UNHAPPY that Hambleton District Council has “declared UDI” in appointing a new chief executive solely to look after the affairs of Hambleton, leaving Richmondshire to come to its own senior management arrangements, the political leadership of the latter authority has been seeking other partners to press ahead with its shared services agenda.

We reported last week that the leader of Richmondshire, Coun John Blackie, was talking to a number of other councils to broker new arrangements to share the burden of providing public services.

Spectator understands the first port of call was North Yorkshire County Council, of which Coun Blackie is also a member. However, while the county council’s senior officers made initially encouraging noises, the idea was quickly squashed once the county council’s political leadership got wind of it. Perhaps that’s not surprising given the county council and Hambleton cabinets do share some Conservative members.

Given the history between Coun Blackie and Richmond Conservative Association, it is hardly likely the Conservative-led county was going to ride to the rescue. There’s a whiff of political payback in the air.

However, county council leader John Weighell, who had been on holiday when the initial discussions were held, persuaded his Conservative colleagues to think again and has revived the project.

While there is not the same scope for shared services between a county and a district authority, because of their different responsibilities, Spectator understands a pilot project covering information technology is being looked at covering the county, Richmondshire and Hambleton.

WE’VE got used to those mostly inane messages emblazoned on gantries over motorways these days. But with the Olympics just days away, the safety messages have made way for suggestions people should plan their journeys to Olympic events and “arrive on time”. Well, yes, I suppose all those who spent hours trying to get tickets for the first round of the beach volleyball are just going to leave it all to chance when the day comes. I know we’re stupid but …