Harrogate council tax rebates on the way – but thousands of households will have to wait to apply

Council tax rebates worth £150 are starting to be paid into bank accounts across the Harrogate district – but thousands of households will have to wait to apply.

The government support is being sent out by Harrogate Borough Council to help ease the impact of huge rises in gas and electricity bills.

The payments are being made directly into the bank accounts of households with council tax bandings of A – D, but only to those which have a direct debit set up with the council.

Around 15,000 households paying by any other means will need to apply online, however, the application process has yet to go live.

Julie Gillett, customer services manager at Harrogate Borough Council, told a meeting of the council’s cabinet last night that the authority was working to put the process in place and that this could take around another month.

She said: 

“At the moment, we are working on making payments to the direct debit payers and then opening applications up to non-direct debit payers.

“We are still in development, but we will be looking more towards the end of May to be able to get these applications made.”

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The council this week confirmed the £150 payments have started for those whose first direct debit was taken in April.

It also said the majority of other payments will be made within 28 days.

Also at the meeting, councillors approved the use of £253,350 in government funding to provide £150 payments to households which are not eligible for the main scheme.

This will include households which are in higher council tax bands of E – H but have a low income, as well as multiple occupancy homes which are not liable for council tax but are responsible for energy bills.

The support will also go to band A – D households where council tax liability falls to the owner but the occupiers are responsible for energy bills.

Separately, a further £35 will be added on top of the £150 payments for households which receive council tax reductions.

As well as the council tax rebate announced in February, the government will also discount energy bills by £200 for all domestic electricity customers from October.

However, unlike the council tax rebate, this discount will be automatically recovered from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over a five year period from 2023, when it is hoped global wholesale gas prices will have come down.

Election 2022: Oatlands and Pannal candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be contested in the district with most of the major parties standing in each one.

Today, we look at the Oatlands and Pannal division, where four candidates have put themselves forward.

John Mann, Conservative

John Mann is the Conservative candidate for Oatlands and Pannal division.

Mr Mann is currently a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council, representing Harrogate Pannal ward.

He is also chair of the authority’s planning committee.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Mann for comment for this preview, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A Conservative party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they were confident in their election campaign and pledged to continue investing in services across North Yorkshire if elected.

A party spokesperson said:

“The Conservatives are fielding an experienced slate of candidates. This is important as we argue the case for local services with settlements from Selby to Richmond and Whitby to Settle.

“That case includes continued investment in local services that has seen a new pool in Ripon and the start of a new pool and leisure centre in Knaresborough.”

Gillian Charters, Green Party

Gillian Charters is standing for the Green Party in Oatlands and Pannal division.

Ms Charters taught at a Knaresborough comprehensive school for 20 years before retraining as a probation officer.

She now works part-time for a Quaker special school in North Yorkshire.

For 30 years, she has been a member of the Green Party, which she says is the party that has “both the environment and social justice at its heart”.

Ms Charters said she was standing for North Yorkshire Council because she wants to “improve living conditions and the environment” within the area.

Margaret Smith, Labour

The Labour candidate for Oatlands and Pannal is Margaret Smith.

Ms Smith worked for several years at a further education college before setting up a business focused on the use of IT in communities and small to medium-sized enterprises.

She said the company employed up to 25 people and provided opportunities to people, particularly those with childcare responsibilities.

On why she is standing, Ms Smith said:

“Although not resident in the actual division, I live quite close and regularly walk through the Oatlands area, use its facilities and have conversations with people out and about.

“It is one of Labour’s many environmental policies which will have a major impact in the area. We intend to invest in reducing residential streets to safe environments where families can walk, cycle and play, e.g by stipulating a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas.”

She added:

“Pannal has for some years now suffered by being used as a “rat run” for drivers coming from new housing developments built in  areas of the town without appropriate infrastructure – something which must be stopped.

“Residents on the streets around the Leeds Road traffic lights in Oatlands are now experiencing the same problem with motorists trying to avoid the lights on the main road. These are narrow streets with an infant school located on one of them – Cromwell Road.”

Ms Smith added that she would also support a town council for Harrogate and devolution of powers to parish councils, such as Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council.

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Justin Chan, Liberal Democrat

Justin Chan will be standing for the Liberal Democrats in the division on May 5.

Mr Chan is a lifelong Harrogate resident and currently works in retail as a customer services assistant.

He has a degree in politics and spent a year at Catania University in Sicily as part of an Erasmus exchange.

Mr Chan said he believes North Yorkshire Council should aim to create jobs, affordable and social housing and ease traffic congestion.

He said:

“It’s important to make local voices heard and to allow councillors strong decision-making powers to enable them to campaign for their local communities. 

“The new local authority should aim to create jobs, affordable and social housing and ease traffic congestion perhaps with a park-and-ride scheme. I will work to ensure Harrogate gets its own town council.”

Election 2022: Bilton and Nidd Gorge candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Paul Haslam, Conservative

Paul Haslam is the Conservative candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge division.

Mr Haslam, who lives in Bilton, is currently a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, where he represents the area.

On his priorities for standing, Mr Haslam said:

“I am passionate about all things Bilton, having lived on Bilton Lane since 2006

“My priorities continue to be serving the people of Bilton, protecting our green environment especially our green spaces such as the Nidd Gorge and protecting our urban environment. I set up quarterly Bilton residents’ meetings at the United Reformed Church in July 2021 to bring together residents, Harrogate Borough Council safer communities team and the police to locate and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in our area.

“Maintaining the best local primary education facilities possible, make sure we are well represented in the new council and  that the services are maintained and improved as the new council takes on its new responsibilities.

“I will work with others such as Councillor Matt Scott and our MP Andrew Jones to get the best for Harrogate and Knaresborough as well as my division.”

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Deborah Havercroft, Labour

The Labour candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge is Deborah Havercroft.

Ms Havercroft lives in Bilton and works in the NHS. She also worked for the Ministry of Defence and in education.

She said she has made the cost of living and congestion on Skipton Road some of her priorities for standing.

Ms Havercroft said:

“I am aware of the hardships that will be caused to local families by increased living costs, especially energy and fuel and would urge NYCC to find a solution to the traffic congestion in Harrogate, particularly on Skipton Road.”

Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat

Andrew Kempston-Parkes is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the division.

Mr Kempston-Parkes is a former councillor and works as a chartered surveyor. During the pandemic, he volunteered at a homelessness charity and at a covid vaccination centre.

He said among his priorities would be to oppose major housing developments and work with police to “make Bilton and Woodfield safer”.

Mr Kempston-Parkes said:

“We need to protect our green fields.

“I will work with the police to continue to make  Bilton and Woodfield safer places to be. I will also make sure education and services for children are a top priority. 

“The establishment of a new Harrogate Town Council is vital to ensure continued strong local representation of residents views to the County Council.”

Developer appeals James Street flats plan

A developer has appealed a decision to refuse a plan to redevelop a retail unit on Harrogate’s James Street to create three flats.

The application was made by Leeds-based company SJM Cotech Ltd and included plans to create a three storey extension for the flats to the back of the site and create two ground floor retail units.

The developer revised the plans after submitting them in May 2021, which initially outlined proposals for four flats.

It said in documents submitted to the council that the proposal would help to “deliver a high quality residential scheme” for the town.

However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the plans in February this year.

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The property is located at 16 James Street, near the cut-through to the Victoria shopping centre. It fronts both on James Street and on Market Place to the rear. It was previously home to Thomas Cook, the travel agent.

Council officials said the proposal would fail to enhance or preserve the character of the conservation area.

In a decision notice, the council said:

“The rear historic offshoot is considered a heritage asset. The proposal seeks to remove and replace this without suitable justification.

“The proposal therefore would fail to enhance or preserve the character and appearance of the host building and Harrogate Conservation Area.”

It added that the proposal would “result in poor levels of natural daylight to all apartments”.

SJM Cotech Ltd has since taken the refusal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

A planning inspector will decide on the proposal at a later date.

Housing and congestion dominate Harrogate hustings

Candidates standing for the upcoming North Yorkshire Council elections were quizzed by an audience in Harrogate last night.

The Stray Ferret held an election hustings chaired by editor John Plummer at the Wesley Centre ahead of a landmark polling day for the town.

Questions on housing and congestion featured heavily on the night, as well as the environment, the Stray and a Harrogate town council.

Voters will head to the polls on May 5 to elect councillors to the new North Yorkshire Council.

The election will be the last before the authority replaces North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, in what will prove to be the biggest shakeup in local government since the 1970s.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Independents all attended the hustings on Tuesday evening – but the Conservatives declined.

You can watch the full hustings below.

Housing and congestion

The candidates first faced a question on how they would ensure roads and local services could cope with ongoing housebuilding in Harrogate.

Labour’s Chris Watt, who is standing in Fairfax and Starbeck division, said:

“The first thing I would do is work with local residents to oppose housing developments where there is not adequate infrastructure.”

He pointed to developments on Kingsley Drive as an example.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Fairfax and Starbeck, Philip Broadbank, said he felt the council should encourage more people out of cars.

He said:

“We have to encourage people to get out of there cars and use them less.

“We also need investment in public transport.”

(From left) Bill Rigby, Chris Watt, John Plummer, Philip Broadbank and Sarah Hart.

(From left) Bill Rigby, Chris Watt, John Plummer, Philip Broadbank and Sarah Hart.

Bill Rigby, who is standing for the Green Party in Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, said the number of cars on the road needed to be reduced.

“The main way you can reduce the traffic is by reducing the number of cars.”

Sarah Hart, Independent candidate for Harlow and St George’s, said:

“We need the right homes in the right places.

“We need more homes for local people who work here. And they should be in suitable locations.”T

Town council and the Stray

Meanwhile, the candidates were also asked about how the Stray would be used under the new council and who would look after it.

Mr Watt said:

“There should be a local community work on the Stray.”

He added that people should be involved in what happens with the Stray and what events are held on it.

Mr Rigby agreed that local people should be involved in deciding what happens with the Stray.

“I agree that the community should be involved in its management.”

He added that he would support the introduction of a town council to take control of the Stray.

Ms Hart agreed that the community should look after the Stray and supported creating a Harrogate Town Council.

“If there is a Harrogate Town Council, then they should protect it.”

Mr Broadbank said that the Stray was “unique” and added that Valley Gardens should also be considered for events too.

Hustings in full

The candidates also fielded questions on a Killinghall bypass, the environment and opposition parties working together.

You can watch the full debate below.

Police recruitment won’t be felt ‘for years to come’, says chief constable

North Yorkshire’s chief constable has warned that the recruitment of new police officers won’t be felt in communities for years to come.

Lisa Winward told a Harrogate Borough Council meeting last night that she wanted to “manage expectations” about the recruitment drive.

She also described figures which suggest an additional 30,000 new officers will be needed in England and Wales on top of the government’s target of 20,000 as “frightening”.

In North Yorkshire, 113 officers have been recruited since 2020 and government funding has been allocated for a further 74.

But because each officer is trained to a degree-level of qualification, Ms Winward said the benefits of the bolstered workforce won’t be felt for “potentially another four years.”

She said: 

“When these officers join us it takes three years for them to become fully qualified. They’re out on the streets for part of that time, but they spend a predominant amount of time in training.

“In reality, we won’t see the benefits of these individuals coming into the organisation – certainly the final 74 – potentially for another four years.

“We are very much looking forward to and grateful for these officers joining us, but it will take time.”

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Reversing cuts to police officer numbers was one of Boris Johnson’s first policy pledges when he became prime minister in 2019.

But those in charge of recruitment have warned that the total number of new recruits needed is much bigger because of existing officers who will be resigning or retiring from the service.

Current police levels

North Yorkshire Police currently has around 1,560 officers and 3,380 total staff.

And Ms Winward said it is expected that around 25% of the workforce will have less than three years of service as outgoing officers are replaced with new recruits over the next few years.

She said this will be “very demanding” on the new officers in terms of them having the “skills, experience and ability to deliver the service to the community”.

Ms Winward explained 55 officers were recruited for training in 2020, followed by 58 in 2021.

She added a further 78 will be recruited this year, with all officers gaining experience in areas including roads and neighbourhood policing, and crime investigation.

Four of the 78 officers joining this year will work in an organised crime unit covering the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Where the rest will be deployed will depend on the outcome of a force management statement which is due to be published by North Yorkshire Police in May.

This document will look at current and predicted levels of crime in different areas across the county, as well as the current capacity of the force.

Ms Winward added: 

“This gap analysis will determine where those officers will need to be placed in order to ensure people are safe.

“But that is reliant upon a prevention and early intervention direction of travel.

“We cannot continuously service increasing demand so it’s really important that we prevent harm from happening in the first place.”

Election 2022: High Harrogate and Kingsley candidates preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the High Harrogate and Kingsley division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Tim Myatt, Conservative

Tim Myatt will be standing for the Conservatives in the division at the election on May 5.

Mr Myatt currently represents High Harrogate on Harrogate Borough Council, which he was elected to in 2018.

He is also the cabinet member for planning on the authority.

Mr Myatt said his priority ahead of standing for North Yorkshire Council is to ensure Harrogate is a great place to live with investment in the town centre.

He said:

“My priority is to ensure our area of Harrogate is a great place to live, with investment in local services and the town centre.  I live near Harrogate High School and am the only candidate to live in the ward. I care about our area because it is my area too.  

“I have been active in opposing over-intensive development in Kingsley and off Claro Road, including formally objecting to the current proposals off Kingsley Drive. I’ve also been working with residents to lower the impact of development on the wider community, such as developers working anti-social hours or leaving dirty roads.  

“I have worked to reduce graffiti, litter and potholes, and have secured investment to improve the One Arch which will begin later this year. We also have plans to tackle anti-social behaviour on this important route into town, as well as other locations across High Harrogate and Kingsley.”

Geoff Foxall, Labour

Geoff Foxall will be standing for the Labour Party on polling day.

Mr Foxall is a retired teacher and as chair of Starbeck Residents’ Association campaigned against the relief road through the Nidd Gorge.

He said his priorities ahead of standing for North Yorkshire Council were to protect the interests of working families and to safeguard the environment.

Mr Foxall said:

“As Chair of Starbeck Residents Association, I was active in opposing a relief road through the Nidd Gorge and creating a community woodland in the Green Belt between Harrogate and Knaresborough.  I have also opposed overdevelopment in the Starbeck and Kingsley Road areas of Harrogate.

“I have eight years of experience as a Labour Councillor on Harrogate District Council including four years as Group Leader.

“If elected for a new North Yorkshire County Council, I shall defend the interests of working families in Harrogate and safeguard our environment.”

Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for High Harrogate and Kingsley division is Chris Aldred.

Mr Aldred sits on Harrogate Borough Council and represents Harrogate Fairfax ward.

He is currently the chair of the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

Mr Aldred said he was standing to ensure residents have a “strong alternative voice” on North Yorkshire Council.

He said:

“I have over 20 years’ experience as a council officer throughout the county – I know how to hold the Tories to account.

“I have lived in Harrogate over 20 years. I am fighting this election to ensure residents have a strong alternative voice on the new council.

“For – better schools, public transport, protecting & enhancing our local green space, improved Social Care. Against overdevelopment, wasting your money on vanity projects.”

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Election 2022: Wathvale and Bishop Monkton candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Nick Brown, Conservative

Nick Brown will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on May 5.

Mr Brown is currently the Bishop Monkton and Newby ward councillor on Harrogate Borough Council, which he has served for the past 14 years.

He said his priorities for the North Yorkshire Council would be to help oversee the transition to the new council and help further “democracy, openness, cost savings and efficiency”.

Mr Brown said:

“I have served the community in this role for the past 14 years, working hard for all residents, regardless of their political persuasion, and with every ward parish council in the area. 

“I have often spoken out on behalf of residents and their local issues, representing them vigorously regarding matters of interest to his electorate.”

Mr Brown added that he wanted to campaign for a “better deal” for rural areas from the new unitary council.

Hannah Corlett, Green Party

Hannah Corlett will be standing for the Green Party in the division on polling day.

Ms Corlett has lived in the village of Melmerby for the last five years and is a communications officer at Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust.

She joined the Green Party two years ago, which she has described as a “turning point” in her life.

Ms Corlett said she wants to see a “change in direction that people lead”, which she believes can be achieved from “the ground up”.

She said:

“When I joined the Green Party in 2020, it was part of a turning point in my life. I got involved with their activism straight away, fighting Harrogate Spring Waters expansion into Rotary Wood, public woodland. 

“Opening my eyes to the damage that is happening to our planet and the part we play in it, in the UK, driven by poor ideological policies. I want to see a change in direction that people lead, and I believe we can do this from the ground up with grassroots activism.”

Christopher Knight, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division will be Christopher Knight.

Mr Knight moved to the Yorkshire Dales in 2013 and is a semi-retired business consultant.

He said he is a believer in strong representation and “collaborative politics”.

Mr Knight said:

“I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016 and I became active in the General Election campaign of 2019, supporting our Parliamentary Candidate Andrew Murday.

“I am a semi-retired business consultant who has lived and worked in several countries, and I speak French, German and some Italian. I am a passionate believer in strong local representation as well as collaborative politics at a regional, national and international level.”

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A separate by-election for the Wathvale ward on Harrogate Borough Council will also be held on May 5.

The election will see a new councillor elected to represent the ward on the borough council.

You can read more on the candidates here.

Election 2022: Knaresborough West candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Knaresborough West division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Philip Ireland, Conservative

Philip Ireland will stand as the Conservative candidate for Knaresborough West division.

Mr Ireland, who lives in the town, currently represents Knaresborough Aspin and Calcutt ward on Harrogate Borough Council.

He is the cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability on the authority.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Ireland for comment for this preview, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A Conservative party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they were confident in their election campaign and pledged to continue investing in services across North Yorkshire if elected.

A party spokesperson said:

“The Conservatives are fielding an experienced slate of candidates. This is important as we argue the case for local services with settlements from Selby to Richmond and Whitby to Settle.

“That case includes continued investment in local services that has seen a new pool in Ripon and the start of a new pool and leisure centre in Knaresborough.

“We are investing in the Hydro to provide more leisure facilities for local people.

“We need to continue the investment in our conference centre adapting it to the modern conference and exhibition industry. The centre underpins thousands of jobs across the district and brings in an estimated £29m to the local economy.”

David Crosthwaite, Labour

The Labour candidate for Knaresborough West will be David Crosthwaite.

Mr Crosthwaite has lived in Knaresborough for nearly 50 years and is a teacher.

He began his career at King James’ School and was later deputy headteacher at Selby High School, where he worked for 20 years.

Mr Crosthwaite added:

“For the last twelve years I have been Chairman of The Knaresborough Players, which is the registered charity that owns and operates Knaresborough’s Frazer Theatre as a not- for- profit community enterprise run entirely by unpaid volunteers. 

“If elected, I would support the values of a caring community.”

Matt Walker, Liberal Democrat

Matt Walker will be standing for the Liberal Democrats at the May 5 election.

Born and raised in Knaresborough, Mr Walker currently works for NHSX which created the NHS app and used to manage Harrogate accident and emergency department.

He said the NHS and social services need more investment and more needs to be done to “improve the quality of services delivered”.

Mr Walker said:

“As the number of houses in Knaresborough increases residents are concerned that the town infrastructure such as doctors dentists, school places are not developing to cope sufficiently with the towns increased population.

“I will work with local groups and the county council to improve the level of proactive planning for improved investment in the town.”

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Warning after cigarette causes Penny Pot Lane fire

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has warned people to discard of cigarettes properly after a fire on Penny Pot Lane.

Crews from Harrogate were called to a fire to a gorse bush in the area yesterday.

The incident is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

The fire was put out on arrival, but the service is urging people to dispose of cigarettes carefully.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“A reminder if you’re heading out today in the countryside to please take care. Dispose of cigarettes carefully, don’t leave glass bottles lying around and don’t light bbqs or camp fires on or near dry grass/moorlands. Call 999 if you see a wildfire.

“Grass fires like these can tie up our fire crews meaning they’re not available to attend other incidents.”

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