HELPING communities become self-sufficient and maintaining roads will be priorities for North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

The local authority also proposes working with its partners to promote economic growth among its ambitions just published in its four-year plan up to 2020.

Its stronger communities teams will support the development of volunteer-run services, such as libraries and community transport, in addition to services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older and vulnerable people.

In his introduction to the plan, council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “Our stronger communities team is working with communities to support those who can and want to run services rather than the council.

"We are also working with communities, families and individuals to help older and vulnerable people live independently and well for longer.”

The council plans to spend £37 million on highway maintenance across the whole county, including Craven, between now and next April, and will continue to press central government for more funding.

And to promote economic growth, it plans to develop strong relationships with district and borough councils, as well as others, to co-ordinate the necessary planning and funding of infrastructure.

It will also continue to work towards a devolution deal for the benefit of all residents in North Yorkshire.

Cllr Les added: “Discussions and negotiations with Government are underway, and we are continuing to work with partner authorities to prepare and progress a deal for devolution.”

The council’s ambitions are set against the need to save about £170 million between 2011 and 2020, as a result of reduced Government funding. So far, it has delivered savings of more than £116 million ahead of schedule. Most of these have been achieved through changes in the back office, although the scale of the challenge is such that some services have inevitably been affected.

Cllr Les said: “We are in a significantly better place than many councils because of our strong financial planning and because we have reserves that we can use to help us approach the budget in a realistic and sensible way.”

The council will also continue its extra care housing development programme to help people continue to live independently in their own homes, and will work with health service partners to integrate further health and social care services.

It will aim to ensure schools are 'good' or 'outstanding', and that children and young people live healthy and safe lives.

NYCC was recognised with two national awards last year for its work with young people and became a Partner in Practice for the Department for Education, which means it will support and work alongside other councils to share best practice and develop more sustainable high performance across the country.

Visit northyorks.gov.uk/councilplan to view the plan.

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Craven Herald, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.