The scale of Harrogate Borough Council’s coronavirus shortfall remains unclear as authority officials say there is “a number of unknowns” in estimating the impact of lockdown.

Paul Foster, the council’s head of finance, told a full council meeting that the council’s deficit could be anywhere between £9 million and £14.5 million.

But, in May, council officers said the shortfall could be as high as £15 million due to a loss of income on leisure, homelessness and car parking.

It comes as the authority revealed a £327,000 overspend last year, with £270,000 of that figure put down to the coronavirus pandemic.

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However, the cost is just the tip of the iceberg in what is expected to be a much larger deficit come the end of the next financial year. Other authority leaders have warned of impending bankruptcy notices at councils across the UK due to mounting deficits.

Some councils may have to look to their reserves to bail them out. Harrogate council had £27 million held over for a rainy day as of April 2019, but it remains unclear how it intends to tackle its estimated shortfall and whether or not it will use its reserves.

Mr Foster told councillors that the authority would not be issuing a section 114 notice – a drastic measure used in times of dire financial circumstances – which would ban any further spending.

He said the shortfall remains unclear at this time because of a number of factors.

“There will be a significant financial detriment due to covid-19, but it is challenging to estimate with certainty as you will appreciate there are still a number of unknowns.

“There are additional costs in responding to the pandemic, for example in the areas of homelessness and waste collection.

“However, more significant will be the irrevocable loss of income in relation to leisure, the convention centre, parking and planning. But also in relation to funding on both council tax and business rates.

“The estimated deficit ranges from £9.3 million to £14.5 million in 2020/21 depending on the assumptions that you make. 

“As I’ve said, there are still a number of unknowns around when certain facilities can open, how long social distancing measures will be in place and how our customers will behave.”

Mr Foster added that the council’s deficit position will be kept under review, along with budget plans and its reserves. The outcome of the reviews are expected to be brought before senior councillors at future cabinet meetings.

A further £500 million package of funding was announced by the government last week to help with spending pressures.

Funding allocations have yet to be revealed, but the scheme is expected to reimburse authorities for lost income and allow council tax and business rates deficits to be paid over three years instead of one.

St Aidan’s high school has put forward new proposals to build an artificial 3G football pitch with controversial 15-metre floodlights.

In 2016 the school submitted similar plans to Harrogate Borough Council — but withdrew them in 2019 after objections were raised around light pollution and traffic.

Objectors said the floodlights would have a negative impact on residents as well as on the Stray Rein section of The Stray.

For the school to receive grant funding from Sports England to help pay for the new facility, it must be open for community use outside of school hours.

The 2016 application stated the facility would close at 10pm Monday to Friday, which has been reduced to 8pm.

The floodlights in the new application are also telescopic which manufacturers say emit less light pollution.

Resident David Bell who lives adjacent to St Aidan’s told the Stray Ferret the floodlights will have a “dramatic” effect on his property.

He said:

“This mad rush to install 3G pitches throughout the area is having a dramatically negative impact on those living closest to the pitches due to the extended opening hours. It seems the march of the plastic pitch is unstoppable.”

The new pitch, which would be built on existing playing fields at the school, would put St Aidan’s on par with nearby St John Fisher which built its own 3G facility in 2017.

As well as being able to be hired by local football teams in evenings and weekends, the pitch would also be used by local C of E primary schools within the School’s Multi Academy Trust who St Aidan’s said have an “acute shortage” of external playing fields.

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St Aidan’s borders the Stray Rein section of the Stray and Judy D’Arcy Thompson from the Stray Defence Association told the Stray Ferret that the floodlights would “impinge upon the tranquillity the Stray affords people”

She said:

“Such widespread, obtrusive light pollution is undesirable, with the distinct possibility of damaging the Stray in many ways.”

The formal consultation period for the development ends on July 27.

The Stray Ferret has asked the agent MHB Partnership, who is working on behalf of St Aidan’s for the development, for a response which they had not provided at the time of publication.

Teachers running musical classes for babies and toddlers across the district say they have had no guidance as to when they might be able to restart face to face teaching.

Rhythm Time and Musicality Kids are amongst many companies which deliver music and sensory classes for babies and toddlers in Harrogate.

Despite lockdown restrictions being eased, both Rhythm Time and Musicality Kids said they have no idea when they might be able to see their students again despite holiday clubs and summer camps being allowed to restart.

Before lockdown, Hannah Ruddy from Musicality Kids was teaching 120 children a week.

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Hannah Ruddy, owner and founder of Musicality Kids in Harrogate has been sending weekly emails to parents with resources to help them continue classes at home.

She told The Stray Ferret:

“When the current situation hit it was very clear to me that I certainly wouldn’t be able to do what I do. My classes are very hands on and sensory. I could have adapted for online, but it wouldn’t have been my brand.”

Since putting her classes on hold back in March, Hannah has not been earning and said, because she is self-employed, has had no support from the government.

“There’s no help for us because we have fallen through the government’s cracks. This isn’t a silly little music class, there’s so much more to it. Without it there’s going to be a massive void in the world, something needs to be done.”

Ami Stott, the Harrogate business owner and class leader at Rhythm Time, turned her son’s bedroom into a recording studio and has been delivering online classes.

Ami has been teaching online classes every day since the start of lockdown.

She said:

“Even though the students are really little, they are missing out on social interaction.”

The Children’s Activities Association has pledged to the government to take notice of the issue and provide specific guidance as to when activities can safely restart.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths in today’s NHS figures.

It comes as the hospital records three more patient recoveries. That takes the hospital up to 139 discharges and 81 deaths.

The hospital had not reported any deaths for 16 days before the latest death on July 3.

Meanwhile, a further 22 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in England’s hospitals.

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Of that number, two were recorded in the North East and Yorkshire.

NHS England said patients were aged between 53 and 94 years old. One patient, aged 77 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

It means the national total number of deaths in hospitals has increased to 28,991.

Vandals have ripped out large chunks of wood from sculptures in Valley Gardens dedicated to Harrogate’s links with New Zealand.

Both the kiwi bird and the carved Maori bench were missing large chunks when The Stray Ferret visited the gardens today.

There are some chippings close to the carved Maori bench indicating that the damage was deliberate.

The carved Maori bench has also been badly damaged.

Ann Beeby, the secretary for the Friends of Valley Gardens, told The Stray Ferret she feared that the sculptures could not be repaired or replaced:

“We get very upset when mindless vandalism of this sort happens in a park, especially at this time when a safe and attractive outdoor space is so important. These sculptures can never be replaced, they can only be removed, which is what will happen if there is further damage.”

Harrogate Borough Council has told The Stray Ferret that it will look into whether the sculptures can be repaired.

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Councillor Andy Paraskos, the cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“We are really disappointed to see that the sculptures in the New Zealand garden in Valley Gardens appear to have been vandalised. These were carved to complement the gardens and make them more attractive for residents and visitors alike. We will look into whether repairs can be made but as they are carved from tree trunks this is easier said than done.”

A large chunk missing from the kiwi bird.

The New Zealand Garden commemorates Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington and the country’s airmen stationed in the town during World War Two.

The garden dates back to 1954 and chainsaw sculptor Mick Burns carved the Marlin, Kiwi, and bench in 2010.

A ‘green’ car club has launched in Harrogate where you can hire low-emission vehicles by the hour.

Motorists sign up to a membership and can then book the cars online with as little as 30 minutes notice.

The scheme is backed by Harrogate Borough Council and the first ten hybrid cars are parked around Harrogate at HBC’s on-street parking spots including Montpellier, Commercial Street and Franklin Road.

The hourly rate for a hybrid Toyota Yaris is £5.50 an hour and the daily rate is £38.50.

Durham-based social enterprise Co-Wheels runs similar car clubs around the country. Rebecca Townend from Co-Wheels told the Stray Ferret that she hopes Harrogate’s environmentally-minded public will get on board.

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Co-Wheels has a special introductory offer for people in Harrogate available on its website.

She said:

“It’s the first car club there’s ever been in Harrogate so it’s about educating people so they can give it a go.”

Hybrid cars combine petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. Electric power can be activated in urban areas to reduce air pollution.

Ms Townend said they hope to introduce fully electric models at some point in the future.

According to the Department for Transport, Harrogate currently has 42 public electric vehicle charging points, which is above the national average.

A hairdresser from Harrogate has fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning her own hair salon after her travel plans were put on hold.

Kate Borgen was due to travel to Australia and New Zealand to experience a new life. However, as lockdown struck and her travel plans were suspended, Kate decided to pursue a new venture in her home town instead.

The hairdresser, who has more than thirteen years of experience, opened Ikonik Hair on Kings Road last weekend. After opening just a few days ago, Kate is now fully booked until the middle of August.

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Kate told The Stray Ferret:

“My family thought I was crazy when I said I would open up a business. But what I figured was that the good clientele that I have had for the last twelve years will all be waiting to get their hair done… At least I can have people walking through my door as soon as I open.”

Kate Borgen outside her new salon on Kings Road.

Despite having a good first few days, Kate is aware that some people are still worried about visiting and is doing all she can to reassure clients. She said:

“A lot of my customers who are coming in at the minute haven’t seen anyone and I am one of the first people they have seen. It’s quite an honour for me, but then I know how nervous they are as well.”

The hairdresser, who has lived in Harrogate since she was born, hopes that her business might provide opportunities to other hairdressers who have lost their jobs because of coronavirus. She has already been joined by another stylist whose salon closed down when the pandemic struck, and she aims to expand the team further in the future.

The principal of Harrogate College says a government scheme to pay companies who take on new apprentices will help address the “skills gap” in Harrogate.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Danny Wild said he was “very pleased” at today’s announcement from the Chancellor — but the college is waiting for more details on how the scheme will operate.

In his summer statement Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that from August to January, any company that hires an apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive £2,000 from the government, while those that hire apprentices over 25 will be paid £1,500.

The government will also inject £100m into further education colleges to create more places on level 2 and 3 courses.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak said:

“Over 700,000 people are leaving education this year and many more are just starting out in their careers. Coronavirus has hit them hard. We cannot lose this generation.”

Harrogate College offers a number of apprenticeships in a range of sectors including hospitality, beauty and engineering.

They currently have 120 apprentices which they had hoped to double in 2021 before Covid-19 struck.

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Mr Wild said the scheme will encourage employers in the district to take on apprentices.

He said:

“18 – 19-year-olds are a real vulnerable group at the moment. We’re really pleased with this announcement and it supports what Harrogate College is trying to do in the district and some of the labour market needs that Harrogate has.”

Covid-19 has brought about a new way of working for many businesses and Mr Wild hopes some of them will take advantage of the scheme to re-skill staff.

He added:

“We’re not going back to be our offices from 9-5. A lot of businesses are looking at how they operate and pulling out of office spaces. This scheme will help businesses who have employees looking to move up or change their way of working.

“Apprenticeships are for all age groups and for all organisations. This money will help all businesses re-map how they are going to operate or bring new skills to their operation.

“The positive is it will address the skills gap within all businesses in the district.”

A Costa drive-thru will open next month near Pannal after coronavirus delayed construction works.

The coffee company has not yet pinned down a specific date but will open the Leeds Road drive-thru in August.

It’s the first time Costa has announced an opening date with much of the external works already complete.

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Harrogate Borough Council approved the demolition of a petrol station and shops for the development despite concerns over traffic.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson, told The Stray Ferret:

“We’re delighted to be safely opening new stores across our estate, aswell as reopening existing stores in line with government guidelines – returning the Nation’s Favourite to customers by serving them a perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee.”

Diners will be able to get 50% off their bill from Mondays to Wednesdays at certain restaurants during August, but how do people in Harrogate feel about this?

This comes as the government announced its new scheme “Eat Out To Help Out” earlier today. The scheme aims to encourage more people to eat out at restaurants as lockdown measurers ease.

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The Stray Ferret asked the general public in Harrogate whether they will be running out to get their discounted meal.

There was a mix of emotion with some people more inclined to go out and others not.