NHS PARTNERS, the police, the fire and rescue service, business leaders, charities and union officials all back its bid to drive post-pandemic economic recovery via a single new council, says North Yorkshire County Council.

The county council says further analysis, drawn from public feedback, also demonstrates strong support for preserving the brand and values of North Yorkshire and the importance of keeping it intact, as well as protecting the City of York as it stands and having a single strong voice for the county at a critical time.

Councillor Carl Les, leader of the county council, said: “The support for our proposal is undeniable and just common sense for North Yorkshire – that is what we are hearing. Our partners and the public have spoken to us with passion about the need to deliver the necessary change in the most effective way to minimise disruption and maximise the benefits to people and businesses right across the county.”

He added: “Our report, which is more than 100 pages long, details the support for our proposals to protect the county’s brand, further strengthen public services and deliver a revolution in community empowerment. It is now a matter of public record and sits alongside our very detailed case for change.

“It outlines, with transparency, the polls, surveys, broad engagement with the public and our staff, targeted focus groups – including youth and disability groups – sector webinars and working groups that have helped officers to finalise our submission.

“We are incredibly grateful to every person who has taken the time to help inform our proposal – it is powerful evidence of our commitment to listen and the fact that we are, indeed, stronger together.”

Alongside demonstrating a good deal of local support, a number of key themes emerged from the conversations and correspondence with partners, businesses and the public, says the county council.

“Strong brand and identity is crucial – our businesses rely on the brand of North Yorkshire, which is globally recognised, and our residents feel they strongly belong to the county and want to retain and build on this identity.”

Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader, said: “We are confident that the support across sectors and the feedback from the public demonstrates the lengths to which we have gone to explain our proposals and the amount of listening we have undertaken with key partners and very many people to help inform and shape it.

“We believe we have more than a good deal of local support, we believe we have demonstrated a really strong level of local support. We share our supporters’ passion for preserving the internationally recognised brand of North Yorkshire and for protecting countywide services, which are strong and effective. “

He added: “Importantly our proposal is grown from our own expertise and experience and can deliver the multimillion pound benefits of devolution, alongside considerably more financial savings than the alternative, in the shortest possible time with the least disruption for every resident in North Yorkshire and York. We are ready to go now. This must be about public interest and not self-interest.

“We know we can draw on our expertise to bring together the very best of all eight councils in the county and deliver one best placed to serve individual residents, local communities, businesses and partner agencies. Our full case for change is now before ministers for their scrutiny and we look forward to their response in the New Year.”