Police commissioner given power to hike council tax by £15

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has been given the power to increase the police’s share of council tax by £15 this year.

Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative commissioner, is currently consulting on her budget plans for police and fire services for 2023.

The government has given commissioners the power to increase the force’s share of council tax by £15 before a referendum has to be held.

It has also set a £5 limit on the fire service precept.

A £15 hike in the police precept would be the equivalent of a 5.34% increase and see the force’s share of council tax rise to £296 for a band D property.

Ms Metcalfe has previously warned North Yorkshire Police needs £12 million in extra funding to tackle rising costs, including salary increases and rising cost of fuel and utilities.

She said previously:

“One of my roles is to set the precepts for North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, something every commissioner has to do every year.

“It is never easy asking for more money, and I know that many individuals and families are facing financial pressures, but our emergency services are also dealing with rising costs as they continue their vital work to keep us all safe.

“This year is particularly challenging as I have to balance the burden on taxpayers and the growing demands for services from our police and fire and rescue services, so it’s vital that I hear your views.”

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A £15 increase would see an additional £4.7 million in funding compared with last year’s precept level.

The commissioner’s office says the force has a budget of £191 million — 45% of which comes from council tax payers.

Meanwhile, a £5 increase for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue would equate to a 6.6% increase in its precept.

It would raise £1.5 million and “would lead to no reductions in planned levels of service delivery”, according to a report by the commissioner’s office.

Ms Metcalfe is expected to outline her budget plans for fire and police services in February 2023.

The consultation into police and fire precepts closes on January 16, 2023. You can take part in the survey here.

Ripon Salvation Army appeal helped hundreds across the Harrogate district

More than 500 bags of food and gifts were distributed to families across the Harrogate district after an annual Christmas appeal run by the Salvation Army in Ripon.

Each year the church and charity takes part in the nationwide Salvation Army appeal, which provides food and festive gifts anonymously to people recommended by agencies in the community.

Church leader Pat Clark said:

“This year, with the cost of living crisis, we faced a tsunami of need and we would like to say a big thank you on behalf of all the families supported by the appeal.”

Approximately 250 bags of gifts and 300 bags of food were provided, with each family member receiving a main present, chocolates and several small gifts. The food bags contained basic non-perishable foodstuffs and festive goods – mince pies, cake and puddings.

Ms Clark said:

“The huge effort was only made possible through the work of volunteer packers and sorters, donations from the public and other churches , schools and businesses.

“Planning for next Christmas is already underway, as arrangements have to be made to store cans and packets of food ready for the huge demand in December.”

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Harrogate council spends £2.2m on new tourism body in first year

Harrogate Borough Council spent £2,224,000 on Destination Harrogate in its first year operating — almost a million pounds more than budgeted, figures reveal.

The council’s draft statement of accounts, which will be discussed at a meeting this evening, lists income and expenditure for the year ending March 31, 2022.

Destination Harrogate was officially launched as the council’s destination management organisation last year.

It has four streams aimed at promoting tourism, hosting events, bringing in investment and supporting culture and was launched amid concerns the authority had a “fragmented” approach to tourism and marketing.

Its campaigns have focused on promoting the district as a health and wellbeing destination to capitalise on Harrogate’s spa town heritage.

Campaigns in 2021 included ‘Destination Christmas’, which saw a giant helter skelter installed in the town. In summer 2022, the organisation helped organise a four-day celebration on the Stray for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Destination Harrogate’s website also provides details about how businesses can invest in the district, including at the new Harrogate West Business Park on Burley Bank Road.

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The report found the organisation generated £342,000 in income during 2021/22 and there was an overall net spend of £1,942,000.

However, it says the authority spent an additional £946,000 more than budgeted.

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week, the council paid out £220,000 in exit packages last year with the majority due to the Destination Harrogate restructure that merged marketing teams at Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Convention Centre.

A council spokesperson said:

“Aside from investment to premises, funded through reserves, much of the expenditure during the destination management organisation’s early stages was in staffing the new service to ensure the organisation was fit for purpose and suitably flexible to respond to changing customer expectations/market developments and seasonal demand.

“While the 2021 restructure enabled the right mix of skills and experience to be in place to deliver the destination management organisation’s vision and strategy, the new service was no greater in size, in terms of employees, staffing costs or departmental budget than the previous service that it replaced.

“Prior to March 31 2022 the destination management organisation launched a new events bureau, Events Harrogate, and implemented successful marketing activity to increase awareness of the Harrogate district as a visitor destination and boost subsequent visitor expenditure – for example, the award-winning Destination Christmas campaign in 2021.

“Industry data shows that visitors to the Harrogate district were staying longer and spending more money with local businesses in 2021 than they did prior to the pandemic.

“Throughout 2022, Destination Harrogate delivered a wealth of successful events to bring more visitors into the Harrogate district, alongside successful marketing campaigns promoting the district as a first choice health and wellbeing destination, destination for garden-themed holidays and Christmas destination.

“In addition to visitor-facing marketing campaigns, the destination management organisation has also, through Events Harrogate, been working to bring more events into the district, while Invest Harrogate continues to attract inward investment in the district to encourage long-term growth in the economy. We can look forward to further successful outcomes for Destination Harrogate as we move forward into 2023 and beyond.”

Leeds Bradford Airport reveals new destinations for 2023

Leeds Bradford Airport has announced it will offer a record-breaking 80 destinations in 2023 and 2024.

New routes include Bergen in Norway, Porto in Portugal and Perpignan in France.

Recent additions of Katowice in Poland, Bucharest in Romania and Cluj in Romania will continue along with popular favourites such as Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Faro in Portugal and Palma in Majorca remain on the itinerary.

In a press release today, the airport said it had made “significant investment to its terminal”, including a redevelopment of Hall A facilities and improved facilities in the check-in hall, which services all airlines apart from Jet2.

Leeds Bradford Airport

John Cunliffe, commercial and strategy director at LBA, said:

“With the broadest range of destinations ever, we know that the coming years will be fantastic for LBA passengers. Whether it’s holidaymakers returning to their favourite beaches, travel to see distant family or adventures to new countries, there is something for everybody.”

Further details are available here.

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Stray Ferret Business Awards: Does your business have an Unsung Hero?

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

In this final week before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Unsung Hero Award, which is sponsored by Big Bamboo.

This award is designed to shine a light on those people who are truly the glue of the team.

These people are not only integral to the day to day, but they also bring a personal touch that makes the business that bit brighter.

Those looking to nominate for the Unsung Hero Award need to provide details of the contribution and the impact this person has made as well as details of the person’s background and current position.

Do you know a person that deserves to win the Unsung Hero Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

Flood warning for Harrogate district from 6am tomorrow

A flood warning is in force for the Harrogate district from 6am to 8pm tomorrow.

Many roads were hit by flash flooding on Saturday and water levels remain high. Now the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for tomorrow due to persistent heavy rain, although the north-west is expected to bear the brunt.

Yellow warnings, which are less severe than amber and red warnings, are usually issued when it is likely the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel in a few places

In this instance, the Met Office has warned “flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely” and “bus and train services probably affected with journey times taking longer”.

The Environment Agency issued a flood alert on Thursday last week for low-lying areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton that are close to the River Ure.

It was removed over the weekend and there are currently no flood alerts or warnings active in the Harrogate district.

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Man pleads guilty to headbutting two police officers in Boroughbridge

A man has pleaded guilty to headbutting two police officers in Boroughbridge last year.

Jonathan Carradus, 32, was charged with assaulting emergency workers and occasioning actual bodily harm on July 10, 2022.

Carradus appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday and spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea.

The 32-year-old, who gave an address in Cumbria, was charged with assaulting the officers in the town.

Antony Farrell, prosecuting, told the court that Carradus had an argument with his girlfriend and had left the property on the street to get into his car at 11.15pm.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police then stopped him after responding to reports of an “ongoing domestic” in the area.

The court heard that Carradus refused to offer a specimen and began being aggressive with the named police constables.

Mr Farrell said the 32-year-old headbutted one of the officers and a struggle started.

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Carradus then assaulted the second officer and continued to resist arrest, the court heard.

His defence said that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that the incident “went the wrong way”.

The magistrates ordered Carradus to appear before the court on January 27 to be sentenced.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate chamber meeting to focus on devolution

Now is your time to shine with the Stray Ferret Business Awards. We are encouraging businesses of all sizes from right across the Harrogate district to enter for our awards and get recognition from our top panel of judges. Entries close on January 16.

The effect of North Yorkshire devolution on Harrogate businesses will be in the spotlight at a meeting tonight.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, and Richard Flinton, chief executive of the authority, will address business leaders at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce event.

The meeting will focus on how changes in local government from April 1 and the prospect of a directly elected mayor for the county will impact traders.

David Simister, chamber chief executive, said: 

“The creation of a new, single tier authority is the biggest change in local government since 1974, and we are delighted to have Cllr Les and Mr Flinton with us for our first meeting of 2023.

“We are keen to hear from them their vision for economic growth, and to know what the likely implications of greater devolution, and a directly elected mayor for North Yorkshire, will be for the district’s business community.

“Harrogate Convention Centre is one of the biggest economic drivers for the district. Currently owned and operated by Harrogate Borough Council, come April 1 it will then fall under the new authority.

“We have learned that a new strategic board is to be created to oversee the proposed £49m redevelopment project, and to assess the most appropriate operating model for the venue in the future. What we don’t know yet is the makeup of this body.”

The meeting will be held at Rudding Park Hotel and doors will open for networking from 5.30pm. Speakers will start at 6.15pm.

For information on how to attend the meeting, visit the chamber website here.

Housing developer creates North Yorkshire division

A housing developer has announced it has set up a North Yorkshire regional division as part of its business.

Avant Homes, which has approval for an 80-home development in Green Hammerton, launched the new division. It is expected to include 726 homes across five schemes.

It also includes projects in York and Leeds and is valued at £206 million.

Scott Varley, regional chairman of Avant Homes, said:

“Avant Homes North Yorkshire is an exciting expansion to our business which forms part of our ongoing nationwide strategic growth plan.

“Launching with three developments underway, and two others receiving planning approval, means we have a great deal of momentum in North Yorkshire allowing us to deliver much-needed, new-build homes for people in the region.”

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Stray Views: ‘Despair’ at Prime Minister’s maths proposal

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I despair with the latest idea from the Prime Minister. 

The concept of making all children study maths to age 18 shows how out of touch with reality Rishi Sunak is. Apart from the fact that this would cause chaos in schools at a time when there are so many other issues that the public want sorting out, beggars’ belief. 

As a retired teacher and a life-long conservative. I would love to get Rishi in a room and give him a verbal thrashing. This ’intellectual’ ideal of maths to age 18 does not square with the reality that not all children are academic, and that there is a need for more practical and vocational training. Already in a post pandemic era there are thousands of young people who are disaffected and uninspired by the present education system. 

This is partly due to rigid and inflexible curricula and staff protocols. The PM’s priority should be setting up a system like the pandemic ‘Nightingale Hospitals’ to take the ‘bed blockers’ out of hospitals, thus also reducing the blockages at A&E and freeing up ambulances. 

We clearly need to train more doctors and nurses, but not every nurse needs a degree and perhaps going back to ‘on the ward’ training with paid trainees is the answer. 

As for all the strikes such as rail workers and postal workers, the government needs to be more proactive in getting a resolution. Teaching maths to age 18 will not solve any of these issues.

Brian Souter, Starbeck

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Another hospital for Harrogate should be built

Is there any reason why another hospital cannot be built instead of all the available land being used for housing?

I remember people saying it was a good idea for “another” hospital when it was proposed to demolish the general. It was said the hospital was getting a bit tatty, but there was surprise when land was sold for housing and not another hospital. 

Also Carlton Lodge on Leeds Road which was used in addition for maternity was sold and everything – and I mean everything – was to be in the new district hospital. 

There really should be another hospital. Not a bigger one, another one.

Anne Smith, Pannal

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

More drivers arrested in Harrogate for drink driving than any other district

More drivers have been arrested in the Harrogate district as part of North Yorkshire Police’s Christmas drink drive campaign than any over district.

The force tested 1,035 people throughout December for drink and drug driving.

It comes as part of North Yorkshire Police’s campaign to clamp down on people driving under the influence.

Following roadside tests carried out by the force 121 people have been arrested.

Of that number, 33 drivers were in the Harrogate district. The second most were in York, which saw 30 people arrested.

Ryedale and Craven saw the fewest arrested with six and three drivers.

Drink driving arrests made by North Yorkshire Police during the force’s campaign. Data: NYP.

Seventy-three of the arrests were for drink driving, 40 arrests for drug driving (one person was arrested for both drink and drug driving) and nine people were arrested for failing to provide. 

Eighteen of those arrested followed a road traffic collision.

Superintendent Emma Aldred, head of specialist operations at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Along with other emergency services we see far too often the devastating consequences that drink and drug driving causes.

“We often use the term ‘the ripple effect,’ as the mindless actions from one individual can lead to trauma and heartache for many more people.

“Although a vast majority of people were driving within the legal limits, 121 arrests is an alarming number, and it makes this set of results a difficult read.

“This campaign has focused on asking people to call us with information about drink and drug drivers.

“I’m pleased to say we’ve received a significant amount of calls over the past month and often these calls have often resulted in arrests and most likely the prevention of further devastation.”

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