A historic investment in Harrogate Convention Centre could require county council consent to go ahead should a devolution funding bid fail.

In what would be the biggest single spend by Harrogate Borough Council in its lifetime, the convention centre would undergo a £47 million revamp to create more space.

However, questions surround how exactly the authority will fund the project as the clock ticks down to April 2023 when the council is abolished.

‘Devolution negotiations under way’

Funding for the convention centre has formed part of a devolution deal for North Yorkshire, which has already been submitted to government.

The 140-page document, which has already been submitted to ministers, includes a request to “work with government to address the capital funding gap we have identified through our business case work to date”.

However, questions surround where the money would come from for the scheme should ministers not agree to the funding.

Read more:

• No final decision on HCC investment until 2022, says council
• Major redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre could start in October

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said there could be an opportunity to apply to the government’s levelling up fund.

He added that any investment by the borough council would also require joint county council consent as the authority is restricted to spending no more than £1 million on capital projects.

Cllr Les said:

“Negotiations about devolution for North Yorkshire and York are under way.

“We have made a strong case for more powers and funding in a number of areas, including the Harrogate Convention Centre.

“Discussions are still under way with government and we hope to know the final shape of the deal in July.

“If government does not choose to fund the HCC through a devolution deal, then there could be other funding routes, including the government’s Levelling-Up Fund.

“Harrogate Borough Council is still able to invest in the centre. If the investment was to be more than £1 million, there would need to be joint consent with the county council’s executive.”

Meanwhile, David Goode, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, said the £47 million investment should be paused.

He said:

“North Yorkshire needs to take stock of where the convention centre sits within its overall strategy and how they would like to manage and run it.

“The area as a whole would be worse off if it was closed.”

He suggested there might be a “lower cost” alternative to the £47 million refurbishment that could still result in the venue being “viable” for conferences and concerts.

Cllr Goode also suggested parts of the conference centre could be mothballed for periods of time to reduce costs.

Council silent on HCC

Harrogate Borough Council has so far remained silent over a major £47 million renovation of the town’s convention centre as negotiations continue over funding for the scheme.

The borough council has already spent £1.5 million on contracts for the redevelopment, which has yet to be approved.

Figures revealed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in December 2021 showed that the council had awarded contracts to companies such as KPMG, Arcadis, and Cushman and Wakefield.

This included design and feasibility work, a first phase business case and an outline business case.

Due to fears of a potential loss of £14.9 million worth of events, the council this year decided to accelerate part of its plans for studio two at the centre.

This would see seminar rooms created to accommodate up to 1,200 people.

According to council reports, a contract award for the acceleration is due to be put before senior borough councillors in June.

Following approval of the acceleration of the project, a competitive tender process was opened with a potential start date for the work earmarked for October.

However, the wider project has yet to be given approval. A spokesperson for the borough council said previously that a decision was due this year on the wider scheme.

Pinewoods Conservation Group has urged people to report anti-social behaviour after rough sleepers and drugs were found in the woodland.

Pictures seen by the Stray Ferret show Harrogate Borough Council staff moving a tent, which had been set up in the woods.

Inside the tents were drug paraphernalia and rubbish left in the woodland, including food and sleeping bags.

Other pictures showed graffiti defacing the Pinewoods map.

The graffiti on the Pinewoods map.

The borough council and North Yorkshire Police were both alerted to the rough sleepers this month.

The tents were later moved, however the Stray Ferret understands the process took longer than expected due to the availability of council street cleansing teams.

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A man in the 96-acre woodland was detained by police last week after residents reported gunshots being fired. But he was later released without charge.

A spokesperson for the Pinewoods Conservation Group said it had reported a number of anti-social behaviour incidents in recent months.

They said:

“Whilst the recent reported incident fortunately didn’t materialise into anything serious we are still asking our members and visitors to report anything suspicious and any anti-social behaviour to the police via 101, or 999 if an emergency, and Harrogate council customer services. 

“We have reported a number of incidents in recent months from graffiti, illegal campers, groups congregating and setting fires plus clear evidence of drug use. It is only with the help of others we can continue to keep the Pinewoods a safe and enjoyable area for the community.”

A council spokesperson said: 

“We have accommodation and support available for all rough sleepers.

“Once we are made aware of someone sleeping rough in the Harrogate district, our housing options team work in partnership with the police and partner agencies in an attempt to persuade them to accept support.

“We have hostels in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough and have most recently opened Fern House in Starbeck, our purpose-built temporary accommodation with 19 self-contained bedrooms. Additional to this, we can offer a complete support package for individuals who are homeless which includes health and wellbeing, support for any mental health issues, financial guidance as well as any further advice or information they may require.

“As a result of this holistic approach it means that we can try to identify the cause of each individual’s circumstances in a bid to help them find permanent secure accommodation.”

The clock is ticking on the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council, which could leave Harrogate itself without any lower tier authority.

The borough council will no longer exist come April 1, 2023, as part of the biggest shake-up in local government since 1974.

This has led to calls for North Yorkshire County Council to create a Harrogate Town Council. But what is a town council, what powers will it have and how will it be funded?

What is a town council?

Town and parish councils run services such as community centres and play areas, as well as maintaining bus shelters. Councillors are elected to serve on them but they are not paid.

The councils can also charge a precept as part of council tax bills to fund the services provided, meaning there is a cost to the people they serve.

In the Harrogate district, there are town councils in areas such as Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Kirby Hill.

Because Harrogate does not currently have a lower tier council, it raises questions over what its boundaries would be.

What powers would a Harrogate Town Council have?

North Yorkshire County Council officials have promised further powers for towns and parishes in a move described as ‘double devolution’.

It would see the councils able to run services and take on additional responsibilities.

Council bosses have looked at areas such as Cornwall as an example of this.

Read more:

• Harrogate town council referendum will be held ‘as soon as possible’
• Harrogate town council: will it be created and what would it cost?

In 2009, Cornwall scrapped its six districts and county council and set up a single unitary authority — just as North Yorkshire is doing now.

In an effort to reach out to local areas, it started a process of double devolution to its 197 parish and town councils. This saw town and parish councils take on more assets and, in theory, given more control.

Truro City Council took over the city’s library, youth centre, sports hall and open spaces, such as Lemon Quay.

Other town councils opted for more modest bids and took control of art galleries and CCTV services.

If a town council is created in Harrogate, it would raise questions over what assets it could feasibly take control of, and what assets would remain with North Yorkshire Council.

How would it be funded?

Parish and town councils are largely funded through a local precept, which goes on top of general council tax.

Those who live in Knaresborough, Ripon and other parishes already pay a parish precept on their bills in addition to the precepts for North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Ripon City Council has frozen its precept for the average band D at £71.89 for the last two years, while Knaresborough Town Council set its share at £25.27.

Ripon Town Hall, where the city council sits.

People in Harrogate do not currently pay a parish precept. But they would if a town council is created in order to fund services it runs.

The more powers it took on as part of the double devolution agenda, the more its bills could increase.

Many of the town and parishes in Cornwall have taken control of car parks in order to raise money.

Should a Harrogate town council want to replicate the model in Cornwall, it could mean similar actions being taken.

When will a town council be created?

Some newly elected county councillors have pushed for action but no formal moves have begun yet.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Hookstone division, last week called for a town council to be created at “as soon as possible”.

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

In order to create a new parish, county council officials would have to begin a process known as a community governance review, which would be consulted on with the public.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the authority, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently that it would be up to residents to decide if plans should go-ahead.

He said:

“I’m a great advocate of parish and town councils, and I do believe Harrogate and Scarborough would be well served if they had them.

“That said, it is for the people to decide whether they want them or not.

“I’m very keen that we start the process as soon as possible and we will go to the public in Harrogate and Scarborough at the earliest opportunity.”

With North Yorkshire Council not coming into existence until April 1, it is doubtful whether moves to create a Harrogate Town Council will seriously begin until then so it could be some years before one is up and running — if residents decide to create one.

Proposals to create a pharmacy and retail unit at a former William Hill bookmakers in Harrogate have been approved.

Leeds-based The Pharmacy Group submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the boarded-up unit on the town’s Beulah Street.

It will see the bookies, which has been closed for some time, converted into a shop and the unit facing Station Parade converted into a pharmacy.

Office space will also be created in the space above the pharmacy.

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Harrogate Borough Council has now approved the plan.

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the proposal would bring “positive benefits” to the area.

It said:

“The change of use from turf accountants to retail and offices and the proposed redevelopment of the site will bring positive benefits to the area by maintaining, enhancing and giving new life to a key property on both Beulah Street and Station Parade.”

The Pharmacy Group is a third generation family-owned business with 30 NHS community pharmacies across Yorkshire. They include Harrogate Pharmacy on Haywra Crescent.

Harrogate Borough Council is set to award a £40,000 contract to create a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery.

The crematorium will be built inside a converted shipping container at the crematorium on Wetherby Road.

The contract would cover the purchase and installation of a cremator, as well as five years maintenance.

Councillors backed plans for the district’s first pet crematorium in March 2022.

Stephen Hemsworth, bereavement services manager at the council, said at the time it was likely to cost about £50 for a rabbit to be cremated and over £200 for a dog.

The contract, which is being advertised on a government procurement website, is expected to start in June this year.

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• Bird flu forces cancellation of poultry classes at Great Yorkshire Show
• Councillors approve ‘much-needed’ Harrogate pet crematorium

It says:

“This contract includes the purchase of a pet cremator and container in which the cremator will be housed and operated, including delivery, installation, training and periodic maintenance.

“The anticipated contract value is £40,000.00 for the purchase, delivery, siting and installation of the containerised pet cremator including five years maintenance from the date of installation.”

The move to set up a pet crematorium follows in the footsteps of councils in North East Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have built similar facilities.

The Harrogate facility will include a “goodbye room” in a converted garage where owners can say final farewells to their pets.

A former firefighter and now councillor has hit out at proposals to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one.

Independent councillor Sid Hawke, who worked as a retained firefighter for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon, said the plans would “put money before lives”.

Harrogate fire station currently has two fire engines operating 24 hours a day, but this could be reduced to just one at night under the proposals out to consultation.

Last night both appliances were summoned to fires in commercial bins in Harrogate town centre — this will not be possible if the proposals go ahead.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe is asking residents for their views on the plans as part of county-wide proposals, which she said would save over £1.5 million a year – yet she insisted they are not cost-cutting measures.

Cllr Hawke, an Independent member of Harrogate Borough Council and newly-elected mayor of Ripon, said:

“You can’t put money before lives.

“It’s a big town is Harrogate. If there were two shouts at one go, what would the fire station do?

“They could call in support, but that would be from Boroughbridge, Thirsk or anywhere, and somebody could lose their life in that time.”

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Cllr Hawke left the fire service around 10 years ago and said it does not receive the financial support it needs to respond to emergencies quickly. He has called on Ms Metcalfe, a Conservative, to scrap the proposals and instead increase the number of fire engines and staff.

Cllr Hawke said: 

“I don’t care how much could be saved – there is money in budgets elsewhere to be dug into without putting lives at risk.

“I think we need more firefighters – I really do.”

Fire service ‘has changed’

The proposals are detailed within a document which sets out how the fire service will deploy staff and equipment over the next three years.

The Risk and Resource Model has been drawn up based on “extensive risk assessments” looking at the likelihood and severity of emergencies including fires, road traffic collisions and water related incidents.

The document is out to consultation until August 14 and Ms Metcalfe said it reflected a changing role for the fire service.

Ms Metcalfe, who is also a Harrogate borough councillor, said there is higher demand for services during daytime hours in Harrogate and that fire-related incidents now make up a small proportion of what the fire service does.

She said: 

“The role of a fire and rescue service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency.

“We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and protect to stop incidents happening in the first place and prevent harm before it can take place, while also having the capacity to respond to emergencies when they do take place.

“We are confident these proposals would do that.”

Two teenagers have been arrested following six deliberate bin fires in Harrogate town centre last night.

Fire crews were called to multiple blazes involving commercial bins behind retail units, which tied up the service for two hours.

Both fire engines attended — something that won’t be possible if proposed cuts to overnight services go ahead.

Crews were called at 8.17pm last night to reports of a fire on Cambridge Street in the town centre.

Firefighters said the blaze was started deliberately by youths.

The fire was put out using hose reel jets and crews left the incident with North Yorkshire Police.

A statement from Harrogate fire station on its Facebook page said:

“Both Harrogate fire appliances were tied up for two hours last night in Harrogate.

“Crews dealt with six separate large commercial bin fires at the back of retail premises which potentially could have spread to buildings.

“Police were notified and multiple arrests took place. These unnecessary fires tie up our resources taking us away from us other incidents.”

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe, is currently considering plans to reduce the number of appliances at Harrogate Fire Station to one at night.

This morning, North Yorkshire Police confirmed two boys, aged 17 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson. They have since been released under investigation.

A statement from the force added:

“Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote reference number 12220090536.”

Harrogate firefighters have dealt with a spate of bin fires in Harrogate town centre this week.

On Wednesday, they responded to reports of a bin fire on Bower Street under the railway track at 8.11pm. The cause is unknown.

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Crews responded to deliberate blazes on both Cambridge Street and Oxford Street on Monday evening.

The fire on Oxford Street was started in a bin close to commercial buildings.

A spokesman for Harrogate fire station said they believed the fires were deliberately started by the same people and have informed the police.

Plans have been lodged to convert the Old Courthouse in Harrogate town centre into three townhouses.

The building on Raglan Street was previously occupied by Stowe Family Law, which vacated the property for another site in town in February this year.

Proposals have now been tabled by Park Design Architects to convert the site from offices into two three-bedroom and one two-bedroom townhouse.

Six car parking spaces are also included in the plans.

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the site was a “sustainable location” for new homes.

It said:

“Overall, the site is located within a highly sustainable area and will utilise existing car parking provision to serve the proposed use, with easy access to alternative means of transport other than the private car to support sustainable travel.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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The original building was built in 1857 and was initially a police house for the town.

This was later demolished and replaced with a courthouse, which was used by justices of the borough until 1991.

Stowe Family Law moved into the property as tenants in 2004.

Plans have been approved to convert the former Ripon Cathedral Choir School into four townhouses.

Persimmon Homes lodged the proposal for the building, which had previously been earmarked to be demolished to make way for 12 flats.

Harrogate Borough Council has now approved the proposal.

The developer tabled the fresh application after the demolition plan was met “negatively by the public”.

A total of 68 objections from residents were lodged to the council against the previous proposal.

In documents submitted to the council, Persimmon said the new bid to convert the building followed discussions with council officers.

It said:

“Following feedback and discussions with the case officer, Persimmon Homes have sought to amend the proposal, withdraw the application and submit a new application for the conversion of the school building.

“The conservation officer confirmed via email in April 2021 that retaining the building is ‘the way forward’.”

Read more:

• Persimmon Homes submits plans to demolish Ripon Cathedral Choir School
• New £6m plans to extend Ripon Cathedral facilities proposed

Persimmon said in its plans that the current building is in “extremely poor condition”.

The new proposal will see the existing brickwork retained but the roof replaced in its entirety due to its poor condition.

The building was originally constructed as a late 19th Century grandstand. It was converted in the early 20th century into two semi-detached dwellings, then extended for use as a school.

Ripon Cathedral Choir School began using the site in 1960 until it closed in 2012. It had planned to merge with a local preparatory school but this fell through.

A Conservative MP has described plans by his own government to build an asylum centre in Linton-On-Ouse as an “abuse of power”.

Kevin Hollinrake, who represents Thirsk and Malton, called a debate in the House of Commons on the matter yesterday.

The government is pressing ahead with plans to house 1,500 asylum seekers for up to six months in a ‘reception centre’ a former RAF base in the village, which is four miles from Great Ouseburn and Little Ouseburn in the Harrogate district, nine miles from Boroughbridge and 13 miles from Knaresborough.

However, the plan has been widely criticised by residents and politicians.

During the debate yesterday, Mr Hollinrake said:

He said:

“I said right at the start that this is an abuse of power, and I do not think that is putting it too strongly. The Home Office is using its emergency powers, with a Q notice, so it did not have to go through the planning process for this material change of use, which it undoubtedly is.

“The reason for those powers—why is it an emergency?—was, we were told, covid. Well, we thought that covid was actually largely behind us, especially at this time of year.

“I do not think it is right to say that covid can be one of the reasons why we are using emergency powers in this way.”

Read more:

• Ripon refugee charity joins calls opposing 1,500 asylum seekers at Linton
• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

Mr Hollinrake went on to question what support and funding would be in place ahead of asylum seekers arriving at the centre.

Police car and CCTV to be deployed

He said he had been told a double manned police car would be located in the village 24/7 and CCTV would be installed.

However, Mr Hollinrake said it was unclear when those plans would be put in place.

He said:

“Those potential mitigations would help, but it is not clear that those plans will be in place on May 31 when service users move in. I have also not seen a clear plan anywhere.”

He added that there has been “an indication” by the Home Office that next week’s first set of arrivals, which includes 60 people, may be delayed.

Last week the chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary joined calls to pause plans for the centre.

Residents in Linton-On-Ouse ahead of a public meeting over the planned asylum centre. Picture: Linton-On-Ouse Action Group.

Nicola David, chair of the sanctuary, told the Stray Ferret the centre was not suitable for refugees or the village.

She said there would be too many asylum seekers to residents at the site.

She said:

“Everybody is in agreement. Everybody is saying it is completely unsuitable.

“The only people who are saying it is [a good idea] is the Home Office.”

Why are refugees being sent to Linton?

The controversial proposal for Linton-on-Ouse is part of a wider plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.

Before potentially being flown out to the African country, asylum seekers will be held in ‘reception centres’ across the UK for up to six months, with the first announced being at Linton-on-Ouse.

Ms Patel said:

“The global migration crisis and how we tackle illegal migration requires new world-leading solutions. There are an estimated 80 million people displaced in the world and the global approach to asylum and migration is broken.

“Existing approaches have failed and there is no single solution to tackle these problems. Change is needed because people are dying attempting to come to the UK illegally.”