What did police and fire commissioner Zoe Metcalfe achieve?

After two-and-a-half years in office, police commissioner Zoe Metcalfe bowed out from public life this past week.

On Monday, the position of North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner was abolished as powers were transferred to the newly created Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

The decision spelt the end for Ms Metcalfe’s £76,300 a year role, which she was elected to in November 2021 after succeeding fellow Conservative Philip Allott.

Her tenure saw a strategy for violence against women and girls introduced, plus a drive to improve call handling times.

But it also saw Ms Metcalfe oversee a controversial plan to cut the number of overnight fire engines in Harrogate from two to one.

The Stray Ferret requested an interview with the former commissioner to discuss her tenure, but a spokesperson for her office said she was unavailable due to “the volume of her commitments in her final few days”.

In this article, we look at Ms Metcalfe’s time as commissioner and analyse her performance.

999 calls

During her campaign to become commissioner, Ms Metcalfe pledged to improve the performance of North Yorkshire Police – in particular call handling.

The issue was encapsulated by the public routinely complaining about long waits for emergency calls to be answered.

Police reported in January 2023 that fewer than half of 999 calls were being answered on time.

North Yorkshire Police force control room

North Yorkshire Police force control room

Between November 2021 and November 2022, only 44% were answered within 10 seconds. The national target for forces is 90%.

Ms Metcalfe made improving response times one of her priorities and announced a £2.5m investment into the control room, which included hiring 50 more staff to ease pressure.

By January this year, the force met the national target for call handling times.

Cllr Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who sits on the North Yorkshire police, fire and crime panel that scrutinised Ms Metcalfe’s performance, pointed to the area as a sign of improvement.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I would say that commissioner Metcalfe has definitely outperformed the two previous occupants of the role. Although, to be absolutely honest, this is rather a low bar to set. 

“I do appreciate the transparency and commitment Zoe brought to the post. Under her watch performance has improved, notably in the outcome of recent inspection reports for both services, the performance of the police control room, where thanks to additional funding she has invested, call time answering has improved significantly.”

However, despite strides in improving the police force, the fire service proved a more contentious service to handle.

Fire cuts opposition

In May 2022, Ms Metcalfe unveiled her risk and resource model, which set out how the fire service will deploy its resources over the next three years. It puts the emphasis on fire prevention, especially during the day when most fires occur.

The plan, which covered the three years from 2022 to 2025, included a proposal to reduce the number of fire engines operating overnight at Harrogate and Scarborough fire stations from two to one.

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The move was met with criticism from the North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union, which warned that such a decision would lead to a “second-rate emergency response service that will put lives at risk”.

However, in an interview with the Stray Ferret in June 2022, Ms Metcalfe disagreed with the union’s criticism.

She said:

“From everything I’ve seen I’m confident that won’t happen.”

Ms Metcalfe also argued that the proposals meant more resources for fire prevention.

The move came at a time of a bleak financial picture for the service.

Harrogate fire station on Skipton Road.

Harrogate fire station on Skipton Road.

In January 2022, the Stray Ferret revealed that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service faced having to borrow up to £31 million to fund new equipment after the government abolished its capital grant.

At the time, Steve Howley, secretary of the North Yorkshire Fire Brigade’s Union, said the service was “struggling to buy the basics”.

He said:

“The government needs to start taking fire and rescue seriously and fund it appropriately. The firefighters of North Yorkshire are staring down the barrel of a gun, either cut firefighter jobs to pay for basic provisions or fail to have adequate facilities or equipment.

“Neither option provides the public of North Yorkshire with the protection they deserve or require.”

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Fire Brigade’s Union for comment, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Meanwhile, Ms Metcalfe told councillors during public meetings that she would lobby government for fairer funding, but this appears to have not had the desired effect.

In February, the commissioner recommended to increase the council tax precept for the fire service by 2.99% because it was the maximum increase permitted by government without a referendum.

Cllr Aldred said he felt that the commissioner could have done more to pressure ministers to come up with a better model for financing rural fire services.

He said:

“I do think the outgoing commissioner could have put more pressure on central government for more funding for the North Yorkshire fire service. 

“The national funding model always works against a large rural fire service, who rely extensively on volunteer fire fighters and often have to travel large distances to reach fires in England’s largest geographical county.”

The trials and tribulations which come with scrutinising and commissioning police and fire services now lie with David Skaith, the Labour mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Find out how your child can join the Cundall family at a school open morningLucy Pittaway unveils new original celebrating Harrogate life

This story is sponsored by Lucy Pittaway.

Step into Lucy Pittaway’s colourful world and get ready for an adventure through her diverse collection of artwork. From the tranquil beauty of Yorkshire landscapes to the playful antics of her beloved sheep, there’s something for everyone to love in Lucy’s gallery.

Picture this: you stroll into the gallery, and you’re hit with a burst of energy and colour that just screams Lucy Pittaway, it’s like stepping into a rainbow.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by splendid landscapes, vibrant florals, adorable dogs, energetic cyclists, and of course, those iconic sheep.

Lucy’s latest masterpiece “Yorkshire Life”

Let’s talk about “Yorkshire Life.” This latest masterpiece is all about celebrating the scenic wonders of Harrogate and its surroundings.

Think rolling hills, iconic landmarks, and maybe even a few fluffy friends thrown in for good measure. It’s like a love letter to Yorkshire, painted with Lucy’s signature flair and style.

The original “Yorkshire Life” on display in the Harrogate gallery.

Lucy’s collections are inspired by her travels, her love of nature, and her passion for capturing life’s little moments. Whether you’re dreaming of dramatic skies, sunrises and sunsets or simply want to bring a touch of joy and colour into your home, she has got you covered.

Harrogate gallery bursting with joy

Now, let’s talk about the gallery itself. Located in the middle of Harrogate’s bustling high street, it’s a beacon of creativity and fun.

Since opening its doors, it’s become a hotspot for art lovers and locals alike, drawing in people with its vibrant colour and welcoming atmosphere.

The store sells homeware, stationery and more.

Let’s not forget about Tanya, the gallery manager, and her team who unveiled the original “Yorkshire Life” in Harrogate today.

The team are always ready with a smile and a friendly chat, they’ll help you find the perfect piece to suit your style and personality.

Whether you’re a seasoned art expert or a newbie just dipping your toes into the art world, they’ll make you feel right at home.

So why not pop by Lucy Pittaway’s Harrogate Gallery? Lose yourself in the beauty of “Yorkshire Life” and discover a world of colour, joy, and endless possibilities. Who knows? You might just leave with a little piece of Lucy magic to brighten up your day!

Harrogate-born man to represent UK in Eurovision final tomorrow

A Harrogate-born man will represent the UK at the world’s biggest music competition tomorrow night.

Olly Alexander, frontman of UK-chart-topping band Years & Years, will go head-to-head with 25 other countries in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

The competition celebrates its 68th anniversary this year and marks the beginning of Olly’s solo career after more than a decade of success with Years & Years.

The group achieved two number one UK albums, 10 UK top 40 singles and, most recently, were awarded the BRIT Billion Award after reaching 6.5 billion global streams.

But Olly will tomorrow face other European hopefuls alone – all competing to follow in ABBA’s footsteps 50 years on.

In an interview with the BBC, he said:

“I’m feeling very proud to be representing the UK with my song Dizzy. I can’t believe that it’s happening to be honest with you, this whole experience feels like a dream.

“I’ve watched Eurovision since I was a kid and now that I’m going to be out there on the stage, flying the flag for my country. It’s quite overwhelming but very exciting.”

He also said he has one pre-stage ritual, which is to “hug whoever I’m going on stage with”.

Olly Alexander rehearsing for Eurovision. Pic: BBC/Mercury Studios Media Limited.

However, Olly also told the BBC he did the one thing Eurovision contestants shouldn’t do – he looked at his odds – and it appears the UK doesn’t stand a great chance of winning (again).

“My odds for winning are at one per cent”, he told the BBC, adding “but that’s fine. It’s better than zero”.

According to EurovisionWorld.com, Croatia is favourite to win, with a 38% chance of success. Israel and Switzerland are next.

The competition is being held in Malmö following Sweden’s seventh win last year.

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be streamed on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm tomorrow night (Saturday, May 11).

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Police stop driver with ‘insecure load’ in Harrogate

Police stopped a vehicle piled high with pallets on the outskirts of Harrogate yesterday (May 9).

Sargent Paul Cording from the roads policing team at North Yorkshire Police, shared details on X, formerly Twitter.

He said:

“A little bit of digging showed the vehicle to be on false plates along with the obvious insecure load.

“As often happens though one thing leads to another, and the driver tested positive for cannabis on a drug wipe.”

Sgt Cording said further inspection revealed the vehicle had false registration plates.

He added:

“The driver was arrested and an evidential blood sample has been obtained which will be sent of for analysis.”

One from yesterday when we stopped this on the outskirts of #Harrogate A little bit of digging showed the vehicle to be on false plates along with the obvious insecure load. As often happens though #OneThingLeadsToAnother & the driver tested positive for cannabis on a @DrugWipeUK pic.twitter.com/FjpEALmxz4

— Sgt Paul Cording BEM (@OscarRomeo1268) May 10, 2024

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Starbucks reveals opening date for new Harrogate drive-through

Starbucks has finally revealed when it will open its new drive-through on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The company will welcome its first customers at 8am on Tuesday, May 21.

The business will be open from 6am to 9pm daily.

Store manager Chris Gilbert told the Stray Ferret the Starbucks had brought 18 jobs to the local area through the new initiative, and the number was expected to increase.

Mr Gilbert said:

“We are looking forward to helping boost the local economy. We have already been out litter picking around the area as we know this is becoming an issue in Harrogate at the minute.

“On our opening day, we will be giving out free tall drinks vouchers to customers that come and visit. These can be redeemed on the first weekend and will be on a first come, first serve basis.

“We are super excited to open, and we look forward to being part of the community.”

Starbucks is based on the site previously occupied by Mediterranean fast-food chain Leon, which closed in April last year after just 10 months.

It was operated by Blackburn-based EG Group, which also runs Starbucks franchises as well as brands including KFC and Greggs.

The site was previously a Leon restaurant.

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Harrogate cinema evacuated after fire alert

Cinema-goers in Harrogate had to be evacuated mid-movie last night when a fire alarm went off.

The alarm sounded at the Everyman cinema on Station Parade at 9.42pm last night.

All the theatres within the cinema and the connecting buildings were immediately evacuated.

Firefighters from Harrogate were on the scene within five minutes for what turned out to be a false alarm caused by a faulty fire detector.

People were allowed back in the building shortly after 10pm.

Oliver Dawson was among those watching Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes when the alarm went off.

He said as soon as the incident was over, staff offered customers either a free ticket to watch on another day or the option to continue last night’s viewing from the time the alarm went off, which he took.

Mr Dawson said:

“The cinema staff couldn’t have done anything else. They kept us all informed and handled the problem as quick and efficiently as it was safe to do so.

“Personally, it just felt like going to the theatre with an interval.”

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Controversial traffic proposal for Harrogate road scrapped

Plans to introduce a left-turn only rule at a junction in Harrogate have been scrapped.

North Yorkshire Council proposed bringing in a traffic order to prevent vehicles from turning right at the junction of Belford Road and Victoria Avenue, opposite the library.

But it said at a consultation event this week the idea had proved unpopular and been dropped.

However, other changes are still in the pipeline as part of a £807,000 scheme to improve active travel on Victoria Avenue.

They include:

The Beech Road junction will be reconfigured to prevent traffic illegally travelling straight on.

However, the plans do not include a cycle lane, which had been seen as a key part of wider ambitions to create an integrated off-road cycle route from the train and bus stations to Cardale Park.

Cyclists branded the decision “unbelievably disappointing“.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, told the Stray Ferret at this week’s consultation event at the Civic Centre in Harrogate that the cost of the cycling proposals had spiralled to £1.5 million due to inflation and rising material costs.

The council was awarded funding from the second round of the government’s active travel fund in 2020.

It planned to allocate this on creating cycle lanes but the rising costs, along with an unsuccessful bid to the fourth round of the active travel fund prompted it to propose cheaper alternative measures.

Ms Burnham said the council had written to about 1,500 nearby residents and businesses about the proposed changes and had received about 50 written responses as part of the consultation.

She said the scheme still promoted active travel because it would make Victoria Avenue better for pedestrians and wheelchair users and the council still aspired to create cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue when funding permitted. Ms Burnham said:

“It’s a positive step forward for active travel.”

Victoria Avenue

Consultation on the proposals ends on Sunday, May 12.

To comment, you can email Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk using ‘Victoria Avenue ATF 2 Consultation’ in the title of your email or letter.

Or post comments to: NYC Highways, Area 6 Boroughbridge Office, Stump Cross, Boroughbridge YO51 9HU.

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Heavy rain causes Starbeck church ceiling to collapse

The ceiling of a Starbeck church has collapsed after a severe rainstorm this week.

David Leonard, a treasurer at St Andrew’s Church, contacted the Stray Ferret on Wednesday after part of the ceiling of its Welcome Centre caved in on Monday evening (May 6).

Mr Leonard said the volume of rain was “too much” for the rooftop drains, which led to the damage.

The church also took to social media to say the Welcome Centre is “out of action” following a “severe ingress of water”.

Mr Leonard said the church has insurance, but would also apply to various charities for financial help to fix the ceiling.

He said:

“I don’t know exactly but I expect it’ll cost at least £5,000 to repair – if not more.

“I imagine the welcome centre will be out of action for around three months, but the repairs will take as long as they take.”

Mr Leonard did confirm, however, the church is still operating as usual and can be accessed via different doors.

It comes after an extreme rainstorm hit parts of Starbeck and Knaresborough on Monday.

Several Knaresborough roads were underwater, while homes were flooded and residents were forced to evacuate.

The damage raised questions about the ability of local drainage systems to cope, but North Yorkshire Council denied this was a factor.

Mr Leonard attributed the damage at St Andrew’s to “just a case of there being exceptional weather that day”.

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Prolific Harrogate drug dealer jailed

A drug dealer who brought cocaine, ketamine and cannabis to the streets of Harrogate has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa, 24, who was already remanded in prison but previously lived in Keswick and Harrogate, was sentenced at York Crown Court today (May 9).

According to a North Yorkshire Police media release today, officers received information on Friday, May 5 last year that Mkutchwa was supplying drugs in Harrogate.

He was already the subject of two separate investigations into his involvement in the supply of cannabis and was under a suspended sentence due to being previously found in possession of a large quantity of cannabis.

North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite drugs team spotted him getting into a car that they later intercepted on King’s Road, Harrogate.

The vehicle contained three occupants including Mkutchwa, who was a passenger. Following a search of him, officers recovered multiple deal bags of white powder, which when tested were found to be 13 bags of cocaine and 10 bags of suspected ketamine.

Mkutchwa was arrested and taken into custody. During a further search of a property where he was staying in Harrogate, officers found more bags containing cocaine and ketamine and a set of scales. The total value of all drugs seized was approximately £2,250.

He was subsequently charged with possessing cocaine and ketamine with intent to supply and remanded into custody. He appeared at York Crown Court on June 13 where he pleaded guilty to both offences from May 2023.

On December 19, he appeared at York Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. For these two offences, Mkutchwa was in possession of cannabis which when sold on the streets would have a value of up to £11,035. He also had cash to the value of £1,085.

Drugs recovered by police.

‘One less person spreading misery in Harrogate’

Investigating officer PC Michael Haydock of the Operation Expedite team, said:

“Mkutchwa has been dealing illegal substances for many years and has used others to assist in his criminal activity, putting himself above them in an attempt to distance himself from street level drug dealing. Not only that, he has continued to offend despite being given a suspended sentence and whilst under investigation for identical offences.

“For Mkutchwa, this has now come to an end and he is one less person who spreads misery on the streets of Harrogate. His actions, and that of anyone else involved in supplying illegal substances, are the cause of so many other crimes which are often committed by those desperate to fund a drug habit that he facilitates.

“He now has a significant period of time to reflect on his criminal behaviour and hopefully he will see the error of his ways.”

No drugs were found on the other two occupants of the car and no further was taken against them.

The sentencing judge commended the three officers who worked on the investigation, including PC Haydock, for their “utmost professionalism and integrity” and for “overcoming an array of difficulties to secure conviction”, as well as their “outstanding investigative skills and attention to detail to ensure this case was brought to conviction”.

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