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08
Jan 2023
Referendum should not 'slow down' Harrogate town council creation
A referendum should not slow the process of creating a Harrogate town council, local Liberal Democrats have said.
Harrogate and Scarborough are the only parts of North Yorkshire which do not have a parish or town council. However, a lower-tier authority looks set to be created after 75% backed a proposal in an initial consultation.
North Yorkshire County Council looks set to hold a second consultation on the plans instead of a local referendum.
Both Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors in Harrogate called for a binding referendum over the matter in September last year.
However, local Lib Dems have now said that, while the party backed a referendum, they feel it should not slow down the town council process.
Cllr Chris Aldred, who represents Fairfax on Harrogate Borough Council, said:
'Democratic legitimacy'
Cllr Richard Cooper, Conservative leader of the borough council, tabled a motion at a meeting in September last year calling for a referendum on the matter.
The resolution also said information should be made available prior to the referendum as to which services a new town council could provide, together with an indicative level of investment required to give “democratic legitimacy” to the process.
The creation of a town council will see Harrogate residents pay an additional precept on their council tax to fund its functions.
Read more:
- Harrogate set to get town council after 75% back the idea
- Revealed: the Harrogate areas set for new council tax charge
- Just 3.5% responded to Harrogate town council consultation
At the time, Cllr Cooper said a ballot had to be held before residents were asked to pay an extra tax to fund it.
He said:
The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Cooper for comment on the news that a consultation couldl be held instead of a referendum, but did not receive a response.
Referendum 'not justified'
A report due before North Yorkshire County Council’s executive on January 10 says a referendum “may not be justified” if a consultation is likely to give the same result.
Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of the county council, said in response to the borough council’s motion:
The report goes on to add that such a referendum may not "illicit a different response" to a consultation and that the additional cost may not be justified.
Instead, the county council has recommended a second public consultation to be held for eight-weeks from February 20.
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