27th June 2023 Harrogate Informer says-

North Yorkshire Council have spent £2M with the Consultancy firm WSP. #The MAJORITY of the spend has been on design costs. This followed a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST  by the Local Democracy Reporting Service!!   #The SPEND RAISES FURTHER QUESTIONS over the DEMOCRATIC PROCESS that has been used. #WHY was there such a spend before the project was formally signed off? #There was not a MEANINGFUL VOTE by LOCAL COUNCILLORS,  or by a FULL COUNCIL. The DECISIONS TO PROCEED was made by NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE. #This raises MANY Questions -

1. As residents we have the right to be informed about what is happening in our town.
2. With the level of inflation- can any of the scheme actually be delivered...when they scale back the scheme will they INFORM THE PUBLIC??
3. CONCERNS FOR TRANSPARENCY.
4. CONCERNS FOR LACK OF MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT with the PUBLIC.
5. Residents and Businesses have many outstanding concerns and questions and  they FEEL they have already NOT BEEN fully ENGAGED in the CONSULTAION PROCESS.
6. Even LOCAL Councillors only gave conditional support to this scheme on the basis that NYC fully engaged with Residents and Businesses.
7. Residents have waited over  2 YEARS for a IN PERSON Public engagement meeting.
8. We lack SUPPORT  from our LOCAL CONSERVATIVE MP.