North Yorkshire Council: local authority assessment

How we assess local authorities

Assessment published: 30 October 2025

About North Yorkshire Council

Demographics

North Yorkshire is a unitary authority in Yorkshire and the Humber, England. It has a population of approximately 627,629 (Office of National Statistics 2023). The county has a higher-than-average older population, with 25.67% aged over 65, compared to 18.69% in England.

North Yorkshire ranks 129th out of 153 local authorities in the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), making it one of the least deprived areas in England. However, pockets of deprivation exist, particularly in Scarborough, where 3 areas rank among the most deprived 1% nationally.

In 2021, 96.7% of North Yorkshire’s population identified as White, which is higher than the England average of 81.05%. 3.3% identified as Asian, Black, Mixed, or Other ethnic groups.

North Yorkshire Council is part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care System (ICS), alongside 5 other local authorities, which serves 1.7 million people. The ICS covers a geographical area taking in cities, market towns and many different rural and coastal communities. Parts of North Yorkshire are in NHS West Yorkshire ICS and Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS.

North Yorkshire Council was formed in 2023, consolidating 7 district councils and a county council into a single unitary authority. The local authority has been under no overall political control since June 2023, being led by Conservative administration with support from 3 independent councillors. The council leader is a Conservative councillor.

A combined authority was established in 2024 by North Yorkshire Council and York City Council, called the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Their role is to use some of the money and powers that up to now have been held by central government, and work with local leaders and communities to deliver the devolved investment.

Financial facts

• In the 2023/24, North Yorkshire Council total spend was £895,107 million.
• They spent £253,909 million on adult social care, which was 28.37% of the total budget.
• Over the past year, the local authority has raised the full ASC precept by 2%.
• Approximately 9955 people were supported by adult social care in this local authority.

This data is reproduced at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. It has not been factored into our assessment and is presented for information purposes only.