North Yorkshire Council has a new deputy leader who has pledged to drive forward economic development and ensure housing and business are at the forefront of their priorities.
Cllr Mark Crane has been appointed as the successor to Cllr Gareth Dadd in the second most senior political position on the council.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, made the announcement at a full council meeting today (Wednesday, July 15) at County Hall in Northallerton.
Cllr Crane, whose political career dates back to 1999 when he was first elected as a councillor, claimed that developing the first countywide local plan for North Yorkshire is the most important piece of work which is currently being undertaken by the council.
The new local plan will shape how North Yorkshire grows in the future and help decide where new homes, jobs and business development should be located. It is expected to be adopted in the autumn of 2029.
Cllr Crane said: “The opportunity to take on the role of the deputy leader is a real honour, especially as it means following Gareth (Dadd) who is such a great ambassador for North Yorkshire.
“The county is a wonderful place to represent, although there are major challenges that we face with growing demand on our services amid major financial pressures on budgets.
“I think that the local plan is without question the most important piece of work that we are undertaking. It will be the first time that we have a strategic document for the whole of North Yorkshire to guide development and planning policy, and it will affect every community in every part of the county.
“As the new deputy leader, I want to make sure that economic development, supporting existing and new businesses, and the provision of housing, and especially affordable homes, are at the forefront of our agenda.”
Cllr Crane was previously the council’s executive member for open to business, and will continue with those responsibilities including economic development, planning policy and tourism.
A new member of the executive, Cllr Peter Wilkinson, has also been announced to take on responsibilities for finance, property and IT and technology, which were previously overseen by Cllr Dadd.
Cllr Les said: “We are extremely lucky as a council to have two such talented individuals to take on roles following the retirement of the deputy leader.
“I would like to thank Gareth for his hard work, dedication and commitment that he has shown over the years while both deputy leader as well as representing the Thirsk division.
“On a personal level, I would also like to show my appreciation to Gareth who has supported me as the council’s leader throughout all the years we have worked together.
“While Gareth will be a hard act to follow, Mark has an immense amount of experience and has been an integral part of the executive since he was appointed.
“I am looking forward to working with him in his new role to ensure we continue to bring benefits to our communities and businesses across the county.”
Cllr Crane was first elected as a councillor 27 years ago and was the leader of the former Selby District Council from 2003 to 2023.
The former district council was among eight local authorities in the county that came together to form North Yorkshire Council, which launched on April 1, 2023.
Cllr Crane has always represented the Brayton and Barlow division, where he lives.
He initially worked for HM Customs and Excise and then HM Revenue and Customs for 38 years, with his roles first involving dealing with VAT before being promoted to a manager and then a senior manager. He retired from his job at HM Revenue and Customs in 2019.
Cllr Dadd announced in the spring of this year that he would be stepping down as the council’s deputy leader. He will then step down as the councillor for Thirsk at next year’s elections for North Yorkshire Council after 22 years in the role.
