Plans to create a mayoral authority for York and North Yorkshire will water down democracy according to some local councillors.
The proposed Mayor's Office would take on some powers from Westminster and would then have responsibility for those policy areas across York and North Yorkshire.
The proposal sets out that the mayor would have a small executive committee consisting of two councillors from North Yorkshire and two from York.
But some local politicians think that's a problem as York is a third of the size of North Yorkshire but would get equal representation in the decision making process.
Scarborough Borough Councillor Michelle Donohue-Moncrieffe has concerns:
Borough Councillor Heather Philips is less concerned about the proposals governance arrangements.
Borough Councillor Jane Mortimer has been looking at the plans and also has concerns about the arrangements for the governance of the combined authority.
Borough Council leader - Councillor Steve Siddons - feels the shared power arrangement does make sense despite the different population sizes.
The plan for the combined mayoral authority is part of the Governments proposals for devolution for the region.
In August the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced that the Government was minded to enter into a
Devolution Deal with York and North Yorkshire under which the region would benefit from £540 million of new Government investment to spend on local priorities to produce growth, together with a range of devolved powers. This Devolution Deal is dependent upon the City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council establishing a Combined Authority for the area with an elected Mayor
Both the Borough Council and County Council have backed the plans, there will be a public consultation starting in October.


A £3.5 Million Sea Cadet Training Centre Will Transform Filey's Southdene Pavilion Site
Mayor Wants More Coastal Trains But Admits Funding Is Limited
£18.5 Million Public Funding Package Proposed For Scarborough's Brunswick Centre Redevelopment
£7.9m Coastline Monitoring Scheme Moves Forward Despite Funding Uncertainty
October Half Term Flights Saved as Leeds Bradford Airport Strikes Suspended
Yorkshire Coast Holiday Park Eyes Month-Long Season Extension
Bridlington Woman Receives Fast-Tracked Home Adaptations Following MND Diagnosis
Councillor Warns Scarborough Risks Becoming 'Blackpool Two Point Zero' Amid Rising Anti-Social Behaviour
Yorkshire Water Say Major Upgrades Set To Dramatically Reduce Coastal Spills
Daytime Closures Begin On Major Route Into Whitby For Annual Maintenance
Plans Lodged to Halt Embankment Failure Putting Whitby Road at Risk
150 New Pickering Homes Could Make River Sewage Pollution ‘Inevitable’







Comments
Add a comment