Conservative councillor speaks out against James Street pedestrianisation

A Conservative Harrogate borough councillor has spoken out against plans to temporarily pedestrianise James Street.

Cllr Nick Brown, who represents the Bishop Munkton and Newby ward, said it was “not the time to deliver a further body blow” to retail in the town.

While Cllr Brown has positioned himself as a “lone voice” in opposition to the plans, it is not the first time he has spoken out against the issue.

At an Overview and Scrutiny meeting last month, he told Conservative council leader, Cllr Richard Cooper, that the coronavirus pandemic was not a reason to start the trial run for pedestrianisation.

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North Yorkshire County Council, which is the highways authority, is expected to implement a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street at the request of the borough council.

The measure has already been met with fierce criticism from landlords and store managers, including former England and Leeds United star Danny Mills.

Now, Cllr Brown has broken rank and criticised the move which forms a part of the council’s masterplan for the town centre.

He said:

“Much has changed in retail since 2016, with the rise of Internet shopping, accelerated by the covid lockdown since March this year. 

“Sadly, retail in central Harrogate is suffering badly. Now is not the time to deliver it a further body blow by pedestrianising the town centre. 

“I believe that the 2016 masterplan, which promotes further widespread pedestrianisation in central Harrogate, is totally out of date and will not serve local businesses well. It may be relevant and have merit sometime in the future but certainly not now, when our retailers need all the help from us that they can get.”

Cllr Brown questioned what economic modelling had been done for the pedestrianisation and whether the consultation for the move was sufficient.

Harrogate Borough Council has maintained that the temporary pedestrianisation was for “social distancing and safety purposes”.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“The proposal to temporarily pedestrianise part of James Street, that already has parking restrictions in place, is to support existing social distancing measures during the continuing covid-19 pandemic and allow people to feel safe when visiting the town centre.

“There is also a wealth of evidence that suggests pedestrianisation supports town centres, increases footfall, reduces vacancy rates, supports local businesses and is viewed positively by visitors.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, previously defended the the measure and said it was “timely and appropriate”.

Call for ‘greater vigilance’ amid Harrogate covid increase

North Yorkshire public health bosses have urged greater vigilance following an increase in coronavirus cases across the county, including in Harrogate.

The county council issued a statement today saying there had been a “significant rise in cases during the last week, particularly among young people”.

The statement added that “increases have been seen across the county, but particularly in the Selby, Scarborough and Harrogate districts”.

Between September 1 and 7 the Harrogate district saw 28 new cases.

Infections, however, remain low compared with areas such as Leeds, which is on the government’s covid watchlist.

A total of 825 cases have been confirmed in Harrogate since the start of the pandemic, a cumulative rate of 513 per 100,000. This compares with a total of 5,021 cases in Leeds at a rate of 633 per 100,000 population.

The council’s plea today comes as the government is expected to formally announce a ban on social gatherings of more than six people from Monday.

The new rule will prohibit people gathering indoors and outdoors, but with exceptions for weddings, funerals, christenings and workplaces.

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Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We are seeing an escalation in the number of cases. While this remains lower than in some neighbouring towns and cities, such as Middlesbrough and Leeds, there is no room for complacency.

“Now is the time that we must all follow the guidance to protect ourselves and each other. We don’t want people to be over-anxious, but everyone needs to be vigilant. The sacrifices people have made during the pandemic were outstanding and we must all stick to the guidance to avoid a second spike.”

Meanwhile, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, the council’s director of public health, called for people to limit unnecessary interactions.

He said:

“Avoid socialising outside of your social bubbles. In going about daily activities observe social distancing guidance and wear face coverings where it is not possible to maintain two metre social distance.

“We know some establishments have chosen to close as a precaution. We do not routinely recommend closure of a business unless this is necessary to prevent ongoing transmission linked to that business. 

“However, some businesses may choose to close temporarily to implement additional safety measures, including cleaning, or because staff members are self-isolating.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s days are numbered, admits leader

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has conceded the authority will cease to exist after devolution.

Political leaders in North Yorkshire are locked in a debate over two future models of local government – neither of which includes HBC.

Speaking at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday, HBC leader Cllr Richard Cooper, said:

“At the end of this process, there will be no Harrogate Borough Council in any way, shape or form.

“We came into this with an open mind. We are not battling to take on more powers and we have no vested interests.”

Cllr Cooper and Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, both said they had no “vested interest” in whatever model the government chooses as part of its plans to devolve local government.

The meeting comes as county council and district council officials have been presenting their proposals to the public and business leaders across the county.

Cllr Cooper addressed the chamber meeting on behalf of the county’s seven district authorities. which have opted for an east/west model,

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Cllr Cooper said he supported an overhaul of the council structure as the two-tier system was “costly”.

Cllr Cooper described the county council’s model, which would see a single authority covering North Yorkshire alongside the City of York, as a “continuity county council”.

But Mr Flinton said the authority did not have an interest in carrying on as it is and that the new authority would not be “a county council mark two”.

He said:

“This will be a totally new authority with a new way of operating.”

He added that his position, along with those of other senior council officers, would be open for applications under the new system.

The government is expected to publish a white paper on restructuring local government this autumn.

Under the government’s timetable, a new council could be in place as soon as 2022.

Earlier this week, Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, asked Simon Clarke, former local government minister, what the minimum population size for the unitary authorities would be.

However, Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He added that the white paper would give more details on the matter.

District councillors are expected to vote on their model this month ahead of a submission to ministers.

Councils clash over local government shake-up plans

Council bosses have clashed over proposals for how North Yorkshire’s local councils should be organised in future as each looks to sell its vision to the public.

Last night, Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, and Cllr Richard Cooper, Harrogate Borough Council leader, along with chief executives of both authorities, addressed a virtual meeting of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce over the issue.

While both camps said they agreed that the county needed devolved powers, they differed over how to reorganise local government – which is a requirement from ministers to negotiate for devolution. The county council wants one single authority to govern the county, while the seven district leaders have outlined plans for two councils, splitting the county between east and west.

Cllr Cooper – who also sits on the county council – was critical of the county council’s existing services, saying he had been forced to go and pull weeds out of the road on Commercial Street himself because the authority had failed to do so. Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said he would not be drawn into a “tit for tat” argument with the borough council, but pointed out that any restructure would create a completely new authority, rather than a continuation of the existing county council.

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He presented the authority’s case for a single council for the whole region except the City of York, which will remain as it is.

Mr Flinton argued that the proposal would not be centralised and would allow for more local powers through local action groups and devolving further powers to town and parish councils.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, made the authority’s case for a single council last night.

He added that the single council, which would cover 610,000 residents, would also save the most money at around £25 million a year, and serve rural areas better.

Mr Flinton said:

“What we need is a single service to deliver for those areas and to carry the cost of delivering in rural areas.

“We believe that the model we are putting forward will deliver more savings. I suspect that will be a dispute with the districts.”

The county council is working with PricewaterhouseCooper on its plans and Mr Flinton said the savings figure could change “once that piece of work is done”.

He added that a single council for a large county was “not unique” and had already been replicated elsewhere in Durham and Cornwall where districts have been scrapped in favour of one authority.

But Cllr Cooper, who has joined the six other district councils in devising an alternative proposal, said a single council alongside York would cause “disharmony and disfunction” in the new structure.

Both Cllr Cooper and Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, said there would be an “imbalance” in the county council’s plan. Mr Sampson said there needed to be “parity” between the two councils in the new structure.

Addressing the county council’s proposal, Mr Sampson said:

“There is a feeling that what is being proposed is a single model. There will be two authorities, but you will have one large and a relatively smaller York.

“We do not think that is good governance moving forward.”

Instead, the districts have proposed two councils – one in the east covering 465,000 people and another in the west which would cover 363,000.

Mr Sampson said the model would focus on being “as local as possible” and would have shared services across the two authorities. He added that the model, which has been devised between the district councils and KPMG, would save between £33 million and £53 million.

He said some services in York could be improved by joining with other councils into an east authority and that Harrogate would be better off economically under the district model.

It comes as government minsters have made a reduction in the number of councils in North Yorkshire a requirement of any devolution bid.

Councils across the county are currently in the process of agreeing a list of “asks” to submit to ministers, which propose £2 billion worth of investment as part of a devolution bid.

Union concerns over disabled teachers returning to district’s schools

Teachers’ unions have said they are concerned about the safety of teachers with disabilities returning to school in the Harrogate district. Most schools re-open tomorrow morning.

Sharon Calvert, local representative for the NASUWT Teachers’ Union, said the union had received particular concern from those who work in secondary schools.

It comes as pupils are set to return to school this week with a number of “significant changes” in place at schools across the district in an effort to abide by social distancing guidelines.

But Ms Calvert said unions are still concerned over the safety of vulnerable teachers who may be at risk from the virus and what procedures are in place to protect staff.

She said:

“The top and bottom of it is that teachers had concerns about returning to school and we have got issues with teachers who have disabilities.

“There is a lot of concern because it is the most vulnerable who are at risk. It seems to be that people who are disabled are ignored.”

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Union bosses said they have offered their members advice and guidance on returning to school, including a feedback form on the safety of their workplace.

It comes as schools across the district have put in place measures ahead of the return of pupils for the new term.

Measures include wearing face masks and separating year groups.

Among those to have announced the adaptations is Harrogate Grammar School with a number of “significant changes” in place to ensure safety and limit coronavirus outbreaks.

The school has reorganised classrooms and the cafeteria, staggered lunch and finish times and put in place a contingency plan for those needing to self-isolate. Additional cleaning staff have also been hired.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council has put on extra buses in the district in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus among pupils going back to school.

The Department for Education has said it is committed to ensuring that pupils and staff return safely to school.

Questions surround future of Harrogate’s Jaeger store

Questions surround the future of Harrogate’s Jaeger store after it has remained closed after lockdown restrictions were eased.

While other retailers have implemented social distancing measures and reopened, Jaeger has yet to let any customers back into its Cambridge Crescent outlet.

The Stray Ferret contacted Jaeger to ask if it intended to reopen and if any date was set for the return of shoppers, but did not receive a response.

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Prior to the pandemic, Jaeger’s parent company, Edinburgh Woolen Mill Group, narrowed its losses at the clothing outlet to £1.1 million and expanded its stores in 2019.

EWM Group added seven further stores and four concession outlets to its portfolio.

The upmarket retailer fell into administration and was acquired by EWM Group in 2017. The year before, the retailer recorded losses of £7.1 million.

Harrogate urged to continue social distancing as Leeds on watchlist

Public health bosses have urged people in Harrogate to continue to abide by social distancing guidance as Leeds is placed on the government’s coronavirus watchlist.

Dr Lincoln Sargaent, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, reassured that cases remain below average in the town and lower than that of Leeds.

It comes as the city was confirmed to be on Public Health England’s watchlist as an “area of concern” earlier today following an increase in cases to a weekly rate of 32 per 100,000 population.

The rate in cases in Harrogate currently stands at 12 per 100,000 with 19 confirmed in the past week.

Leeds City Council bosses said cases are spread across the city, meaning they may be linked to social interaction and leisure actives. 

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Officials added that cases were increasingly found in young people aged 18 to 34.

Dr Sargaent said residents in Harrogate, some of whom commute to Leeds for work and to socialise, should continue to abide by social distancing guidelines which remains as “important than ever”.

He said:

“We all need to continue to play our part in protecting ourselves and others to prevent the spread of covid-19. 

“The advice around hygiene and social distancing remains as important as ever. We must keep washing our hands regularly, avoid touching our faces and keep a safe distance from others.

“If you have symptoms, you must get a test. NHS tests are free and can be booked online via the NHS website or by calling 119.”

 

Meanwhile, Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, urged visitors to the city to do their bit following a rise in covid cases.

The city being placed on the watchlist does not mean any further restrictions, but it may lead to further measures in the future if infections do not fall.

Cllr Blake said the city was approaching a “tipping point” and it was important for people to follow social distancing guidance.

She said:

“We have been working tirelessly with our partners and communities, doing everything within our power to keep the spread of this virus under control and to ensure Leeds stays open.

“However, we can’t accomplish that alone and this rise in infection rates means that inevitably, our window of opportunity is shrinking by the day and the city is rapidly approaching a tipping point.

“We completely understand that these past six months have put a tremendous strain on everyone in Leeds and that being able to get out, socialise and enjoy ourselves has provided a massive lift.

“But it is absolutely crucial that if we want to continue to do that, we all do it sensibly and responsibly and follow the latest guidance which is there to keep us all safe.”

Free flu jabs to begin in North Yorkshire

Health bosses in North Yorkshire have reassured vulnerable patients they will receive free flu jabs from this month.

GPs have begun to write to those classed as high risk, which includes care home residents, over 65s, pregnant women and frontline health staff, to invite them for the jab either this month or October.

People aged 50 to 64 who do not have a health condition are likely to be invited to receive jabs in November and December once high risk patients have been vaccinated.

Parents and carers of children from reception to year seven will also be contacted to seek consent for the jab as part of the school immunisation service.

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Health bosses at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group have said patients who were high risk and shielding had expressed concern about being in contact with people outside their “bubble”.

But Dr Bruce Willoughby, GP clinical lead for primary care and population health at NHS North Yorkshire CCG, said practices will have measures in place to vaccinate safely.

He said:

“Immunisation is the best way to help protect people from flu. It’s a virus that has the potential to leave people very poorly, lead to hospitalisation and sometimes even death.

“We know that clinically vulnerable patients who have been shielding during the covid pandemic are still extremely worried about having contact with anyone outside of their household ‘bubble’, but I want to reassure those patients that practices will have arrangements in place to ensure they can administer vaccinations in a safe and bio-secure way.

“There will be strict safety measures in place, including social distancing, appropriate PPE, and strict hygiene protocols.”

Just 22 people tune into district’s first devolution event

Just 22 people tuned into the first public engagement event about the future of local government held by the seven district councils in North Yorkshire.

The seven councils are staging a series of online events on Zoom for the public to find out more about their proposed east/west model for a restructure of local government.

The government is keen to extend devolution but in July ministers made it a requirement to reduce the number of councils before it could happen.

The district councils want an east/west model but North Yorkshire County Council would prefer a single unitary authority.

Among the 22 online for the event were Keane Duncan, the leader of Ryedale District Council and members of the public. Further events will be held this month specifically aimed at businesses and community groups.

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Cllr Duncan gave a presentation and answered residents’ concerns about issues such as the future of highways, children’s services, adult social care and libraries, which are currently run by NYCC.

Cllr Duncan said the model proposed by the districts would bring services “closer to people”, have stronger democratic representation and have scope for shared services between the two councils.

Under the district councils’ plans, the west authority would serve Harrogate, Craven, Hambleton and Richmondshire while the east would cover York, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

The west authority would cover 363,000 residents and the east authority would cover 465,000 people.

Officials said this would meet the threshold of around 400,000 set by Simon Clarke, local government minister, back in July.

Cllr Duncan said the plan would save £56 million a year and meet the government’s requirements for the restructure.

He said:

“This is the only one that ticks the boxes of government.

“We do feel that this model can deliver services more closer to people.”

NYCC’s alternative proposal for a single authority, alongside City of York, would cover 610,000 residents.

Last week, the county council revealed a “double devolution” model under its proposal which would see town and parishes councils receive more funding and powers.

Harrogate Chief Exec and Leader criticised for not divulging key information ahead of major vote

The Chief Executive and Leader of Harrogate Borough Council had both been told that the council could be scrapped as part of the government’s wider devolution plans the day before a big vote on the shake up of leisure services – yet failed to make councillors aware of it.

Cllr Chris Aldred, chair of the overview and scrutiny board, told the Stray Ferret he and fellow councillors should have been told about the government’s position on devolution before they agreed to support the leisure project.

He and fellow councillors voted on July 8 to spend £300,000 on creating a new company called Brimhams Active to run leisure facilities in the Harrogate district. They also voted to borrow £26 million to invest in centres in the district.

But they had not been informed council leader Richard Cooper and chief executive Wallace Sampson, along with other local authority leaders had met local government minister Simon Clarke the previous day.

Mr Clarke told the leaders that any devolution bid would be dependent on a reduction in the number of councils, which could ultimately lead to HBC being replaced.

Cllr Aldred said councillors should have known about this when they made such a key financial decision.

But he said they were not told about the outcome of the Clarke meeting until late at night on July 9.

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Cllr Aldred, a Liberal Democrat, told the Stray Ferret:

“Surely this should have been disclosed at that meeting and not revealed to councillors in a late night e-mail the day after that decision on the local authority control company was taken? 

“Didn’t the 39 other councillors have the right to know this fundamental fact, prior to casting their vote that night?”

A spokesman for HBC said the two issues were entirely separate and it will take several years before services can be fully integrated once a local government structure is agreed.

The spokesman said:

“The reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire and the creation of a new local authority controlled company to run sport and leisure services in the Harrogate district are two, entirely separate, issues.

“One is not dependent on the other.

“Once agreement has been reached on a future structure for local government for the county, it will take several years before services are fully integrated and teams brought together.

“That’s why we are continuing with projects and initiatives such as the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre, the leisure investment strategy and creating Brimhams Active as our local authority controlled company.

“Operating our sport and leisure services through a local authority controlled company will save money in the long run and enable us to support our critical council services.”

Brimhams Active, a local authority controlled company, will run 11 leisure facilities in the district.

HBC is proceeding with several costly projects despite uncertainty over its future.

It is spending £1 million on consultants to draw up plans for a £47 million renovation of Harrogate Convention Centre.

But the decision to reduce the number of councils across the county as part of the government’s devolution agenda has thrown the future of public services into uncertainty.

Both district and county leaders are expected to propose different models to ministers this month.

It could see the seven district councils, including Harrogate, scrapped and replaced by one or two super-authorities.

District officials are already consulting with residents and have proposed that an east/west council organisation should replace the current structure.