‘Council now talking to us’ says union

Discussions have been held between the council and trade unions over plans to transfer sport and leisure services to a private company.

Unison has this morning confirmed that it has met with Harrogate Borough Council representatives to discuss the proposal to form a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) to run its leisure facilities.

Unison branch secretary David Houlgate said:

“We are thankful that the Council is now talking to us and the meeting yesterday was helpful.  We are also pleased that the Council has let us have some written detail too.  We need to take a good look at that but already we can make the following observations:

“Clearly the council has ambitious plans for new and upgraded facilities and we cautiously welcome this but it has to be remembered that sport and leisure is a discretionary service so we would not wish to see high spending in this area impact on other, more critical, services elsewhere which could put jobs at risk.”

As well as the council’s six six leisure centres and its Active Health service, the plans could include transferring Little Explorers Day Nursery, the Turkish Baths, and community centres in Jennyfield, Fairfax and Knaresborough to the LACC.

According to a report set to be considered by HBC’s cabinet next week, transferring services stands to save £222,000 in business rates and £76,000 in VAT, with improved financial performance of £130,000 per year. There would be additional costs of £144,000, leaving savings of £284,000 per year, in the council’s figures.

The council has projected an increase in revenue of around £500,000 – equivalent to 10 percent of its current income – as a result of being run by a single-focus company.

The report also states that the council commissioned four studies into its leisure services in and alternative ways of delivering them, in 2018. It adds:

“SLL’s final report was presented to Cabinet on December 16, 2019 and as a result cabinet agreed in principle to progress the creation of a Company to run its sport and leisure facilities and services.”

Discussions between HBC and unions this week follow a public disagreement between them. Unison said on Monday it was disappointed that the council had failed to make any contact with its members – a claim which HBC branded “ridiculous”.

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The council consulted with residents last month about the proposals. In the report to cabinet, the results show 46 percent of the 433 people who responded either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the plans. Twenty-seven percent agreed or strongly agreed, while 27 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

“We have seen the council report and it would appear that this decision was actually taken last year, so we do wonder what the point of the recent resident’s survey was.  Having now seen the survey responses it does seem to confirm our view that there is not much support from the 433 residents who responded, for sport and leisure to be run by a LACC.”

The union has welcomed measures to protect employees, including keeping them in the local government pension scheme. However, it raised concerns about changing terms and conditions after the LACC is formed, and the possibility that an outside provider will be found to run services in future.

The proposals to create the LACC will be put before the council’s cabinet when it meets online next Wednesday, June 17.

Council cuts trees down on the Stray

Harrogate Borough Council is in the process of removing young trees from West Park Stray which are of ‘low vitality.’

A total of 12 trees have been identified by the arboricultural team to be removed, these will then be replaced with 26 new trees planted in autumn.

The council has said it is taking action quick to allow for felling to take place before the reseeding work, in order to not disturb the site in the future.

The West Park Stray is currently being re-seeded and repaired after damage caused from the 2019 UCI Road World Championships. Harrogate Borough Council estimated that the work would cost close to £130,000

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The council’s took a controversial decision to award a direct contract to a Lancashire firm for the restoration work, rather than put it out to tender – the contract was labelled as “urgent”.

The decision upset local contractors who were unhappy that they weren’t asked to do the work.

Harrogate Monsoon store saved from closure

Harrogate’s Monsoon Accessorize store has been saved despite the company announcing a string of store closures after falling into administration.

Monsoon brought in administrators late on Tuesday before being bought out by Adena Brands Ltd through a pre-pack deal which was announced this morning.

Administrators FPR Advisory secured the deal with Adena, which is owned by Monsoon’s founder Peter Simon, which will see 450 jobs transferred over to the company.

But, 35 stores will still close across the UK and 545 staff will be made redundant.

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Harrogate’s Monsoon Accessorize store on James Street is not included on the list of closures released today.

The news comes as non essential retail, such as clothes stores, will reopen on Monday after lockdown is eased.

Mr Simon has promised to inject £15 million into Monsoon so it can continue trading and will work with administrators to negotiate leases on 162 stores and secure more than 2,300 retail jobs.

Tony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: 

“We had to move quickly and decisively to secure the future of Monsoon and Accessorize, as many jobs as possible and the presence of these two iconic brands on the UK high street. After assessing a range of options this deal achieves those goals with least disruption to the business in an already challenging retail environment.

“We are now committed to working with Adena Brands as they enter talks with landlords to agree future terms across their store portfolio and look to transfer more jobs to the buyer. We’ll also be working with the Redundancy Payments Service to support all affected employees through this difficult time.”

Many in district still fearful of shopping for clothes

Will shoppers return to the high street on Monday?

Since the lockdown easing was revealed by the Prime Minister, a number of major and independent outlets have already announced that their doors will be open on June 15.

But once shops are open and the store lights are on, the focus will shift to how customers react after 10 weeks of closure and increasingly more people shopping online.

The Stray Ferret went around the district and asked people in town centres whether they were uneasy about returning to shops.

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In our video above, people raised concerns over changing rooms in clothes stores and shops reopening too early.

Melanie Lancaster, from Ripon, said it was not necessary for the city’s high street to reopen yet.

“I’m not going to shop when the shops open.

“I know that they are saying that they are going to quarantine clothes, but I would still not feel comfortable doing that.”

Sandra Watkins, from Harrogate, said she was concerned with younger people and whether they would be mindful when shops reopen.

She said: “I’m more concerned perhaps with my teenage daughter still being quite young, are they going to be mindful going back into places like Primark?”

Some smaller traders do not expect customers to be stepping through their doors immediately, but bigger retailers have a challenge.

Shop space which once saw customers move freely around will be altered by one way systems, two metre distances and limited customers.

Esther Pugh, a retail expert at Leeds Beckett University, said the experience of shopping will be changed by social distancing, but added that she remained optimistic about customers returning to the high street.

She said: “Stores use their layout to help navigate the space and move around.

“But it will be a challenge because the guidelines will effect the experience.

“I am optimistic and I think people need to feel positive. I think the shops need to be innovative and turn this into something new for shoppers.”

Tomorrow, we will report on what is being done to entice shoppers back onto Harrogate’s high street and into retail stores.

District B&Bs start applying for local discretionary grants

Harrogate Borough Council has announced a £2.3 million new scheme to support smaller businesses in the district such as charities and bed and breakfasts.

The discretionary grant aims to help those businesses that may have previously missed out on other coronavirus grants. The government allowed grants of up to £25,000 to be offered, but the council has capped this at £10,000 to help as many businesses as possible.

As a discretionary grant the council has more input into the final decision process, in comparison to previous grants offered during the crisis.

In particular, B&B owners are hoped to benefit from the scheme. The eligibility criteria also includes charities and small businesses including those in shared offices and flexible workspaces. The businesses must have been trading before 11 March 2020 and have fewer than 50 employees.

One bed and breakfast owner from the Harrogate District, who wanted to stay anonymous, said:

I’ve had no income since the second week of March and there are things we have to continue paying for so if we got any money it would mean I don’t have to pay it all. This grant is the difference between re-opening soon or being unable to.”

B&B’s are still awaiting formal notice that they can re-open, but before then grants allow them to secure some income.

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Kimberley Wilson, the chairman of accommodation Harrogate, said:

“In Harrogate most bed and breakfasts were covered by the initial grant. We are hoping the few that weren’t covered will now be able to access this discretionary grant to help their business in the future”.

Drive-In Cinema comes to Harrogate and Ripon

What-A-Movie has announced it will be bringing a drive-in cinema to locations across Harrogate and Ripon, where you can watch a movie with friends whilst social distancing.

The screening will take place at the Yorkshire Show Ground in Harrogate on 11 July and 12 July and at Ripon Racecourse on 18 July and 19 July.

What-A-Movie will be showing 3 films a day, including family favourites The Lion King, Grease, Mamma Mia Here We Go Again and The Jungle Book.

Mike Hanson, one of the directors at What-A-Movie said:

“With mental wellbeing becoming an increasing concern within lockdown, this is a great opportunity as the restrictions are eased for families to get out and enjoy a shared, fun experience in lovely surroundings and leave with a smile on their faces.”

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The screenings will take place in accordance with Government guidelines, with contactless ticket scanning on entry and cars parked at least 2 metres away from others. Food and snacks can also be ordered on site and will be delivered to cars.

A donation from ticket proceeds will be made to charities including Care Workers Charity and Racing Welfare.

To book tickets, visit – https://www.what-an-event.co.uk/what-a-movie/

Harrogate NHS Nightingale contract extended until end of July

Harrogate Borough Council has extended the contract for the NHS Nightingale at the Harrogate Convention Centre until the end of July.

The HCC, which is owned by the council, was converted into Yorkshire and Humber NHS Nightingale in April in just a few weeks. It has a 500 bed capacity  – but so far has not treated seen a single covid patient. The NHS said recently that it was opening up its CT scanning facilities at the Nightingale for non-covid outpatient use.

The council confirmed this evening that the NHS had “taken up its option” for an extension until July 31st.

Beds inside the NHS Nightingale- ready for covid-19 patients that have never come

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The NHS has not payed any rent to the council for the initial contract until June but ,in May, documents that went to a council cabinet meeting stated:

“The contract does not provide for rent to be paid during the NHS occupation up to the end of June, as no planned events were being held during this period. However, should the agreement be extended there is provision for compensation in the event of the cancellation of future events.”

Harrogate hospital boss opens up about racist abuse at the trust

Harrogate Hospital’s chief executive has opened about how his staff have been subject to racist abuse at work, as well as his own experiences.

Steve Russell said examples of different treatments exist in the UK “and, if we are honest, here at [the hospital.]”

He made the announcement to colleagues on the day of George Floyd’s funeral.

The Harrogate NHSFT chief executive spoke about the different examples of treatment towards BAME staff.

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He said patients have refused treatment from BAME staff. Risk assessors have singled them out because “people like them live in crowded houses.” They have also been subject to criticism for spending time at work following religious pursuits, he added.

Steve Russell also opened up about his own experience of racism at the hospital and when he was younger:

“When my appointment was announced and my picture was shared some people ‘well, he doesn’t look like a Steve.’

“My dad being asked on a bus ‘where he got me from,’ being told in school that I should get back on my banana boat, and to this day I appear to regularly end up being one of the people randomly selected for a search at airports and events.”

Harrogate NHSFT’s board of directors has committed to stamping our racism and promoting equality at the trust.

The trust said it was taking action but added that “there is always more we can do.”

Steve added: “George’s murder has ignited a call for the end to racism and injustice across the world. If it is to be more than just a call, we have to look at ourselves, not at others. We are all part of the solution to end this. It is no longer good enough for us to be neutral in this. I want to clearly say that, here at HDFT, Black Lives Matter.”

Union concerns over leisure ‘ridiculous’, says council

Harrogate Borough Council has described union concerns that the authority is being tight-lipped over its leisure plans as “ridiculous”.

The authority was responding to concerns from Unison that the council had not kept union bosses informed over proposals and that it had “no overwhelming support”.

But, the council said the plan, which it has consulted residents on, will save the authority £400,000 a year.

It comes as the council faces an estimated £15 million deficit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a report due before the authority’s cabinet next week, the company would be called Brimham’s Active and has a target set up date of August 2021.

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If given the go-ahead, it would mean facilities such as Harrogate Hydro, the Turkish Baths and Ripon Leisure Centre would be run by the new company.

Unison bosses said they were concerned that not enough information had been shared with them about the proposal, but the council has said it would be unrealistic to provide a running commentary on the company.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“For Unison to suggest we have been “tight lipped” is ridiculous.

“The union is aware of the proposal to create a local authority controlled company to manage our sport and leisure services.

“To expect a running commentary while a report is prepared for councillors to consider at next week’s meeting of cabinet is unrealistic.

“The proposal would enable us to save £400,000 a year and invest in new facilities for the benefit of people across the district.

“Our valued colleagues would be transferred to the new company on exactly the same terms and conditions they enjoy now.”

Harrogate’s deep clean is underway

A deep clean of Harrogate town centre began last night as retailers prepare to re-open next Monday.

The four-year contract for the clean was given to a team from the Yorkshire-based company UK Nationwide Cleaning services. The team began on Market Street and Cross James Street.

The clean is expected to take three weeks with a team working through the night, five days a week. The pavements and street furniture will be power washed throughout Harrogate’s retail space.

The cleaning team began in the heart of the retail town today.

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Once the town centre clean is complete, it will then continue into the wider BID area.

Harrogate BID Interim Manager Simon Kent said:

“The deep clean of Harrogate town centre has been a long time coming, and I’m delighted that it has now got under way. In a recent survey by Harrogate BID, the majority of businesses who responded said they saw this as the number one priority. UK Nationwide Cleaning Services, whom we awarded the contract to, are experts in this line of cleaning, having worked successfully with BIDs across the UK, including a number in Yorkshire.”