A permanent takeover of Skipton Market by the town council has been given the backing of councillors.

The council, currently temporarily managing the market jointly with Craven District Council, will now work towards taking on sole responsibility from the beginning of March next year.

Chief officer Dave Parker told a full meeting of the town council that if members wanted to go ahead and take over full responsibility, the council needed to confirm its position by the end of August.

He said it would need that time to create revised bylaws and market rules and negotiate the new lease with the Lord of the Honour of Skipton Castle.

The bylaws currently apply to Craven District Council and are not transferable, so the town council will need an entirely new set to be drawn up.

Mr Parker said it was the intention to adopt a nationally agreed model of bylaws for the market.

“We’ve had the interim arrangements for a number of months now and have learnt an awful lot,” he said.

He added it had been difficult to bring in any changes without complete control of the market.

Mr Parker said a working party had been putting together a business case for the market.

Issues included getting details of every frontager in the High Street, where market traders put up their stalls.

Coun Paul English said it was an historic moment for the council and one that had taken many years to reach.

“We should take a step back and think about this, it is an historic moment for the town,” he said.

Coun English suggested that the current market working group be converted into a “full-blooded” committee.

Coun Chris Harbron added his support and said he was sure the town council’s management of the market would work.

But not all councillors were happy to support the takeover.

Former mayor Coun Paul Whitaker and current deputy mayor Coun John Kerwin-Davey both voted against.