Uncertainty surrounds county council elections

Uncertainty surrounds elections for North Yorkshire County Council ahead of polling day in May.

Ministers gave the go ahead for local elections after polls were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the county council has asked the government to delay elections until next year because of the impending wholesale restructuring of local government in North Yorkshire.

Voters are set to go to the polls on May 6 to cast their ballots for local councillors and police and crime commissioners.

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Under government guidance, people who vote in person will have to wear a face covering at polling booths and bring their own pen to mark their ballot paper.

However, ministers have encouraged those who are shielding, or prefer not to attend a polling station, to apply for a postal or proxy vote.

In a written statement, Chloe Smith, minister for the constitution and devolution, said the government has set out a plan for elections to go ahead in a covid-secure way.

Ms Smith added that £92 million of grant funding will be given to local authorities to help run the elections.

She said:

“Safe and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. 

“The government has long been clear that there should be a very high bar for delay, but it was responsible to keep the situation under review in order to take into account the views of the electoral community and of public health experts.”

Elections for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will go ahead as normal, with the candidates set to be confirmed on April 9.

But whether or not the county council will hold its elections remains uncertain.

Officials at the authority requested that its election be postponed when they submitted proposals for a single unitary authority in December.

County council bosses said in the proposal:

“In submitting this proposal, we include a request to postpone the county council elections from May 2021 to May 2022 regardless of whether the new unitary authority commences April 2022 or 2023.

“Ideally, the government will have announced the new governance structures prior to the publication of the notice of election, so that the electorate can be clear what organisation they are electing members to serve.

“This may not be possible if the election takes place in May 2021.”

It comes as the government is expected to go to consultation on council reorganisation this month.

The Stray Ferret asked the county council whether its elections will be be going ahead this year, but had not received a response by time of publication.

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

100 businesses back east/west model to replace North Yorkshire councils

More than 100 businesses in North Yorkshire have backed an east/west model to replace the current two-tier council system in the county.

The proposal has been submitted to government by the six district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, as part of reorganisation plans.

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.

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The government has told councils it will go to consultation on local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire and York this month.

Now, more than 100 businesses have written letters of support and backed the east/west proposal.

Among them is Kevin Towers, MCEO of Techbuyer which is based in Harrogate.

He said:

“We are a high growth employer, planning to add another 100 jobs in the next three years. We believe the east and west model will offer many advantages to local communities and the business sector. 

“It will enable more place-based local government and joined-up thinking on planning, transport and development that will help promote and support sustainable growth. Our experience of developing new business units in a number of different countries suggests that this is the best route to success.”

Meanwhile, Alan Cutler, deputy managing director of The PEEL Entertainment Group, based in Skipton, said: 

“Two equally balanced unitary authorities in the east and west will help maintain close connections between local government and businesses. 

“Looking further forward to devolution, the east and west model would create a balanced combined authority, which will be more effective in delivering levelling-up and clean growth, attracting and retaining a younger workforce and expanding our strong skills base.”

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

“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.”

County plan would “cut through red tape”

Meanwhile, the county council has said its plan would help to support businesses across North Yorkshire.

In its plans, it said companies would “only ever need to deal with one council” and make the council more accountable.

It said:

“Businesses would only ever need to deal with one council. It would mean an end to having to deal with several councils with different roles and policies.

“It would be business-friendly and streamlined, with strong local services and systems – the same for businesses in Skipton as for those in Scarborough – and a single organisation responsible for economic development, housing, planning, highways, trading standards and other essential services.

“To ensure that there are decision-making powers on a local level, a single authority for North Yorkshire would work closely with parish and town councils, enabling them to run services, where they wanted to, that we would fund. We would put in place new ways of working with communities, understanding the issues and driving the change that is needed.

“The clarity of one council working for the public and businesses will make that council more accountable.”

Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough, added in an open letter that devolution was “essential in attracting investment, supporting business and protecting and creating jobs as we rebuild our bruised communities”.

He said the county council’s model would provide “strength, scale and experience” for North Yorkshire.

Mr Goodwill said:

“This way you would replace the current wasteful and confusing two-tier system of local government and create one council for the entire county working in partnership with the City of York to create a devolved authority under an elected mayor. It would be a powerful voice in the North.”

Harrogate hospital records another coronavirus death

Harrogate District Hospital has reported another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

According to NHS England figures, the death was recorded on February 7.

It takes the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 140.

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Meanwhile, the district has had a further 17 coronavirus cases confirmed.

Public Health England figures today show the total number of cases since March have increased to 6,884.

The district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 139 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate currently stands at 127, while the England average is 201.

‘Not the time’ to pay more for North Yorkshire policing

Now is the not the time to hand North Yorkshire’s taxpayers another significant increase in the police precept, the county’s police commissioner has said.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the force had already had increases in the police precept in recent years and is expecting further funding for more officers.

She told a meeting of the North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel that it was not the time to put a “significant tax burden” on the county during a pandemic.

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The panel agreed a 1.99% increase in the precept for 2021/22 – which will set the rate at £271.06 for a band D property.

Commissioners across the country were given flexibility to increase police precepts by a maximum of £15, which would have resulted in a 5.64% hike in North Yorkshire.

But Mrs Mulligan said the force was well funded and would have to deal with a smaller budget this year.

She said:

“I am really, really mindful at the moment that having had significant increases in the past and the service being relatively well funded that now is not the time to put a signifiant tax burden on the public of North Yorkshire and York.”

Ms Mulligan added that she recognised the proposed increase of 1.99% was “not generous”, but said the force would have to “work hard” to offer services within its budget.

Meanwhile, Michael Porter, chief finance officer for the commissioner, said the response to precept consultation showed that the public was not as supportive of an increase as in recent years.

It comes taxpayers in Harrogate could be set to pay an average of more than £2,000 on their council tax bills this year.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have planned increases in their share of council tax.

Councillors on both authorities will vote on the proposed increases at budget meetings later this month.

Harrogate district braced for snow as Storm Darcy hits

The Harrogate District is braced for yet more snowfall this coming week as Storm Darcy hits the UK.

According to the Met Office, the district is forecast snow showers overnight into Monday morning.

A yellow weather warning for snow remains in place for tomorrow until Wednesday.

Temperatures are also expected to drop to a low of -2 degrees celsius tonight and only reach highs of one degrees tomorrow.

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It comes as the district is set to be hit by Storm Darcy, dubbed “Beast from the East 2”, which has brought heavy rainfall, snow and icy winds.

Amid the heavy snow forecast, RHS Harlow Carr has confirmed it will be closed on Monday.

Unfortunately due to a forecast of heavy snowfall, we will be closed tomorrow, Monday 8 February. If you've paid for tickets, contact harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to arrange a refund. When we reopen, it's for exercise for visitors who live locally, following government guidelines. pic.twitter.com/MQDPWQZryZ

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 7, 2021

It said in a tweet:

“Unfortunately due to a forecast of heavy snowfall, we will be closed tomorrow, Monday 8 February. 

“If you’ve paid for tickets, contact harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to arrange a refund. When we reopen, it’s for exercise for visitors who live locally, following government guidelines.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency (EA) has a flood alert in place for the Lower River Ure near Ripon and Boroughbridge – meaning flooding is possible.

Alerts on its website said the levels in both rivers remained high due to recent rainfall, but are falling slowly.

However, the EA added that further rain and snow was forecast and it was “monitoring the situation closely”.

For full information on school closures and traffic disruption make sure you follow the Stray Ferret – we’ll have regular updates from early Monday morning if the storm affects us. 

Harrogate district records 18 further covid cases

The Harrogate District has recorded a further 18 covid cases, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since March to 6,867.

A further patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The latest death was recorded on February 5, according to NHS England figures.

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It takes the total covid-related deaths at the hospital this week to 10 and the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 139.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 151 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 135, while the national rate is 211.

Two further covid deaths at Harrogate hospital

Two further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Both deaths were recorded yesterday (February 5), according to NHS England figures.

It brings the number of covid-related deaths at the hospital this week to nine, and the total since the start of the pandemic to 138.

Meanwhile, a further 37 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district.

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Public Health England figures today show the total number of cases since March has increased to 6,849.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 155 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 140, while the national rate is 221.

Harrogate district records another 35 covid cases

A further 35 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 6,812.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another covid death. NHS England figures show the death was reported on February 3.

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The death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic now stands at 136.

The hospital has also discharged a further 28 patients this past week. In total, 461 patients diagnosed with coronavirus have been discharged since March.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day coronavirus rate has fallen to 164 per 100,000 people. The North Yorkshire average stands at 145, while the England rate is now at 231.

Appeal after man hit by white van in Harrogate

Police are appealing for information after a man was hit by a white van in Harrogate this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened at around 9am on Regent Parade.

Officers said the man was pushed into a parked car following the collision and injured his foot.

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A statement from the force said:

“Around 9am on Friday, February 5 a white van collided with a male pedestrian on Regent Parade in Harrogate. The man was pushed into a parked car as a result of the collision and injured his foot.

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about a white van that was in the area at the time.”

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Geeta Maharjan. You can also email geeta.maharjan2@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210053525.

Six covid deaths at Harrogate hospital this week

Two more patients who tested positive for covid have died at Harrogate District Hospital, it was revealed today.

Both deaths were recorded on Tuesday, according to NHS England figures.

It brings the number of covid-related deaths at the hospital this week to six, and the total since the start of the pandemic to 135.

There are currently 65 covid patients being treated in Harrogate hospital — the highest ever figure.

However, Public Health England reported just 17 new infections in the Harrogate district today.

It is one of the lowest daily totals so far this year.

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The figure takes the total number of cases since March to 6,777.

The district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 177 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average has also dropped to 153, while the England rate stands at 243.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the area in the district with the highest number of covid cases in the past seven days, with 32 reported.