A unitary council for North Yorkshire The case for change Stronger together North Yorkshire is Our vision for the future The world looks very different now compared That’s why we think we’re Stronger Together. Stronger Together to twelve months ago. The Covid pandemic Our proposal isn’t the only one on the table. has been a real shock. We need to think Some of the other councils would prefer to Understanding our plans to improve your services, make savings differently about how we recover from this. and support an economic recovery in North Yorkshire. split North Yorkshire in half and create two Working as one single council in North brand new authorities. We don’t think that’s Yorkshire will put us in a better position best for you, for our businesses or for our Introduction to help our local economy, to support our future. People across the UK know about North We think a single council in North Yorkshire – By joining together, we think we can businesses to create more jobs. It will also Yorkshire and about the people who live here. delivering all your local services – will make deliver even better services to you and get rid of duplication and confusion. We’re famous for being who we are, what things easier for you, strengthen the services the place where you live, for less money. we do and where we live. Let’s build on this North Yorkshire County Council already delivers we know matter most to you and ensure we get These savings can be used to protect your for the future to help our economy bounce really good services across the whole of the best value from every pound we spend. services and ensure they are fit for the back from Covid. And let’s do it together. North Yorkshire. But don’t just take our word future for everyone in North Yorkshire. We want a single, strong and sustainable for it. Our children’s services have been rated council for you, your family, the businesses We think we would be Stronger as ‘outstanding’ by the government. Other “You need a council which in your area and the place where you live. Together. This document gives you more councils look at our adult support services has the capacity to operate information about our proposal. because we have a strong reputation. We’re At the moment, your local council services at scale and make powerful seen as one of the best-performing councils are delivered by different organisations. strategic decisions and which in the country for important services like There are eight councils in North Yorkshire – gritting in winter and highway repairs. will have a national voice seven district or borough councils and one and standing. But alongside county council. Here’s how some services That’s a pretty good starting point, are split between these different councils. and we think we could deliver all your that you need focused and services to the same high standard. effective services which are • Where you live, your household waste will be collected by your district or borough By joining together, we can take the best very close to the community. council – but North Yorkshire County Council of how all council services are delivered is in charge of disposing of this waste. and improve things for everyone living This is what we have been or working here in North Yorkshire. developing in Nidderdale • The streets in your community are cleaned by your district or borough council – We’ve got ambitious plans to make sure we with the county council’s but North Yorkshire County Council remain local to you and the place where you Stronger Communities is in charge of looking after them. live. Our market towns are the real heart of services, and it is what could our communities. We want to set up 25 local • Some of your family or friends may benefit be developed still further if a from home adaptations made by your district community networks based on market town case - such as the proposed or borough council – but North Yorkshire areas. Working in this way will give you a County Council delivers personal care much bigger say about your local priorities. new North Yorkshire Council services to help people live independently These changes will also save us all money. with its strong localism for longer in their communities. This is money that can be re-invested agenda - goes ahead.” in making your services even stronger and fit for purpose for the future. Helen Flynn, executive director of Nidderdale Plus 2 Stronger together Stronger together 3 What Stronger Together looks like North Yorkshire’s existing two-tier system showing the different areas covered by the seven district councils. The same area is also covered by one county council. Proposed single council for North Yorkshire. Tees Valley and North East Whitby Whitby Richmond North York Moors Richmond National Park Catterick Catterick North York Moors National Park YorkshireDales Northallerton YorkshireDales Northallerton Scarborough National Park Scarborough National Park Nidderdale Nidderdale Thirsk Thirsk Malton Area of Outstanding Ripon Malton Area of Outstanding Ripon Natural Beauty Natural Beauty Forest of Bowland Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Howardian Hills Natural Beauty Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Area of Outstanding Knaresborough Natural Beauty Knaresborough Natural Beauty Skipton Skipton Harrogate York Harrogate Hull and Humber West Yorkshire Selby Selby Lancashire “As a long-term investor in North Yorkshire and one of the biggest investors in the UK tourism industry, a single unitary council for North Yorkshire could be helpful because it will assist in unlocking new investment in jobs and infrastructure vital to the recovery and renewal of the county’s tourism industry.” Barrie Robinson, Operations Director at Parkdean Resorts 4 Stronger together Stronger together 5 Stronger Together for you Stronger Together We want to keep things simple for you and No other bid can deliver the scale of savings in the businesses in your area. We want to have such a timeframe, while protecting nationally for partners better services. We want to save money. We’ll recognised services for North Yorkshire’s We’re not the only ones delivering services to deliver on these by being Stronger Together. most frail and vulnerable residents. you and the place where you live. For example, “We must look at ways to North Yorkshire is a big place, but that we need to deliver some social care support in build upon the existing doesn’t mean your services would be “I think for the delivery of partnership with the NHS, and we work with the partnerships to prepare the remote. We already deliver lots of services most services – and crucially police to support ‘at risk’ children and help them right across the county, like education, in getting devolution to stay out of trouble. We think our proposal is best county for the future. It’s a safeguarding, looking after older people for the other organisations we work alongside. future which will feature a and locally delivered highway services. North Yorkshire – a unitary authority would be better Firstly, North Yorkshire County Council rapidly-ageing population, We would strengthen your voice and your already delivers some of the best services for all the services.” which will have an increasing say too. We would set up 25 local community in the country. We’re involved in projects demand for ever-more networks based on your local market town and Sir Martin Narey, chair of the North with others that are recognised nationally. complex care. This will require surrounding areas. In addition, to ensure you Yorkshire Coast Opportunity Area and Splitting up North Yorkshire – as some can access local advice and services in person former chief executive of charity Barnardos councils want to do – would mean un-picking a strong, coherent authority and online, our proposal includes providing the working arrangements that enable to manage in partnership offices in every district alongside more than us to deliver to these high standards. 30 ‘access points’. It also means we’ll keep the with care providers.” Secondly, it will be much easier for other local service hubs that are already in place Chair of the Independent Chair organisations to build great working across the county. Working in this way will mean Group – the industry body for the relationships with us. At the moment voluntary that what matters most to you is the priority. care sector - Mike Padgham and community groups and other partners North Yorkshire folk are renowned for wanting have to deal with two different councils. a good deal. We think our proposal offers Our proposal means they would deal with exactly that. One council will make things one – and that will be easier to get results. more efficient and better value for money. Our proposal also sets out how we’d work We estimate that this change could save in partnership with your town or parish £30m a year just by bringing together all council. This will involve giving them more eight councils. That money would start to power to do some things, to be more be saved within just a few months. That responsive to the place where you live. rises to £252m after five years, if we’re able to use the new council as a springboard for transforming services. That’s money we can re-invest in making your services even better and keeping down costs. It’s equal to £185 a year for every household in North Yorkshire. 6 Stronger together Stronger together 7 Stronger Together Stronger Together for value By joining together the existing councils for businesses and their services we believe we can save “I know from experience as much as £252m over five years.