AMBITIOUS plans set out by Craven District Council including achieving carbon neutrality ought still to be pursued despite the uncertainties of local government reorganisation.

A set of priorities and visions in the council plan for the coming year and beyond also include how the authority will attract and retain younger people and how it will support the growth of new and existing businesses.

Council leader Cllr Richard Foster at the online policy committee meeting agreed the plan was ambitious but that the council should do what it could while it still existed in its present form.

“These are things that we should be doing,” he said. “Will we deliver it if there is local government reform, probably not, but let’s get on and deliver as much as we can. Some of this I fear will not get delivered after local government reform.”

He added: “Craven will not necessarily become a back water, but it will become more difficult to deliver within Craven when there are pressures from other areas, depending on who we get joined up with. "

Coronavirus had taken a ‘huge amount of steam’ out of the council, but it had still carried on with projects, including the redevelopment of Engine Shed Lane, said Cllr Foster.

Cllr Chris Rose said it would be good if the council could have a ‘final fling’ after the ending of coronavirus restrictions, such as involvement in the Tour de Yorkshire or the puppet festival.

“It is am ambitious plan, but I agree, we need to get as much done as possible until we disappear into the ether," she said.