a number of local councillors as "propaganda and shameless scaremongering".

A number of Conservative members of Hambleton council, who are also North Yorkshire County councillors, said they feared “an economic catastrophe” in Northallerton unless at least one local authority centre of administration remains there.

Political leaders are arguing over the merits of having one single unitary authority covering the county or two bodies either side of the A1 as part of a proposed local government shake-up.

The Government says the current two-tier system of district councils must end if North Yorkshire is to get the benefits of a devolution deal. Currently the civic centres for both Hambleton council and the county council are based in Northallerton.

Thirsk councillor Gareth Dadd, Northallerton councillor Caroline Dickinson, Swainby councillor David Hugill and Northallerton county councillor David Blades highlighted that there are about 3,000 office-based posts supporting county and district services in Northallerton and Hambleton as a whole, excluding those that work on the front-line.

They said while the posts would continue whatever the new structure, splitting the county in two would inevitably move half the structure, about 1,500 jobs, from Hambleton to the new authority.

They said the remaining posts would be under serious threat from being moved to places such as Harrogate or elsewhere within the new authority.

Coun Robson said in a statement: “As Leader of Hambleton District Council, let me be very clear about this – this claim is misleading and frankly irresponsible.

"People are already nervous about job and financial security post COVID, and more propaganda and shameless scaremongering from the county council, for what appears to be their own gain, simply adds to people’s woes and worries.

"It is in very bad taste indeed and it both saddens and disappoints me that it’s come to this.

“Residents and businesses across Hambleton deserve honesty and fairness whilst we work out what local government in North Yorkshire and York will look like in the future.

"Only last week myself and the other districts and borough council leaders released a statement to the media calling on the county council to play fair with the public as it campaigns to create its mega council delivering all services across 8,000 square kilometres.

"It’s disappointing that only days later we see perhaps the lowest blow yet, putting fear into people about their livelihood, all aimed at scaring the residents of Hambleton and council employees into backing their mega council campaign."

North Yorkshire County Council says the creation of one single authority, taking in the entire county but excluding York, would be the best option and save millions of pounds a year. But district leaders say this so-called 'mega council' would be too big.

Council leaders in North Yorkshire have until September to submit proposals for how local government can be restructured.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick will then hold a public consultation on the options before making a decision based on which proposal has the widest support.

The local government shake-up is a condition imposed by Ministers for a devolution deal like those enjoyed in the Tees Valley, Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region.

It would mean an elected metro mayor for England’s largest county and up to £2.4bn in new investment. serve local interests.