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Discussions Are Underway About Creating a Town Council For Scarborough

But there is a suggestion it might not be possible until 2024, a year after the borough council is abolished.

Discussions about creating a town council for Scarborough are progressing.

The town is one of just two areas in North Yorkshire which doesn't have parish councils.

There's a fear it could be left under-represented when the borough council is abolished next year as part of local government reform.

Richard Webb is one of the county council officers working on the plans for the transition to a single unitary authority, he says the new body is being built around being local.

Under the plans for the creation of a new unitary council for North Yorkshire the existing County Council along with Scarborough Borough Council and the seven other district councils. They will be replaced by a single North Yorkshire Council.

Town and parish council's will remain and under the plans could end up with more powers through what's called Double Devolution. Parish and Town councils that want to do more with services and assets could be given more local control providing there is a valid business case.

However there are currently two towns, Scarborough and Harrogate, which don't have either parish or town councils and could therefore be at a disadvantage.

The county council's Assistant Director for transformation - Robert Ling - says discussions are ongoing about local accountability, including creating a town council for Scarborough.

The plan for the transition to the new authority states that Community governance reviews will take place in both areas which will explore local interest in developing town councils and, subject to local interest, these could be in place in 2023 or 2024.

The structure of the new council will be supported by what are called Community Networks – this are to be designed after the May 2022 elections and are likely to be centred around market towns and surrounding areas to bring together residents, councillors, town and parish councils, MPs, community groups and partners to become "the engine rooms of local actions and ideas."

There will also be Area Committees which are likely to be based on the six parliamentary constituencies and would be made up of all the unitary councillors for that area.

The plan also says the new authority will have a network of Local service hubs and customer access points – to ensure the new council is local with staff continuing to live and work in the communities they serve.

 

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