Bilton electric charging points halted due to cost and vandalism concerns

Councillors have scrapped plans to install electrical vehicle charging points in Bilton due to concerns about vandalism and cost.

In October last year, Harrogate Borough Council approved its own planning application to demolish 10 garages at Woodfield Close to make way for two homes providing temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The scheme included five off-street public parking spaces with EV charging infrastructure.

But the council’s planning committee yesterday voted to amend its application by removing electric charging points from the plan and replacing them with solar panels on the roofs of the new houses.

Officials at the authority raised concern that the infrastructure would have a “lack of anticipated use” and, as a result, would be at a “higher chance of vandalism”.

Tom O’Donovan, economy and transport officer at the council, said in planning documents to councillors:

“All of our information shows that the area is the least likely to buy an EV any time soon and even if they did there are houses with off-street parking so they wouldn’t use the charging points; though there are some without. 

“It would be very unlikely for a visitor to Harrogate to go seeking them out as we’re currently installing charging points in all of our car parks.

“My concern is that they won’t be used and there is a higher chance of vandalism potentially increasing costs for a facility we never actually planned to provide.”

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Mr O’Donovan said the points would cost £3,080 over five years to run and maintain and the installation costs “will depend on the costs from Northern Powergrid”.

Arthama Lakhanpall, planning officer at the council, said the justification given by the council officer demonstrated that the infrastructure would be “more of a liability than an asset to the council” and solar panels would be “more suitable in terms of delivery and energy monitoring”.

Questions over green credentials

However, some councillors on the planning committee yesterday questioned the move.

Cllr Victoria Oldham, a Conservative who represents Washburn, asked whether it would make sense to keep the charging points for staff helping homeless people at the accommodation.

She said:

“If there are likely to be any staff in the vicinity assisting the rough sleepers there, surely they ought to have the potential of having electric charging points for their vehicles?”

Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge, said electric vehicle charging points had been fitted in Back Lane car park in Boroughbridge and had never been vandalised.

He said:

“It’s right at the side of the toilet block. The toilet block gets vandalised on a fairly regular basis.

“The electric vehicle charging points have never been touched. So, they are just assuming that there will be vandalism.”

Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Hookstone, said removing the charging points raised questions about the council’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis.

Councillors approved the application by nine votes to two, with one abstention.

Council plans 7% Harrogate social housing rent increase

North Yorkshire Council looks set to increase rents on social housing in Harrogate by 7% from April.

The authority is set to inherit 3,893 social houses when Harrogate Borough Council is abolished in under three months’ time.

Senior councillors agreed to recommend the rent increase at a meeting yesterday.

It will see the average weekly rent in Harrogate increase from £85.22 to £91.18.

Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for housing on the council, told councillors that the increase was difficult to propose.

He said:

“I, with a very heavy heart, have to recommend to you all that we increase our rents by the maximum allowed by government this year, which is capped at 7%.”

The number of social homes which North Yorkshire Council will inherit.

The number of social homes which North Yorkshire Council will inherit.

Cllr Myers added that the authority needed the income to balance the books of its housing revenue account.

He added that the council also had an ambition to improve its social housing stock in the future.

Cllr Myers said:

“We have a commitment to our tenants and we understand the pressures on them and all residents of North Yorkshire.

“But we have a commitment that is very long term to provide social, fair and decent housing to our residents as a stockholding authority.”

£2 million deficit

The council will inherit a mixture of houses, flats, hostels and shared ownership properties.

According to a council report, the combination of the Harrogate, Richmondshire and Selby housing stock is set to leave the authority with an in-year deficit of £2 million.

As a result, the council has agreed to increase rents by the maximum allowed by government from April 1.

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The proposal also includes a 2% increase on shared ownership property rents, which is in line with the lease agreements at those homes.

In his report, Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at the council, pointed out that that a third of the rent paid by social housing tenants is covered by housing benefit.

He said:

“The vast majority of HRA income comes from the rent that is charged to tenants. It should be noted that approximately one third of this income is paid for via housing benefit, rather than directly by tenants. 

“In addition, some tenants will be in receipt of Universal Credit, which will include an element designed to cover rental payments, but this cannot be quantified.”

The recommendation to increase social housing rent by 7% will go to the authority’s full council for a final decision.

Business Breakfast: Bettys of Harrogate wins national retailer award

The Stray Ferret Business Awards will be held on March 9 at the Pavilions of Harrogate. The event will be a celebratory night with prize draw and afterparty.

Richard Flinton, the chief executive of the new North Yorkshire Council is the guest speaker. Early bird ticket prices are available until February 9 and available to buy here. Bring your team, network and have fun. 

Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate has been named specialist retailer of the year at the Food and Travel Reader Awards.

The awards, which were founded in 2012, were held at the Royal Automobile Club in London’s Pall Mall.

Bettys was nominated in the category alongside Berry Bros & Rudd, Cheeses of Muswell Hill, HG Walter, Cockburns of Leith and The Umbrella Project.

Simon Eyles, Bettys managing director, said: 

“Bettys is delighted to have scooped this prestigious award, and we want to say a huge thank you to all the Food & Travel readers and the Bettys customers who voted for us.

“It’s a very proud moment for us to have our shops, whether in our Yorkshire branches or online, honoured by our customers in this way.”

Last call for EU funded workplace support scheme

Mike Sweeting, human resources officer at Aldwark Manor.

Mike Sweeting, human resources officer at Aldwark Manor.

A Knaresborough non-profit has made a final call for small businesses to take advantage of a workplace support scheme.

The Thriving at Work programme is led by Better Connect and aims to help firms create an inclusive workplace, in particular for staff who are neurodiverse, disabled, or experiencing mental health challenges.

The support, which is EU funded, is aimed at businesses across the Harrogate district and North Yorkshire.

The programme includes:

Mike Sweeting, human resources officer at Aldwark Manor which undertook the scheme, said:

“We’re very much on a journey of development, looking specifically at retaining our team, attracting the best new talent into the business, and ensuring we cultivate a great working environment where we show commitment to the development of our team.”

As the UK is no longer a member of the European Union, businesses must sign up by March 31, to take advantage of Thriving at Work’s fully funded inclusive workplace support, which will be delivered by June 30, 2023.

For more information, visit the Better Connect website here.

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Arrest warrant issued for suspected Harrogate cocaine dealer

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a suspected cocaine dealer from Harrogate.

Yasin Hussain, 30, of Leadhall Crescent, failed to appear before Harrogate Magistrates Court on November 3, 2022, charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug.

He is also wanted by West Yorkshire Police after he failed to appear at court for motoring offences.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed to the public for any information on his whereabouts.

A police statement added:

“Extensive police enquiries are ongoing to trace Hussain in both the Harrogate and Leeds area, including Harehills, Gipton, Roundhay and Armley where he is known to have links.

“Checks are taking place with the Border Force as it is known he travelled outside the UK in recent months before returning.

“Officers are also continuing to liaise with Hussain’s solicitor with a request to hand himself in.

“Anyone with information about Hussain’s whereabouts or possible sightings of him, please make an online report via the North Yorkshire Police website or call 101, option 1, and speak to the force control room.

“If you would prefer to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

“Please quote reference number 12220195320 when providing details.”

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North Yorkshire Council has reserves to ride out inflation, says senior official

North Yorkshire Council will have enough reserves to ride out another national event such as soaring inflation, a senior council official has said.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at the authority, said the council has planned for a “one-off use” of its reserves to cover a £30 million shortfall for the upcoming financial year.

The council is facing pressures from inflation, rising cost of utilities and taking on structural deficits from other district councils.

Around £18 million from the districts will be taken on by North Yorkshire Council, plus a further £12 million for an in-year shortfall.

As part of the budget plans, the county council will dip into its reserves to cover the financial blackhole.

Despite the use of reserves, Mr Fielding said he felt the council would still be in a good position to withstand another national event, such as a pandemic or soaring inflation rates.

He said:

“I think we are well placed to ride out the issues in the coming years.

“I would describe these times as unprecedented and that is after two years of covid.”

Part of the council’s shortfall is down to energy costs and pay awards.

Energy bills for North Yorkshire’s current eight councils stood at about £6 million in 2021/22, rising to £15.5 million for the current financial year.

They are predicted to rise to £31 million for the forthcoming financial year from April 1.

Meanwhile, inflationary pressures, including pay awards, previously accounted for an increase of about £19 million a year across the eight North Yorkshire councils.

However, the dramatic rise in inflation to more than 10% a year has seen £66 million having to be allocated to next year’s proposed budget to cope with the increase.

Mr Fielding pointed out that other councils were serving section 114 notices – a measure taken in dire financial circumstances.

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Thurrock Council, Slough Borough Council and Croydon Council have all issued such notices, which effectively declare the authority as bankrupt and ban any further spending.

However, Mr Fielding said he felt confident the council was not in that position.

He told senior councillors this morning:

“I am confident that we are not that organisation and will not be that organisation.”

‘Heavy heart’ over council tax hike

Senior councillors this morning recommended a 4.99% increase in council tax for the entirety of North Yorkshire.

The proposal, which would see a band D rate of £1,759.96 for the year, will go to councillors at the authority’s full council meeting for a final decision.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of the county council, said it was “with a heavy heart” that the authority had to propose an increase.

He said:

“As we sit here today I can see no alternative to that 4.99% increase.

“Every one per cent that we take off that equates to a loss of funding of £4.1 million year on year.”

The council is proposing the sum in order to meet costs for providing public services across the county.

It has also decided that council tax rates will be harmonised for the next two years – meaning taxpayers will pay the same sum across the county.

Harrogate council faces £1.2m overspend on energy bills

Harrogate Borough Council has estimated its energy bills are set to cost £1.2 million above budget by the end of the financial year.

In a quarter three financial report due before councillors next week, Gillian Morland, service finance manager, said the authority has an estimated overall overspend of £1.4 million.

The overspend is largely due to soaring utility costs and a higher than expected staff pay award. It budgeted for a 2.5% pay increase but the actual increase was 6.7%.

In her quarter two update in October, Ms Morland forecast the council faced a “sizeable overspend” by the end of the financial year.

She told councillors:

“As things stand we are looking at a sizeable overspend this year.

“We are hoping overspend will come down but we do have sufficient funds to cover it.”

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But the economic situation remains difficult, mainly due to rising energy bills.

In quarter three, an overspend of £170,000 is predicted in housing and property, an increase of £121,000 from quarter two. The report explains:

“There is now a forecast overspend on homelessness of £112,000. This is primarily down to an overspend on B&B accommodation.

“There is a forecast £51,000 overspend on street lighting primarily due to energy costs and street nameplates.”

Parks and environmental services is forecasting an overspend of £739,000, largely due to temporary staff costs.

Harrogate Convention Centre is forecasting a net overspend of £264,000 — the reasons are exempt from the public and media.

But a £166,000 underspend is expected in legal and governance and underspends are also forecast in ICT and organisational development and Improvement.

Support from government

The report comes after senior county councillors warned that soaring energy costs meant local authorities needed support from government.

Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for growth, culture, leisure, sport and housing at North Yorkshire County Council, told a meeting in September:

“You can imagine that the extra costs in heating schools, leisure facilities and other council buildings are going to be enormous.

“And it is unlikely that there will be any ability to recoup that cost from residents. Indeed, it would be wrong to, given the economic circumstances that our residents are facing.

“We are going to need help from central government if we are not going to cut back on essential services.”

Plan for flat above Harrogate estate agents approved

Plans have been approved to convert a part of a town centre estate agents into a two-bedroom flat.

The premises on Albert Street is occupied by North Residential, previously Knight Frank, but under the proposals part of the first floor and all of the second floor will be changed to residential.

Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved the proposal.

The application states:

“The upper floors of the premises were ceased to be part of the commercial use following the refurbishment of the building at the rear 18 months ago.

“The ground floor floorspace was considered more convenient and offered a high quality meeting room. Since that time, the first and second floors have remained vacant in excess of the three month requirement.”

North Residential began trading last year after a management buy-out of the Harrogate branch of Knight Frank, having been operating it in Harrogate for 15 years.

The business will continue in the ground floor of the Albert Street building, along with a first-floor meeting room to the rear.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate’s Windsor House opens pilates studio for tenants

The Stray Ferret Business Awards will be held on March 9 at the Pavilions of Harrogate. The event will be a celebratory night with prize draw and afterparty. Richard Flinton, the chief executive of the new North Yorkshire Council is the guest speaker. Early bird ticket prices are available until February 9 and available to buy here. Bring your team, network and have fun. 

Harrogate’s Windsor House has opened a dedicated yoga and pilates studio for tenants.

Towards the end of last year, Boultbee Brookes – owners of the former Grand Hotel which is now home to more than 115 businesses – trialled lunchtime yoga classes..

As a result, the company has now created a dedicated yoga and Pilates studio, where two instructors are offering morning, lunchtime and evening classes, four times a week to its tenants.

Karen Winspear, Boultbee Brooks’ building manager for Windsor House, said: 

“When we introduced a weekly yoga class, we weren’t sure just how popular it would be.

“It proved to be a great success, and that led to us taking the step to not only increase the number of yoga classes, but to also introduce Pilates classes.

“We have created our own studio, and I’m delighted to announce that regular classes, led by Jess Barnard, for yoga, and Fern Summerton, for Pilates are now in full swing.”

Further information about Windsor House can be found at its website here.

New Harrogate business group launched to support women

Pictured from left are Carol Beeley and Sarah Shaw from LWL Harrogate and Jan Moxham of Lilypad Restaurant.

Pictured from left are Carol Beeley and Sarah Shaw from LWL Harrogate and Jan Moxham of Lilypad Restaurant.

A new business group has been launched in Harrogate aimed at offering professional support and friendship to women working in the area.

Part of the nationwide Ladies Who Latte (LWL) network, the group is free to attend and open to all women who are in employment, own a business or are starting a business.

The group will meet at Lilypad restaurant on King’s Road between 9.30am and 11.30am on the second Wednesday of every month, with the first event on February 8. 

It is being led by Carol Beeley, director of On The Spot Accountants, and Sarah Shaw, a European strategy consultant with WEConnect International.

Ms Shaw said:

“If you’ve always been nervous about networking, or are looking to meet like-minded working women in an open and relaxed setting, please do come along.

“Even if you can only spare half an hour to drop by for a quick coffee, you’ll be given a warm welcome.”

LWL is for women who want to build a professional, local support network and feel part of a business community. It offers them the opportunity to promote themselves while sharing their knowledge and passion with others, gaining inspiration and confidence to drive their ambitions and business forward.

For more information on Ladies Who Latte, visit the group’s website here.

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Harrogate Town captain Josh Falkingham signs two-year contract extension

Harrogate Town captain Josh Falkingham has signed a two-year contract extension.

The 32-year-old, who joined from Darlington in 2017, has made more than 150 appearances for the club in three separate divisions.

The deal will see Falkingham lead Town until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Falkingham said:

“I am absolutely delighted to have extended my stay for another two years. I really want to play my part in pushing the club forward in that time and together hopefully we can keep improving and pushing up the table.

“For me, it has always been about working hard and constantly trying to improve. I always push myself to give everything for this club and I will continue to do that.” 

The 32-year-old has led Town to two promotions in his five-year stint.

Famously, Falkingham captained the side to a 3-1 play-off final victory over Notts County in 2020 which saw the club promoted to the English Football League for the first time in its history.

Town manager Simon Weaver said:

“Josh has played an instrumental part in the climb the club has been on in recent years. We are delighted that he has signed this extension.

“Players, teammates, staff and supporters can all see how much this club means to him and that passion and determination is a great attribute to have in any dressing room.”

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North Yorkshire’s first ‘knife drop’ bin installed in Harrogate

The first “knife drop bin” to be installed in North Yorkshire has been set up in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council worked together to install the orange bin between Asda car park and Dragon Road car park near to the recycling bins.

The facility is designed for people to dispose safely of knives, blades or sharp tools in a safe, anonymous way.

People wishing to deposit a knife are advised to wrap the blade in either thick paper or cardboard and secure with tape as a safety precaution. Once secure, take the knife directly to the bin location and deposit it safely by dropping it through the hatch.

Nicola Colboure, North Yorkshire Police inspector in Harrogate, said:

“While knife crime in North Yorkshire is very low compared to many surrounding areas, we do see the awful injuries knives and other bladed items can inflict if they fall into the wrong hands.

“This is an excellent way to ensure they’re permanently taken out of circulation, which in turn helps us ensure North Yorkshire remains officially England’s safest county.”

The force said the purpose of the bin is to give reassurance to the public that knives are disposed of, but also to reduce knife crime and violence.

A police press release said those who use the knife bin for its intended purpose of disposing of weapons will be granted amnesty to do so and will therefore not face prosecution for disposing of their knives.

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It added:

“Discarding knives by handing them directly into police stations can be a daunting prospect, which is why introducing this simple and discrete method of disposal will hopefully encourage people to utilise the knife drop bin, particularly when coming across old surplus kitchen knives or sharp work tools such as Stanley knives.

“Under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 it is now also illegal to possess certain weapons in private places. Items that could have previously been considered as decorative, collectable or antique pieces are now unlawful to own and you will face prosecution if weapons such as samurai swords, shurikens and flick knives are found in your home.

“Many of these weapons are held in innocence or lack of knowledge of their illegality. We therefore want to urge those in possession of such items to take advantage of the knife drop bin.”