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Skipton Town Council’s hopes for fresh powers move a step closer

Friday, 20 October 2023 15:58

By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter

Skipton Town Hall. Image: Rombalds Radio

Skipton Town Council is being asked to draw up a business case for its bid to control assets in the town.

North Yorkshire Council’s ruling Conservative executive met in Northallerton this week to confirm the winners and losers of the 12 “double devolution” bids that were submitted by parish councils earlier this year.

A central pledge in the case for local government reorganisation, which saw the abolition of Craven District Council, was that parish and town councils would be handed the control of assets in their areas if they could make a successful business case.

Skipton Town Council’s wishlist included Skipton Town Hall’s car park toilet block, the ginnel woods, the canal basin and Aireville Park.

However, Aireville Park has been removed from the bid as it has Craven Leisure and its associated car park situated within it.

The council will now move forward to develop its business case until Spring 2024 when it will be evaluated by North Yorkshire Council officers. The Conservative-run executive will then make a decision on whether it moves forward.

Cllr Greg White, executive member for managing our environment, said double devolution was “the right thing to do” for local communities.

He said: “I was involved in the devolution process. We need not to delay and move it on as quickly as possible. More decisions made locally the better so we can meet our promise of being a big council that works local.”

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