Business Breakfast: Future of farming in spotlight at Harrogate event

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

The future of the farming sector will be under the spotlight at a meeting in Harrogate next week.

Held at the Pavilions of Harrogate, the Future Farmers of Yorkshire’s autumn debate will see industry leaders discuss how the sector can cope with current levels of inflation.

Among the speakers will be Mark Berrisford-Smith, head of economics at HSBC UK’s commercial banking business.

Mr Berrisford-Smith said current inflation levels were having an impact on the agricultural sector.

He said:

“The war in Ukraine has unleashed twin inflationary shocks in the form of higher food and energy prices. For farmers in the UK, annual input price inflation is now running at 30%, while output price inflation stands at 21%. 

“Although many businesses have been able to absorb higher costs thanks to better prices, this is not universally the case. Prices for some cereal products are up by more than 50% compared with a year earlier, while poultry and lamb prices have hardly increased at all.” 

The meeting will also hear from Great Yorkshire Show director Charles Mills, Farmers Weekly young farmer of the year Matthew Nichols and Andrew Hardcastle, director of Hardcastle Rural Surveyors. 

Future Farmers of Yorkshire management board member Isobel Eames will chair the panel.

The event will be held on Thursday, December 1. Those interested in attending can register at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society website here.

Yorkshire business urged to sign climate pledge

Business across Yorkshire are being urged to sign a pledge to tackle climate change.

Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, an independent body set up to support and guide the region’s organisations, launched its Climate Action Pledge this past week.

It is the first regional pledge of its kind in the UK to require businesses and organisations to make a commitment across four areas of action: becoming climate resilient; reducing carbon emissions; enhancing nature and biodiversity; and promoting a just transition.

Liz Barber, chair of Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, said:

“With COP27 in Egypt putting a global focus on climate action, it’s the perfect time for us to seize the initiative as a region and show how businesses and organisations can demonstrate strong leadership at all levels here in Yorkshire and Humber.

“We are launching a ‘sprint’ of climate action today, and we want to see a year of progress that puts us on the road to net zero, improves our fantastic natural assets, helps us build our resilience to climate impacts, and does this in a way that leaves no-one or nowhere behind.”

Businesses and organisations of all kinds in Yorkshire and Humber are encouraged to sign the pledge here.

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Oliver Bonas set to open in Harrogate this week

Harrogate’s upmarket James Street is set to get a new addition this week with the opening of an Oliver Bonas shop.

The fashion and lifestyle brand has been refurbishing the spacious 3,700-square foot unit formerly used as a discount store.

Next also previously rented the site.

The doors were previously expected to open in September but renovations have been ongoing.

However, sources have indicated Oliver Bonas is finally due to open on Thursday.

The company, which has 85 stores in the UK, is advertising for team members at £9.75 an hour on its website.

The opening will strengthen James Street’s claim to be Harrogate’s premier destination for luxury goods.

Pret A Manger, Ebru Evrim and Carl Scarpa have all joined the street recently and Hotel Chocolat has upsized to larger premises.

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Tom Limbert, director of property consultants, Central Retail, which acted for property owners Countrylarge, previously said James Street had been “reinvigorated”, adding:

“Oliver Bonas will be a great addition to the existing tenant line up on James Street which truly is one of the best high streets in the north of England.”

North Yorkshire transport boss warns bus network faces ‘really grave situation’

North Yorkshire County Council’s transport boss has issued the stark warning that the county’s bus network is “facing a really grave situation”.

Councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation, made his remarks after a meeting where members representing communities across North Yorkshire heard many commerically-run services were in peril or being downgraded.

Seven months ago the government rejected North Yorkshire County Council’s bid for a £116m share of Boris Johnson’s high-profile Bus Back Better initiative, saying the local authority’s plans lacked ambition.

The council has been trialling Yorbus, a demand-responsive transport scheme around Ripon and Masham in the hope of finding a sustainable public transport solution for rural areas. It is yet to announce any alternative public transport proposals to its rejected plans.

A meeting of the authority heard opposition members highlight the importance of public transport as a means of cutting carbon emissions and question the authority’s intentions over investing in the area.

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Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge, Andrew Murday, said residents of his division faced having just two services a day to Harrogate.

He said:

“We just have to do something about bus services, and encourage more people onto buses. We need to know how we are going to go about discouraging people from driving and encouraging people on to buses, so bus services can thrive.”

The meeting heard a call from Scarborough Labour councillor Tony Randerson for a “nationalised bus service”.

Cllr Duncan responded saying bus services in the county were facing unprecedented pressure due to higher costs and passenger numbers had fallen to just 80 per cent of pre-covid levels.

He said:

“For many of the routes that represents the difference between profitability and not profitable services.

“It is important to point out that the bus network is North Yorkshire is facing a really grave situation. I think unprecedented pressure as a result of reduced passenger numbers, as a result of higher costs.”

He added: “The message across the county is use it or lose it. We need people to support these services.”

He said the authority subsidised routes to the tune of £1.6m annually, but the situation in the county would “outstrip that many times over”, adding:

“That subsidy is not at a level that which we would be able to support those 79 routes, so it is a very grave situation.”

He added:

“Creating a nationalised service would not solve those fundamental issues if those operators are not there to deliver those services.”

“There may be is more that we could do to become more interventionist in terms of the bus network, but at the moment the backbone of the county’s bus service is the commercial operators.”

Burglary at Harrogate hairdressers this morning

A man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of burgling a Harrogate hairdressers in the early hours of this morning.

The suspects, both in their 30s and from Harrogate, remain in police custody.

According to North Yorkshire Police, a man and woman were seen to break a window at Contemporary Salons’ studio on Station Parade at 3.56am. It added:

“The two people then entered the property and filled two bags with items before leaving the area in a taxi.”

It is the latest criminal attack this month on a Harrogate shop, with previous incidents reported at salon Dangerfield & Keane and James Barber Tobacconists on Cold Bath Road.

Police said in a statement:

“If you witnessed this incident or have any further information which could help the investigation, please email: pamela.luettke@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 12220206294

“If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

According to its website, Contemporary Salons is a group of nine hair salons across north Yorkshire and Teesside

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Harrogate man jailed for spitting on pensioner at train station

A Harrogate man has been jailed after spitting on a pensioner’s head at Leeds train station.

Aaron Peter Wilson, 43, of Hookstone Road, was found guilty of assault and jailed for four weeks.

York Magistrates Court heard how, on Sunday, September 25, Wilson started shouting aggressively at the 66-year-old victim and his wife as they walked past him.

Wilson continued to shout at the couple after they ignored him.

The victim turned around and told Wilson to go away. After this then spat at the victim’s head.

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A security guard at the station contacted British Transport Police. When they attended Wilson became increasingly aggressive towards them and was arrested.

Investigating officer PC Anthony Sutcliffe said: 

“This was a disgusting and unprovoked attack on a gentleman and his wife who were just minding their own business making their way across the station.

“We will never tolerate behaviour like this and Wilson must now realise the implications of his outburst.

“If you witness or are victim of abuse or assault on the railway you can text us discreetly on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40.

“In an emergency always call 999.”

Wilson was also ordered to pay £75 compensation.

Harrogate Christmas Fair: The perfect place to find unique festive gifts

This story is sponsored by the Country Living Harrogate Christmas Fair.

Many of us are already in full swing with our Christmas shopping and the challenge is well and truly on to find those extra special gifts.

The Country Living Harrogate Christmas Fair, which returns for its tenth year next week, is the perfect place to find that special something.

The four-day event, on December 1-4, will feature more than 200 small UK independent producers, crafters, and artisan retailers under one roof at the Convention Centre.

There will be a host of unique gifts that can’t be found on the high street.

From handcrafted products, stylish decors, soft furnishings to gourmet cheese, Christmas puddings, sweet and savoury treats, tasty tipples and fine wines, visitors can shop to their hearts’ content while soaking in the festive vibes with live music throughout the day from the Fair’s brass band and choirs.

Fiona Fawcett, from Yorkshire brand Plewsy.

Shoppers can opt for a special VIP experience, including bottomless prosecco and gift bags worth more than £100.

Over the four-days, around 15,000 people are expected to attend the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Dan Sewell, the event director for Country Living’s Christmas Fair, said:

“It shows there’s a really strong appetite for this special tenth anniversary year, with so many new exhibitors bringing fresh, exciting ideas alongside the traditional, festive favourites who return year-on-year.”

The Christmas Fair will be a foodie’s delight

The Country Living Kitchen Theatre will see some of the country’s finest food and drink producers and culinary experts whip up their ultimate festive recipes and seasonal showstoppers.

Demonstrations offer the chance to ask for tips, interact with the experts, and even try a taster or two.

Stephanie Moon will deliver a workshop on ‘Christmas Canapes to Impress with Rudding Park’. Harrogate’s Three’s A Crowd will also be on hand with ‘A Christmas Tipple’, with some unique festive cocktails.

The artisan foodie brand Charlie & Ivy’s will also be on hand to demonstrate how to create simple party food for the festive season.

Visitors can expect tailored chocolate tasting sessions, as well as hands-on workshops from crafting experts where they can create needle felted baubles to unique Christmas table decorations to take home.

Christmas canapes by Charlie and Ivy’s.

Country Living’s Harrogate Christmas Fair promises gifts you can’t find on the high street, while supporting and championing the country’s independent businesses.

Shoppers can also enjoy a Champagne Bar, cocktails or an Afternoon Tea dining experience.

The Stray Ferret is working with Country Living to giveaway two VIP tickets worth £150 and to offer our readers a special two for one ticket offer.

 

Country Living Christmas Fair will take place on December 1-4, 2022.

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Charity pays for two cancer nurses at Harrogate hospital

A charity has funded two cancer nurses at Harrogate District Hospital in response to fears not enough people can access specialist cancer care.

Macmillan Cancer Support announced today it had spent £214,000 on the two-year posts as part of a £4.5 million investment across Yorkshire and the north-east of England.

The funding will pay for 42 specialist cancer nurses in northern England, of whom two will be employed by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

The development roles will see nurses with an interest in moving into cancer services step into specialist cancer roles.

Noreen Hawkshaw, the Macmillan lead cancer nurse at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We’re facing incredibly challenging workforce issues at the moment and I know Harrogate is not unique with this.

“Undoubtedly the Macmillan investment into the two development roles will ease the pressure on the specialist cancer care we are able to provide for patients by creating more capacity.

Ms Hawkshaw added the investment would “allow nurses the time and space to develop into these specialist cancer nurse roles”, adding:

“We urgently need more of them to meet the rising demand on our services.”

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Macmillan said in a statement too many people in the north of England cannot access specialist cancer care and there are too few Macmillan cancer nurse specialists employed across the region.

It said a “crisis in cancer nursing” had left 630,000 people with cancer in the UK with a lack of dedicated support.

2,500 cancer nurses needed

The charity estimates an extra 2,500 specialist cancer nurses are required now.

Heather McLean, Macmillan’s head of partnerships for the north, said:

“Macmillan cancer nurse specialists are the people at the heart of cancer care, this unique role makes a huge difference to people diagnosed with cancer and their families at a very distressing time in their lives.

“There are currently a huge number of specialist cancer nurse vacancies across Yorkshire because it’s increasingly difficult to get people with the right knowledge and skills, who are ready to step into those specialist nursing posts.”

Rachel Moser, the interim programme manager with the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, which is hosting the programme in partnership with Macmillan, on behalf of the four cancer alliances across the north-east and Yorkshire region, said:

“Patients tell us how much they value cancer nurse specialists and the care and support they provide.

“I’m delighted to be leading this programme on behalf of the regional cancer alliances which will help us ensure we have a ready supply of skilled individuals for these crucial roles into the future.”

 

 

 

Betfred to open bookmakers in Harrogate

A Betfred bookmakers looks set to open in Harrogate town centre after plans were approved.

Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Ltd, which trades as Betfred, applied to Harrogate Borough Council to open the bookies on Cambridge Road.

The proposal will see the former YMCA charity shop, which sits next to Greggs, converted into a bookmakers. The unit was also previously occupied by a travel agents.

Harrogate Borough Council has now approved the proposal.

The developer said in its plans that the opening of Betfred would help bring the unit back into use and “provide additional staff employment”.

It said:

“Betfred do not currently operate a bookmakers in central Harrogate, Betfred require additional premises to meet demand from the local residents. 

“The proposal therefore seeks a new opening of Betfred’s existing bookmaker businesses within Harrogate and would result in new options for bookmakers’ business within the town centre.”

The developer added:

“The introduction of Betfred’s businesses within the town centre will grow a local business, providing additional staff employment and bring a vacant unit back into use within Harrogate which supports economic growth principles in national and local planning policy.”

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Harrogate’s North Pole post office reopens for 2022

The North Pole post office in Harrogate has reopened in time for children to post letters to Father Christmas.

The festive attraction is once again located at Harrogate International Festivals’ office, on Cheltenham Parade, and will remain open until Christmas Eve.

Funded by Harrogate Business Improvement District and produced by Harrogate International Festivals, the post office features snow flurries, Christmas music as well as the post box.

The Christmas attraction began in 2020 as a way of lifting spirits during the second covid lockdown and has returned both years since.

The post office is so busy the elves who sort through the letters are not able to reply individually, however, visitors can download a letter and message from Father Christmas, via the HIF website, or by scanning the QR code located next to the post box.

The post office is one of the key features in this year’s Destination Christmas campaign, which is a joint initiative between Harrogate Borough Council, Visit Harrogate, Harrogate BID and Harrogate International Festivals.

It also includes an ice-skating rink, fairground attractions, the candy cane express, Harrogate Christmas Fayre and the Father Christmas Experience.

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Clemence Roux, from Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“We are delighted to bring this attraction back again, and will make sure once again that Father Christmas gets all the children’s letters.

“Harrogate BID has been extremely kind in sponsoring the scheme for another year, they have helped us make Harrogate a little more festive.”

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:

“The Christmas attraction lifts spirits and contributes to the efforts of so many who are working together to make Harrogate ‘Destination Christmas’.”

Pictured from left are: Clemence Roux, from Harrogate International Festivals, Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman, Harrogate borough mayor Cllr Victoria Oldham, and Harrogate International Festivals chief executive Sharon Canavar at the opening of the post office.

Solicitor struck off for failing to protect vulnerable Harrogate homeowner

A solicitor has been struck off for a year after failing to protect a vulnerable client from a conman who bought his Harrogate home.

Anthony Gale was employed by Ison Harrison solicitors when he acted for both the buyer and the seller of a property on St George’s Road.

The solicitor had a long-standing professional relationship with the buyer, Sukhdev Singh, who acquired the property by telling the seller he had paid off the outstanding mortgage of just under £120,000. However, there was no evidence of any mortgage having existed or any money having been paid for the home, the tribunal heard.

Singh acquired the home through a company he had set up, before renting it back to the vulnerable man, who had no tenancy agreement to protect him. Singh was jailed earlier this year for four counts of fraud, all relating to the same property and its former owner.

A hearing of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal last month found the seller, known as Client A, was autistic and had an estimated mental age of 12 years and four months. Mr Gale said he did not realise this when he was dealing with the sale.

A report from the tribunal, published last week, said:

“The admitted misconduct represented a grave departure [from] the ‘complete integrity, probity and trustworthiness’ expected of a solicitor.

“The harm Mr Gale caused to the solicitors’ profession was extensive. The harm caused both to those directly involved and to the profession was eminently foreseeable.”

The three members of the tribunal panel said Mr Gale’s misconduct was “deliberate, calculated and repeated”, and led to a vulnerable client being taken advantage of in the transaction, which took place in 2016.

Mr Gale also faced an allegation that, in 2020 when he was employed by Lofthouse & Co, he acted without authorisation in another property sale and signed a contract without instruction.

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The hearing last month heard that he had been before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal before, in 2018, relating to allegations about his conduct on five other conveyancing matters, between 2005 and 2014. While he denied all five charges, the tribunal found the majority of them proved and he was ordered to pay a fine of £10,000 and costs of £28,291.

He also had sanctions imposed on his practice, including preventing him from being the sole practitioner or owner of a law firm.

The report from last month’s hearing into the latest allegations said:

“Mr Gale’s repeated misconduct demonstrated his complete lack of insight into and understanding of his failings.

“The tribunal held serious concerns as to the risk of repetition in the future given Mr Gale’s demonstrable propensity to ignore red flags in conveyancing transactions, and his inherent inability to identify and heed warning signs of fraud or exploitation.”

‘Blind spot’

The tribunal heard that while the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which brought the application to have him struck off, had been investigating Mr Gale, he had denied all the allegations against him.

However, he admitted them shortly before the hearing, in August this year. The tribunal report said:

“It was plain to the tribunal that Mr Gale had a complete blind spot with regard to the obligations to ‘know your client’, the risks of fraud in conveyancing transactions, management of conflicts of interest, and the obligations attendant upon accepting instructions from vulnerable clients.

“The previous sanction imposed in 2018 had not rectified Mr Gale’s ineptitude in those respects, and had not protected either the public or the reputation of the profession from repeated harm.”

Mr Gale was ordered to pay costs of £12,000 and was suspended from practising for a year.

After that date, he will face restrictions on his work including being barred from running his own business, being a partner in a business, or taking on a role where he is responsible for legal practice or finance and administration.

He is also prevented from holding clients’ money and being a signatory on a client account.

In order to work as a solicitor, he will have to seek approval from the SRA, and will have to complete further training in four areas of practice, including working with vulnerable clients and understanding the risks of fraud.