The lgc determined at a special Executive meeting in 2004 to suggest three types of applicant: - Priority status to existing Labour County councillors. These applicants would not be interviewed but would submit a written statement explaining their achievements during the 2001 - 2005 council and their intentions if elected to serve in the 2005 - 2009 council. In addition a report from the Chief Whip is available for each member. Key Seat candidates are those who wish to contest seats held by Labour where the present councillor is standing down and also in those seats where Labour made a significant stand in 2001 but was not elected. Paper candidates are those whose only role is to have their name on the ballot paper. They perform a strategic role for the Labour Party in as much as it enables sympathetic residents to cast a vote for Labour, even in areas where there is no chance of returning a Labour councillor and thus denying the vote to other parties.

During the period of the council the lgc works with the elected members to influence their work on the various committees and at the full quarterly council meetings. The lgc owns the policy document from which the members work. This strategic document is a living document and is revised along with the national policy and conference outcomes. Although in a minority in North Yorkshire, Labour Party members perform important tasks at committee level to moderate the Conservative extremes. In the Selby and Scarborough Area Committees there are sufficient Labour members to have a direct influence and to win votes.

The County Council is the second tier of government and sets the council tax. They control education, social services and the police. Waste disposal, highways, the environment and the two national parks are important aspects of the County Council. The District Councils act as agents for the County Council in such things as waste collection, local environment work and planning and as deputy election returning officers. They also set a council tax on a much smaller scale, as do Town and Parish Councils.

Richmond CLP members are urged to take an interest in the County Council and to support Labour through its elected members via the lgc. Please consider being a delegate, which entails only four meeting a year and an AGM in June. These are always held on the Saturday before the quarterly full council meeting and are always at County Hall in Northallerton or the East Thirsk Community Hall.In addition please consider being a paper candidate. Contact lgc Secretary for details.