Coveted National Honour for North Yorkshire Leader

The leader of one of England’s largest councils is to receive an OBE in the New Year Honours List in recognition of his dedication to providing strong and effective local government for North Yorkshire.

Cllr Carl Les has been at the heart of providing essential services to more than 600,000 residents and thousands of businesses across the county since he was chosen to lead the former North Yorkshire County Council in May 2015. He has represented the Catterick area for more than 20 years.

Cllr Les led the process known as local government reorganisation, during which the eight former councils providing public services in North Yorkshire, became one. The unitary North Yorkshire Council launched on 1 April 2023 and is the largest council in England by geography and third largest by population. North Yorkshire also made history by becoming the first council in England to pursue unitary status and devolution side-by-side. Together these huge change programmes will place the county in the strongest possible position in terms of finances and economic opportunity.

Cllr Les says he is proud to serve the county and its people but he hasn’t done this alone: “Like many endeavours you can only achieve the best for people and businesses in local government through team effort.

“Whilst I am delighted, though humbled, to receive such an award I see it as a reflection of the teams I have had the privilege to lead.

“I am every bit as honoured to have worked with such committed and hardworking elected members and officers at the former county council and the new unitary, North Yorkshire Council.

“Through our collective efforts and strong partnership working across York and North Yorkshire, we have achieved the unprecedented, landing single council status alongside a devolution deal.

"Together these are a game-changer for our region. Presenting us with the best possible opportunity to protect the most valued and essential public services for our residents, while unleashing the local powers and funds which will drive economic growth and deliver better job opportunities for people and businesses here.”

Cllr Les has been a member of the North Yorkshire Police Authority for 15 years and now chairs the Police and Crime Panel.

Apart from being a councillor, he brings his professional business experience from working in the tourism sector.

Following his graduation, Carl worked and managed the family business before selling it and retiring in 2014. Alongside his business and council activity he was always active in the community being a school governor and trustee, a Chair of North Yorkshire Youth and Chair of a geographically expanding CAB service. He is also a volunteer director and presently interim chairman of Wensleydale Railway plc.