Coastal councillors given new roles in changes to council’s top leadership

Coun Roberta Swiers (Cayton division) was also elected chair of the council, replacing David Ireton in the senior role.

She said: “It is an honour to be given the opportunity to be the chair of North Yorkshire Council, especially to hold the role so soon after the authority has launched.”

Councillors on the Conservative-led North Yorkshire Council have been reshuffled with coastal representatives Derek Bastiman and David Chance losing their seats on the executive committee.

But Coun Heather Phillips (Seamer) has been appointed to the role of executive member for corporate services, replacing Coun Chance on the executive committee, the authority’s top decision-making body.

Meanwhile, Coun Mark Crane took over the role of member for open to business from Coun Bastiman.

While David Chance (Danby and Mulgrave division) was at the meeting in Northallerton on Wednesday, May 15, Coun Derek Bastiman (Scalby and the Coast division) sent his apologies.

Coun Bastiman, who was the executive member for open to business, was also a former Scarborough Borough councillor and was involved in the decision to loan Alpamare water park’s developer, Benchmark Ltd, £9m of public funds.

Next week, NYC is set to appoint a new operator for the water park.

The council took control of the site and wrote off around £7m of outstanding debt after the developer went into administration last year.

Coun Swiers, only the second chair of the authority which was created last April, said: “As a council, we cover a vast area across England’s largest county while representing many varied and diverse communities.

“I will ensure that the authority remains open and transparent and for the public to see whatever decisions are taken in a fair and measured way for the benefit of residents and businesses in the county.”

Coun Ireton was the first chair of North Yorkshire Council, which was created when the county council and seven district and borough councils merged to create a new unitary authority.

He had served as the interim chair of the county council following the death of his predecessor, Coun Margaret Atkinson, in November 2022, before becoming the chair of the new authority in April last year.