Devolution campaigns ramp up amid consultation

Two campaigns over the future of local government in Harrogate and North Yorkshire have ramped up this week.

Ministers launched a consultation on two models which have been proposed to replace the county’s two-tier council system.

It would see Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the remaining six districts scrapped.

Now, both the county council and districts are trying to get support for their models.

County model “key to devolution”

Earlier this week, the county council called journalists to a press conference on its model for local government reorganisation.

Both Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, and Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council, defended the choice of a single council in the county while keeping York in tact.

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Cllr Les said it was “key to unlocking devolution in the county” and that the authority was best placed to run services.

He said:

“The reason for doing this is to remove an inefficient and costly way of working. It will make things better and less confusing for the people we serve.

“If that was not enough reason, there is also a devolution deal that is worth millions of pounds every year to the City of York and to North Yorkshire.”

County council officials brought in accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to help draw up the model. It would cover 618,000 residents.

Officials said the move could save up to £68.5 million per year after the unitary council is created.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said it would also offer the chance for places like Harrogate to have its own town council.

He added that the new authority would offer “double devolution” to those town and parishes, which would mean they could run local assets, libraries and services such as licensing.

‘Businesses support east\west split’

Ahead of the launch of the consultation, district council leaders said that hundreds of businesses backed their model.

The six councils have proposed an east/west split with two councils covering the county. It would see the City of York absorbed into an eastern authority.

The district councils' proposal for an east/west model as outlined in its report.

The district councils’ proposal for an east/west model as outlined in its report.

Officials brought in consultants KPMG to carry out research and draw up an options appraisal before settling on an east/west split.

It would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000. 

More than 100 businesses have written letters of support for their model, including company owners from Harrogate and Skipton.

Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, speaking on behalf of the council leaders, said at the time: 

“Our east and west model will help drive recovery from the covid-19 pandemic and build a better economic future for the whole area. It is the only proposal that delivers two equal partners to sit within a mayoral combined authority – which is important for the success of devolution.”

Council leaders behind the models have maintained that the county’s proposal is too big and would amount to a “mega council”.

In a report on their model, district officials said they would create eight “locality committees” which would “keep decision making and delivery local and responsive to our diverse areas”.

Consultation over councils future

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, launched a consultation on the future of local councils in the county on Monday.

The consultation seeks the views of businesses and the public on both models proposed for North Yorkshire.

Mr Jenrick said he would make a decision on which, if any, proposal to approve following the consultation.

The consultation will last until April 19. Residents and businesses can give their views on the proposals here.

48,000 people have covid vaccine in Harrogate district

More than 48,000 people have had the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the Harrogate district.

NHS England has started to publish local data on the amount of people who have been vaccinated across the country.

According to the figures, 48,753 first doses have been given in the district so far.

The number includes:

It comes as a vaccination site is due to open in Knaresborough today at the town’s former Lidl supermarket.

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The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said this week that it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

Ms Bloor added that the county is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The new centre will mean the district will have vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret, Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, said that the Great Yorkshire Showground site was able to carry out up to 1,800 vaccinations a day.

A further 12 covid cases confirmed in Harrogate district

A further 12 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district.

According to today’s Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases to 7,262.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 85 per 100,000 people.

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The North Yorkshire rate stands at 77, while the national average is 107.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Political parties confirm candidates for police commissioner elections

Political parties have revealed their candidates for this year’s North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a new commissioner.

Some of those standing had already announced their candidacies ahead of the polls, but today the Liberal Democrats confirmed their candidate.

Elections for the PCC were delayed last year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Julia Mulligan, who currently holds the role, will not be standing for re-election.

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The main political parties have confirmed candidates as follows:

The full list of those nominated for commissioner will be published on April 9.

First introduced in 2012, police and crime commissioners are elected to represent the views of people on policing and crime in their area.

They appoint the chief constable, set the budget for the police force and commission local victim support services.

It comes as polls for the police and crime commissioner will be the only local elections held in North Yorkshire in May.

The government announced that elections for the county council will be postponed until 2022 amid a consultation over scrapping the two-tier local authority system.

The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

Two further covid deaths at Harrogate hospital

Two more patients who tested positive for covid have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the deaths were reported yesterday and Tuesday.

It takes the covid death toll at the hospital to 158.

A total of 45 patients are currently being treated for covid at Harrogate hospital, according to trust statistics.

Meanwhile, a further 12 cases of covid have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today.

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It takes the total number of infections to 7,250 since March.

The district’s seven-day average rate of infection stands at 94 people per 100,000.

Elsewhere, the county average stands at 85 and the national rate is 112.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the area in the district with the highest number of infections, with 20 in the past seven days.

Is dog theft increasing in Harrogate district?

North Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner has asked pet owners in the county to give their views on dog thefts in a national survey.

It follows a spate of high-profile incidents nationally, which has led to Home Secretary Priti Patel to consider harsher penalties for offenders.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the issue was becoming “more of a concern”.

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The survey, which is being run by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, aims to find out how widespread the fear of dog theft is and if there is support for tougher enforcement.

Mrs Mulligan said:

“I know that dog theft is becoming more of a concern for many people after a series of high-profile incidents across the country so it’s important owners across North Yorkshire and York have their say in this survey.

“It is still not common, but its impacts can be devastating both for individuals and families whose dogs are part of the family and for farmers and rural businesses where dogs have play a crucial role in everything they do.”

The survey will be open until March 12 and people can give their views here.

Harrogate district records 30 new covid cases

The Harrogate district has recorded a further 30 covid cases today.

According to Public Health England figures, the number takes the total amount of cases since March to 7,238.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has fallen to 88 people per 100,000.

The rate for North Yorkshire stands at 83, while the England average is 116.

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Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the area with the most covid cases in the last seven days, with 23 infections.

Boroughbridge and Marton-cum-Grafton is the second highest in the district with 15.

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

Campaign against Oatlands one-way scheme ramps up

A move to make Oatlands Drive one-way would have a “devastating effect” on students and make surrounding roads congested.

Residents and a student at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher’s Associated Sixth Form got in touch with the Stray Ferret to express their concerns about the scheme ahead of a consultation closing today.

It comes as a leaflet campaign was launched in the area which encouraged residents to send e-mails to local councillors, media and council officers objecting to the plan.

North Yorkshire County Council received £1,011,750 for cycling improvements and outlined three cycle route projects in Harrogate.

Highways bosses have launched a consultation into the plan which would make the street one-way southbound, limit the speed limit to 20mph and create a new segregated cycleway.

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In an e-mail to the Stray Ferret and his headteacher, Thomas Adamson, a year 12 student at St Aidan’s and St John FIsher’s Associated Sixth Form, said the move would have a “negative effect” on his learning and his journey to school.

Thomas, who travels to school from Wetherby, said it would add a further 20 minutes onto his bus journey as Wetherby Road was already “notoriously busy”.

He said:

“While I understand the motivation behind the one-way system, there are already usable bike lanes on Oatlands Drive and two wide pavements for pedestrians and I must think about my own future and the futures of those who must use public transport

“In conclusion, If you allow the building of this new one-way system, it will not only be a waste of public funds that could be used elsewhere to improve Wetherby Road or to provide technology for online learning to those less fortunate than I am, it also have an actively negative affect on my learning in a year that has already had so much disruption and yet is still pivotal for my future.”
Oatlands Drive, Harrogate

Oatlands Drive, Harrogate.

Meanwhile, Philip and Julia Clarke, who live on Park Edge, told the Stray Ferret that they strongly object to the proposal as it would affect their journey to the town centre.

They said:

“In order to drive northwards from our home into Harrogate and beyond, we would have to turn right (southwards) at the end of our street and then find a route to travel north.

“To access businesses and facilities in the town centre or in the northerly part of the town and beyond, which we regularly do, would involve a more circuitous and longer journey.

“That would mean using Wetherby Road or Leeds Road, which would add to the congestion on those roads.”

However, cyclist groups have welcomed the scheme and said it was time that roads were shared with drivers.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate and District Cycle Action, told the Stray Ferret previously that the measures fit into a wider vision for the town.

He said:

“The main aim is to get people cycling for short journeys into the town centre. We hope to have segregate cycle lanes on all the arterial routes.

“Some think that we want the roads to be car free but we just want to be able to share the roads safely.

“Even the most experienced cyclists feel unsafe with big lorries passing them close by and would feel much safer with a segregated lane.”

Other schemes under consideration include:

People can give their views on the projects here.

North Yorkshire police prepare for ‘influx of visitors’ as lockdown eases

Police are preparing for an influx of visitors to North Yorkshire when lockdown restrictions are relaxed, says the county’s police commissioner.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the force was already having discussions about policing when the rules change from March 8.

Ms Mulligan told North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel yesterday:

“We have had quite a lot of discussions around all of this, in particular lockdown fatigue.

“The combination of lockdown fatigue, the relaxation of the rules and the warming of the weather means that we could face a considerable influx of visitors over the coming weeks.

“That is going to be something that police are going to be thinking very carefully about because they think it will test the will of the public to maintain the current restrictions.”

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Ms Mulligan added that visitors to the county already made up a large proportion of fines handed out by officers.

Of 830 fixed penalty notices issued by North Yorkshire Police to February 14 for being outside without good reason, 83% were to visitors.

Ms Mulligan told the panel the vast majority of visitors to the county were from West Yorkshire and Cleveland.

Last week, police fined an unnamed person for driving 200 miles from Glasgow to Harrogate to meet a friend in a motorhome.

Restrictions ease on March 29 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday set out dates for easing restrictions, which include allowing two households to mix outside and in gardens from March 29.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham, of North Yorkshire Police, said today that last week’s school half-term holidays had been one of the busiest weeks for visitors to the county during lockdown.

She told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum media briefing:

“It is really important that we do not get too far ahead of ourselves. Half-term was one of our busiest weeks we have had with visitors.

“Since February 15 we have issued 192 fixed penalty notices. Thirty-four of those were handed out in Harrogate.

“We do have a small minority that do not want to stick to the rules.”

County council elections postponed until May 2022

Local elections for North Yorkshire County Council have been postponed until May 2022.

It comes as the government has launched a consultation on plans to scrap the two-tier council system in the county.

The move would see both the county council and the seven districts, including Harrogate Borough Council, abolished and replaced with either one or two new unitary councils.

Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, will consult on two proposals for the county. This year’s election is being delayed to avoid voters being asked to choose representatives for an authority that may be abolished within a year.

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Mr Jenrick said he would make a decision on which, if any, proposal to approve following the consultation.

He said:

“I have always been clear that any restructuring of local government must be locally-led and will not involve top-down solutions from government.

“Now that councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset have submitted their proposals, I am pleased residents, businesses and service providers will have the opportunity to have their say on what will work best for their area.

“Where there is local support, changing the structure of local government can offer better value for money and improved services for residents.”

Mr Jenrick added that should any of the models proposed be approved, councillors could be elected to the new unitary council or councils next year. If no decision is made, then the county council elections will take place as normal in May 2022.

He said:

“If a unitary proposal is implemented the rescheduled elections will be replaced by elections in May 2022 to the new unitary authority or authorities which could be in shadow form or a continuing council taking on the functions of the other councils in the area.”

The government said the decision to postpone the elections will avoid asking people to vote for local councillors while also asking them to give their views on possibly abolishing the council. It would also prevent councillors being elected on short terms.

While the county council elections will be postponed, elections for the local Police and Crime Commissioner will go ahead as normal on May 6.

Ministers are consulting on two opposing models for the future of local government in North Yorkshire. Six of the district councils in the county have proposed an east/west split made up of two councils.

It would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000. 

A rival model, submitted by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York, would see one unitary council for North Yorkshire with the York authority remaining in place.

The consultation will last until April 19. Residents and businesses can give their views on the proposals here.