Structural Changes Order
A draft Structural Changes Order (SCO) is now before Parliament. This is the legal process necessary to support the formation of a single council to replace the eight current authorities providing public services.
The SCO paves the way for elections on May 5 2022 at which North Yorkshire’s residents will be able to vote for 90 new councillors who will represent 89 new divisions this spring. Those elected will will serve the final year of North Yorkshire County Council and then first four years of the new unitary council.
The order also states the new council will be called North Yorkshire Council. Subject to MP’s approval, it is expected to be enacted in March.
Ongoing work
North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils will continue to provide their current services and existing district and borough councillors will remain in place until April 2023 at which point those authorities and elected positions will cease to exist.
Detailed planning to make sure the new council can safely function from day one has been progressing since the Government announced its decision to end the two-tier system of county and district or borough councils in North Yorkshire last year. A number of work streams are making sure the programme remains on track.
Background
On 21 July 2021, the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, outlined the government’s decision on how local councils will change. The current county, district and borough councils in North Yorkshire will be replaced with a single unitary council in 2023. The unitary authority will deliver all services across the whole of the current county footprint.