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24
Dec 2022
No.1: The changing of the Harrogate political landscape
In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the May elections and the signing of a multi-million pound devolution deal.
From senior councillors being ousted to council chiefs putting pen to paper on a deal which will change the scope of politics in the district forever, the last 12 months proved to be a seismic year for the Harrogate district.
While much of the major change in local government will come in 2023, the past year has been full of landmarks which have paved the way for what is to come.
In May, the electorate voted with their feet and opted to vote out some senior Harrogate councillors.
Among the political casualties were Conservative Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council, who failed in his bid to get a seat on the new North Yorkshire Council.
With the borough council being abolished in four months time, a seat on the new authority would have helped he Tories keep a grip on local power.
But while some were turned down by the public, other seasoned politicians decided the upcoming shake-up of local government was their last stand.
Conservative Graham Swift gave a consolation speech after failing to win a seat on North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Richard Cooper, Conservative leader of the borough council, decided against standing.
Meanwhile, long-standing county councillor and highways chief, Cllr Don Mackenzie, called time on his political career.
The move was symbolic and suggested changing times for local Conservatives and the political make-up of Harrogate.
Devolution
But while there were gains for the opposition Liberal Democrats locally - some aspects of local governance remained the same.
Conservative Cllr Carl Les was re-elected leader of North Yorkshire County Council unopposed and will go on heading the council into April.
Part of his reasoning for standing was to get over the line a £540 million devolution deal for the county and oversee the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974.
Pictured: Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Greg Clark MP and Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council sign the document.
Cllr Les, who has sat on the authority for 25 years and been leader for seven, was among the political leaders present in York in August when council officials signed on the dotted line with the then levelling up minister, Greg Clark.
The deal has lit a bomb under the political landscape, with an elected mayor and combined authority promised for the coming years.
Along with the abolition of the borough council, it could prove to be pivotal for the future economic prospects of the district.
Read more:
- £540m North Yorkshire devolution deal looks set to progress, say officials
- North Yorkshire’s devolution deal: What’s in it and how will it work?
- North Yorkshire leaders set up devolution decision making body
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