Town would need its own council, says MP
Scarborough needs its own town council if a radical shake up of local government goes ahead, says the area’s MP. Robert Goodwill says if North Yorkshire devolution happens and Scarborough Borough Council is scrapped, a Scarborough town council would be the way forward.
“My view is that we have to have that lower tier of local government that can respond to people’s concerns,” he said.
“We need to fill that gap by having a Scarborough town council.
Mr Goodwill said he thinks North Yorkshire devolution is “inevitable”.
As reported by The Scarborough News, the county’s seven district councils - which include Scarborough Borough Council - have been told they must go if North
Yorkshire wants devolution, which would bring more powers and spending potential to the county.
Following a meeting with Local Government Minister Simon Clarke, it has been proposed to create one or two combined authorities under a metro Mayor for the county in 2022.
The size of the new authority, which would also include York, is still to be decided but the combined 800,000 people living in North Yorkshire and York is considered too large for one stand-alone council.
Councils in the area have until September to submit their proposals for what the future unitary authority could look like.
Mr Goodwill said people in Newby and Seamer would have to be asked if they wanted to keep their parish councils or be included under a new town council.
He added he has raised the idea of a Scarborough town council with Mr Clarke.
Under the present system, North Yorkshire County Councilisresponsibleforeducation, highways, social care and transport.
The seven district councils are responsible for the majority of planning matters, licensing, bin collections and council tax collections.
York has one council to run all services.
Any of the councils involved in the process can submit a proposal to the government to be considered.
The government’s intention is to make the changes from April 2022, with Mayoral elections taking place in May alongside elections to the new unitary authority or authorities.
The government hopes to put the proposals for the new authority structure before Parliament in the new year.
Moving Parliament to l
York is a non-starter, says Scarborough’s MP.
Robert Goodwill says moving the House of Commons to York - as has been suggested by Boris Johnson - is impractical and could damage York’s tourism industry.
“If it’s going to be in the North, it might as well be in Scarborough!” he said.
He says there are no buildings in York suitable for Parliament to be held in, and he fears it would have a negative impact on the city’s tourism industry.