THE leaders of a council serving England’s largest county, which is seeking to become a single unitary authority, have issued a challenge to other district and borough authorities as a rival proposal to split the county in two “to keep local government local” was unveiled.

North Yorkshire County Council’s deputy leader, Councillor Gareth Dadd, questioned the sense in “splitting nationally renowned services” as its executive instructed its officers to develop a case for the district and borough councils to be amalgamated with the county authority in a unitary authority spanning 3,109sq miles with about 605,000 residents.

The moves come just weeks after local government minister Simon Clarke told North Yorkshire and York council leaders to prepare proposals to create one or more unitary authorities to cover the area by September as pre-requisite of devolution.

The reorganisation could see new authorities formed by May 2022, with devolution of powers following in May 2023 with the election of a ‘metro mayor’ for the area.

The Conservative-led executive meeting came says after the leaders of the seven district and borough councils signed a letter to the county’s MPs stating to allow City of York Council to keep its boundary would “store up problems for the future” as its population was too small.

It also came just hours after the leader of Ryedale District Council announced he was “seeking a better alternative to plans for a North Yorkshire-wide super council”.

Councillor Keane Duncan, who is also a Conservative county councillor, said he was working with other district leaders to explore the creation of two unitary authorities of roughly equal size, each with 400,000 residents, by involving York in proposals.

It is understood Cllr Duncan is also keen to examine creating a unitary authority with Scarborough Borough, which has a population of 108,000. With York, such a unitary authority would have a population of 370,000.

He added: “A county-wide option would be the largest unitary ever created in England in terms of both population and area. Nothing so large and remote exists anywhere else.

“My aim is to keep local government local. But this isn’t just about size, it’s about identity too.

“For Ryedale, we have much greater links and connections with the City of York than more distant parts of North Yorkshire. In fact, a large chunk of the city’s suburbs was part of Ryedale district until 1996.

“While the county council’s proposal seeks the status quo in York, the city is very much integral to the options we’re looking at.

“Connecting it with neighbouring areas like Ryedale holds great potential for jobs and investment. It would also allow us to push for the long-awaited dualling of the A64 with renewed strength and unity.”

“This alternative option should not only out-perform the super council in financial terms, but empower communities and enrich democracy at the same time.”

However, Cllr Dadd told the executive meeting the county’s bid would achieve savings and localism without the need for major disruption of key services.

He said government ministers would be able to judge each proposal on “savings, localism, and most importantly services that local government provides to vulnerable people, especially children and elderly folk”, and said he would accept their decision if district proposals were superior.

The authority’s leader, Councillor Carl Les, said a single council would simplify things for people and businesses, renew economic fortunes following the shock delivered by the pandemic and protect and strengthen frontline services.

He said: “It will also unleash the county’s potential and deliver very significant financial savings by ending duplication, improving efficiency and driving innovation. We estimate savings in excess of £25m every year, offering the best value for money for everyone. No other bid would be able to match these benefits. Equally importantly it will protect a global and recognised brand which is crucial for our visitor economy.”

Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council, said it welcomed the county council’s proposals.

He added: “For us here in York, City of York has worked successfully as a unitary authority since 1996, representing a self-governing and historic city, with a unique tourism offer, innovative business community and distinctly different economy to our more rural neighbouring areas, with strong links to West Yorkshire. It is also important to underline York and North Yorkshire produces GVA of over £19bn, with York contributing almost a third and York is the median average size of unitary authorities in England.”

“As such, we do not believe that any changes to our structures or boundaries are required, particularly ones that would not well represent the local communities across York. Therefore, whilst we are committed to working with partners and neighbouring local authorities, we are not convinced that any other models of local government would represent effectively York’s history, communities or the unique characteristics of the city.”