Local leaders divided on plan for pothole funding

North Yorkshire Council leaders have accused the region's mayor of "highways robbery" amid claims it is losing £20m worth of funding to fix potholes and resurface roads.

A row has broken out between senior councillors and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, over a highways maintenance settlement from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Part of the funding is split between the region's two councils, but North Yorkshire Council said it would have received more money had it been paid directly from the government rather than the funds being allocated by Skaith.

The mayor said the £268m it would receive over the next four years represented "a record amount of investment".

Skaith added: "It's up to me and it's my responsibility to distribute that money in working with both local authorities and my own priorities as well."

Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of North Yorkshire Council (NYC) said historically his authority received 93p for every pound of highways maintenance funding, with City of York Council receiving 7p.

This was because NYC looked after the biggest road network in England. However, under Skaith's plans, York will now receive 10p in every pound - a move Dadd and others have said would cost NYC £20m in lost funding.

Explaining the decision, the mayor said the combined authority had considered vehicle usage on the road network as well as road length.

"It's absolutely shameful that the mayor is proposing to inflict this cut on our expected funding - it's nothing short of highways robbery," said Dadd.

NYC leader Carl Les added: "To be confronted with a loss of more than £20m even before inflation is factored in over the next four financial years is going to have a very detrimental effect on the condition of our highways."

Dadd said the proposal had been "imposed" on the council, a claim Skaith described as "total rubbish".

The mayor admitted he was "disappointed" with the response from NYC to his proposals, which also include millions for building and improving cycling routes and improving road safety around schools.

He said the investment into fixing roads and potholes represented almost £300m.

The funding will be discussed at a meeting of the combined authority on 27 March.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.