Harrogate takes devolution steps

HARROGATE has triggered a fresh debate on the future of North Yorkshire County Council as it considers its future role in the talks over Yorkshire devolution.
Harrogate Council leader Richard CooperHarrogate Council leader Richard Cooper
Harrogate Council leader Richard Cooper

Councillors have agreed Harrogate should be part of the so-called Leeds City Region devolution deal currently the subject of talks with the Government.

West Yorkshire councils have been negotiating the agreement which would see powers and money in areas such as transport and skills transferred from Whitehall to a combined authority of council leaders headed by an elected mayor.

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If the deal goes ahead, Harrogate would only be an “associate member”, meaning its council leader would attend meetings but would not have a vote and the town’s voters would not take part in the mayoral election.

However Harrogate councillors have also agreed to “explore” the idea of becoming full members which would include votes for the mayor.

North Yorkshire County Council, which has supported a rival Greater Yorkshire devolution plan, had urged Harrogate Council not to make a decision before all options had been explored.

The county has expressed concern that Harrogate becoming a full partner with Leeds City Region - a move which would see powers and money in areas such as transport transferred - could have consequences for the rest of North Yorkshire.

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Its preferred Greater Yorkshire plan would see the whole of West, North and East Yorkshire agree a single devolution deal with the Government.

Harrogate Council leader Richard Cooper said associate membership of the Leeds City Region would give the town “a seat at the table”.

“If a local authority next door is getting a lot of cash, responsibilities, powers, that will effect you then you want to know what’s happening.”

Coun Cooper said the council’s decision did not rule out considering being part of a Greater Yorkshire agreement.

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He added: “I want to see people getting on with putting a proposal together and to put to Government and that I can then put to my council.”

Harrogate councillors have also agreed the authority will start a fresh discussion over the future of two-tier local government in North Yorkshire.

It will write to Local Government Secretary Greg Clark suggesting it is time to consider replacing North Yorkshire County Council and the seven districts with “a number of single tier authorities within North Yorkshire”.

The move re-opens the debate last held almost nine years ago into whether there should be wholesale change in the way North Yorkshire is run.

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In 2007, plans were tabled for North Yorkshire to have a single council but they were rejected by the Government following fierce resistance from districts.

The fresh look at the subject was triggered by a motion put forward by Liberal Democrat councillors but supported unanimously.

The councillors argued that a reorganisation may be needed for Harrogate to get the most out of the devolution on offer from the Government.

The Government is known to want to have devolution deals agreed in time for the Budget later this month and by the end of March at the latest.

It has already struck a series of agreements with areas across the North including South Yorkshire.

Areas with devolution deals are due to hold the first elections for mayors in May next year.