Council challenge

How to serve North Yorkshire

EVEN THOUGH it would be unwise to reconfigure local government here until Yorkshire’s devolution debate is resolved, town halls should still be looking at how best to serve their communities. Irrespective of whether the county has one mayor or separate leaders for each cityregion, taxpayers will not tolerate additional tiers of bureaucracy.

And it’s not just urban areas where there will be a need to avoid duplication of effort – and resource – at all costs. This is equally applicable to rural areas, not least North Yorkshire where residents – outside of York – are served by a county council, and seven district councils. In contrast, one unitary authority covers East Riding.

Just like the One Yorkshire proposal, and the viability of a single body championing the whole county, the same dilemma is pertinent to North Yorkshire – the needs of coastal resorts like Scarborough are different to those in Hawes on the upper tip of the Yorkshire Dales where villagers have taken ownership of services.

The political thinktank ResPublica certainly believes there’s merit to slimmed-down councils merging and the notion should not be dismissed. The key question therefore, at a time when rural areas are bemoaning underinvestment, is how best to maximise resources so all North Yorkshire families receive the best services possible.