Thornton-le-Dale is set to be part of a plan to make it the new North Yorkshire Council (NYC) “most local” as one of around 30 extra community-based organisations.

The Council’s executive will next Tuesday consider establishing the first wave of Community Network partnerships.

It is hoped the networks will build on existing relationships between the public, private and community and voluntary sectors, built during the covid pandemic, as well as attracting the likes of decision-making police officers and GPs to their meetings.

If the approach is approved, the council will work closely with town and parish councils, public and voluntary sector partners, businesses and communities so that local issues drive decision-making and action via the networks.

The council’s leader, Councillor Carl Les, said: “While NYC is now the third largest council in the country and covers the largest geographical area of any local authority nationally, we are committed to being the most local, too.

“Support was offered throughout the crisis by what became known as Team North Yorkshire, with public agencies working alongside community support organisations, faith groups, local groups and volunteers as well as businesses and parish and town councils.

“This showed the strength of communities across North Yorkshire at such a difficult time, and we hope to build on all the good work that was undertaken during the pandemic.”

The proposed pilot areas would cover Thornton-le-Dale as well as Easingwold, Leyburn and Middleham, Ripon, Sherburn-in-Elmet and the surrounding rural area.

However, the authority’s Labour group leader Councillor Steve Shaw Wright said “It seems there will be an awful lot of fluff that won’t actually achieve anything. You have got areas that have already got fairly competent voluntary sector partnerships."

Cllr Janet Sanderson, who represents Thornton Dale and The Wolds, said: "Representing a very rural division within the new NYC I am very much aware of the challenges we face in bringing communities together. The project will not be limited to existing divisions or past ward boundaries but will seek to build on and expand an established and existing network of rural parish councils, voluntary groups, businesses and other local authorities. The parishes at the centre of the pilot share a specific set of circumstances and geographical conditions. The pilot will aim to tailor the existing group to form a bespoke new rural partnership.

"In a rural area, it’s not always about inventing something new, but joining up something that is already in existence. If the pilot is approved, the key to its success will be to build and strengthen these existing relationships as well as forming new ones because we know that addressing them or celebrating them together makes us stronger. Communication will be the golden thread running throughout.

" am delighted that this project has been put forward and I would like to thank the parishes, volunteers and authorities who have agreed to be part of this new scheme under consideration."