Hambleton councillors have refused to support a bid for an east/west unitary model to government as a proposed way to reorganise local government in North Yorkshire.
All councils in North Yorkshire were invited to submit a bid to Government by November 9, proposing how unitary authorities could be created within North Yorkshire and York.
The seven district and borough councils have worked together to identify the ‘East/West’ as a model which would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East.
This model has been put forward as an alternative to the so-called ‘mega-council’ model set to be proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.
This week all seven councils will decide as part of their individual democratic process, on whether to support the east/west submission to government.
At a meeting of full council held this afternoon, Hambleton councillors agreed not to support the submission by a vote of 19 to 8.
Those voting against submitting said they felt it was not the right time, mid global pandemic, for such a significant change to local government arrangements and they firmly believe the best way of delivering local council services to the residents and businesses in Hambleton is in the way we already do.
Councillors also agreed to lobby government to take into consideration the status quo alongside the super council and east/west model as part of their deliberations.
Cllr Mark Robson, Leader of Hambleton District Council said: “As Leader of this council, I simply cannot support anything that will not benefit the residents of Hambleton, and I firmly believe this will not.
“Although the east/west model is a better option than the ‘mega-council’ proposed by the county council, it is still not the best option for Hambleton.
“A move away from what we have will cost my residents more for what I believe will be less of a service, at a time where this country is heading towards the harshest recession in a generation due to COVID.
“Hambleton residents currently enjoy the third lowest council tax in the country and the lowest in North Yorkshire.
“I’ve no doubt, should the status quo be replaced by a unitary authority, that residents will see a significant rise in their council tax bill at the same time as a reduced, more remote and less responsive local council service.
“I’m afraid I simply cannot support anything that will result in this outcome for Hambleton residents and will be urging government to reconsider their push to force a unitary reorganisation upon us here in North Yorkshire.”
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