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Harrogate council leaders urge people to have their say in 'crucial' consultation on future of local government

Harrogate Borough Council are urging residents to have their say in a government consultation on the future of local government in North Yorkshire.

Harrogate Borough Council are urging residents to have their say in a government consultation on the future of local government in North Yorkshire and York.

The government has said local government in North Yorkshire and York must be reorganised to form one-tier, unitary authorities – and has now launched an eight-week consultation on two separate proposals that have been put forward:

The six district and borough councils of Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby have joined together to propose a balanced, ‘east and west’ model of local government. Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton would join together to form a unitary council in the ‘west’, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough would form a unitary council in the ‘east’, with a population of 465,000. North Yorkshire County Council has submitted a proposal to form one council across the whole of North Yorkshire, with a population of 618,000, leaving York as a separate, small unitary authority with just 211,000 residents.

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, speaking on behalf of the six district and borough councils, said:

“We would urge residents, businesses and organisations to have their say in this crucial consultation. Please take your time to read the proposals and give your views to government.

“This reorganisation will affect the lives of more than 800,000 people in York and North Yorkshire, so it’s really important that you take this opportunity to make your voice heard.”

For more information about the east and west bid, go to www.get-change-right.com. To take part in the consultation go to: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/governance-reform-and-democracy/northyorkshire/

Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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