Council cancels another Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee

North Yorkshire Council has cancelled another Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee due to a lack of planning applications to consider.

The meeting was set to take place next Tuesday at the Civic Centre in Harrogate.

It means since the new council was formed in April, just four out of nine planned meetings have taken place with none happening since the last meeting on September 26.

The ability to approve or reject planning applications is a key responsibility of elected councillors, with cross-party planning committees based around parliamentary constituencies scheduled to meet each month.

But there have been concerns across the county that power has been concentrated centrally with unelected officers making the decisions instead.

Last month, the Harrogate & Knaresborough committee chair Pat Marsh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council was making a “nonsense” out of the current planning system.

In a statement published this week, the council’s assistant director of planning services, Trevor Watson, said one reason for the paucity of meetings was that planning applications in the former Harrogate district area are now been heard by councillors in the Skipton & Ripon and Selby & Ainsty constituency areas instead.

This includes plans for an eco home development in Flaxby tomorrow, which is a resubmitted version of a scheme previously refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

Mr Watson said: 

“We are committed to open and transparent governance and always endeavour to hold planning meetings where possible.

“Unfortunately, due to a lack of agenda items, the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency planning committee meeting scheduled for December 19 had to be cancelled.

“However, as the former administrative boundary of Harrogate Borough Council is split over three area constituency planning committees, a number of applications were considered at the Skipton and Ripon planning committee last week.

“A further two items are scheduled to be considered by the Selby and Ainsty committee on Wednesday.”

The next Harrogate & Knaresborough planning committee is set to take place on January 30.

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Labour designates Harrogate and Knaresborough ‘non-battleground’ seat

The Labour Party has designated Harrogate and Knaresborough as a “non-battleground” seat at the next election.

The party published a list online of 211 seats which it considers to be non-target constituencies.

Among them is Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well Skipton and Ripon, both of which are currently held by Conservative MPs.

Local Liberal Democrats have claimed the move means the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency will be a “two horse race” at the next election.

Tom Gordon, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“This constituency will be a two horse race between the Liberal Democrats and a desperately out of touch Conservative party.

“Even Labour have now admitted they cannot win here. The Liberal Democrats are on a winning streak locally, as people send this government a message.”

The Stray Ferret has approached the Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, which has yet to name a parliamentary candidate, for comment.

It comes as speculation over the date of the next general election has increased amid continued infighting in government.

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been selected to fight the seat for the Tories again.

He is aiming for a fifth straight election win in the constituency at the next election.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate firm wins dealer excellence award

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

An office supplies company from Harrogate has beaten stiff competition from the south at a national awards ceremony. 

Supplies Web Ltd, which is based at Claro Court Business Centre, won the dealer excellence award for companies that turn over less than £5 million a year at the national BOSS Awards, which were held in Manchester and attended by more than 450 people. 

The BOSS Awards are held annually by the BOSS Federation, which is the trade association for the business supplies industry. 

Paul Graves, director of Supplies Web, said: 

“Delivering a sustainable and ethical solution is imperative to us and we are looking forward to building on this in 2024 and beyond, helping our designated charities, communities, and the planet.” 

Supplies Web beat competitors from across the south-east and East Anglia and was singled out by judges for its strategic approach, combining organic growth, acquisitions, and diversification to achieve achieved a 18% growth from 2022 to 2023.

Judges also highlighted the company’s overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 62% of customers giving a perfect 10/10 in customer surveys.  

Supplies Web started from two home offices in 2009 with a vision to put the customer first, save them money and provide reliability and efficiency.  

Managing director Grahame Barnes said: 

“Rather than just words, we wanted to deliver unique services for businesses of all sizes and solutions that would benefit them. We had the passion and that drove us through the journey.”

New face at Harrogate law firm

LCF Law in Harrogate has appointed a new solicitor to its personal law team.

Nicole Narey previously spent five years at another Yorkshire law firm, where she completed her training and worked as a private client solicitor. She said:

“My role is a varied and interesting one. Within our team of 12 lawyers, we all have our individual disciplines, and mine involves Court of Protection work.

“Assisting people at a difficult time in their lives is highly rewarding and I’m looking forward to developing this aspect of LCF Law’s legal services throughout Harrogate and beyond.”

Neil Shaw, partner and head of personal law at LCF Law, said:

“Nicole is very personable and professional, and she helps clients ensure their affairs are all in order and safeguarded. Her experience working with the Court of Protection will be an asset to our team and will continue to ensure that we secure the best outcomes for our clients.”

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Accused in Harrogate schoolboy crash didn’t check road was clear, court hears

A highly decorated colonel in the US military has gone on trial accused of causing serious injury to two Harrogate schoolboys by careless driving.

Benjamin Oakes, 46, was in a white Vauxhall Astra which pulled out of a junction at the end of a driveway next to Ashville College in Harrogate and collided with the back end of a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Louise Berry said that the Ford Ranger, driven by Sam Goodall, had swerved in an attempt to avoid the Astra.

But the Astra clipped the back of the truck which careered across the road and mounted a pavement on the opposite side of Yew Tree Lane into the path of two teenagers who were walking along the footpath.

The truck struck both boys, who can’t be named for legal reasons, and ploughed through a wall at the edge of the college grounds.

Ms Berry said that at least one of the boys was “buried under the debris” and both were left with serious injuries including a horrific leg injury.

A pick-up trick has crashed into a wall outside Ashville College

The scene of the crash in February.

Ms Berry said it was the Crown’s case that Oakes, of Tewit Well Avenue, Harrogate, had caused the accident because he hadn’t checked that the way was clear before pulling out of the junction.

She said that Oakes’s Astra had been “edging” out of the junction before pulling out completely into the path of the Ford Ranger.

Witnesses said they saw the Astra “edging out” of the junction before “rolling back” and then pulling out again.

Oakes – who according to his Linked In profile was chief of the space policy division for the US joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon – was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.

He denied the allegations and appeared for trial today at the York court in front of district judge Adrian Lower.

‘Aggressive and inpatient’

Ms Berry said it was the Crown’s contention that Oakes had driven carelessly because he had failed to check if the road was “completely clear” before he pulled out.

A female motorist who witnessed the collision described Oakes’s driving in the moments before the crash as “aggressive and inpatient”.

She said he appeared to be “in a rush to leave the junction” before the collision with the pick-up truck driven by Mr Goodall, who said that following the crash Oakes told him: “I didn’t see you.”

Another witness said he saw the Astra pull out of the junction “too far” before “clipping” the back end of the Ford Ranger.

The onus is on the prosecution to prove that Oakes directly contributed to the subsequent collision with the teenagers by pulling out of the junction carelessly, giving the truck driver no chance to take sufficient evasive action to avoid contact with the Astra.

Oakes’s Linked In profile said he had held his current role, which involves directing space policy for the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon in Washington, for more than four years.

The joint chiefs of staff consist of the most senior leaders in the United States Department of Defense, who advise the president.

He was previously a political-military analyst in the space policy division and before that was commander of the operational support squadron in the US Airforce.

Hundreds of US military personnel are stationed at RAF Menwith Hill near Harrogate.

The trial continues.

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Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal: An important message from Dementia Forward

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal aims to raise money for a much-needed minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Dementia Forward is a saviour for hundreds of families across the Harrogate district.

Today, we hear from people the charity continues to help.

 

The Stray Ferret hopes to raise £30,000 to buy the charity a new minibus but we’re still a long way off our target – and we need your help.

We know times are hard, but please donate whatever you can to this vital cause.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward. It will fund a new minibus and improve the lives of people living with dementia and those around them.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going. Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Let’s not forget those who need our help this Christmas.

Thank you.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP won’t say if he will support Rwanda bill

Harrogate and Knaresborough‘s Conservative MP Andrew Jones has declined to say whether he will support the government’s Rwanda bill tomorrow.

The Safety of Rwanda Bill aims to block legal challenges that prevent deportation flights of asylum seekers from taking off. The government is bringing forward the bill after the Supreme Court ruled its previous attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful.

The verdict triggered the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman and has led to threats of a rebellion from the right of the Conservative Party, which fears the new bill does not go far enough.

At the same time, some more centrist Conservatives are concerned the bill ignores international law.

If the Conservatives lose the vote, it would be a serious blow to the authority of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he would vote in favour of the bill.

He replied:

“We should not think of the Rwanda bill in isolation.  It is part of a number of measures designed to deter people from making the dangerous journey across the English Channel.

“Among these measures are new returns agreements with Albania, enhanced deals with the French authorities, greater support for asylum application processing and more besides.  These measures have led to crossings coming down by a third this year already.”

Mr Jones went on to say he “will be looking closely at the bill and any amendments which might be selected for debate by the Speaker”, adding:

“When considering those amendments my thoughts will be about how we break the people smuggling gangs and, most importantly, how we stop the grim certainty of more fatalities in our coastal waters.

“This issue is not confined to the UK; we see it again and again in the Mediterranean too.  Breaking these gangs requires an international effort and I know we are working closely with partners on how this is done to the best effect.”

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‘Two in one’ burglars strike in Harrogate

Thieves broke into a house in Harrogate and stole car keys before making off with a Kia Picanto.

North Yorkshire Police said today it was investigating the ‘two-in-one’ burglary on Lindrick Way, in the Jennyfields area,

It happened last weekend between 11.15pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday (December 9 and 10).

A silver Kia Picanto, registration RE17 KNG, was taken.

“Police are urging the public to get in touch if they saw anything that could help the investigation or have any CCTV doorbell footage.

“If you can help please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC822 Cleary.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230233921.

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Liberal Democrat councillor chosen as next Harrogate charter mayor

Councillor Chris Aldred, who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley for the Liberal Democrats, has been confirmed as the Harrogate charter mayor from next year.

Cllr Aldred will be the town’s second charter mayor, which is a role created by North Yorkshire Council following the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council in April.

The non-political, unelected role involves promoting the historic and ceremonial traditions of the Harrogate area during events such as last month’s Remembrance Sunday.

Cllr Aldred was chosen this morning by the Harrogate charter trustees, which are 10 councillors who represent divisions covering the unparished parts of Harrogate town.

He will be supported by deputy charter mayor Michael Schofield, who represents Harlow and St Georges as an independent.

The mayoral tradition will pass to a future Harrogate Town Council but this is not expected to happen until at least 2025.

The current charter mayor is Cllr Michael Harrison, who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate for the Conservatives.

Cllr Harrison said:

“As charter trustees we’ll still be in play for at least one more year.

“We asked for nominations and I’m delighted to report that there was one nomination for charter mayor to be Chris Aldred as charter mayor and Mike Schofield for deputy mayor. I’d like to congratulate both of those people.”

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Cllr Aldred and Cllr Schofield will become charter mayor and deputy at a meeting in May.

The charter mayor role differs from the former Harrogate Borough Council mayoralty, which covered the whole of the former borough with the mayor undertaking a wider range of engagements.

The charter mayor is not entitled to expenses such as a chauffeur driven car that the former Harrogate Borough Council mayor could benefit from.

Although the charter mayor is still entitled to wear chains and civic regalia as worn by previous mayors.

At the meeting this morning, councillors approved increasing the annual budget for charter trustee business from £12,100 a year to £12,800, with most of the money set to be spent on North Yorkshire Council staff costs.

It means a Harrogate resident living in a band D property will spend 46p on the charter trustees and charter mayor next year through council tax.

Can my child go to university without A levels? Your T Levels questions answered

This story is sponsored by Harrogate College.

What does the term ‘T Levels’ mean to you? Work experience? A government initiative? Gobbledygook? If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. Even though most parents and carers of teenagers will have heard about T Levels, many will struggle to tell you what this technical qualification is about. 

In this article, we get down to basics by answering the most common questions people ask about T Levels.

What is a T Level?

A T Level is a technical qualification that is the equivalent level as an A level. One T Level is the same size as three A levels due to the breadth and depth of learning it offers students in a specific area. A single T Level also provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels, providing students with another post-16 pathway to university.

T Levels vs A levels, which is better?

Neither. T Levels and A levels are both valid choices for post-GCSE study, they both require the same level of academic acumen. The crucial difference is that T Levels have a technical focus and include a work placement, whilst A levels are theoretical. 

Whether studying a T Level is right for your child will depend on whether they want to focus on a specific subject in depth, or study a broader range of subject areas.

Can you progress to university with a T Level?

Yes, just like A levels, T Levels were designed as a route to higher education. The key thing to remember is that a single T Level provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels. This means that anyone who prefers to study a more hands-on course will still walk away with the right amount of points needed for entry to university. 

Okay, so which universities accept T Levels?

You can find out which universities accept T Levels by checking the entry requirements on their website. Many universities now offer T Level applicants equal consideration on degree applications, including Russell Group institutions like  the University of York, University of Warwick and King’s College London. 

However, due to its technical nature, you may find that a university might accept a T Level as an entry qualification for one degree, but not another. For example, a student could apply for an undergraduate degree in environmental science, but not mathematics. Fortunately, colleges can advise your child further based on their chosen progression route.

How many subjects do you study on a T Level?

Students study one subject on a T Level. Although studying multiple subjects is helpful for those who are still making up their minds about the future, if your child already knows what they’d like to pursue, a T Level will allow them to specialise sooner.

This was the case for Claire, a student in one of Harrogate College’s 2022 cohorts. “When my tutor told me about the T Level in Digital and IT, I knew it would be perfect as tech has always been my passion. The T Level helped to expand my horizons as there were many aspects of IT I wasn’t aware of.”

Like Claire, being able to focus on and explore different aspects of a subject in detail can help 16 to 18 year olds to feel one step closer to their end goal, providing them with a headstart when it comes to building employability skills for their desired career or job role.

What subjects can you study on a T Level?

There are now 20 T Level subjects in total, but the subjects colleges choose to deliver depends on a couple of factors. The first is the local and regional industry demand for that subject, as well as the amount of tutors and employers available for the necessary teaching and work experience elements. 

What are the T Levels at Harrogate College?

We offer students a choice of T Levels in Business, Engineering, Education and Childcare, Health, or Digital and IT. Students who successfully complete a T Level at Harrogate College will receive a nationally recognised qualification that readies them for higher education or employment. 

Why does a T Level have a work experience element?

To provide students with real-world skills. Take a T Level in Childcare, for example. A T Level Education and Childcare student will spend the academic year familiarising themselves with the fundamentals of the sector – child development, safeguarding, behavioural management and so on. They will also spend one day a week, for 45 weeks, putting what they’ve learnt into practice on a compulsory work experience placement, usually in a nursery or early years setting. This combination of practical and theoretical teaching equips learners with hands-on skills and knowledge they can build upon, which is the hallmark of technical education. 

Will T Levels eventually be scrapped because of the new Advanced British Standard?

No, the government’s recent announcement about a major reform of post-16 qualifications in England will see both T Levels and A levels merge into a single, new qualification. The hope is it will enable students to study a mix of technical and academic qualifications, providing better flexibility for future choices.

Are T Levels the same as BTECs?

T Levels and BTECs are two different qualifications. In fact, some might argue that the BTEC qualification is the predecessor of a T Level. 2024 will see thirty-eight BTECs discontinued where these subjects are now taught as T Levels.

The plus side is that T Levels feature a longer work experience period than BTECs (just over six weeks compared to the usual two to three weeks), allowing students more time to gain an insight into the working world.

What happens during a T Level work placement?

During their work experience, a student will be given tasks relating to technical areas in which they need to build experience. T Level work placements are hosted by employers, who will be made aware of each student’s objectives. This is so that they can ensure the student has access to the right type of work needed for each technical area.

I’m an employer, how can I host a T Level placement?

Students are assigned a designated employer by our Employee Engagement Officer. We contact all employers we work with during the spring term of each academic year. If being a T Level work experience host is something you would like to be considered for, please contact Susan.Roberts@harrogate.ac.uk to express your interest. 

Council scraps ‘waste of money’ £100,000 Harrogate cycle plan

A £100,000 project to make a minor Harrogate road better for cycling has been scrapped after being criticised as a “waste of money”.

North Yorkshire Council revealed in September it planned to upgrade Nursery Lane, which is a minor road off Otley Road, into an off-road leisure route.

The scheme came as part of 10 proposals put forward to reduce congestion in west Harrogate.

However, a council report due before Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, next week shows the plan has now been dropped.

The project was criticised by cyclists at a meeting of Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in September.

David Mitchell, of Harrogate District Cycle Action, told councillors that spending £100,000 on Nursery Lane was “not sensible because it would not make a meaningful difference to the cycle network”.

Meanwhile, Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the meeting the cycling community had told him the proposal was “a complete waste of money because that lane is already safe”.

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The report, which will go before Cllr Duncan on December 18, says the scheme has been scrapped as feedback showed it “was not supported and the funding could be better utilised on other projects”.

It has been replaced with a £60,000 plan to resurface the footpath and cycleway between Green Lane and Blenheim Way, which is known as Rossett Cycle Path.

The report said the move would “enhance the off-road route and encourage its use as an alternative route to the Otley Road corridor for walkers and cyclists”.

The Stray Ferret reported the proposed congestion-reducing initiatives when they were published in September. You can read them here.

Funding for the overall project has increased to £854,000 after the authority received further section 106 contributions.

The cost for the improvements is now estimated at £715,000 – an increase from £585,000.

The council said any remaining money would be kept as a contingency to cover design work, which is expected to start in January 2024.

A further report on the proposals will be brought before Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in the spring.