THE interests of residents will be at the forefront of any discussions which could spell the end of Craven District Council, says its leader Richard Foster.

In early March, Cllr Foster said the reorganisation of local government would be the likely outcome of devolution, with central government looking to remove tiers.

The last national reorganisation took place in 1974 while attempts to create a single unitary authority for the whole of North Yorkshire in place of district councils were scrapped in 2007.

Cllr Foster,(Con, Grassington) said: “The Government appears to be determined to reorganise local government across North Yorkshire and York as part of the devolution process.

“We want to make sure we get the best deal for our residents in Craven and it’s important that they have a voice in this discussion. Our communities value the services we provide and local decision-making must not be removed from them.”

The council will discuss devolution and the possible outcome for Craven at its next Policy Committee.

Cllr Foster added: “We will be working with other local authorities across North Yorkshire to bring forward proposals for how local government can be structured in the future, with the interests of our residents at the forefront of our minds.”

Cllr Andy Brown (Green, Aire Valley with Lothersdale) said: “The last thing anyone needs to be concentrating on right now is a totally unnecessary reorganisation of local government.

“I can’t understand how it can possibly be in the interests of local people to have someone in London tell councils across North Yorkshire that they have to be abolished and then leave local politicians with no option but to sort out how to do it.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said devolution would bring benefits to the county as a whole.

“In North Yorkshire we support devolution and see it as an important mechanism to release more funding which will greatly strengthen our economic regeneration and recovery – particularly in the context of emerging from the human and financial impact of Covid-19.

“We have always been clear that key decisions about our county, which impact on our people and communities, are most effective when made here. We would therefore welcome more money and powers to move North Yorkshire’s economy and infrastructure forward in this way.”

He added: “Linking strong devolution deals to unitary status is the challenge Government has issued. We are at a critical time for our county and region and can see the positive opportunities to simplify structures and access to high quality services, strengthen our economy and voice nationally to lobby for greater investment and save significant sums of money.

“These are important to the people we serve and we will consider this more in the days ahead.”