When I was asked to chair the North Yorkshire Rural Commission – the first of its kind in the country – myself and my fellow commissioners were only too familiar with the long-standing challenges facing rural communities, especially those across the sparsely-populated expanse of our county.

North Yorkshire is preparing to become a single unitary council for the future delivery of local public services, following the recent decision by Secretary of State Robert Jenrick MP.

York has become the first city in the UK to sign up to the Good Business Charter – a pioneering initiative that puts fairness, representation, diversity and a shared commitment to our environmental responsibilities at the heart of our economic strategy.

Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland District Councils have formally signed off on plans to create an ambitious new partnership – the largest such partnership of councils in the country.