THE vice-chairman (local government) of the Conservative Party has met members of the new Northallerton Retail & Business Forum.

Bob Neill discussed subjects including business rates on empty properties, rolling out the benefits of Mary Portas’ review to all town centres, local government lending and communication and social media.

Forum member Marcus Grover said: “I know Mr Neill enjoyed his visit and left with some of the insight garnered from our collective experience of hundreds of years doing business in our community.”

Coun Carl Les, deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council, who arranged the meeting, said: “Such discussions will help to shape policy for the future at Westminster and at County Hall.”