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Harrogate declares vote of 'no confidence' in North Yorkshire Council

Thursday, 2 July 2026 07:42

Harrogate Town Council have slammed North Yorkshire Council's management of the town.

Harrogate Town Council has passed a vote of no confidence in North Yorkshire Council, accusing the authority of failing to effectively manage services and assets in the town.

The motion was approved at the town council's meeting last night, with members criticising what they described as a lack of local accountability under North Yorkshire Council's centralised management.

The Liberal Democrat-run authority stressed that its criticism was aimed at the leadership of North Yorkshire Council rather than frontline staff.

During the debate, councillors raised concerns about a range of local issues, including planning enforcement, the coordination of roadworks and the condition of public facilities such as benches and footpaths on the Stray.

Councillor Paula Stott, chair of Harrogate Town Council's Culture, Heritage and Events Committee and a board member and usher at Harrogate Theatre, said:

"The fact that North Yorkshire Council has repeatedly failed to respond to the Theatre’s requests to renew their lease has made it much more difficult for them to apply for many types of funding.

"Organisations like Harrogate Theatre are being let down by North Yorkshire every day."

The motion stated that the town council believes the current management model, operated from Northallerton, is failing Harrogate and called for greater local accountability.

Councillors said they would continue to campaign for improvements to services and the maintenance of community assets across the town.

North Yorkshire Council has been approached for comment.

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