Lib Dems call for ‘secret devolution report’ to be published

Liberal Democrats have called on Harrogate Borough Council to release a “secret report” into the district’s devolution bid and council reorganisation.

The seven district councils commissioned KPMG to produce a report into council reorganisation in the county ahead of a submission to government.

Council leaders announced their preference for two authorities, split between east and west, in August, and showcased the proposal at online consultation events with businesses and residents.

Local Lib Dems said they have asked “several times” for the document – funded with taxpayers’ money – to be made public.

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Cllr Pat Marsh, Lib Dem leader of the opposition on the borough council, called on the authority to release the document.

She said:

“Liberal Democrats have called on Harrogate Borough Council to release its KPMG report several times now. If Conservatives aren’t going to consult with residents on the future of local services, the very least they can do is be transparent about how decisions are being made.

“Unfortunately this is typical of our Conservative-run council. It won’t speak to residents or their elected representatives about huge issues like this, and when it does it is telling them what is happening at the eleventh hour, rather allowing any input. It would appear that Richard Cooper would rather rule by decree than risk hearing a differing view.”

A spokesman on behalf of the district and borough council leaders said:

“The leaders of the seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire commissioned KPMG to support the development of a business case for local government reorganisation should we be required to respond to government to submit a proposal.

“When completed the report will need to be agreed by elected members within all seven councils before it is submitted to government and full details will be published.”

It comes as the government had been due to publish its devolution white paper in the Autumn, which would have outlined its plans to devolve further powers to local areas and scrap district councils.

However, ministers have since appeared to have delayed publishing the plans until next year, according to the Financial Times.

Last week, Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, wrote to Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, urging the government for clarity on the white paper.

But, district leaders said there was “no worse time” to reorganise local government. The seven district council leaders, including Richard Cooper, wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to focus on fighting the covid-19 crisis.

County council postpones James Street pedestrianisation

North Yorkshire County Council has decided to postpone a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street in Harrogate.

In an email to businesses, David Bowe, director of business and environmental services at the county council, said the authority will not pedestrianise the street before Christmas.

It comes as the authority had planned a trial pedestrianisation which would have blocked off the street to cars for up to six months.

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Business managers, landlords, Harrogate BID and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce met virtually with the the council earlier this week where some raised concerns over the issue. They said the timing was poor, as the run-up to Christmas will be particularly vital for them this year after losing trade through lockdown for several months.

Now, Mr Bowe has told traders that their concerns were heard “loud and clear”.

He said in an email:

“In conclusion having discussed the matter with Cllr Don MacKenzie, the leader of the council and the chief executive I would make the following proposal. That we agree not to introduce the experimental order before Christmas and that NYCC officers will engage with representatives of your group to develop a detailed proposal for an experimental part closure of James Street to best advantage.

“I recognise that you may still have reservations about the plan and they will be taken into account when a report for a decision is subsequently presented.

“I believe the response above demonstrates that we have listened to the points you have raised and have noted them. Whilst the final decision on this has yet to be taken, we do now offer you assurance that any experimental closure will not be implemented before the New Year.”

The temporary closure of the street to traffic was requested by Harrogate Borough Council for “social distancing and safety purposes”. Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC’s executive member for highways, backed a temporary, partial pedestrianisation, saying such moves had proved popular with residents and businesses elsewhere in the country.

However, landlords and businesses on the street continued to voice concerns about the potential impact on trade.

Another 19 coronavirus cases in Harrogate

A further 19 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district.

Daily figures from Public Health England show the increase takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 1,056.

A total of 56 cases were confirmed across the whole of North Yorkshire today.

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The weekly rate of infections county-wide up to September 28 stands at 55.2 people per 100,000 population, according to NHS figures.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, has said the authority did not expect Harrogate to be added to the government’s covid watchlist this week.

However, he added that it does not mean the situation could change in the coming weeks.

Second Covid case at Rossett School

Rossett School in Harrogate has confirmed a second year 12 pupil has tested positive for coronavirus.

A further 24 students in the year who were in prolonged contact with the pupil will self-isolate.

In an e-mail to parents, headteacher Helen Woodcock said the school remained open and other pupils should attend as normal.

Ms Woodcock said a “deep enhanced cleaning” of the sixth form centre had taken place.

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Her email added:

“In line with national guidance I have today contacted the Department for Education and North Yorkshire County Council and we are following their guidance, along with that provided by Public Health England.

“A risk assessment has been completed to identify all individuals who have been in close prolonged contact with the student (24 Year 12 students) and they have received a phone call and a letter home today to inform them of the period of self-isolation.”

Another year 12 pupil at the school was confirmed to have Covid on Monday.

Meanwhile, 16 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the Harrogate district yesterday.

No plans to add Harrogate to Covid watchlist

Harrogate is not expected to be added to the government’s Covid watchlist this week, according to North Yorkshire’s public health bosses.

However, they said the situation could change if the number of infections is not brought under control.

Scarborough and Selby districts are currently on the watchlist as “areas of concern” and neighbouring Leeds was put into local lockdown last week.

Further restrictions were announced elsewhere in the north today, including Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Warrington and Liverpool.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, said the county had asked for a cautious approach to putting districts on the watchlist after Scarborough and Selby were added to it even though other districts that are not on the list have higher infections rates.

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He added:

“As the national system is revised in terms of where the whole country is, we will probably get some more detailed guidance about how the watchlist system will work in the future. That may or may not come out this week.

“But we have no expectations that Harrogate will be added this week. That does not mean that situation may not change for next week.”

Meanwhile, Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said yesterday in a council newsletter that the transmission of infections was mainly between households.

Latest Public Health England data shows 519 new cases in the county in the past two weeks at a weekly rate of 36 per day.

Harrogate saw 16 new coronavirus cases yesterday and hit a three-week daily high of 19 on Tuesday.

Mr Flinton said the county’s infection increase was in line with the national picture.

He said:

“We are studying the data carefully and can clearly see that the majority of cases can be linked back to household and social transmission. 

“This is important, because what it also tells us is that our schools are safe places to be. That, in turn, is testament to all the hard work schools, colleges and childcare setting have put in to plan for a safe return for pupils.”

16 more coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

16 further cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate District, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The daily increase takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 1,037.

The district saw its highest daily increase for three weeks yesterday as 19 cases were confirmed.

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Meanwhile, the weekly rate for infections county-wide up to September 27 stands at 52.6 per 100,000 population according to NHS figures.

Health bosses at Harrogate District Hospital said yesterday that they were prepared for a second wave of coronavirus this winter.

Hospital officials have set aside 100 beds for infected patients. They added that the hospital currently has four coronavirus patients.

It comes as the first death of a patient who tested positive for covid for two months was reported at the hospital on Tuesday.

Harcourt Drive death ‘not suspicious’, say police

North Yorkshire Police has said it is not treating the death of a man on Harcourt Drive in Harrogate last month as suspicious.

Multiple police cars and ambulances attended the incident at around 7.15pm on Sunday, August 23.

One man was certified dead at the scene and another taken to hospital.

Police subsequently cautioned a 42-year-old man for distributing “distressing images” of the incident on social media.

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Now officers have confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner’s office.

Detective inspector Steve Menzies, senior investigating officer at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The overarching circumstances will be for HM Coroner to rule upon but this is a very sad incident where the deceased has inflicted injuries on himself and caused injury to his relative who tried to help him.

“Despite valiant attempts by neighbours, police and ambulance staff to administer first aid in a traumatic situation, his injury proved to be fatal.

“This was an isolated and tragic incident and North Yorkshire Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with it. Thankfully the injured man is making a good recovery. The full circumstances will be heard at the inquest.

“Subsequently a Harrogate man was issued with a police caution for attending the area and posting live images of the incident on social media as first aiders were desperately trying to save the man’s life. Such actions show no compassion or thought for those involved, are distressing for extended friends and family and will not be tolerated.”

No face mask fines, but police pledge to tackle Covid breaches

North Yorkshire Police warned today it will take action against people who break new coronavirus restrictions – even though so far it hasn’t issued any fines for breaches of rules on face masks and gatherings.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for NYP’s response to Covid, told a press briefing that demand for policing had returned to pre-lockdown levels.

He told the briefing by North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies that tackles emergencies, officers would use enforcement as a last resort.

Superintendent Mike Walker said the force hasn’t issued any fines for breaches of rules on face masks and gatherings.

But it has issued 1,151 coronavirus penalties, including five for people failing to self-isolate. The vast majority were for non-essential journeys at the start of lockdown.

Under coronavirus legislation, police have the power to issue £60 fixed penalty notices to anyone breaching restrictions. The sum is reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

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Superintendent Walker said officers would expect the public to understand the latest restrictions, including the rule of six.

He said:

“It is important to note that this [new restrictions] does place additional pressure on us when our demand has returned to pre-Covid levels.

“The police will enforce as a last resort. But we expect the public to understand what the restrictions are and to abide by those restrictions.

“Those who choose not to abide by the restrictions should expect police action.”

It comes as the number of coronavirus infections in the Harrogate district has increased in recent weeks in line with the national trend.

The number of cases hit a three-week high yesterday, with 19 positive cases in 24 hours.

North Yorkshire County Council has asked care homes to restrict visits for the month of October in an effort to protect residents.

 

First covid death at Harrogate hospital in two months

The first death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in 72 days.

The last time a death was recorded at the hospital was July 19th.

It takes the total number of deaths at Harrogate hospital from coronavirus up to 83, according to NHS England figures.

It comes as the number of positive tests for covid in the district since the start of the pandemic passed 1,000 yesterday.

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Harrogate council to hand back up to £530,000 in business grants

Harrogate Borough Council is set to hand back up to £530,000 in discretionary grants to government, despite some businesses not receiving support.

Some self-employed people in the district said they were rejected for grants because they do not have business premises, even though other authorities had extended support to those who were initially turned down.

Three people who have spoken to the Stray Ferret said they had not received any “meaningful support” during the pandemic. One described it as a “real kick in the teeth”.

Jennie Eyres, who is a self-employed teacher trainer based in Ripon, said she was booked up with work up until the end of the academic year. But that work disappeared after the pandemic started.

She said:

“There is a persistent worry to the point of sickness and headaches. It is always in the back of your mind about how are you going to pay for things.

“We had to think carefully about how we do that and where we get the money from.”

Fixed property costs

In a council report last week, the authority agreed a final increase in remaining grants to be handed out and estimated that “between £270,000 and £530,000 would be returned to government”. Funds are expected to be handed back after September 30.

Councils were given the power to offer discretionary grants of up to £10,000 designed to support businesses who had struggled during the pandemic.

The government set out criteria which allowed councils to determine which cases to support. The borough council offered funds to businesses with fixed property costs, meaning those who did not have a premises missed out, even if they had suffered a loss of income during the crisis.

But other authorities, including South Gloucestershire Council, extended the grants to those who run their business from home.

Mrs Eyres has appealed the council’s decision to reject her claim twice. Two others who spoke to the Stray Ferret were also rejected because their business were run from a residential premises.

Andrew Stanley, a retired army captain turned coach in Knaresborough, was also denied a grant because he does not have a fixed premises. He had a busy March before lockdown, but work has been difficult to come by since then.

He said:

“The work I do involves sitting in closed rooms and not everyone is comfortable with that. I’ve been living off credit cards and a bounce back loan from my banks.”

Meanwhile, Hannah Ruddy from Harrogate, who runs music classes for children, went as far as writing to the Arts Council after being left without support during the pandemic.

She described the rejection of a discretionary grant as a “real kick in the teeth for local businesses”.

Earlier this year, Hannah was backed by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, who joined a cross-party group of MPs which aimed to stand up for people like Hannah who have been excluded from coronavirus government support schemes.

In response, Harrogate Borough Council said it followed national guidance when distributing its grants and its initial scheme handed out £48 million to over 4,000 businesses, while its further discretionary funding also followed national guidelines.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“Our scheme reflected the government guidance that stated it was primarily and predominantly aimed at micro and small businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs, and has suffered a significant fall in income due to the covid-19 crisis.

“The government set national criteria and priority businesses for the grant funds but allowed local authorities to determine which cases to support within those criteria (available on our website).

“We needed to determine which businesses to support based on the amount of funding available and understandably there will be differences between local authorities.”

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