North Yorkshire Council is now in the second year of providing many of your local services, from rubbish collection and recycling, public health, social care and education, roads, transport and leisure services as well as support for businesses. The council has brought together the services previously provided by eight councils into one, but there is still a significant task ahead as they continue to transform services now and in the years to come.

The council remains passionate about providing value for money services, and improving outcomes for local people, businesses and communities across North Yorkshire. But, like all councils, and many of you, they are facing major financial challenges. They are also experiencing ongoing increases in demand for services like adult social care and children and young people with special educational needs.

The council spends about £1.3 billion every year delivering local services to people and businesses. These include:

• The collection of around 310,000 tonnes of waste from more than 300,000 properties. 45 per cent is reused, recycled or composted.
• Maintaining over 9,250 kilometres of highways and with direct responsibility for nearly 7000 kilometres of public rights of way, and over 1,645 bridges.
• Managing and maintaining 8,300 council houses
• Processing over 50,000 housing benefit changes every year.
• Providing 15,700 children and young people with special educational needs support
• Providing 26 Leisure venues, including 18 with swimming pools
• And supporting more than 3,300 children and young people via our children and families service

The council wants to hear from you about what is important to you and how you think they should spend the money available.

There are several ways you can take part in Let’s Talk Money:

You can fill in an online survey here https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk – the survey is on Commonplace, which is a safe and easy-to-use online tool used to engage with communities, by over 250 organisations including neighbouring councils in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

If you would prefer, you can pick up a paper copy from your local library or main local office and return it in the envelope provided.

You can also email letstalk@northyorks.gov.uk or call 0300 131 2 131 (please say ‘Let’s Talk’ when prompted) to request a survey.

You can write to:

Let’s Talk

North Yorkshire Council

County Hall

Northallerton

DL7 8AD

Accessible formats of the survey are available on request. Please share your views with us and encourage your colleagues, friends and family to do the same. The survey closes on 9 December 2024.

Questions from members of the public?

Please ask residents to email LetsTalk@northyorks.gov.uk or call the number above if they want to speak to someone about the Let’s Talk Money consultation.