County council to offer £200,000 to fund Tour de Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council is to offer the tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire up to £200,000 of taxpayer money to hold the Tour de Yorkshire in 2022.

The event, which is usually held over the May Day bank holiday weekend, has not taken place for the last two years due to covid.

As a result, Welcome to Yorkshire has requested funding from numerous local authorities in case it fails to get sponsorship.

In a report due before senior county councillors next week, officials at the authority have set out plans to pay Welcome to Yorkshire £100,000 to hold the event.

A further £100,000 will also be set aside if the tourism body requires funding to underwrite any failure to secure sponsorship.

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However, council bosses said this would only be paid if Welcome to Yorkshire make a “final evidenced request”.

The report said:

“At this stage it is not possible to determine how much of the additional fee would be required but the approach set out, and the personnel involved, provides a high degree of assurance that there is a good plan.

“As a result, Welcome to Yorkshire feel it is “unlikely” that the additional fee of up to £100,000 will be required.

“Clearly, there will need to be some form of assessment of the effectiveness of the commercial sponsorship strategy following the 2022 event in order to inform future events.”

The report added that the additional payment would be funded from the authority’s reserves.

Senior county councillors on the authority’s executive will make a decision on the funding on Tuesday next week.

The request for funding in 2022 is understood to have been made to numerous local authorities, which are host towns for the race.

As Harrogate is not a host town, Harrogate Borough Council is not expected to contribute to the costs. But if North Yorkshire County Council agrees to do so then everyone in the county would pay through their council tax.

The race is being promoted as an opportunity to aid economic recovery across the region, and in particular in host towns and cities of Leyburn, Barnsley, Beverly, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Redcar and Skipton.

No final decision on HCC investment until 2022, says council

A final decision on a potential major investment in Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) is likely to be made next year, council bosses have said.

Harrogate Borough Council outlined plans for a £46.8million project to renovate the centre last July.

Councillors backed a feasibility study ahead of the phased redevelopment of the 40-year-old centre, which will return before the council to approve the investment.

But a council spokesman has said that this final decision is to take place next year when detailed designs and costs will be presented to councillors.

It comes as a major shake-up of local government in North Yorkshire looms, which will see the borough council and the county council scrapped and replaced with either one or two unitary authorities.

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It would mean that control of the convention centre would be handed over to a new council, which the government said it aims to have in place by 2023.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret last week that he was hopeful of an announcement from ministers on which model they preferred before Parliament breaks for recess on July 22.

The Stray Ferret asked the borough council how the potential reorganisation of councils in the county would affect the investment in the HCC.

A spokesman for the council said:

“The proposed reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire and the investment in Harrogate Convention Centre are two entirely separate things.

“That’s why we are continuing with projects and initiatives such as the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre, the leisure investment strategy, etc. so that we can provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that our residents and visitors can be proud of.

“A final decision is yet to be made on the future investment in the convention centre, and this is likely to be next year when more detailed design work and costs will be presented the council.”

Convention centre ‘will not survive’ without investment

Last year, the council said in a report that without the upgrade the convention centre “would not survive”.

The council is proposing to refurbish the conference centre, auditorium and two of the main halls. It also plans to divide the space known as Studio 2 to create “breakout facilities” for up to 1,850 delegates.

Work to upgrade the venue would be carried out over two phases.

Last July, a confidential cabinet paper seen by the Stray Ferret showed that the HCC was forecast to lose £710,000 in 2019/20.

The report said the convention centre’s financial performance had “declined significantly” since 2008/9 and renovation was needed to increase income.

Despite warnings over the state of the venue and the need for investment, businesses and councillors outside of Harrogate were left “dismayed” by the project.

Council to host first full in-person meeting at Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council will hold its first full in-person meeting since the start of lockdown at the town’s convention centre.

All councillors were due to come together at the authority’s Civic Centre headquarters on Wednesday, July 7, but the venue has been changed after the government delayed making the decision to end of all coronavirus restrictions until later this month.

A council spokesperson said the change was necessary because there is not enough room for all 39 councillors to socially distance within the council chamber.

The spokesperson said:

“Due to social distancing guidelines, the meeting of the council on 7 July will now be held at Studio 1, Harrogate Convention Centre.”

Meetings have been held online during the pandemic, but the government ordered all local authorities to hold them in-person from May.

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Wednesday’s meeting will be livestreamed on the council’s YouTube channel and members of the public can attend in person.

Up for discussion is a decision to remove a limit on the number of wheelchair accessible taxi licences despite concerns from cabbies that it will have a “devastating” impact on trade.

Councillors will also be asked to approve the permanent livestreaming of meetings, while Liberal Democrat councillors have tabled a motion asking for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to be “strongly recommend” under plans for local government reorganisation.

Pay rises for some of the council’s most senior staff are also on the agenda.

The meeting will start at 5.30pm.

Harrogate district records 331 cases of Delta variant

A total of 331 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest government figures.

The number represents cases up to June 30 – and is a 42% increase from the 233 that were reported for the seven days up to June 23.

In separate data, a further 70 covid infections were recorded in today’s daily figures.

According to Public Health England, the total number of cases in the district since last March stands at 8,615.

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However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11.

The covid death toll at the hospital remains at 179.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate has reached 200 per 100,000 people for the first time since January.

Elsewhere, the North Yorkshire average is 184 and the England rate is 191.

Commissioner chooses preferred chief fire officer candidate

North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner has selected his preferred candidate to be interim chief fire officer.

Philip Allott has chosen Jon Foster, who is currently deputy chief fire officer for the county, for the position.

It follows current chief fire officer, Andrew Brodie, announcing his retirement from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue this summer.

Mr Foster started his career at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1983 as an on-call firefighter at Boroughbridge.  

He pursued his ambition to join as a wholetime firefighter in 1994 and has since worked in a wide range of roles across the county, before being made deputy chief fire officer in September 2019.

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Mr Foster will be recommended to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel to be approved for the role next month.

Mr Allott said:

“Our communities are some of the safest places to live in the country and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service plays a hugely important role in ensuring that continues. It was important to select the best person to lead the team, and I am delighted to recommend Jon Foster for that role over the next 12 months.

“As the current deputy chief fire officer, and having worked within the service for the past 38 years, Jon is someone who knows North Yorkshire and York inside out. He has the respect of colleagues and the commitment to continue the work to create an even stronger and sustainable service.

“Resources are always constrained, but I was impressed by Jon’s commitment to innovation in response and preventative practices, and his desire to ensure we have an emergency service which reflects the communities they serve.

“Subject to the panel’s approval of Jon’s suitability at their confirmation hearing, I look forward to working with him to deliver a modern, reactive and respected organisation that protects people and property, and saves lives.”

Mr Foster said:

“I am delighted to be afforded the opportunity to serve the public of North Yorkshire as interim chief fire officer.

“I started my fire service career in 1983 at Boroughbridge as a retained firefighter and feel immensely privileged to be the preferred candidate to lead the service about which I am passionate. I look forward to addressing the panel later this month. With their approval, I will look forward to working alongside the commissioner to deliver a high-quality service to the public.”

If approved by the panel, Mr Foster will take up the role on July 22.

First candidates for Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election revealed

The first candidates have been revealed for the forthcoming by-election for the Knaresborough Scriven Park seat on Harrogate Borough Council.

The by-election is being held following the resignation of Cllr Samantha Mearns, who announced she was stepping down due to family reasons after holding the seat as a member of the Conservative party since 2018.

Voting for candidates to replace her will take place on July 29, with the deadline for nominations to be made by 4pm today (July 2).

The Conservatives have announced Jaqui Renton, a former landlady of The Union pub in Knaresborough, as their candidate, while Hannah Gostlow, a serving Knaresborough Town councillor, will stand for the Liberal Democrats.

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Sharon-Theresa Calvert will also compete in the by-election for the Labour Party after previously standing for a Knaresborough seat on North Yorkshire County Council in 2017.

The Yorkshire Party told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was looking for a suitable candidate, while the Green Party said in a statement it had “initiated discussions with opposition parties” about working together.

Announcing her resignation in a letter to residents last month, Cllr Mearns said she was moving to Wales to be closer to her family after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

She said it had been a “great honour” to serve the area where she had lived for more than 18 years.

Cllr Mearns said: 

“In many people’s lives things happen that change the direction of their lives. This is the same with me. Not too long before the pandemic struck, my younger brother – my only sibling – died after a relatively short but terrible illness.

“Shortly after, and during the pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.

“Having lost my brother and faced with potentially losing my mother in a short time made me look at what I needed to do with my life to do the right thing by my family.”

Cllr Mearns was also a member of Knaresborough Town Council and voting to fill this vacant seat will take place on the same day as the borough council by-election.

The by-election will be the second held in the Harrogate district this year after Conservative Cllr Matt Scott last month won the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council following the death of Liberal Democrat Cllr Geoff Webber.

Central Harrogate has lowest first covid vaccine uptake in district

Central Harrogate has the lowest uptake of a first covid vaccine in the district, according to government figures.

Public Health England has created an interactive map showing the percentage of adults who have had a vaccine by area.

According to the map, Central Harrogate had a first dose uptake of 68% by the end of yesterday.

Dishforth, Baldersby and Markington had the next lowest figure, at 76%.

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Knaresborough South and Follifoot had the highest uptake with 88% of adults receiving a first dose.

Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby also had a high percentage with 87%.

Overall, the Harrogate district has a first vaccination uptake of 81%.

Latest figures show 115,907 people have had a first jab and 95,768 have had a second.

Five highest first dose uptake areas:

Five lowest first dose areas:

Devolution decision could be made this month

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council has said he is “hopeful” of a government decision on a planned shake-up of local councils this month.

Ministers are currently considering two proposals for the county, both of which would see Harrogate Borough Council and the county council no longer exist.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, described the shake-up as the biggest change in local government in the county since 1974.

The county council’s proposal would see one unitary authority for North Yorkshire, while the district councils’ model would see two authorities operate on an east/west split.

Cllr Les told the Stray Ferret the county was currently “in limbo” and he was hopeful of a decision before parliament goes into recess on July 22.

He said:

“I’m optimistic that the minister will sign up to our model. That is the one that we believe is best for the county.

“I’m hopeful that a decision will be made any time in the next weeks.”

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, invited councils to submit proposals for the reorganisation back in October.

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At the time, the government said any unitary council plan would aim to be established by April 2023

However, the government has yet to announce a decision on which proposal it prefers.

The Stray Ferret asked the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government when it intended to make a decision and what the timetable would be for implementation.

A spokesperson for the department said a final decision on which model to back would be announced “in due course” along with publication of consultation responses.

98 new covid cases in Harrogate district today

Ninety-eight new covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, but hospitalisations remain low.

Latest figures from Public Health England show the total number of infections since last March has increased to 8,545.

But the number of patients being treated for covid in Harrogate District Hospital is just three.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11, according to NHS England statistics.

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It means the covid death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 175 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate is 159 and the England average is 173.

Harrogate Parish Council could be created after devolution shake-up

Liberal Democrat councillors will next week call for a parish council to be created in Harrogate after Harrogate Borough Council is scrapped.

Cllr Matthew Webber, who represents Harrogate New Park, will table a motion at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

The motion calls for Harrogate Borough Council to “strongly recommend” whatever council succeeds it reviews its governance and considers establishing a parish council for the town.

The motion says:

“That this council strongly recommends to any successor unitary authority in North Yorkshire that a community governance review for the town of Harrogate is initiated and the creation of a parish for the town is considered.”

As part of its devolution agenda, the UK government plans to scrap North Yorkshire’s seven district councils and its county council and replace them with either one or two unitary authorities.

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Currently, Scarborough and Harrogate are the only areas without a town or parish council in the county.

Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of the county council, said if the authority’s plan to have one council for the entire of North Yorkshire was accepted, it would listen to any proposal.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“It is part of our proposals to offer powers to parish councils should communities request that review.

“It will not be done to them. This will be delegation, not abdication.”

What would a town or parish council do?

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.

The councils can also charge a precept as part of council tax bills to fund the services provided.

Under its plans, the county council has promised further powers for towns and parishes in a move it describes as ‘double devolution’.

The districts’ plan for an east/west model has also pledged to hand further powers to parishes, if they want it.

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