WE are writing to urge readers to have their say in the current consultation on local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire and York.

The Government has made it clear that local councils in the area must be reorganised in order to unlock a devolution deal worth billions of pounds.

Currently in Craven, there are two councils delivering different services to residents and businesses – Craven District Council, and North Yorkshire County Council. The Government wants to replace these councils with unitary authorities. This would mean there would be one council, delivering all services to Craven.

The Government launched a consultation on proposals for reorganisation on February 22. The consultation will run for eight weeks, until April 19.

The consultation is on the Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-for-locally-led-reorganisation-of-local-government-in-cumbria-north-yorkshire-and-somerset

People are being asked for their opinions on two separate proposals:

* The six district and borough councils of Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby are proposing an ‘East and West’ model.

This would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.

* North Yorkshire County Council is proposing a unitary authority to cover the whole of North Yorkshire, representing 600,000 people and 3,000 square miles, leaving the City of York as a small unitary authority representing around 200,000 people.

Any local organisation, business or member of the public is able to respond to the consultation.

The detailed East and West proposal can be found at www.get-change-right.com - here you will find more information about what this model means for organisations across North Yorkshire and York.

We would like to encourage readers to take part in this important consultation. Local government reorganisation will affect the lives of all our residents in York and North Yorkshire; it’s crucial that we get as big a response as possible.

Councillor Richard Foster, leader, Craven District Council

Councillor Andrew Solloway, leader of the Independent Group, Craven District Council

Councillor Andrew Brown, leader of the Green Party Group, Craven District Council

Councillor Peter Madeley, leader of the Labour Party Group, Craven District Council