A cross-party group of councillors is urging the appointment of a dedicated government minister to champion rural and coastal communities and provide a vital boost to the North Yorkshire economy.
A cross-party group of councillors has called for the appointment of a dedicated government minister to represent rural and coastal communities.
Supporters of the move believe that a specific ministry would provide a vital boost to the North Yorkshire economy and offer significant help to local residents.
During a recent meeting, Councillor David Jeffels argued that dedicated representation is urgently needed to support farming, tourism, and essential community assets such as village shops and schools.
He suggested that rural and coastal issues require focused attention at the highest levels of government to ensure that local economies can thrive and maintain a sustainable future.
Councillor Jeffels said:
"My question is whether you feel you could support and help instigate rural life by having a government ministry, which would have sole responsibility for such issues as opposed to being tagged on to an existing department, because we are not just looking at the industries per se. It's all the other industries indirectly which benefit from both farming and from tourism and community life. Village shops, future of schools, if we could help revive rural economies, it would go a long way towards establishing a sound future for them and nationally for the economy."
In response to the proposal, Alison Hume agreed that rural and coastal areas are often overlooked within the current power structure.
She acknowledged the growing pressures on agricultural land and the importance of having a dedicated focus to ensure these communities are not left behind.
Ms Hume said:
"I think if there was a person in place with that one sole objective, it would really concentrate the mind and actually get something done. And the role of the mayor to be making sure that they have somebody who is dedicated to the rural area. Now I'm not sure whether a mayor's gate has this but that would be my first comment on that. And of course, you're completely right that the rural economy is absolutely crucial with growing pressures of the solar panels on agricultural land and things like that. We do need oversight, so I'd be happy to talk to you more about that and present a case, but I'm not sure I can deliver it David, but I'll try."
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