Chief executive defends Welcome to Yorkshire after accountability allegations

The chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire has defended the organisation amid allegations that the tourism body has become unaccountable.

James Mason, who joined the organisation in January 2020, called on people to judge the body on its record “going forward”.

Mr Mason joined the organisation after former boss, Sir Gary Verity, resigned in March 2019. on health grounds. He later faced allegations of bullying and inappropriately claiming expenses, which he denied.

Two inquiries carried out after Sir Gary’s resignation cost the tourism body £482,500. Following the announcement of the investigations, the then chairman of Welcome to Yorkshire, Ron McMillan, resigned after councils funding the organisation demanded a “significantly revamped board to take the business forward”.

In July 2019, Lord Paul Scriven, a former leader of Sheffield City Council and Liberal Democrat peer, called for the board to resign and said “fundamental change” was needed to regain its reputation.

The new allegations come after the Yorkshire Post reported that Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle and Gardens, said in an email to members of Welcome to Yorkshire that the body had become “completely unaccountable” and had failed to meet with members.

Mr Mason told the Stray Ferret that he “fully respected” Sir Thomas’ disappointment, but added that the organisation had taken steps to be accountable and transparent.

He said the accusation “could be labeled at the past” and the present “to a point”.

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But, Mr Mason said the body was undertaking a governance review, held meetings in public and published minutes of its board.

He added that Welcome to Yorkshire was also looking at its constitution and how it elected chairmen and board members.

Mr Mason said:

“We’re looking at how we as an organisation can represent the future as a county.”

Meanwhile, Mr Mason said the organisation needed to come together in order for the tourism industry to recover after the covid pandemic.

He said:

“Whether you are for or against Welcome to Yorkshire is not really important.

“What you need to be for is the Yorkshire tourism industry and the visitor economy that really needs support right now. It’s an unwelcome distraction.”

Mr Mason added:

“We all want the same thing at Welcome to Yorkshire, whether you are a member or not a member.

“We all have to come together and want the same thing. That’s the only way we are going to recover. 

“It’s not going to be via fighting, bitter feuds, looking back or looking at the present, it’s about looking forward.”

Mr Mason called on people to judge Welcome to Yorkshire on their record going forward.

“Just judge us please on the now and going forward. That is all I would ask.”

‘We have a duty to support Tour de Yorkshire’

Senior county councillors have today backed awarding the tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire up to £200,000 to host the Tour de Yorkshire.

It comes after Amaury Sports Organisation, which is part of a French media group that owns the event and co-organises it with Welcome to Yorkshire, said last week it would not cover the costs of the race.

This has prompted the council to offer Welcome to Yorkshire up to £200,000 to stage the race next May in the hope it will boost tourism.

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Senior county councillors approved a payment of £100,000 to fund the event and to set aside a further £100,000 to underwrite any failure to secure sponsorship.

Council bosses said the money set aside would only be paid if Welcome to Yorkshire make a “final evidenced request”.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of the county council, said at a meeting of the authority’s executive today:

“We have a leadership responsibility in North Yorkshire and I know that one or two of the district and borough councils have shown their support by passing a similar recommendation.

“But as the principle authority, I think we have a duty to support anything that could have potential benefits to tourism.”

Cllr Dadd added that a review of the race would be carried out to determine the benefits to the county of holding it.

Welcome to Yorkshire has requested funding from numerous local authorities which are host towns for the race in case it fails to get sponsorship.

Harrogate Borough Council is not one of them but Harrogate district people will still fund the event through the portion of their council tax payments that goes to North Yorkshire County Council.

If all the payments are approved, Yorkshire taxpayers could underwrite the event by up to £900,000.

 

Council to launch loan scheme to bring empty homes into use

Harrogate Borough Council is to launch a loan scheme aimed at helping owners of empty homes bring them back into use.

The scheme is designed to help property owners to carry out essential repairs and improvements to houses which have been empty for more than six months.

Called the Empty Homes Loans scheme, the authority will target loans at those owners who want to carry out improvements but do not have the money to do so.

It will also prioritise properties which have stood empty for more than two years.

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Currently, there are around 200 private properties in the district that have been empty for more than two years.

Madeleine Bell, head of housing and property at the council, said:

“We want to work with property owners who, for whatever reason, have an empty property that could be better used to provide a home for local people.

“The Empty Homes Loan allows these property owners, who might not have the money to do so, carry out repairs or improvement works and bring them back into use. Anyone interested should get in touch with the private housing team to find out more.”

The loan can be used for essential repairs and improvements to an empty home, such as fixing faulty electrical wiring or a leaking roof or to bring it up to a standard so that it can be occupied again.

It will have no set repayment term and there are no monthly repayments. However it will be required to be paid back within five years of the work being completed or when the house is sold.

No covid deaths at Harrogate hospital for three months

No covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital for three months.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was on April 11.

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

Meanwhile, a further 98 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

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It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,516.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 406 people per 100,000 — the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 343 and the England rate is 323.

A total of 218,303 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,348 people receiving a first dose and 97,955 second doses.

New planters installed in Harrogate after fake grass saga

New planters are being installed on Cambridge Street in Harrogate town centre.

The move comes two months after Harrogate Borough Council placed fake grass in raised flower beds in the town centre.

Workers were seen installing the new planters today.

One worker told the Stray Ferret that the planters would have “flowers in spring and autumn and shrubs other times of year”.

A council spokesperson said:

“Over the years we’ve planted numerous varieties of plants and flowers in the planters. But sadly, nothing has lasted very long due to the trees’ roots structure soaking-up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil.

“These new bespoke plant beds, which sit above the root base, will have their own soil that is full of nutrients and should allow the plants to grow successfully every year.

“For the summer, they will be filled with bright cheerful geraniums (as shown in the photo). And in the winter we will plant spring bulbs and perennials.

“In the coming weeks they will start to compliment Harrogate’s award-winning floral displays that we take enormous pride in looking after.”

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It follows a fierce backlash to the artificial grass installed on Cambridge Street in May, which residents and campaigners described as “cheap and tacky”.

Council officials initially claimed the move received “lots of positive feedback”, but later removed the grass and apologised.

It was later revealed that the council had spent £800 on the artificial grass.

However, Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, defended the saga at a full council meeting last week.

He said that the fake grass was removed “straight away” and that the authority had to “try new ideas”.

Plans to bid for more cycling and walking funding

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to bid for further government funding for walking and cycling projects.

Louise Neale, transport planning officer at the authority, told a Transport scrutiny meeting this morning that the Department for Transport had announced plans for further funding last month.

While no detail has been revealed on the bid, officers are expected to submit an application for funding by August.

Ms Neale told councillors this morning that a report on the bid would be made public later this week.

She said:

“We will hopefully find out the outcome of that in the Autumn and we will have until March 2023 to spend that funding.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, told the Stray Ferret that he hoped the government would award the county council “roughly the same” funding as in the last bid.

He said:

“I’m hopeful that what we will get is the same as the last tranche. But I would be happy to get more.”

Cllr Mackenzie said no detail was yet available on what projects would be included in the bid, but added that Harrogate had “its fair share” in the last tranche of funding.

The county council has already outlined two projects in Harrogate as part of a previous bid to the government’s active travel scheme. A third is planned in Whitby.

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Ministers awarded the county council £1,011,750 last year to help fund the projects, despite the authority bidding for more.

It includes plans for cycle lanes and junction upgrades on the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as a scheme on Victoria Avenue in the town centre.

Meanwhile, a proposal to make Oatlands Drive more friendly to cyclists met with fierce backlash from local residents.

The plan originally included a scheme to make the whole of Oatlands Drive one-way. However, this was dropped in March after 57% of respondents to a council consultation opposed the scheme.

The scheme moved forward and included making nearby St Winifred’s Road and St Hilda’s Road one way but this was similarly unpopular with residents.

In May, the council decided to withdraw the scheme altogether from its bid.

Instead, the council has commissioned an ‘Oatlands Constituency Feasibility Study’, which it says will “reassess opportunities” for infrastructure improvements across a wider area than the government scheme allows.

Bin collections as usual on Monday despite England game

Bin collectors across the Harrogate district will still be out in force on Monday morning after England’s big game.

While some businesses are giving employees a day off after the Euro 2020 final, Harrogate Borough Council has said all refuse will still be collected at its usual time.

England are set to walk out at Wembley tomorrow evening to play Italy in their first major tournament final in 55 years.

A council spokesperson said:

“Garden waste, refuse and recycling will be collected as normal next week.

“We have a dedicated team who look after our parks, open spaces and streets across the district. They will be working hard next week, as they do every week, to make sure the Harrogate district looks as wonderful and presentable as residents expect.”

As pubs and beer gardens are expected to be packed, the council also urged punters to use the bins provided and to take rubbish home with them after the game.

Officials have said there are no plans for a big screen on the Stray to show the match, and no third parties had applied for a screen either.

While bin collections will continue as normal, other businesses have offered their employees time off.

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National firm McQueens Dairies delivers milk, eggs and other essential produce to homes in the Harrogate district every week and told its drivers they can take the night off on July 11 to watch the final.

Customers received an email saying there would be no deliveries on the morning of July 12 due to its anticipation of a victory for England.

The rescheduling “will allow our staff… to enjoy the celebrations”, the firm explained.

But the chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours housing association has said it is “unfair” that some workers and students have been given a late start to the working week.

Sue Cawthray said that although her team members will be watching the final, essential workers don’t have the option of a mass half-day off. She said:

“Its so unfair, we’ve been through enough with the pandemic and it feels like we’ve been forgotten about. We still have to get up for our shifts on Monday. We can’t say ‘oh, we can’t wake you up or help you get dressed this morning because England were in the finals’.”

Harrogate Town reveal ticketing arrangements for first two pre-season matches

Harrogate Town season ticket holders are to be entered into a ballot for tickets to the club’s first pre-season friendlies at home.

Tickets for Town’s games against Premier League outfit Newcastle Untied on July 18 and Championship club Rotherham United on July 21 will be balloted ahead of the games.

Both matches will be held at the EnviroVent Stadium this month and will be held in front of a limited crowd.

Announcing the ticket arrangements, the club said:

“Due to the amount of Harrogate Town seated season ticket holders exceeding the amount of seats available, all seated Harrogate Town season ticket holders as of July 9 will be entered into a ballot for a seat in the family stand, with those unsuccessful offered a seat in an alternative standing area.

“Unfortunately, for these two fixtures only, season ticket holders will not be seated in their chosen seat, each supporter successful in the ballot for a seat will be allocated their seat. Seated season ticket holders will be contacted with the result of the ballot.”

The club added that those season ticket holders not wishing to attend because they cannot sit in a seat will be given a free streaming pass in compensation.

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A limited number of standing tickets will go on sale from 12pm on Monday July 12 at the club shop on Commercial Street. Tickets will not be available online.

General sale tickets will be will be sold on a first-come first-served basis at £10 for adults, £8 concessions and £2 for under-18s.

The club added:

“The fixture will fall under the same protocols as our last home match with supporters, which includes staggered arrival and departure of supporters and a one way system in place in the stadium.”

Town are set for trips to Huddersfield, Brighouse Town and Darlington as part of their pre-season schedule.

League One club Sunderland are also set for a trip to Wetherby Road on July 24.

Harrogate council forecasts £6.5m income losses despite covid restrictions easing

Harrogate Borough Council has predicted that covid will wipe millions of pounds off its finances this year despite the hopeful end of all lockdown restrictions.

Finance bosses at the authority have forecast income losses of around £6.5million from areas including Harrogate Convention Centre, leisure centres and planning in 2021/22 after what they described as an already “incredibly challenging” year during the first 12 months of the pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Paul Foster, head of finance, said out-turning on budget in February was an “incredible achievement” and that the council would now need to generate around £18.8million in income to do the same this financial term.

He said: 

“I can report that in line with monitoring through the year, we will out-turn on budget. This is despite a net cost of circa £10million that the council faced last financial year as a result of the pandemic.

“To out-turn on budget is an incredible achievement, particularly as we have managed to maintain performance in a number of critical areas – and this is in addition to the council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic itself.

“Key to achieving a balanced budget in 2021/22 is income recovery. We have budgeted for ongoing income losses of £6.5million as a result of covid, but income generation of £18.8million is still required to balance the budget.

“There is a lot to play this year to see how successful we are in keeping to budget.”

Council budgets across the UK have been stretched for some time as a result of years of government cuts, but for many covid has only compounded the problem.

At a time when local authorities have had to spend more on supporting their communities, income streams have been hit hard with little cash coming in and a lot going out.

Some councils have struggled to carry out statutory duties, been at risk of bankruptcy and have had to ask the government to borrow emergency money in order to keep services running.

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In Harrogate, the situation has not been quite as alarming but serious all the same.

At the start of the pandemic, the council scaled back spending to essential areas only before introducing a recruitment freeze and shedding around 60 jobs.

The council has also redeployed many staff into under pressure areas such as bin collections and business support grants, with chief executive Wallace Sampson himself lending a hand to waste collection crews.

The authority has received around £7.8million in emergency government grants, but this has still meant £2.7million of reserve cash has had to be used in to plug funding gaps.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council – which looks after the vast majority of services including social care, education and highways – is facing a much starker picture with a projected funding shortfall of £59million over the next three years.

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, Mr Foster said detailed reports of how Harrogate Borough Council is plotting its way out of the financial pressures of the pandemic will be brought to a cabinet meeting later this month.

He said:

“This report will be finalised this week and published next.

“The out-turn position reflects the support across the council in adhering to the spending controls we put in place, including the recruitment freeze, in response to the financial challenges of the pandemic.

“The delivered savings would not have been achieved without a successful staff redeployment scheme. However, as we move towards business as usual, it is clear that the vacancy freeze is not sustainable and the filling of essential posts is key to our continued success.”

Delta variant cases in Harrogate district rise to 465

A total of 465 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government data.

The number, which represents cases up to July 7, is an increase on the 331 recorded in the district up to June 30.

Meanwhile, a further 90 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,225.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 377 people per 100,000 – the highest in North Yorkshire.

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The North Yorkshire average is 294 and the England rate is 295.

However, the number of patients being treated for covid at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen to two.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.

A total of 216,710 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 119,378 people receiving a first dose and 97,332 second doses.