The new manager of the council-controlled company that has taken over leisure centres in the Harrogate district says staffing is a challenge.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mark Tweedie, the company’s new managing director, said although a number of these vacant roles would be filled in the coming weeks, staffing was still one of the most immediate challenges it faced.
He said:
“We have got a recruitment issue and that is something which is consistent right across the country.
“In leisure and hospitality, where people have been hit hard by lockdown closures and uncertainties around jobs, many people have got off and tried new jobs.
“We have got to convince people there are still strong careers in the leisure industry and attract people to come back.”
The company also faces a longer term challenge. Under local government reorganisation, all council services will come under the control of a new unitary authority serving the whole of North Yorkshire by April 2023 when the current two-tier system will be scrapped.
Like Harrogate, some other councils including Selby and Scarborough already have a system of leisure services being run by external companies.
But ultimately it will be for the new North Yorkshire council to decide whether these arrangements should continue beyond 2023 or if a county-wide approach is to be taken.
If all leisure services are brought in-house under the new authority, the road ahead for Brimhams Active will be an uncertain one. it could mean Brimhams Active is scrapped just a few years after launching.
Mr Tweedie said:
“With all these uncertainties on the horizon, all I can do and all I am doing as managing director is thinking how can I make Brimhams the best it can be so whenever any decisions are made we are in the mix.
“We are already collaborating with all of the other leisure operators around the region to look where we can form partnerships and work together.
“All we want to do is make sure we are best placed and the council has done that with the local authority controlled company (LACC).
“They have really done what is in the best interests of Harrogate.”
The council has spent less than £300,000 on setting up Brimhams Active which is now running 12 leisure venues in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge.
Some decisions over how services are run will be made exclusively by a board of seven directors made up of councillors and council staff.
This includes councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats, who said she was pleased that the launch of the company showed a commitment to keeping services running.
She said:
“Because leisure is not a statutory service and is expensive to deliver, the council could close all facilities or some of them to save money, in these difficult times, as some councils have done.
“At least having a LACC in place means there is commitment to deliver leisure facilities to the people of the district.
“Covid is and has been an issue for everyone. Hopefully now we are able to start to open everything up and with the launch of the LACC we will see a new future for the delivery of leisure service.”
Mr Tweedie added:
New Harrogate Beer Week raises glass to local pubs and breweries“Although we have launched the company, it will not be an instant change which people are going to see within 24 hours. This is a new strategy and website to make a commitment to where we are going.
“There is going to progressive change in the next one to three years to make the service a high performing offering.”
Local pubs and breweries will be the focus of the first ever Harrogate Beer Week, which starts next month.
The beer week will run from September 20 to 26. During the week there will be a programme of special events across different venues in Harrogate.
There will also be an indie beer trail, live local music and a home brewing competition on the the cards. It will all culminate with a big beer weekend in the town centre.
If successful, the organiser hopes that she will be able to bring it back on an annual basis.
Rachel Auty, who founded Women on Tap, is behind the new project. She said:
“This brand new event will be a spotlight on the very best of what’s on offer in Harrogate and will be created and delivered by people who actually live and work here.
“I would love it to become an annual flagship event that is proven to deliver direct benefit to the town centre, independent beer and food businesses.
“It’s been such an awful 15 months and I am determined to bring some beer-themed joy back to our indies and communities this autumn.”
She believes that, with five big breweries in the district, there is nothing to stop Harrogate from standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Leeds and Sheffield.
Harrogate BID is helping to finance Harrogate Beer Week. BID manager Matthew Chapman said:
Police arrest two men after damage to properties in Bilton“We’re really excited to be supporting September’s Harrogate Beer Week, particularly as it will involve a host of local bars and pubs.
“It will be a fantastic opportunity for beer lovers to have a pint or two in different venues, which as an organisation dedicated to driving footfall into all parts of the town centre appealed to us.
“And whilst it’s still a few weeks away, we are happy to raise a glass to its undoubted success, and say ‘cheers, Rachel’.”
North Yorkshire Police arrested two men in Bilton last night following reports of damage to properties.
Officers were responding to reports from the Woodfield Road area of the Harrogate suburb last night.
The force’s Dutch Herder police dog, PD Bobby, was brought in to find the suspects.
The two men are currently in custody.
If you were involved in any of these incidents and have not yet reported this to the police, please call 101.
A decade worth of monthly police visits to Mayfield Grove house
Police received on average one report per month over suspected crime and anti-social behaviour at a house on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove for the past decade, the Stray Ferret can reveal.
Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request show 255 reports were made to North Yorkshire Police from the public about 38 Mayfield Grove since April 2008.
It amounts to at least one police visit a month on average for the last 13 years.
The house has been at the centre of crime concerns recently after North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council ordered the property to be closed back in March.
The figures revealed today suggest a persistent problem at the property over anti-social behaviour. Since the closure, residents have called for more to be done about crime in the area and have met with officers, council officials and North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Philip Allott.
The Stray Ferret asked police for the most common reports made about the address and how many times police were called about each reason.
Of the most frequent reports, a total of 64 were related to public safety and included suspicious circumstances, insecure premises and concerns for safety.
Meanwhile, 27 were about anti-social behaviour.
The house has been ordered to close twice since 2005.
The latest order to shut the property down was made back in March by North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council.
The two organisations can apply to a court for a closure order if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premise.
Since then, the property has been allowed to reopen and officers have held community engagement events with concerned residents.
At an event held in June, many residents said they were worried about crime in in general in the area – not just individual properties.
Meanwhile, Philip Allott, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, pledged to push for more police officers on Mayfield Grove.
He visited the street last week to hear concerns over anti-social behaviour and crime on Mayfield Grove and nearby Nydd Vale Terrace and Mayfield Terrace.
Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret:
Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel“I will ask the police to step up neighbourhood policing in this area. I will ask them to target the drug dealers and make it hard for the supply chain to operate.”
Good morning and welcome back. It’s Connor with you this morning bringing you all your latest traffic and travel news.
The aim of these blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, is to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible.
I’ll include all the latest roadworks, traffic hotspots and any delays to public transport.
If you spot anything or get stuck in a jam, give me a call on 01423 276197.
Thank you for checking in with the traffic and travel blog this morning. We do hope you find the service useful. I am heading over to the news desk now but I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Jack Laugher is bidding for further Olympic glory this morning.
A superb series of six dives took him into the men’s individual three-metre springboard final, which can be seen live on BBC TV from 7am.
The former Ripon Grammar School student, whose family home is in Littlethorpe, finished in third position behind China’s XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan in today’s semi-final.
Early-bird television viewers, who tuned in a 2am UK time, saw Laugher score 514.75 points in a stylish and controlled performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
It all started here – Spa Baths, Ripon where Jack Laugher was taught to swim at the age of 3 by Sylvia Grice MBE
If he can repeat the highly-disciplined display of diving excellence that he achieved in the semi-final, he has an outstanding opportunity to add to the Gold and Silver medals that saw him make history five years ago.
He and then partner Chris Mears, became the first-ever GB diving medallists, when they fought off a challenge from China to claim Olympic Gold at the Rio 2016 games.
Six days later, Laugher added Silver in the men’s individual springboard event, finishing behind China’s Yuan Cao.
The challenge from the Chinese pair of XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan, cannot be under-estimated, but it’s all to play for when the 12 finalists take to the springboard in Tokyo.
Second tap terminal in Harrogate to help homeless people
Harrogate District Street Aid has launched a second contactless tap terminal to help homeless people.
The second terminal is at the Victoria Shopping Centre and follows in the footsteps of the first at Marks and Spencers on Oxford Street.
With each tap of a bank card, £3 goes to Harrogate District Street Aid. Since the launch in October 2019, people have donated more than £14,000 to the project.
Harrogate Borough Council is behind the project which provides financial support for those in need. Homeless people can apply for grants up to £500.
To date the Harrogate District Street Aid has given out 16 grants for training courses, clothing for job interviews and wellbeing support.
Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:
Harrogate Christmas Market traders slam decision to cancel event“Harrogate District Street Aid is about making a real change to people who find themselves on the street and I am delighted that we have been able to provide a second tap terminal in Harrogate town centre.
“Some people assume that giving a few pounds to a beggar is helping them. Sadly, in some instances it may actually keep them on the street.
“Through Harrogate District Street Aid, we can work with our partner organisations to make best use of the money that has been kindly donated, work with homeless people and make a real difference to their lives.”
Two local stallholders at the Harrogate Christmas Market have expressed their frustrations after the event was cancelled for a second year in a row.
Harrogate Borough Council blamed the move on the event organiser’s event management plan when it released a statement on Thursday evening.
The council said the plan did not take the “risk of overcrowding and necessary evacuation procedures, counter-terrorism measures and the ongoing risk of covid” into account.
It is a decision which not only took the organiser Brian Dunsby by surprise but also some of the local stallholders.
Steve Green, co-founder of Harrogate Tipple, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is just horrific and pathetic. It is a disgrace, I feel really strongly about the way the council announced this as well on Twitter.
“The council did not give us any heads up. It took us a little while to become a stallholder but ever since it has been great for us.
“It has been great for local businesses and for the other stallholders too so I am absolutely dumbfounded.”
Rob Whitehead, managing director of The Serious Sweet Company, also the Stray Ferret:
“Harrogate’s Christmas market works extremely well, it is a good demonstration of local businesses.
“It all seems very unfair really, I just do not understand. Our business normally just supplies supermarkets.
“But we like to do the local Christmas market as well and we have built up quite a loyal following over the years.”
The event organisers hope to hold urgent talks with Harrogate Borough Council soon to try and save the three-day event.
Vandals seriously damage Stray cherry trees againEight cherry trees on the Stray has been vandalised over the weekend.
Some of the trees line the footpath known as Cherry Tree Walk, opposite the Kwik Fit garage, where branches have been deliberately broken or snapped off.
Vandalism to the trees has become a persistent problem with regular incidents over the past year.
In October last year, local police officer, Sgt Paul Cording tweeted about a number of trees “destroyed and killed” on York Place Stray.
Last summer there were reports of vandalism affecting young trees when local police officers were attempting to crack down on large groups congregating illegally on the Stray.
“What a sad and sorry sight to see these beautiful trees subjected to mindless vandalism once again.
Many have been planted in memory of loved ones and many for victims of the thalidomide tragedy. In every case love and consideration has gone into the planting of these trees which bring so much pleasure to so many In Harrogate and beyond.
As I said only recently when another tree was vandalised, this is utterly appalling and disgraceful behaviour. There is no polite way of describing the perpetrators of these abysmal acts. Devastating in every way and for everyone. Despicable behaviour, just despicable.”
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said its parks team would assess the damage to the trees and remove broken branches.
Council’s new leisure company to focus on health and wellbeing
Harrogate Borough Council said the aim of its new leisure company will be to create more active, longer, and independent lives.
It has pledged that Brimhams Active, the new authority controlled company, will be more focussed on overall health and wellbeing.
Some 200 Harrogate Borough Council employees transferred over to Brimhams Active yesterday. It’ll run 11 leisure venues, including The Hydro in Harrogate, Knaresborough Pool, Ripon Leisure Centre and Nidderdale Pool and is projected to save the council £400,000 a year.
Residents can use the new website to find out more about the services provided by Brimham’s Active as well booking sessions at leisure centres and facilities across the Harrogate district.
Leisure facilities in the district are undergoing something of a transformation with not all of it going according to plan. There’s to be a £26 million investment in the Harrogate Hydro and a new leisure centre at Knaresborough, which is expected to be financed by borrowing from the government. Ripon’s new £10.2 million pool and leisure centre is due to open in November. However the project has recently been the subject of serious safety concerns after a report into a hole in the ground which appeared on the site.
Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, said:
“The scale of the challenge set for us is more than matched by the scale of the opportunities we have in our grasp. Launching Brimhams Active with a new strategy and investment programme will allow us to transform a conventional leisure service into a leading community focussed health and wellbeing service.
“There is clear evidence that people need to be more active to combat rising obesity levels and prevent ill health due to poor lifestyle choice.
“Our vision and strategy has some clear and achievable objectives. We will help Harrogate district residents of all ages, from all walks of life, live a healthy lifestyle and stay active for longer. We know we can’t do this alone and nor should we. We will work with partner organisations and stakeholders to develop partnerships and facilities to provide a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.”