Council set to buy 11 homes for Afghan refugees in Harrogate area

North Yorkshire Council has been offered £1.3m from the government to go towards buying 11 homes for Afghan refugees in the Harrogate area.

Thousands of refugees have come to the UK from Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US troops and the return to power of the Taliban in August 2021.

The government has been offering councils money to help house the refugees in secure properties through its Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF).

A report will go before the authority’s Conservative executive next week that says it has been allocated £1.34m in the latest round of funding.

If the council decides to accept the money, it will provide 60% match funding worth £1.68m to buy the properties, taking the overall cost to £3.1m.

Last year, Harrogate Borough Council received £2.5m from the same fund to help buy 21 homes for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

The borough council, which was abolished in March, came to an agreement with a local housing association to provide the match funding but this time NYC is set to borrow the money through its own general fund.

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This report says this will give the council greater control over the choice and location of properties and that it can best ensure that the needs of the refugees, and future tenants, are met.

According to NYC’s refugee resettlement manager, there is a need for more properties in the Harrogate area based on links to existing services that support the Afghan community.

The homes must be bought before March next year and could be a mix of former council homes, new builds or other properties on the open market.

Rent will be at affordable rates and the council expects to generate £118,225 in annual rental income.

The report adds:

“The acquisition of additional homes for Afghan refugees will help alleviate pressure on the council and ensure the council is playing its part in supporting government to meet national commitments toward Afghan refugees.”

Business Breakfast: New B2B networking event for Ripon area

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A new promotion and networking event is being launched in Ripon to help companies connect and trade with each other.

Moot Ripon will follow a ‘business market’ format with exhibition stands of companies showcasing what they offer. The one-day event in October is open to all businesses in the area who are looking for local B2B opportunities.

Following advice from Ripon BID, the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) and the North Yorkshire Growth Hub (LEP), the event is being organised by Ripon-based marketing and events firm Colour It In.

Managing director Mark Lancaster said:

“The Ripon area has a wealth of companies of all sizes operating across a huge variety of sectors.

“We wanted to bring them all together to get to know each other, re-establish connections, and do business together in a traditional face-to-face environment.”

Mr Lancaster is a former president of the Harrogate District Chamber of Trade and helped launch the Harrogate Business Market in 2005. He said he created Moot Ripon after struggling to find a similar local exhibition-style event to showcase his company to other businesses in the area.

Moot Ripon takes place at Ripon Racecourse on October 2.

Businesses of all sizes are invited to exhibit or attend the event but they must be based in the Ripon, Thirsk, Northallerton, Bedale, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Harrogate areas.

Exhibitor spaces start from £250, and visitor entry is free.

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The owners and founders of Crown Jewellers In Harrogate have been nominated for an award by Professional Jeweller Magazine.

Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street is one of six companies in the country to be nominated for ‘Jewellery Team of the Year’.  Steve and Sue Kramer were nominated anonymously.  The winners are decided by retailers and suppliers who will cast their votes at the end of the month. Winners will then be announced in September.

Steve Kramer said:

“This is a fantastic accolade for Sue and I, one which we were surprised and delighted by. To be nominated independently for this award by our peers is testament to our hard work and dedication over the years.

“We genuinely love working together, even after all these years, and looking after our customers too – many of whom we have known now for a very long time! In fact, we have been invited to many of their weddings which is an honour!”

As well as running Crown Jewellers, Sue Kramer is president of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and plays a lead role in promoting the Commercial Street family of shops.

 

Call for councillors in North Yorkshire to declare if they’re a Freemason

Anyone elected onto North Yorkshire Council should declare if they are a member of secretive Freemason organisations, a councillor has claimed.

Masonic lodges have operated for centuries and give millions to charity every year. However, they have long faced accusations of nepotism in fields such as business and the law.

All councillors must declare, in a register of interests, if they are part of organisations such as political parties or charities.

But according to the council’s code of conduct, councillors only have to declare themselves a Freemason if they are part of a lodge’s charitable arm.

Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange & New Park, said the code of conduct was “wrong” because she believes that Freemasons pledge an allegiance to the organisation they’re in “above all else”.

She added that members of staff working for the council must declare all memberships related to Freemasons, unlike councillors.

Cllr Slater said:

“Surely that’s of interest to residents if they are a member of a lodge. If officers need to declare it why don’t members as well? It doesn’t feel right.”

North Yorkshire Council’s assistant chief executive Barry Khan addressed Cllr Slater’s request at a meeting in Northallerton last week.

He promised officers will produce a report that looks into whether councillors should declare if they are a Freemason.

Mr Khan said:

“The position under the previous code in regards to masonic lodges was if a member was involved with the charitable arm then they were a member of a charity and that would be registered. If it wasn’t a charitable arm, then the advice was that that it didn’t need to be registered.

“That’s been the position that has carried on [into the new council].

“However, I think there’s been some concern from members that this process should be open and transparent and all memberships should be declared. We’ll bring a report that discusses these issues and a further recommendation will go to full council.”

140,000 visitors expected for Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show

Harrogate BID logo

This story is sponsored by Harrogate BID.

A total of 140,000 people are expected to attend the 164th Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate this week.

Gates open at 8am tomorrow for the four-day event, which is completely sold out.

After years of mainly fine weather, showers are forecast along with a pleasant temperature in the high teens.

Traffic restrictions will be in place on the roads leading to the Great Yorkshire Showground. The details are here.

The event, which closes at 6pm each day, is a huge celebration of agriculture, food and farming, with everything from show jumping to shoemaking on display.

Great Yorkshire Show cattle

It is organised by farming charity the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The traditional royal visit will see the Duke of Gloucester, who was a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, attend tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s visitors will also include farming minister Mark Spencer, who is expected to talk about the government’s plans for dairy farming.

The Stray Ferret will publish updates about the show, including traffic and travel updates, throughout the week.

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700 people take part in Harrogate Race for Life

About 700 people took part in the Race for Life fundraising event in Harrogate on Sunday, generating £95,000 for cancer research.

The number appears to be sharply down on last year, when some 1,400 people pledged to take part.

Cancer Research UK organises Race for Life events across the country to fund scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Participants on the Stray dodged the thunder storms to take part in 3k, 5k or 10k events.

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Harrogate, said numbers were down because there wasn’t a Pretty Muddy or Pretty Muddy Kids event this year.

She said the charity was “incredibly grateful to everyone who took part”, adding:

“The atmosphere at Race for Life Harrogate was hugely moving — full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease.

“Now we’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible.”

Race for Life has raised over £940m towards life-saving research since it began 30 years ago.  More than 10 million people have taken part.

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Recruits wanted for group that shapes North Yorkshire’s green spaces

People with a passion for the outdoors are being invited to apply for membership of a group set up to improve access to North Yorkshire’s countryside.

The North Yorkshire Local Access Forum advises North Yorkshire Council and others on how people can make the most of opportunities to get out and about.

It is recruiting new members who could possibly be ramblers, runners, cyclists or horse riders with a keen interest in shaping the future of the county’s green spaces.

The forum’s work includes issues such as footpaths, bridleways, byways and open access land within North Yorkshire, but outside of the boundaries of the two National Parks for the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

Other areas include:

Footpaths are part of the group’s remit.

The forum works to maintain rights of way, ensure communities remain connected and improve links to places of interest.

There are generally three meetings a year and members may also attend site visits, workshops, training events and conferences as appropriate.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member with responsibility for public rights of way, said:

“North Yorkshire’s countryside is the jewel in our crown and ensuring it remains open and accessible to all is incredibly important.

“This has to be balanced with the needs and requirements of the people who live and work here as well and this is why the work of the Local Access Forum is so valued.

“Its volunteers bring a wealth of ideas and expertise and guarantee all views are represented and their voices heard.”

Applications are being invited from today until Friday, August 4.

Interviews will take place in late August to select new members before the next meeting of the Local Access Forum on September 25.

Applicants can request an application pack via email from democratic services officer, Harriet Clarke, at harriet.clarke@northyorks.gov.uk or telephone at 01423 556068.

You can also visit here for more information and an application form.

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Harrogate thieves dump classic motorbike when they can’t start it

Thieves abandoned a classic motorbike they’d stolen in Harrogate when they were unable to get it to start.

According to North Yorkshire Police, the black Honda motorcycle was taken overnight from a home on King Edward’s Drive in Bilton.

It was found the following day by the owner dumped at the back of nearby Cecil Street “due to the thieves being unable to start the bike”, police said in a statement.

The statement added:

“However, the bike sustained damage that, due to its age and rarity, will be costly to repair.”

Officers are appealing for witnesses and information about the incident, which happened overnight between Sunday, July 2 and Monday, July 3.

Anyone with information can email ben.robinson-brockhill@northyorkshirepolice.co.uk or dial 101, select option 2, and ask for Ben Robinson-Brockhill.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230123114.

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Harrogate Tory MP’s office almost struck by lightning

The Harrogate building struck by lightning is next door to Conservative MP Andrew Jones’ constituency office, it has emerged.

Paramedics treated a resident for shock when lightning hit their home at East Parade on Saturday night.

A police cordon put up outside their home remained in place yesterday.

A cul-de-sac that separates the building and the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Association‘s office was also closed because debris from the lightning-struck roof had landed on to the road and the chimney stack was unsafe.

The office is where Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is based when he is not in Westminster. Several of his staff also work there.

The building struck by lightning is on the left and the Conservative office is on the right.

Harrogate Conservative Club is the next building down the street.

Nobody was seriously injured in the incident, which occurred at about 10.30pm during Saturday’s storm.

Another home on East Parade, along with properties on Skipton Road and Crab Lane, suffered flooding within minutes of the lightning strike, forcing on-call firefighters from Summerbridge to be drafted in to help crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough.

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600 people to compete in orienteering race in Harrogate and Knaresborough

A major international orienteering event will be held in Harrogate and Knaresborough this weekend.

The City Race Euro Tour includes orienteering contests in major towns and cities across Europe every year.

For the first time, the Harrogate area has been made one of the nine stops on the tour, which also includes places such as Córdoba, Ancona, Vigo, Ghent and London.

More than 600 people have signed up for the race, which takes place on July 15 and 16.

Kay Hawke, project officer at British Orienteering, said:

“Participants from across the UK and Europe will be tackling the orienteering courses set around the locations with different length (and difficulty) courses for different age groups, meaning that there is a course suitable to the very young, families and beginners to the elderly”

The weekend event will start with a sprint race around Knaresborough Castle and, on the following day, participants will tackle an urban course set in and around Harrogate Ladies College.

Ms Hawke added:

“Funding has been secured from North Yorkshire Council to create an accessible course at the Sunday Harrogate event which is wheelchair and limited mobility friendly.”

Orienteers have also been invited to a free guided tour of Harrogate led by local guide Harry Satloka as well as a meal at the Old Bell pub on Saturday evening.

Prizes will be provided by local companies and artists, including the Harrogate Chocolate Factory – a social enterprise helping young people with learning disabilities to gain valuable work skills.

To learn more about the European City Race and how to take part, visit the website here.

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Business Breakfast: Grantley Hall appoints new general manager

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Grantley Hall near Ripon has appointed a new general manager.

Nuno César de Sá, who previously worked for the Mandarin Oriental group, has joined the hotel after previous manager Andrew McPherson stepped down.

On his appointment, he said:

“I am honoured to become part of the Grantley Hall family. I have been fascinated by what has been achieved at Grantley Hall over the last six years.

“Now that I have been appointed as general manager, it is incredible that I will become an integral part of its future.”

Richard Sykes, managing director at Grantley Hall, added:

“We are thrilled to have Nuno on board as our new general manager.

“As a family-owned business, we understand that out people are the most important element of the hotel as they implement the magic of Grantley Hall to our guests and as Nuno shares many of the Grantley values, we know that he will be a perfect fit.”

Women’s co-working event to be held in Harrogate

A women’s business group is set to host a coffee and co-working event in Harrogate this month.

Women’s Business Club UK will be hosting the session at Manahatta off Parliament Street on July 21 from 11am until 2pm.

The group described the event as a chance for women to “have a natter and settle in for a morning of co-working”.

The co-working session is free, but pre-booking is essential.

For more information on the event and to book a place, visit the Eventbrite page here.

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