Get involved in • Devolution: the next steps Our Big Conversation • Building back better Our Big • Reconnecting with the city Conversation • Essential public health information September 2020 Email: [email protected] www.york.gov.uk July 2020 1 Let’s back York Let’sA devolution back deal for York York and You are an invaluable part of what makes York so North Yorkshire could unlock special. It is our size, our history and the people of A devolution deal for York and You are an invaluable part of what makes York so significant investment of up to £2.4bn York that make us who we are today. Why would changing boundaries matter? North Yorkshire could unlock special. It is our size, our history and the people of over 30 years. This would boost our YorkFor that more make information us who we about are today. our strengths please visit: Changing unitary authority boundaries is important to all residents and businesses in significant investment of up to £2.4bn www.york.gov.uk/BackYork York. Any change would mean resources are stretched over a wider geographic area local economy, help create jobs and For more information about our strengths please over 30 years. This would boost our with less emphasis on retaining and building on our unique character. transform public spaces, at a time visit:Let’s www.york.gov.uk/backyork back York – share what you think makes York so local economy, help create jobs and special with #LetsBackYork when we are still recovering from Let’s back York – share what you think makes York Cost transform public spaces, at a time In any merger, York’s residents will pay increased council tax to subsidise the more the pandemic. so Thespecial with council #Let’sbackYork when we are still recovering from expensive service delivery in more rural areas. With 210k residents, City of York Council is the the pandemic. The council Geography However, to get any devolution deal, the government median average size of a unitary authority in England. With 210k residents, City of York Council is the There are two very distinct geographies in the county of North Yorkshire - largely hasHowever also announced to get any itsdevolution intention deal, to reorganise the government some As a mid-sized unitary, York already provides value for median average size of a unitary authority in England. urban York, and largely rural and coastal in surrounding districts – both with very Localhas also Government announced boundaries,its intention particularly to reorganise the some two- money, since York’s taxpayers pay significantly less than As a mid-sized unitary, York already provides value different needs. York has pockets of large inequalities. Increasing York’s footprint to tierLocal (County Government and District) boundaries, structure particularly in other the parts two- of forin money, neighbouring since York’s districts. taxpayers The cost pay of significantly running services tier (County and District) structure in other parts of in York is lower too. cover distinctly different areas will reduce the focus on the key challenges for our own North Yorkshire. less than in neighbouring districts. The cost of unique areas, reducing our support for local community needs. North Yorkshire. running services in York are lower too. As the only existing single-tier unitary Our council tax level is the 7th lowest of any unitary authorityAs the only in existingYork and single-tier North Yorkshire, unitary no Ourin councilEngland, tax and level significantly is the 7th lowerlowest than of any neighbouring unitary Economy authority in York and Northand Yorkshire, it is for our no in England,councils. and significantly lower than neighbouring At this critical time, the city needs stability not disruption to local services and change is required for York and it is for our neighbouringchange is required councils to for agree York which unitary model is councils. partnerships. City of York Council is proud of the relationships built with the local neighbouring councils to agree which unitary model best for them, their residents and businesses. businesses in the city and we are determined to continue supporting our distinctive is best for them, their residents and businesses. local business community in adapting to the economic landscape post Covid-19. Our size is our strength It is crucial that these relationships are not diluted through the inclusion of rural and Our size is our strength coastal economies which do not match with York’s unique economic characteristics. YorkYork isis amongamong the best places to live inin thethe UK, renownedUK, renowned for community for community spirit spirit and drivingand driving innovation insideinnovation and outside inside and our outside historic our city historic walls. city walls. YouYou toldtold usus inin thethe TalkTalk York York Consultation Consultation inin 2019,2019, whichwhich heardheard from over 5,000 people, that one ofof ourour keykey strengthsstrengths isis ourour size. TheThe feedbackfeedback confirmedconfirmed thatthat York York has has all all thethe benefitsbenefits ofof citycity livingliving -- accessaccess toto culture,culture, transporttransport connections,connections, educationaleducational and businessbusiness opportunitiesopportunities and vibrant communitiescommunities -- Let’s back York – whilstwhilst remainingremaining very much on aa communitycommunity scale.scale. tell us what you think YorkYork isis aa compact,compact, walkable,walkable, cyclable,cyclable, liveableliveable andand Tell us what you think via Our Big Conversation, either online at welcomingwelcoming city. With With millionsmillions ofof visitorsvisitors a year and www.york.gov.uk/OurBigConversation, or via a pull-out pre- aa populationpopulation of over 210k, it still feels intimateintimate andand paid survey in this issue of Our City. We will feedback the views of personal.personal. This This personal personal interactioninteraction createscreates a strong York’s residents and businesses in any submission to the government. sense of community, which in turn creates strong sense of community, which in turn creates strong In the meantime, we will continue to lobby regional and national social awareness. We are a city that cares. social awareness. We are a city that cares. partners to secure greater investment in our city, whilst pushing our At just 34km2, the built up urban area of York Back York campaign ( ). At just 34km2, the built up urban area of York is much www.york.gov.uk/BackYork is much smaller than regional centres like Leeds 2 Looking forward, we will continue to consult with residents, businesses smaller(487 km than2) or regional Greater centresManchester like Leeds(630 km (4872) or km ) or 2 and communities as devolution proposals progress for our region. Greatereven comparable Manchester heritage (630 kmcities) orsuch even as Norwichcomparable 2 heritage(62km2) orcities Cambridge such as Norwich(42 km2). (62kmYet, nestled) or Cambridge in the 2 (42Vale km of ).York Yet, atnestled the site in wherethe Vale two of York rivers at meet, the site we wherehave been two a rivers stronghold, meet, wea trading have been centre a stronghold,and more arecently, trading centreresidents and have more led recently, the charge residents to protect have ledour the size charge through to theprotect consultation our size to through develop the our consultationLocal Plan. to develop our Local Plan. 2 Let’s back York Why would changing boundaries matter? A devolution deal for York and You are an invaluable part of what makes York so WhyChanging would unitary changing authority boundaries boundaries is important to matter? all residents and businesses in York. North Yorkshire could unlock special. It is our size, our history and the people of Any change would mean resources are stretched over a wider geographic area with less York that make us who we are today. Changing unitary authority boundaries is important to all residents and businesses in significant investment of up to £2.4bn York. Anyemphasis change on would retaining mean and resources building are on stretchedour unique over character. a wider geographic area over 30 years. This would boost our For more information about our strengths please with less emphasis on retaining and building on our unique character. visit: www.york.gov.uk/backyork Cost local economy, help create jobs and In any merger, York’s residents will pay increased council tax to subsidise the more Let’s back York – share what you think makes York Cost transform public spaces, at a time so special with #Let’sbackYork In any merger,expensive York’s service residents delivery will in pay more increased rural areas. council tax to subsidise the more when we are still recovering from expensiveGeography service delivery in more rural areas. the pandemic. The council GeographyThere are two very distinct geographies in the county of North Yorkshire - largely urban With 210k residents, City of York Council is the York, and largely rural and coastal in surrounding districts – both with very different However to get any devolution deal, the government There are two very distinct geographies in the county of North Yorkshire - largely median average size of a unitary authority in England. urban York,needs. and York largely has pockets rural and of coastal large inequalities. in surrounding Increasing districts York’s – both footprint with very to cover distinctly has also announced its intention to reorganise some As a mid-sized unitary, York already provides value different areas will reduce the focus on the key challenges for our own unique areas, Local Government boundaries, particularly the two- different needs. York has pockets of large inequalities. Increasing York’s footprint to for money, since York’s taxpayers pay significantly reducing our support for local community needs. tier (County and District) structure in other parts of cover distinctly different areas will reduce the focus on the key challenges for our own less than in neighbouring districts. The cost of unique areas, reducing our support for local community needs.