Residents of Scarborough and Harrogate are being asked for their views on the potential creation of town councils for areas around both towns, with parts of the towns being the only major towns in the county not to have a parish or town council.
Scarborough Borough Council and Harrogate Borough Council are both to be replaced in April next year, with the creation of a new North Yorkshire Council. The new council will take on the responsibility of all local services, with town and parish council’s taking on greater responsibilities.
With the increased workload for town and parish councils, residents of the areas of Scarborough and Harrogate that are currently unparished are being asked for their views on the creation of councils, through a two-week consultation.
Councillor David Chance, executive member for corporate service at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
“Parish and town councils have always had a key role in representing the needs of their communities and will have even greater opportunity to do so – as well as to take on greater responsibilities if they so wish – with the formation of the new North Yorkshire Council in April.
“As two of the county’s major centres of population, it’s vital that Harrogate and Scarborough have this opportunity and I would urge people to look at the consultation and have their say. At this stage, no firm proposals are being put forward. Depending on the response to this consultation, a further consultation on detailed proposals could follow.”
The unparished areas of both towns are;
- Bilton and Nidd Gorge (Harrogate)
- Bilton Grange and New Park (Harrogate)
- Coppice Valley and Duchy (Harrogate)
- Fairfax and Starbeck; Harlow and St Georges (Harrogate)
- High Harrogate and Kingsley (Harrogate)
- Killinghall, Hampsthwaite, and Saltergate (Harrogate)
- Oatlands and Pannal (Harrogate)
- The Stray and Hookstone (Harrogate)
- Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate (Harrogate)
- Castle (Scarborough)
- Eastfield (Scarborough)
- Falsgrave and Stepney (Scarborough)
- Northstead (Scarborough)
- Weaponness and Ramshill (Scarborough)
- Woodlands (Scarborough)
Executive member for stronger communities, Councillor Greg White, added:
“Our communities demonstrate repeatedly that they have the ability, will and determination to help themselves and to support their vulnerable neighbours. Town councils give residents the ability to help determine how their own towns look and feel. This consultation will enable people living in Scarborough and Harrogate to have a say on whether they want a council for their town.”
