Government ‘refuses to consider’ compensating North Yorkshire for scrapped care pilot

The government has “refused to consider” funding the costs of additional work on a now scrapped care reform scheme in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council was one of six pilot authorities chosen by the Department of Health and Social Care for the project, which would have seen a cap of £86,000 placed on each individual’s spending on their care in their lifetime.

The reforms would also have allowed people to retain up to £100,000 of their own assets and still qualify for funding for their care. The current limit is £23,250.

However, the government has since informed councils the scheme is being abandoned after initially delaying it until October 2025.

The council carried out an overhaul of its IT system as part of the move and looks set to absorb any additional costs associated with staffing into its own budget.

It was awarded £1,159,684 in funding from government as part of the pilot.

But despite this initial funding, the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to contribute to the ongoing costs.

Anton Hodge, assistant director for strategic resources at the council, said in a report due before councillors on Friday:

“Although funding already received to cover costs in 2022/23 will not be required to be repaid, we and other trailblazers have pointed out the ongoing costs of staff already appointed in support of the project and we continue to pursue that aspect.

“However at this stage the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to consider any contribution towards these and therefore any continuing costs will have to be consumed within existing budgets.”

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Senior councillors had previously warned that the pilot could “bankrupt councils” if more funding was not made available.

Cllr Michael Harrison, the Conservative executive member for adult services at the council, said much of the work for the trailblazer was taken on by staff taking on additional responsibilities.

He added:

“The county council was asked by the Department of Health and Social Care to be one of six national sites for testing adult social care charging reforms. Early funding was identified nationally to support this work.

“Given that the bulk of this work involved frontline social care and customer services staff undertaking additional responsibilities, the national funding has been used to enhance existing staffing levels rather than to create separate new posts.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“The department is grateful to all the trailblazers for their work on charging reform and has been working closely with them to understand any costs incurred as a result of their work to date.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate bus company offers local firms ‘flagship’ sponsorship

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Bus operator Transdev is offering companies in the Harrogate district the chance to advertise on its flagship routes.

The company, which runs the 36 route from Harrogate to Leeds, trialed a sponsorship campaign with John Lewis to promote its new store on Victoria Gate in Leeds city centre.

The move saw messaging on two buses on its flagship route in north and west Yorkshire.

The company is now offering the same opportunity to lcal firms in the Harrogate district.

Matt Burley, commercial manager at Transdev, said: 

“John Lewis instantly saw the unique advantage in linking their brand with ours, and now their name can be seen across miles of town and country, inviting potential customers to hop on a bus and be chauffeur driven to the door of their store.

“We believe bus sponsorship is a formula for business success for firms throughout Yorkshire.”

Harrogate company hired to manage Bristol Airport advertising

Bristol Airport has hired a Harrogate company to manage and sell its advertising assets.

Eye Airports, which is based on East Parade, has been hired by the airport on a five-year contract.

The company will be tasked with managing all advertising and promotional opportunities, working closely with the airport’s commercial team to deliver innovative campaigns to customers.

Rachel Davies, managing director at Eye Airports, said:

“We enjoy an excellent working relationship with Bristol Airport, so we are naturally delighted to secure a new five-year contract. As the terminal developments take shape, we are looking forward to delivering some exciting new initiatives using the latest digital technology, both inside and outside the terminal.”

Rupert Lawrie, commercial director at Bristol Airport, said:

“We are delighted to appoint advertising specialist Eye Airports to manage and sell our advertising assets. The award of this new contract follows a competitive tender process and we look forward to working with Eye Airports over the coming five years and seeing the creative advertising campaigns across the airport.”

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New 5G mast at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground approved

A bid to improve 5G connectivity by installing a new telecommunications tower at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate has been approved.

A planning application was submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by telecommunications company EE to erect a lattice tower that will host three antennae, two dishes and several cabinets.

The firm said in documents the proposal would not only boost WiFi at the showground but also provide “much improved and upgraded coverage to surrounding businesses and residents who currently see limited indoor coverage”. 

The council has now approved the proposal.

In planning documents, Harlequin Group, which lodged the plan on behalf of EE, said:

“It should be noted there is no 5G coverage within the immediate or surrounding area whatsoever.

“The area, in particular the Great Yorkshire Showground, has been subject to coverage supplied by way of a temporary emergency solution during events.

“The proposal will be tucked within a building corner, meaning that the equipment will be obscured on two of the four sides.”

Great Yorkshire Showground telecommunications tower

The proposed location for the 5G mast.

Allister Nixon, chief executive of the Great Yorkshire Showground told the Stray Ferret previously:

“The Great Yorkshire Showground is an intrinsic part of the local community that hosts numerous events throughout the year and brings significant employment and money to the area.

“To ensure that we can continue to develop and evolve with the changing demands of customers and business, it is vital to ensure that the latest connectivity is present; the proposed lattice tower is centrally located and has been designed to allow multiple operators to host on the same infrastructure.

“The public benefit goes beyond the Great Yorkshire Showground, with the proposal able to provide upgraded coverage and capacity to the surrounding residential properties, commercial properties, visitors and businesses in the locale. It is therefore believed that this proposal enables the provision of future connectivity for numerous individuals and companies.”

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Boy, 17, electronically tagged after Harrogate crime spree

A teenager has been sentenced to an electronically monitored curfew for breaching a court order issued after committing a string of offences in Harrogate.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Harrogate Youth Court on March 3 after failing to comply with an order issued in August last year.

The court made the order after the teenager was charged with numerous offences in Harrogate.

These included carrying a knife and assault on Forest Lane, stealing £56 worth of watches from TK Maxx in Victoria Shopping Centre and stealing a bike from Swarcliffe Road in August 2022.

He also faced charges on theft of a Berghaus hoodie from Blacks on Station Parade, assault on Hookstone Drive and knowingly being carried on a stolen Piaggio Zip scooter in Harrogate on December 3, 2022.

The 17-year-old was also charged with stealing mountain bikes from St Aidan’s Church of England High School in October last year.

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As a result of the offences, the court imposed a new youth rehabilitation order on the teenager.

It requires him to abide by a curfew at his home address in Skipton for two months, which will be electronically monitored.

He was also ordered not to enter St Aidan’s for three months.

Break-in forces closure of One Stop in Bilton

The One Stop shop on Crab Lane in Bilton was forced to close this morning after a break-in.

Store manager Adam Crawford said would-be thieves smashed the front door at about 2am but left empty-handed after activating security fog designed to disorientate intruders.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret at 11.30am, Mr Crawford said crime scene detectives had just left and he expected the store to reopen in about an hour. The door has been boarded up.

The convenience store, which includes a post office, serves a wide range of customers in Bilton and Knox.

One Stop, which is part of Tesco, has over 1,000 stores in the UK.

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Inquest opens into death of Seb Mitchell in Harrogate

The inquest of a young Harrogate man who died after an incident on Claro Road was opened this morning.

Sebastian Henry Mitchell, known as Seb, was found with injuries at a property in the early hours of Sunday, February 19.

The inquest, held in Northallerton, heard he had been taken to Harrogate District Hospital for emergency treatment, before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for cardiac surgery.

Mr Mitchell, who would have turned 18 on February 28, died aged 17 on Tuesday, February 21 at LGI.

Opening the inquest, North Yorkshire coroner Jon Heath said the provisional cause of death was a stab wound to the chest, causing a loss of blood and oxygen to the brain.

Mr Heath adjourned the inquest to a date yet to be fixed, while further investigations are carried out and reports are prepared.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear in court next week in relation to the incident. The teenager was initially remanded into youth custody at York Magistrates Court, is expected to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

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Man fined £872 for breaching covid lockdown rules in Harrogate

A man has been fined for breaching coronavirus regulations in Harrogate during the third national lockdown two years ago.

Thomas Boston, 33, initially denied a charge of having two or more people in a property on Coppice Drive, Harrogate, on the evening of February 27, 2021.

England was placed into a third lockdown on January 5, 2021.

Police charged Boston with having six people in his flat after responding to reports of breaches of the coronavirus regulations.

At a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday, the court heard Boston, who gave his address as Ripley Road, Knaresborough, had changed his plea to guilty.

Magistrates fined him £872.

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Harrogate Sea Cadets hold first annual awards night after covid

Harrogate’s Sea Cadet unit held its first annual awards night since the covid pandemic.

The event at the Assembly room at Harrogate Ladies College saw awards, badges and qualifications handed out to current cadets.

The Harrogate unit, called T.S Cleopatra, closed for much of the pandemic although a lot of the instruction was done online. It has since resumed sailing, rowing, band practice, catering, marine engineering and drill practice.

Its patron, the Mayor of Harrogate Councillor Victoria Oldham, presented many of the prizes as did special guest Rear Admiral Edward Ahlgren O.B.E (Commander Operations in the Royal Navy) whose 10 year old son, Harry, has just joined the unit.

Rear Admiral Ahlgren,who was a cadet himself in 1989, said:

“I was enormously honoured to present awards and promotions to such an impressive and enthusiastic group of Sea Cadets whose energy and commitment are unrivalled.”

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There was a 12 year award for the chairman, Michael Langford,  who started volunteering in 2011 and a prestigious Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate awarded to Mike Roberts who retired as a volunteer after 30 years as Treasurer.

The unit’s commanding officer Lt Dan Wilding said:

“The cadets have been amazingly resilient and loyal to the unit over the 2 years of Covid restrictions and we are glad to reward them with a night like this.

“Sea Cadets offers so many opportunities to both adults and young people. It is important to remember that we are an independent charity that relies on volunteers in the local community to help make a positive different to the lives of so many young people in your area. If you think you could help us, please get in touch. Likewise, if you are between the ages of 10 and 18 and are interested in becoming a Sea Cadet, we would love to hear from you.”

Harrogate’s T.S Cleopatra is part of the national charity Sea Cadets which operates across the UK with 14,000 young people between 10 and 18, to help them “see the world with confidence, gained through the challenge of nautical adventure and a Royal Navy ethos”.

The unit parades on Tuesday and Friday evenings and meets at 6 Springfield Mews. click here for more details.

 

Business Breakfast: New Diploma qualification launched by Yorkshire School of Garden Design

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

The Yorkshire School of Garden Design is to offer a new Diploma in Planting Design.

The year-long Diploma will be launched at the school’s Spring Open Day this Saturday and is an opportunity for those with a passion for plants to explore a career in garden design.

The school at Harewood House was launched less than a year ago and specialises in teaching professionals the art of garden design.

The course will cover topics ranging from plant taxonomy, through the history of horticulture in design, to the art and science of designing plants in a wide range of settings.

Yorkshire School of Garden Design founder Alistair Baldwin said:

“Our new diploma is the perfect opportunity for budding designers, amateur gardeners, professionals and all those passionate about the fundamentals of planting design.”

“The course will provide a careful blend of creativity, design principles, botany and taxonomy, the sociability of plants in sustainable communities, and insights into the work of the world’s leading practitioners in the world of planting design.

“Our proximity to many of Yorkshire’s finest gardens, landscapes and plant collections, not to mention the glorious gardens at Harewood, will also provide unrivalled opportunities to expand the learning process. Throughout the twelve months, our students will be encouraged to explore and gain first hand insight from our surroundings in the company of experts, supplemented by trips out to first class regional gardens and a study tour in the south of England.”

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A partner at Jones Myers has been named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Northern Powerhouse Awards.

Kate Banerjee won the award in the Private Client category.  Judges selected Kate, who heads the Harrogate firm’s internationally renowned children’s department, from a shortlist of eleven lawyers across the North of England.

With almost three decades of experience in children law, Kate has expertise in international child abduction. Her specialisms include contact, residence, and adoption.

Kate said:

“I am proud and honoured to receive this prestigious recognition which is attributable to the commitment of our highly experienced and respected team.

“An enormous and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to my colleagues who consistently provide the best bespoke solutions for our valued clients.”      

Kate Banerjee, partner at Jones Myers Solicitors, with her award 

‘We will carry him in our hearts forever’ — family’s tribute to Harrogate teen Seb Mitchell

The grieving family of 17-year-old Seb Mitchell, who died following an incident in Harrogate, have issued a photograph and a tribute to their ‘beautiful, funny, talented boy’.

Harrogate Grammar School student Seb died in hospital on February 21 following the incident on Claro Road two days earlier.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the incident and is due to appear in court again in the near future, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today.

The police statement included the family’s tribute, which said:

“Seb was our beautiful, funny, talented boy.

“There are no words to describe how we feel now that he has been so cruelly taken from us.

“We will carry him in our hearts forever.”

Police social media plea 

North Yorkshire Police also issued a plea urging people not to speculate on the incident.

“We are aware of social media posts naming the boy who has been charged and also speculating on the circumstances of Seb’s death.

“It is really important that nobody does this.

“This is because once someone has been charged with an offence, it is illegal to publish anything that could influence a jury and affect a person’s right to a fair trial. This includes claiming to know what happened or speculating about the circumstances of his death. Publishing includes uploading posts and comments to social media.

“Also, suspects who are under the age of 18 have anonymity in law. Therefore it is illegal to name them on social media as the suspect in a case.

“We would therefore strongly urge anyone who has posted comments or photos naming the suspect in the case or speculated about the circumstances, to remove them urgently.”

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