Chancellor’s budget does not go far enough, say opposition parties

Opposition political parties in the Harrogate district have said the Chancellor’s budget does not go far enough to help businesses, NHS staff and the climate.

In his Budget statement today, Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme and announced extensions to the business rates holiday and 5% VAT cut for hospitality and tourism.

He unveiled an extra £400 million in grants for the arts sector and £5 billion in financial support for high street shops and other businesses.

But, Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, said the budget did not go far enough to help businesses and the future of the high street.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Marsh said:

“The Future High Streets Fund needs to be expanded to help more than the 72 areas already in receipt, far below what is actually needed in England. Our towns need help to recover from the pandemic and need help to deliver ambitious regeneration plans.

“Maybe the Chancellor could make it as easy as possible for entrepreneurs to set up on the high street, by offering grants for low-cost incubation space and business support for start-ups.

“Temporary pop-up units should be available for start-ups to trial new products and services without being tied to long rents. This is about investing in our future.”

Meanwhile, the Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party said businesses may still find it difficult to balance the books during furlough.

Margaret Smith, chair of the local Labour Party, said it welcomed the extension to the scheme but added that some firms, such as pubs and restaurants, will find it tough once they have to contribute towards furlough.

She said:

“Businesses within those specific sectors, having to contribute towards furlough payments of 10% from July and 20% in August and September, might still find balancing the books extremely difficult. The impact on employers has a knock-on impact on employees.

“Therefore, unemployment is expected sadly to increase even more. The increase in Universal Credit by £20 per week is also only being extended for six months so the autumn does not bode well for a significant number of people.

“Although furlough has been extended, the Labour Party thinks it would have made more sense for it to have been targeted on firms that actually need it – “smart furlough” and made it conditional on firms signing up to industrial and environmental standards and with greater support for training built in.

“In addition, what is significantly missing from today’s Budget is any reward for key workers such as NHS staff.”

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Shan Oakes, chair of the Harrogate and District Green Party, said there was nothing to support the climate or biodiversity in the budget.

She said:

“First, we welcome any measures which genuinely help those who have been hit socially or economically by covid. This must be a priority. But I can see nothing in support of biodiversity, nature, or the climate.

“We would hope for encouragement for green business initiatives at the very least, but there’s nothing at all here, just green investments and yet another green bank, as we have seen before, but we do hope they do mean something this time. We should be focusing on helping grassroots with green initiatives that benefit communities.”

The Stray Ferret contacted the district’s Conservative MPs Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams for comment, but none responded by the time of publication.

We also contacted the Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, Cllr Richard Cooper, but did not receive a response.

Harrogate businesses welcome furlough extension

Business owners in the Harrogate district have welcomed an extension to the furlough scheme which they say will help to save jobs.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the scheme, which covers 80% of employee salaries, will be extended until September this year.

Mr Sunak also confirmed that a business rates holiday will be extended until June, as well as a 5% VAT reduction for the hospitality and tourism sectors for six months.

An extra £5 billion worth of grants for high street shops and hospitality have also been announced. It will see pubs and hotels able to bid for £18,000 worth of funding.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said he was pleased with the extension to the furlough scheme.

He said:

“I’m delighted with that because it will be flexible furlough and it will mean that we do not have to carry that wage bill if we do not have customers.

“It means that my team will still be able to pay their mortgages. We are lucky that we as a business have more fat on our back, but there are lots who live hand to mouth.”

Elsewhere in his budget, Mr Sunak announced a further £400 million financial support for the arts.

The money will be added to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which has already awarded £800 million in grants to theatres, museums and music venues.

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Ripon Cathedral, Harrogate Theatre, the Deer Shed Festival, Ripon Museum Trust and Ripon Amateur Operatic Society are among the local beneficiaries of the fund so far.

David Bown, chief executive of the Harrogate Theatre, said he was pleased with the announcements on furlough and arts funding.

However, he added that more detail was required on the schemes.

He said:

“The furlough scheme will allow us to bring staff back in a measured way when we have got the details on when we can reopen.

“The funding for the arts is great news, but again we will have to find out the detail on the criteria and how we can access that.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festival, agreed the “devil would be in the detail”.

She said:

“The items that would affect us are the fourth and fifth grants. It is great that people in the arts are being recognised, especially those who may have missed out previously because of the way their business is set up.

“The devil will be in the detail, particularly for our industry, given all the unknowns on the reopening.”

Land on Wetherby Road set to become part of the Stray

Harrogate Borough Council agreed this evening to designate a plot of land on Wetherby Road as Stray land in exchange for grass verges on Otley Road.

The verges are currently part of the Stray but will be removed for a new cycle route.

The Stray Act 1985 says that if Stray land is given up a suitable plot of alternative land must be offered in exchange.

The council carried out a 12-week consultation over three plots of land to replace the verges as Stray land.

The majority of respondents backed the council’s preferred option to designate the land on Wetherby Road next to the war memorial.

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Senior councillors on the authority’s cabinet voted today for the land to be submitted to the Duchy of Lancaster, which is responsible for managing the Stray, for approval to be exchanged.

The area of land outlined in Harrogate Borough Council documents earmarked to be exchanged as part of the Otley Road cycle route.

Cllr Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said at the cabinet meeting:

“Sustainable transport is a key priority for this council and this project does support the promotion of active travel on a main route joining up the town centre with the west of Harrogate.

“This scheme also supports our ambition to see a reduction in congestion, an improvement in air quality and a reduction in carbon emissions while also promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

It comes as North Yorkshire County Council looks to press ahead with plans to create a cycle route on the stretch of road between Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove in Harrogate.

The project has already been delayed and the negotiations over the Stray land have been a further stumbling block for the second phase of the scheme.

Harrogate district records fewest covid cases for six months

The Harrogate district has recorded its lowest daily number of covid infections for six months.

Today’s Public Health England figures reveal just seven new cases.

It’s the lowest figure since six infections were recorded on September 23.

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The number takes the total number of cases since March to 7,319.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 77 per 100,000 people. The North Yorkshire average stands at 58, while the England rate is 86.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Welcome to Yorkshire requests extension to £500,000 council loan

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to approve another extension to a £500,000 loan given to Welcome to Yorkshire.

The troubled tourism organisation took out the loan in September 2019 and secured it against a property it owns on Tadcaster Road in York.

The loan, which has been used to help cashflow, was due to be repaid in full by November 2020.

Council officials later agreed to extend the terms until November 2021, giving WtY more time to repay.

Now, senior councillors have been urged to grant another extension until April 2022 following a request from WtY.

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A report due before the council’s executive next week says the loan will continue to be secured on the investment property and at the same seven per cent interest rate.

It says:

“Such an extension has been requested for administrative reasons as the new period would then simply span the whole of the Welcome to Yorkshire financial year.”

WtY posted losses of £198,997 in the last two years, according to its latest accounts.

WtY published two sets of accounts last month, which covered the six months to March 31, 2020, and the 18 months to September 30, 2019.

The organisation, which is a limited company, was bailed out last year by Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, plus other local authorities.

Both authorities approved funding totalling more than £300,000 after WtY warned it faced a £1.4 million funding gap amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson for the organisation told the Stray Ferret previously that it had been a “difficult time” but added the organisation had undergone “significant operational, staffing, cultural and strategic changes” since the periods covered by the two sets of accounts.

The spokesperson said:

“The accounts were filed after an extended period as a result of issues relating to the coronavirus crisis, including subsequent uncertainty of funding which had previously been assigned from the North and West Yorkshire Business Rates Committee.

“The organisation is focusing on the future, moving forward and supporting the economic recovery of the tourism sector in Yorkshire through the coronavirus crisis and post-pandemic to reopen, recover and rebuild as part of Welcome to Yorkshire’s tourism recovery plan, working closely with the county’s businesses and local authorities.”

Harrogate district continues to buck UK unemployment trend

The Harrogate district continues to buck the trend as the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits falls slightly, according to latest figures.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics for January show 3,460 people were claiming out-of-work benefits — 3.7% of the population.

The number is down from 3,540 in December.

This is in contrast to the UK figure of 6.2% of the population claiming support.

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Financial support for those out of work include Universal Credit and Job Seekers’ Allowance.

Figures in the district have remained stable throughout the pandemic, which suggests the government furlough scheme has protected many staff from redundancy.

Professor Jamie Morgan, of Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett University, said the impact on the figures of furlough ending will depend on people having jobs to return to.

He added it would also depend on whether employers were in a position to maintain staff and also have customers returning.

Professor Morgan said:

“The effect though, is also likely to depend on who are the main sources of local business demand – especially in hospitality –  what fraction are tourists and from where?

“There is some expectation that from the summer there will be a spike in activity in the hospitality sector – as people start to use some of the savings they have been forced to make and a sense of relief sets in.”

However, he added that the effect on the numbers will also depend on what, if any, public health restrictions are placed on businesses later this year.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to outline his budget tomorrow, which is expected to include a £5 billion fund to help retailers and the hospitality sector reopen.

No coronavirus cases in Harrogate central in past seven days

No cases of coronavirus have been reported in Harrogate central in the past seven days.

According the North Yorkshire County Council statistics, zero infections have been reported in the area, which has 9,775 people.

There also haven’t been any infections in Knaresborough South and Follifoot or Menwith, Beckwithshaw and Denton Moor in the past week.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the most badly affected area, with 16 infections.

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It comes as a further 17 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since March to 7,312.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital has reported another death from a patient who tested positive for covid.

The death was recorded on Sunday, according to NHS England figures. It takes the death toll at the hospital to 161.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 74 people per 100,000.

The North Yorkshire average is 62, while the national rate is 91.

Covid: How many people have been vaccinated in your area?

Figures for the number of people who have had the first dose of a covid vaccine across the Harrogate district have been revealed for the first time.

NHS England has started to publish the data, which shows a breakdown of the number vaccinated by age and area.

The latest figures, which cover inoculations to February 21, reveal 48,753 people have received their first dose in the district – 30% of the population.

Harrogate West and Pannal has recorded the highest take-up, with 3,721 receiving a vaccine.

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The lowest number so far is 1,701 in Masham, Kirby Malzeard and North Stainley.

Find out how many people have had a vaccine in your area below.

Masham, Kirby Malzeard and North Stainley

Total: 1,701
Population: 5,494

Ripon North and West

Total: 1,770
Population: 6,151

Disforth, Baldersby and Markington

Total: 1,850
Population: 6,419

Ripon South and East

Total: 3,189
Population: 10,253

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground site helping with the vaccination effort.

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground site helping with the vaccination effort.

Boroughbridge and Marton-Cum-Grafton

Total: 2,255
Population: 6,610

Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley

Total: 1,883
Population: 6,057

Knaresborough North

Total: 2,442
Population: 7,078

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite

Total: 1,781
Population: 6,960

Knaresborough Central

Total: 2,354
Population: 6,937

Bilton

Total: 2,843
Population: 9,029

Saltergate

Total: 1,852
Population: 7,489

Nurse holds up covid vaccine at Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Nurse holds up covid vaccine at Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Knaresborough South and Follifoot

Total: 2,330
Population: 5,839

Harrogate East

Total: 2,433
Population: 8,980

Starbeck

Total: 2,936
Population: 9,292

Central Harrogate

Total: 2,426
Population: 9,775

Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith

Total: 2,605
Population: 9,724

Hookstone

Total: 2,656
Population: 8,421

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Menwith, Beckwithshaw and Denton Moor

Total: 1,910
Population: 5,959

Stray

Total: 2,283
Population: 7,727

Harrogate West and Pannal

Total: 3,271
Population: 10,740

Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby

Total: 1,963
Population: 5,897

Nine out of 10 get first choice secondary schools in North Yorkshire

Nine out of 10 parents have secured their first choice secondary school for their children, North Yorkshire County Council said today.

Parents were due to learn from the local authority today which secondary school their children will be attending in September.

Of all children who requested a school place, 94 per cent received an offer from one of their top three school preferences – and 90 per cent secured their first choice.

A total of 6,205 school pupils will be moving up to secondary school in the county in autumn.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive county councillor for education and skills, said:

“Once again so many of our families have gained the first preference from their choice of schools, which is great news.

“We work with schools across the county to ensure they deliver the highest standards of education so families will increasingly be able to send their children to good schools.”

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Parents can select up to five schools on their application forms in North Yorkshire.

Cllr Mulligan added:

“This year, the authority has seen a rise in the number of parents who have not made full use of this opportunity or did not complete a common application form before the published deadline as required. 

“As the authority must ensure that each child is allocated a school place on the national offer day, there has unfortunately been a need to place children in schools which in some cases could be some distance from their home.

“Every effort will be made to accommodate parental wishes following allocation day where there is capacity in their chosen schools.”

Over 60s to be offered covid vaccine in Harrogate district

Coronavirus vaccines are set to be offered to the over 60s and those with underlying health conditions in the Harrogate district.

Health bosses at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said today the programme was ready to be rolled out further.

The national booking service website is now open to those people over 60 and with underlying health conditions to book their jabs.

Appointments booked in this way are usually offered at a larger regional vaccination centre or a pharmacy.

People will also be contacted by their local GP-led vaccination site inviting them to have the vaccine.

It comes as 48,753 people have been vaccinated in the district so far, according to latest NHS England figures, while 247,629 have received a first dose across North Yorkshire and York.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: 

“We continue to encourage everyone who is invited for a vaccination to take up the offer to protect not only themselves but their families and loved ones.

“It’s also important that people attend for their second dose when the time comes to get the maximum protection offered by the vaccines currently being administered.

“We’re seeing high take-up of the vaccine in North Yorkshire and York, but if you were one of those in the first four priority groups who did not initially come forward it’s not too late if you’ve changed your mind – you can get in touch with the national booking service online or by calling 119 to get an appointment at one of the larger vaccination centres.

“In North Yorkshire and York we are on target to offer vaccinations to everyone in the nine priority groups by the middle of April.”

Health bosses have urged those who do not want an appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy not to contact their GP surgery, as a local NHS team will contact them directly.

Vaccinations for the Harrogate district are currently being offered at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Ripon racecourse and the former Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough.

People may also be invited to the mass vaccination centre at Askham Bar near York and the Elland Road stadium site in Leeds.