LNER is to increase the number of trains on its London to Scotland services from tomorrow. The train operator said it would add more than 1,600 seats for customers each weekday compared with the current timetable.

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party. 

We live in strange and disconcerting times.

Uber, the largest taxi company in the world owns no cars.  Airbnb, the largest ‘hotel’ company in the world owns no property.  Both are examples of what are known in the jargon as technology platform “disruptors,” companies that upend existing business models and established values and norms of behaviour in order to increase the risks borne by others (in this case by taxi drivers and homeowners) and, by so doing, derive greater profit for themselves.

At busy times, Uber’s algorithm (now where else have we heard that word recently…?) simultaneously proscribes “surge pricing” for customers – that’s you and me – and increases competition for jobs among the drivers who use the Uber platform.  In other words, Uber operates by price gouging its customers and forcing competition between its own drivers, none of whom it employs.  The model may be an unbridled capitalist’s wet dream, but it reflects an economy and society that increasingly values and celebrates the immediate gratification of individual customer convenience over collective fairness and decency.  I am not a fan.

The always sensible Matthew Parris has written in The Times this week of the dangers of bringing this desire to disrupt, to change and to remake, into the realm of government and public service provision.  Especially now.  Now when we remain gripped by the anxieties and uncertainties unleashed by a global pandemic.  When business is struggling to survive, when unemployment is a long way from cresting its inevitable wave and when the level of public sector borrowing makes inevitable a coming fiscal tightening of asphyxiating strength.

The curse of the social media age is that politicians seem to perceive that it is more important to be seen to do something interesting than it is for them actually to do something meaningful, however mundane.  Keeping your head down and getting on with the job of delivering the fundamentals of government has become distinctly unfashionable.  This affliction affects Harrogate Borough Council’s leadership in spades and, for you grammarians out there, I do mean affect, as in affectation.  Quietly getting on with delivering excellent and value-for-money public services is not this lot’s style, more’s the pity.

Let’s do a quick rollcall of examples to demonstrate what I mean.  I’ve written here before about the fact the council have announced a spin-out of our leisure services into a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC), sacrificing people, place and wellbeing in the name of costs savings, efficiency and commercialisation.  They are spending a £1m on a design study to redevelop Harrogate’s unprofitable Convention Centre, a redevelopment that will, by the council’s own estimates, cost local taxpayers £46m.  They reside in glass-fronted splendour on Knapping Mount, built at vast expense on valuable land when they could have opted for a much cheaper, more modest and utilitarian building elsewhere.  It is rumoured too, that in the no doubt laudable interests of environmental protection, they intend to become a Carbon Negative council, with the pedestrianisation of James Street being a notable first step.

Which brings me to the subject of consultation, public engagement and “listening.”  The pedestrianisation of James Street is to be imposed against the wishes of local business owners and without authentic consultation.  Having asked for their opinion it transpired the council had already made up its mind and done a deal with North Yorkshire County Council.  This is arrogant, insulting and typical.  Harrogate business fears that at this time of deep uncertainty about their future prospects, the council is pursuing eye-catching environmental measures over the basic interests of economic viability and, let’s face it, the protection of local jobs.  The occupancy of retail outlets on Oxford and James Streets already offers the appearance of swiss-cheese; with holes everywhere.  Surely the council should zero in on what it will take to protect further atrophy of local business and make that its overriding priority during deeply uncertain times.

Devolution is also on the agenda.  This week North Yorkshire district councils held a video consultation to discuss their plans with local people.  It seems we couldn’t care less.  The video consultation attracted just 22 people.  A number reduced when taking into account the virtual attendance of several councillors.  Is this a sign of consultation fatigue?  A recognition evidenced by indifference that the councils’ motivation to Zoom is not to thoroughly understand the needs and wants of the people they purport to serve (actually to consult) but rather much more about being seen to consult, to box tick, while they get on with pushing what they alone want.

Matthew Parris makes the case that what we need now is “not disruption but protection, not upheaval but steadiness, not the sweeping aside but continuity; this should be the call; the call of the known, the tried, the familiar. Conservatives, of all people, should hear it.”  Harrogate Council’s wannabes take note.  Setting aside your bluster, bumble and bullying, unless you focus on your everyday knitting, unless you take the time and care to truly understand local people’s real needs now, for employment, housing and security, unless you work with local business to help them thrive and deliver jobs creation, you cannot in good conscience call yourselves Conservatives.  Announcing what you hope are grand and eye-catching schemes is no substitute for governing effectively, responsibly and sympathetically.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

Read More: 

• WATCH: Do you think North Yorkshire’s district councils should be scrapped? 
• Just 22 people tune into public consultation meeting over North Yorkshire devolution

Harrogate Railway will offer one year of free football training to under 5s and under 6s, to try and spur on the next generation of footballers in Harrogate.

Richard Foster, youth development officer at Harrogate Railway, told the Stray Ferret that there’s been “no better time” to be involved in youth football in the town, thanks to the recent promotions of Harrogate Town and Leeds United.

At one stage in the 2000s, Harrogate Railway were synonymous with football in Harrogate, especially after their FA Cup second round tie against Bristol City, which was watched by 3,500 supporters and shown live on the BBC. However, the club, which is based in Starbeck, has struggled in recent years and in 2019 were relegated to the eighth tier of English of football.

Richard Foster, youth development officer at Harrogate Railway.

Richard said Railway is putting their hopes into youth football to try and inspire local youngsters and potentially provide new players for their first team.

He said with many children forced to stay indoors during lockdown for months, it’s meant they’ve been more used to playing FIFA 20 on an X-Box than kicking a ball around with friends, but he said some age groups at Railway have now started to return to regular football.

He said:

“We have seen some regression both socially and psychologically from players, this accounts for 50% of the player’s abilities so we have had to work hard to build these key areas back up.

“These issues are due to the lockdown, excessive playing of videos games, and a lack of a structured educational setting. This has hampered some age groups return, with some players and parents still not wanting to return, but on the whole, we are in a healthy position.”

Read more:

• WATCH: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver on a ‘whirlwhind’ few weeks

• Harrogate Town could be heading to Wembley….again!

Grassroots football in England has declined sharply in recent years, with the FA reporting thousands of clubs folding over the past decade.

Richard said the club wants to offer a clear pathway from grassroots through to the first-team to give their young players something to aspire to. The club will also offer financial support to adults looking to get their UEFA coaching licenses.

Details of the free coaching programme will be announced over the next week weeks.

Richard added:

“This past six or seven months have been hard for the entire community and as a club we are here to support and serve them. The club has been here 85 years and is still going strong.”

Questions surround the future of Harrogate’s Jaeger store after it has remained closed after lockdown restrictions were eased.

While other retailers have implemented social distancing measures and reopened, Jaeger has yet to let any customers back into its Cambridge Crescent outlet.

The Stray Ferret contacted Jaeger to ask if it intended to reopen and if any date was set for the return of shoppers, but did not receive a response.

Read More:

• Harrogate retail prepares to fight for survival
• Harrogate’s Crown Hotel under new management

Prior to the pandemic, Jaeger’s parent company, Edinburgh Woolen Mill Group, narrowed its losses at the clothing outlet to £1.1 million and expanded its stores in 2019.

EWM Group added seven further stores and four concession outlets to its portfolio.

The upmarket retailer fell into administration and was acquired by EWM Group in 2017. The year before, the retailer recorded losses of £7.1 million.

Harrogate Neighbours, which cares for the vulnerable, has maintained its ‘Customer Service Excellence’ accreditation and been praised for its response to the coronavirus pandemic.   

Harrogate Neighbours was formed by town residents about 50 years ago. The non-profit group provides accommodation for the elderly, supports private homes and delivers meals to the community. 

It is responsible for Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road and the Cuttings on Station View. 

An external body assessed Harrogate Neighbours in its customer insight, culture, information and access, delivery, timeliness and quality of service.  

Read more:

• Service established by Harrogate Neighbours wins Queen’s Award
• Harrogate Neighbours VE Day celebrations

The housing association maintained its accreditation and was praised in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is one of the only care groups in the area to have reported no coronavirus cases.  

Commenting on the certification, Sue Cawthray, CEO at Harrogate Neighbours, said: 

“I am so proud of the hard work and dedication shown by everyone at Harrogate Neighbours – particularly in the face of the worst pandemic we have ever had to deal with.” 

The ‘Customer Service Excellence’ standard was introduced by the Cabinet Office in 2008. It welcomes all types of organisation and encourages a focus on customer needs. 

Diners in the Harrogate district who took part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme got a discount of more than £1.9 million in August.

New figures out today from HM Treasury also revealed that people in the Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon constituencies ate 314,000 meals in the scheme.

The scheme was designed to help the struggling hospitality sector get back on its feet. The Stray Ferret reported that many cafes and restaurants saw a big spike in interest last month.

Some restaurants were fully booked and were forced to turn some diners away who were trying to take advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out discount.

Read more:

• Harrogate restaurants fully booked for final week of government scheme
• Discount scheme extended in district restaurants
• ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ fills restaurants across the Harrogate district

In Harrogate and Knaresborough 153 restaurants signed up compared with 205 restaurants in Skipton and Ripon.

Some restaurants across the Harrogate district have seen such a boost that they have extended the discount without any government backing to fund it.

Lydia Hewitt-Craft, supervisor at So! Bar and eats Harrogate, said:

“It’s been massively helpful and it’s a relief because it was hard at the start when everyone was worried about coming out but this has been great for us.”

Nertil Xhallo, manager at Sarando on Station Bridge, said:

“It has been really busy, we’ve had a lot of bookings. Most people have returned which is good. The offer has been helpful for the business.”

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID and owner of two Harrogate restaurants, said:

“I think it’s been a massive help, everyone I have spoken to says it’s been worth doing. I think with the uncertainty going forward its given all those places a boost.”

North Yorkshire Police is urging for vigilance following an increase in burglaries on new home development sites across the district.

During the past 24 hours, two incidents have been reported. One at a new site one in Langthorpe, near Boroughbridge, and the second in Penny Pot Gardens in Harrogate.

Boilers are the main item to be stolen. The perpetrators are cutting the gas and water pipes before removing the boilers, meaning some of the homes are left flooded.

Other targeted locations in the district include Knaresborough and Ripon. Furnishings valued at £70,000 were stolen from two show houses at a site in Knaresborough. In Ripon, a dumper truck was stolen from a site in the nearby village of Markington.

Read more:

• A police operation to combat drink driving in the district encouraged over 20 arrests on local roads in one weekend.
• A routine traffic stop in Pannal resulted in three arrests connected to modern slavery. 

The police are asking local residents to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity.

It has also asked if any CCTV overlooking any of the targeted sites is checked for activity such as large vans driving around the sites.

Information can be reported using the 101 number, dial 1 and pass the information onto the Force Control Room.

A devolution deal is yet to be agreed but how do you want the future of North Yorkshire to look?

Harrogate people have mixed feelings on the subject of devolution and whether the district council should be scrapped.

The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, want to see two councils for North Yorkshire: one for the east of the county and one for the west.

But North Yorkshire County Council would prefer a single unitary authority.

We canvassed views in Harrogate yesterday.

Devolution split opinions for people in Harrogate yesterday.

Extra buses will be provided by North Yorkshire County Council next week to reduce the risk of coronavirus among pupils using public transport go back to school.

The local authority has also introduced additional bus safety measures, such as asking pupils aged over 11 to wear face coverings.

Most buses will operate according to their usual timetable. But some additional journeys will take place on public service routes from next week to minimise contact among passengers as the number of pupils and commuters increases.

In Harrogate, the following additional services will be in place from September 7:

• Service 36 Leeds – Harrogate – Ripon: Extra journeys between Leeds and Harrogate will occur during morning rush hour to accommodate additional commuters and students.
• Service 1 Harrogate – Knaresborough. An additional journey has been added to this service from Harrogate to King James’ School, which is reserved for pupils only. It will depart from Harrogate at 7.56am and return from King James’ School at 3.25pm.
• Service 24 Pateley Bridge – Harrogate. A new timetable and journey to Nidderdale High School has been added. An additional bus, 24S, is reserved for school and college students. It will depart Pateley Bridge at 7.20am to Harrogate and continue to St Aidan’s and St John Fisher schools. A journey from St John Fisher and St Aidan’s schools to Pateley Bridge will return in the afternoon.

Read more:

• Schools across the district are set to reopen next week, staggered finish times and year group separation are some of the safety measures being imposed. 
• Parents in the district have said they are “delighted” to have their children’s education resume next week. 

Different safety measures will apply on school buses to those on public transport.

Social distancing is not required on school buses on the grounds that the vehicles will carry the same group of children regularly and no members of the public travel with them.

But school bus users will be asked to avoid unnecessary contact with other pupils by, for example, trying to sit in the same seat with the same group of pupils every day. Pupils aged over 11 are also encouraged to wear face coverings.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education at NYCC, said:

“We would like to reassure parents and pupils that everything possible is being done to enable children to return to school and education as swiftly as possible, as well as minimise the risk of spreading the virus. The instructions for travelling on school buses and straight forward and largely the same as if you were visiting a shop or other public place.

“We expect that things will soon feel second nature to pupils and they can settle back into their school routine quickly.”

The Crown Hotel in Harrogate has had its operations taken over by a new management company.

RBH has added the historic building to its portfolio of 45 other hotels in the UK.

The Crown is one of the oldest hotels in Harrogate, dating back over 300 years. It has 114 bedrooms and seven conference rooms.

The hospitality sector was hit hard during lockdown, with hotels having to remain closed. But London-based RBH is optimistic booking levels will resume now that lockdown restrictions have eased.

Andrew Robb, RBH’s chief business development officer, said it was “an exciting new chapter for this unique venue”, which is owned by Singapore-based developer the Fragrance Group.

Read more:

• The Ripon Spa Hotel has now closed after failing to find a new buyer. 
• A top Harrogate hotelier has said he hops the cut in VAT for hospitality will be a boost for the sector.

Mr Robb added:

“Our ethos is very much based on developing and nurturing our people, and this will be extended to The Crown as we look to maximise the potential of the team and in turn offer an outstanding experience to guests.

The covid pandemic has resulted in an exceptionally challenging time for the hospitality sector, however RBH has emerged from lockdown in a strong position and we are eager to help guide The Crown through this period and on to continued success.”