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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More efficient gritters to save County Council £120,000

North Yorkshire County Council has approved plans to make its gritting service more efficient which could save £120,000 this year.

The authority’s Business and Environmental Services Executive backed the proposals which it says will see gritters spread salt more accurately and reduce the average age of its fleet.

The measure will see the council gritters move to a new, lower, minimum salt spread rates as outlined in the UK Roads Liaison Group’s guidance.

True grit – facts about North Yorkshire gritters

 

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways, said the savings had been made possible by investing in modern equipment :

“As the county council invests in modern equipment like ploughs and gritters, so we can introduce fine adjustments to our methods, thereby making valuable savings for our taxpayers, whilst continuing to deliver one of the most comprehensive winter gritting services in the country.”

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Meanwhile, David Bowe, corporate director of business and environmental services (BES), said: 

“We are moving to a more efficient and cost-effective way of delivering our service based on a review of national research and improved technology.

“The last time our spread rates were fully reviewed was over 12 years ago and advances in technology mean we can still deliver a comprehensive service but in a more cost-effective manner.

“We’ll always ensure our salt spread rates are appropriate for weather conditions. With routine treatments during milder winters the saving could be around £120,000 for the coming winter season. We will be able to utilise any efficiency savings on other essential council services.

“Any savings will depend on the weather conditions as no two winters are the same. We can spend between £6 million and £10 million delivering our winter service. Salt accounts for around a third of that cost. Please be assured that these changes will not compromise the safety of our roads.”

Thirteen more cases of coronavirus confirmed in Harrogate district

Thirteen more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

The figure from Public Health England takes the total number of cases in the area since the start of the pandemic up to 974.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced further measures earlier this week, including a 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants, in an effort to halt the increase in coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, no deaths from patients who tested positive for covid-19 have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in two months.

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

Further restrictions were announced for Leeds today in an effort to curb coronavirus infections. Matt Hancock, health secretary, confirmed that households will be unable to mix in homes or gardens from midnight.

Leeds City Council has also advised people not to meet up in pubs and restaurants.

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Job support scheme ‘too little too late’, say Harrogate Lib Dems

Local Liberal Democrats said the Chancellor’s job support scheme comes “too little too late” for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Rishi Sunak announced further support for part time workers yesterday ahead of the furlough scheme finishing in October.

As part of the billion pounds worth of measures, the government will top up wages for workers covering up to two-thirds of their hours for the next six months.

But local Lib Dems said the scheme did not go far enough to protect events, tourism and hospitality businesses.

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Judith Rogerson, local Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson, said the party had been campaigning on the issue for months and criticised local MP, Andrew Jones, for “showing a lack of leadership”.

She said:

“Harrogate & Knaresborough’s MP should be standing up for his constituents and taking stance on important issues. Instead, he has once again demonstrated a total lack of local leadership.

“Local businesses that cannot afford to pay a third of wages to their staff will inevitably be forced to make significant numbers redundant. I am thinking in particular about the events industry where it is at present almost impossible to earn any income. We know how crucial this sector is to our local economy here in Harrogate.

“What’s more, the announcement said nothing about the millions of people who have been excluded from Government support throughout the Covid pandemic. The Chancellor’s announcement is welcome but it doesn’t go far enough to protect jobs and incomes.”

In response to the Chancellor, Mr Jones said he welcomed the scheme to support workers.

He said:

“Our country is not facing the economy of March, when we were at the height of the strict lockdown. So as the economic situation changes and the need changes, the support package evolves.  I welcome the package, and said so in the House.  Business groups have welcomed it too.

“I am particularly pleased that the Chancellor has sought to protect jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors further by retaining the lower 5% VAT rate until the end of March. These sectors are important to Harrogate & Knaresborough, and we need them to be strong in the coming months as that helps our whole area.”

Fifteen arrests in North Yorkshire county lines crackdown

North Yorkshire Police has arrested 15 people and visited 64 vulnerable people during a week-long crackdown on county lines drug dealing.

As part of an effort led by the National Crime Agency and Regional Organised Crime Units, 14 men and one 17-year-old boy were arrested in the county.

The arrests included three men who were intercepted by plain clothed officers on Montpellier Hill in Harrogate. Officers also seized large amounts of heroin and cash when searching the suspects.

One man is also awaiting a crown court trial after being charged with supplying heroin and possessing criminal property in Harrogate.

Officers also made arrests in Keighley and Skipton during the crackdown.

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The 15 suspects were arrested on suspicion of various offences ranging from supplying heroin to possessing cash obtained through criminality.

Officers also helped to support vulnerable people, including those who are forced to travel from town to town selling drugs or who were victims of what is known as “cuckooing”. This is where vulnerable people, often drug users or those with mental or physical disabilities, are forced into allowing drug dealers to stay in their homes which are then used as a base to store and sell drugs.

Police also worked with British Transport Police to target people using the rail network to bring drugs into North Yorkshire from towns outside of the county and to raise awareness among passengers of exploitation and signs to look out for.

Chief Inspector Emma Aldred of North Yorkshire Police said: 

“County lines continues to be a key priority for North Yorkshire Police. This past week of action throws a spotlight on what is going on throughout the year to disrupt drug dealing and safeguard vulnerable people.

“The patrols and visits also allow us to gather valuable information that is used to build up a picture of what is happening in the area and forms part of a bigger picture that goes on to inform the action we take in the future.

“We urge people to continue to report any concerns they have about drug dealing or vulnerable people in their neighbourhood. We will take action.”

Conference sector ‘cut adrift’, says Harrogate events company

The exhibitions and conference sector has been “cut adrift” and left without support, says a Harrogate events company.

Andrew Manby, director of family events firm Joe Manby Ltd, said the Chancellor’s announcement today offered no specific support for the industry which already faces a “long way back” financially.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined billions of pounds’ worth of support for businesses, including subsiding part-time workers’ pay.

But Mr Manby said he had hoped for sector specific measures for an industry which has been closed down since March. Harrogate has seen a string of major events, conferences and exhibitions cancelled during the pandemic and its convention centre converted into a Nightingale Hospital.

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Mr Manby said today’s announcement did not appear to offer any ray of hope and added that the outlook was bleak for the sector.

He said:

“We need to reflect on what has been said, but on first glance it looks very grim indeed.

“it is an extremely difficult situation and where that leaves the exhibition market long term, I have no idea.

“It was always going to be a long haul back anyway.”

He added that further restrictions on events, which the Prime Minister said could last for six months, leave the industry in a difficult position. Live events, including sport, were due to have pilot events from October for the first time since the pandemic started.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned the pilot schemes earlier this week after he outlined further restrictions to tackle an increase in coronavirus cases.

In an effort to offer more support to businesses, Mr Sunak outlined a range of measures in the House of Commons which included an extension to the VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sector.

Some Harrogate businesses welcomed the move, but added that further support would be needed for other firms.

Harrogate hospitality businesses welcome Chancellor’s winter support

Hospitality owners in Harrogate have welcomed further help from Chancellor Rishi Sunak after he outlined billions of pounds’ worth of measures for the winter.

Mr Sunak announced an extension to VAT cuts for hospitality, a wage subsidy for part-time workers and more loans for struggling businesses.

Outlining his plans to the House of Commons today, he said the measures were designed to “protect jobs and the economy over the winter period”.

Among the announcements was a decision to subsides wages of workers who work shorter hours. The government will top up wages for workers covering up to two-thirds of their hours for the next six months.

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It comes as the furlough scheme is set to finish at the end of October.

Kimberly Wilson, chair of Accommodation Harrogate, said the support for part-time workers would be welcomed by bed and breakfasts.

She said:

“That will be useful, especially going into November and December it will save jobs.

“But we need to get the full detail of how it is going to work to see how it will help us on the ground.”

Ms Wilson added that further support would be welcomed as B&Bs have seen trade affected by cancellations in conferences, exhibitions and events.

Further measures will also see the VAT cut for the hospitality sector extended until March. Amid the pandemic, the government cut the rate to 5% to support those in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Peter Banks, managing director at Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said the measure would be useful but should be targeted at businesses which are struggling.

He said:

“If Rishi does this it would be superb. 

“It could be more targeted as it is conference, wedding and city centre businesses that are suffering. However, any help will be gratefully received.”

Mr Sunak told MPs that loans to support struggling businesses would be extended into November and offer terms of up to 10 years to reduce monthly payments.

Grants for the self-employed will also be offered into the winter.

12 new covid cases in Harrogate district

A further 12 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

It is the highest daily increase for just over a week.

Today’s figures from Public Health England take the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 945.

The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies tacking emergencies in the county, said today the Harrogate district had a weekly rate of 24 covid cases per 100,000 people up to September 20.

By comparison, the weekly rate for the same timeframe across the county as a whole was 26 per 100,000 population.

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Further restrictions, including a 10pm curfew for pubs, were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday to tackle the increase in infections.

Last week, North Yorkshire declared a major incident amid an increase in cases in the county. 

Selby and Scarborough districts have also been listed as “areas of concern” by the government.

However, Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any deaths in patients with covid since July 19.