After years of preparation, a new unitary council for North Yorkshire is set to finally launch on Saturday, but what will change?
The answer for many residents is probably not much.
Bins will still be collected on the same day, planning applications will still be processed and grass will be cut — just the name of the council on your council tax bill will be different.
North Yorkshire Council has been billed as a brand new authority although in many ways it will appear as a continuity council of North Yorkshire County Council.
The elected leader, Cllr Carl Les, will be the same, as will his cabinet of Conservative councillors.
Richard Flinton, who has been the North Yorkshire County Council chief executive since 2010 will also have the same role at the new council.
The county council already has responsibility for key matters like education, roads and health & social care and it’s these areas where residents are likely to see the smallest difference.
Most meetings will be held in Northallerton although some, such as planning committees and area constituency committees, will be held locally.
Councillors who were elected to serve on North Yorkshire County Council last May will sit on the council for the next four years.
Officers working behind the scenes to create North Yorkshire Council have promised a seamless transition of services that were run by Scarborough Borough Council. The vast majority of staff will transfer to the authority and continue in their previous roles.
The reorganisation was the decision of central government with an aim of streamlining structures and cutting costs but Cllr Les told a meeting in January that he can not guarantee that there won’t be job redundancies in the future.
A new website will launch on Saturday where residents can do things such as report potholes, submit planning applications or pay council tax.
Residents will no longer pay council tax to Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council and there will be a 4.99% increase on last year’s bill. This equates to an increase of £83.64 for an average Band D property.
Perhaps the most visible change for residents will be branding. A new logo has been created for North Yorkshire Council and adding this to bin lorries, libraries, registrar offices and various other places used by the authority. The changes will cost an estimated £400,000.
Yorkshire Water Fixes Faulty Scarborough Sewer Monitor Following Erroneous Spill Reports
North Yorkshire Harbours Among First To Comply With New Safety Regulations
Two Arrests Made Following Drug Warrants Executed In Filey
Moorsbus Service Returns With Extended Season For East Riding Residents
East Riding Youth Initiatives Gain Access To £100,000 Funding Pot
Bridlington Town Secure Permanent Signing Of Highly-Rated Midfielder Billy Marshall
Whitby 'Danger Bank' Road Repairs Delayed Until Next Year Following Further Slippage
Yorkshire Water Aims to Accelerate Bathing Water Improvements Along the Coast
Yorkshire Water Promises No Stone Unturned In Scalby Beck Water Quality Investigation
Scarborough & Whitby MP Promotes Government Work Incentive Plans
Whitby to Hold Freedom Parade After Conferring Highest Honour on Army Corps
Yorkshire Coast Cricket Round-Up
Comments
Add a comment