Liberal Democrats at County Hall are delighted following yesterday’s rejection of plans to split an important Harrogate committee in two.

In July this year there was a proposal by North Yorkshire County Council to split the Harrogate County Area Committee into two. This would have created two committees, one serving the rural areas of Harrogate borough and one the urban part.

The claim made by supporters was that the committee is too big (18 County Councillors plus Parish, District and voluntary sector members). It was also claimed that rural issues were being sidelined.

At the meeting of the County Area Committee on the 8 November the proposal was consigned to the “trash bin” when it was clear that the only clear cut support for the idea was from the Conservative county councillors.

Liberal Democrat county councillors, parish council representatives, district councillors and people from the voluntary sector all criticised the proposal as having more disadvantages than advantages.

Opponents to the change quoted increased costs of running two committees, the risk of a “disconnection” between rural and urban areas creating a “them and us” mentality at a time when County and District Councils are attempting to meet Government requirements to work closer together.

Parish and voluntary sector representatives also pointed out that the difficulties that they would meet in having to attend and contribute to two committees rather than one. This is wasteful when, in reality, the vast proportion of issues discussed would be the same.

Knaresborough County Councillor Bill Hoult (Leader of the Lib Dem group at County Hall) comments:

“It goes now to the Executive at County Hall for their view, and then on to Full Council, possibly in February 2008. However I sincerely hope that the Executive will not try and force the issue against the clear opposition on the Area Committee.”

“It made sense to look at splitting the committee when the County Unitary bid was a possibility but it makes no sense now.”