Latest news with #CarlLes
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local government finance review 'not good news' for North Yorkshire
An overhaul of local government funding is set to be 'not good news' for North Yorkshire, a senior councillor has warned. North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les added that the government's so-called fair funding review was likely to lead to a significant loss of funding for the authority. In an update to fellow councillors, Cllr Les added that while the government has set out its approach for the review, it had not explained how the change in funding would affect individual councils. The authority is working on its response be to an eight-week consultation on the review which runs until August 15. Cllr Les said: 'The formula behind the funding of local government is notoriously complex 'This consultation is extremely important for the future of the council and we have our own financial experts working with others from across the sector to try and understand the full implications. 'The initial view that I've been given as colleagues work through all of this is that it is not good news.' Cllr Les added that there were some positive elements, including a better recognition of the extra costs faced by rural authorities for services such as adult social and home-to-school transport. But he added: 'For North Yorkshire overall, the initial calculations point to a significant loss of funding compared to previous years.' The Conservative councillor said a particularly difficult element of the government's approach was its plans to introduce council tax equalisation. 'It is proposed that there would be 100 per cent equalisation, which means the government nets off the full amount of our council tax base in arriving at allocations of council funding. 'The effect of this is to move funding from local authorities such as ours with a relatively high council tax base to other councils with a lower council tax base.' Cllr Les said this raised questions about the autonomy of local authorities, as well as disincentivising councils to grow their tax base. 'It is interesting that only one in four councils supported this approach in the December consultation on funding reforms,' he added. Most read 'Rare' bird once on verge of extinction in the UK spotted in County Durham House with zip wire in the garden and panoramic views of Durham City is on the market County Durham Indian restaurant named one of UK's best at national curry awards North Yorkshire Council chiefs believe more details of how the government's proposals will affect councils will become clearer in the coming weeks. 'As you would expect, we have already taken the opportunity to go to Westminster and to directly and personally ask our parliamentarians for support with what looks to be a very challenging outcome for the council on future government funding,' Cllr Les said. The update on the fair funding review will be presented to councillors at a full council meeting on Wednesday next week.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Whitby harbour dredging to resume after licence approved
Dredging is to resume in Whitby harbour after a new licence was secured, councillors Yorkshire Council said it would allow its vessel the Sandsend to operate in Whitby after similar permissions were obtained allowing it to work in Scarborough last is required to remove silt and sand at the bottom of the harbours to ensure they remain council said the licence was granted by the Marine Management Organisation following a rigorous application process. As the silt and sand wash downstream in Whitby and through the harbour mouth in Scarborough, sediment fills channels and harbours and needs to be regularly Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said: "While we have been waiting for the licence in Whitby, harbour staff have been working hard to monitor the dredging depths and the state of the harbour."We recently had significant work done on the vessel to ensure it is fit for purpose." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-mayoral candidate quits North Yorkshire Council executive
A senior North Yorkshire Conservative councillor has resigned from the authority's executive after being asked to make way for fresh Duncan, who had held responsibility for highways and transport since the new council was created in 2023, said he would continue to represent his Norton Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, said it was normal practice to ask executive members to step aside, insisting Duncan had not been a letter confirming his resignation, Duncan said the Conservative group would need to "harness the energy" of party members in order to "confront the threat posed by Reform". Les told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he "thought it was time for a change"."This is something we do on a regular, almost annual basis," he said."A year ago I asked two people to stand down so two other councillors could take their place."In his letter to Les confirming his resignation, sent to the 44-strong Conservative group on North Yorkshire Council, Duncan said he had been told the request to stand aside was not peformance-related. Duncan, who unsuccessfully stood in 2024 as the party's candidate to be the first elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire, wrote he had remained committed to the unity and stability of the group which had been their leading the letter to Les, Duncan wrote: "You explained during our conversation that your purpose was to prepare for the future and to make way for new blood."I agree that as we approach the election, the next generation will be key to our party's renewal."Duncan said the party's "greatest strength lies in the wealth of talent and experience we possess across our benches"."To win in 2027, we must be a dynamic and forward-looking party that inspires the trust of the electorate," he said a project to realign the A59 at Kex Gill, which had recently been the subject of delays and rising costs, was one of his leading his letter, he added that he had also worked to protect at-risk bus routes, and had drawn up proposals to extend free parking to every town in North said he would confirm a replacement for Duncan in due course, but already had someone in asked by the LDRS if he was concerned about the political impact of the move, Les said it had been done to allow other members of the group to develop. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
A UK seaside resort once dubbed a 'social mobility coldspot' has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. 7 The harbour in the historic seaside town of Scarborough is popular with locals and visitors 7 Scarborough's seafront arcades attract thousands of tourists a year 7 The towns has been dubbed Scarbados by locals – and the Queen of the Coast Credit: PA 7 Britney Spears performs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre for her Piece Of Me tour in 2018 The authority said it had previously devised a '10-year vision document' following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: 'The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. 'Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations.' While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Weston Hotel: Scarborough's Coastal Gem Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a 'dynamic, leisure-led destination', complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town,' said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. 'Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world.' Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: 'Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment.' Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 There is a natural beauty to Scarborough, which boasts two sandy beaches 7 Residents say they want improved transport links for their town
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
A UK seaside resort once dubbed a "social mobility coldspot" has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. 7 7 7 7 The authority said it had previously devised a "10-year vision document" following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: "The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. " Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations." While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher 's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a "dynamic, leisure-led destination", complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town," said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. "Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world." Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: "Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment." Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 7 7
