Tom Gordon MP Calls for Increased Government Support for North Yorkshire
Tom Gordon MP Calls for Increased Government Support for North Yorkshire
On 18th December, Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, called on the Government to provide new funding and greater support for vital services in North Yorkshire.
Speaking in Parliament, Tom highlighted that his constituency is now part of the largest geographic council in England following local government reorganisation. He argued that being the largest geographic council in the country, North Yorkshire Council deserve additional government support to meet the area’s specific needs.
One major issue highlighted by Tom was the unique difficulty North Yorkshire Council faces in providing home-to-school transport for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The region’s large rural area forces many children to undertake long journeys to access appropriate education, significantly driving up costs and straining council resources.
Tom pointed out that the expense of SEN home-to-school transport in North Yorkshire has risen sharply in recent years, with costs increasing fivefold. Despite these rising demands, North Yorkshire Council ranks 148th out of 151 local authorities for high-needs funding per head of population – a clear indication that the current funding model does not adequately support rural areas.
Tom has previously called for the inclusion of rurality as a factor in funding formulas to better reflect the unique needs of areas like North Yorkshire. Today, Tom built on these calls, pressing the Minister for reassurance that rural councils like North Yorkshire will be supported to provide services of the same standard as those in less rural areas.
Commenting on the issue, Tom said:
‘I was pleased to raise this issue in Parliament today. It’s essential that the Government recognises the unique challenges faced by North Yorkshire as the largest geographic council in England. The funding provided to North Yorkshire Council must account for these difficulties, which other councils simply do not face.
‘Services like home-to-school transport are essential, yet the strain on resources is unsustainable without additional support. I will continue to advocate for fairer funding to ensure that residents in North Yorkshire receive the high standard of services they deserve.’
ENDS