From 1st April all major local government services will be provided by a new North Yorkshire Council, and the district councils in North Yorkshire, including Selby, has been abolished. In addition to the services already controlled from County Hall, such as highways, education, social services, waste disposal, libraries and trading standards, the new Council was also responsible for the services previously provided by Selby District Council, including housing, planning, environmental health and council tax collection.
The change has been ordered by the Government and is intended to save on costs. As part of the reorganisation, the Government also required that residents of York and North Yorkshire elect a Mayor in May 2024 for the whole area. The Mayor will be responsible for major strategic projects, such as transport improvements, skills and education and providing more affordable housing. To move these projects forward the Government is providing £18 million pounds per annum as an investment fund for the Mayor over the next 30 years.
The new North Yorkshire Council was the largest by area and the third largest by population in England. To counter arguments that this was result in remote local government the new Council has promised to “retain a main office in each former district area, supported by around 30 additional local customer access points in the places people go”.
A further change is that instead of having three District Councillors and a County Councillor representing Sherburn we will have only one Councillor at Northallerton. I was elected last year as your County Councillor and I will now be your North Yorkshire Councillor until the next election in four years’ time.
I will be writing regular updates on changes and consultations that may affect local residents in the Resident magazine, which is delivered quarterly to every household, but given all these changes it is important that you are able to contact the new Council, and to contact me if you have difficulties accessing services or have anxieties about the new Council. I am available in Sherburn Library most Tuesday afternoons from 1pm to discuss your Council issues, and I can also be contacted in the following ways:
Email: Cllr.Bob.Packham@northyorks.gov.uk
Mobile number: 07866343184 (also by WhatsApp or Text message)
For North Yorkshire Council: telephone 0300 131 2 131 or use the “contact us” function on the website www.northyorks.gov.uk
By North Yorkshire Councillor, Bob Packham
