North Yorkshire Council chiefs have hit back at "childish" town councillors who passed a vote of no confidence in the unitary authority.
Members of the council’s executive committee spoke out after members of Liberal Democrat-run Harrogate Town Council backed a motion accusing the Conservative-led authority of failing to effectively manage services and assets in the town.
The previous month, Knaresborough Town Council, which also has a majority of Liberal Democrat councillors, also passed a no-confidence vote in the unitary authority.
It claimed North Yorkshire Council was guilty of “systemic neglect and central apathy” over its handling of services and property in the town.
But the votes were criticised by senior Tory councillors at a debate on a new community transfer policy today, which aims to aid the handing down of powers to town and parish councils.
Councillor Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult services, said he had told Harrogate Town Council, which he also sits on, that the no-confidence vote was a “childish Lib Dem political stunt”.
After being informed that Harrogate Town Council had not submitted any expressions of interest to take on services, he added:
“They’re passing motions that say that they can’t sit idly by — well, it sounds to me like they are sitting idly by, other than writing letters, although then again, have they even bothered writing to us?”
Councillor Heather Phillips, executive member for corporate services, added:
“I’m a firm believer that you engage positively and then you have a positive result.
“If you are not committed to making your area better by coming up with some expressions of interest, then I think it is disingenuous to blame the higher-tier authority at that point.
“Local democracy starts with our parish and town councils and if they don’t have the energy or the will to make change happen which they can do. They can precept, they can take projects on. They come to us and we’ll work positively with everybody that comes.”
A spokesperson for Harrogate Town Council said in response to the comments:
“Harrogate Town Council is aware of the discussion at North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee this morning and does not think it is helpful to dwell on personal comments.
“The focus remains on the substance of the motion and the concerns raised by Harrogate Town Council about the services in our area on behalf of residents and local organisations.”
Executive members approved the new community transfer policy at the meeting.
The policy aims to bring together and formalise existing arrangements that have operated since the launch of the unitary authority in 2023.
It will also introduce transitional arrangements for parish, voluntary and community organisations involved in the double devolution pilot.
Last year, the council’s executive agreed to hand the running of Knaresborough’s weekly Chartered Market to the town council.
In April this year, the transfer of Ripon Town Hall to the city council was approved by the executive, when members agreed a long-term lease of the Grade II listed building.
But an attempt to hand down responsibility for public toilets in Malton failed after it emerged that the town council would introduce charges to pay for their upkeep.
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