A second Harrogate district MP has declared his support for Rishi Sunak in the race to become the next Prime Minister.
Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, has publicly backed the former Chancellor of the Exchequer for the first time.
In a post on Twitter today, he said:
“Rishi has a proper plan to get us through the tough times ahead. He is committed to rebuilding the economy and delivering for our area.
“Only Rishi can unite our country and defeat Labour and he will have my full support in doing so.”
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) July 21, 2022
Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has already given his support to Rishi Sunak.
Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams has yet to declare his allegiance. He has been a close ally of Boris Johnson, having publicly supported the outgoing PM on several occasions in recent months.
It has been reported that Mr Adams could be handed a peerage following Mr Johnson’s departure, which would then trigger a by-election in his constituency.
Mr Sunak will compete with Liz Truss to be elected leader of the Conservative party in September, after its members cast their votes.
The pair will take part in hustings events around the country over the next few weeks.
Read more:
- Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams to step down at next election
- Andrew Jones MP: ‘I’m backing Rishi Sunak’
Business Breakfast: Harrogate’s Odeon cinema bought by property group
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Harrogate’s Odeon cinema bought by property group
Bramall Properties Ltd has acquired the freehold of the Odeon cinema in Harrogate from a property investment fund for an undisclosed sum.
The 1930s art deco style Grade II listed building was put up for sale for £7m in April and is let to Odeon Cinemas Limited on a 25 year lease which was originally granted in 2013 when Odeon sold its freehold interest.
The property includes part of the car park operated by Harrogate Borough Council to the rear of the cinema and the premises occupied by Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre on East Parade.
The Odeon is in a prominent position within the town and has been acquired as a long term investment by Yorkshire-based Bramall Properties whose head office is in Harrogate. The building has been an iconic part of the town for many years.
Bramall Properties said it has no immediate plans to redevelop the site and it hopes Odeon Cinemas will continue to operate from the location for many years entertaining Harrogate residents with the latest blockbusters.
Read More:
Award for wine created in Harrogate district
James Townsend with Oz Clarke and Susie Barrie at the awards.
A vineyard in the Harrogate district has been awarded the title of best wine in the Midlands and the North region in the WineGB awards.
Dunesforde Vineyard‘s Queen of the North was awarded the accolade by a panel of wine experts including Oz Clarke and Susie Barrie.
Speaking after the award ceremony in London, the company’s head of wine development Peter Townsend said:
“We are delighted to have received this prestigious award from WineGB.
“We are still a young vineyard compared to many in the UK and are immensely proud that our Queen of the North’s first vintage has been honoured in this way.”
The family-run vineyard, based near Upper Dunsforth, was founded in 2016 and grows solaris, bacchus, pinot noir précoce and pinot gris varieties.
Its Queen of the North classic cuvée was named after Queen Cartimandua, leader of the largest and most northerly tribe in England who formed an alliance with Roman invaders in the first century AD.
The wine is made using a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes harvested in the summer of 2018, with only 1,316 individually-numbered bottles produced.
Harrogate hospital records increase in heat-related illnessesHarrogate District Hospital recorded an increase in heat-related illnesses during this week’s record-breaking temperatures as it also warned of extra pressures from a further rise in covid patients.
The hospital saw a 10% increase in visitors with conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, while covid patient numbers have tripled to 33 since the end of June.
Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said demand on services was “higher than we would typically expect” for summer and that there is “no doubt” much of this was due to the pandemic.
He added:
“Extreme weather, such as heatwaves, also adds additional pressure on hospital services.
“We need to ensure that the people in our care and our staff are not unduly affected by increasing temperatures and we have severe weather plans in place to address any issues.
“Waiting times to be seen during these times can also be longer than usual due to demand.”
Temperatures are easing today after approaching 40 degrees in the district yesterday when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a ‘major incident’ on the hottest day ever recorded in the county. It said today it had ‘stood down’ this status.
Gosh it was a hot one yesterday! ☀️ As you know we, like most other fire services around the country, declared a major incident due to the level of demand. The good news is we have now stood down this status and have returned to expected levels of demand.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) July 20, 2022
As well as causing a surge in demand for emergency services, the heatwave also led to cancellations for train services and forced some schools to shut.
The forecast for today is still warm, but cooler on Thursday and Friday with highs of 19C in Harrogate.
Covid pressures
Covid infections and hospital admissions have been creeping up since the end of spring and after the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron.
Dr Shepherd said while most patients are not falling seriously ill with the virus, it was still causing pressure for the hospital which is battling long backlogs.
He said:
“Since we emerged from lockdown, our priority has been to reduce the backlog for operations and treatment.
“The increased number of planned operations being performed has added to the pressures, but it has meant we have been able to reduce our waiting lists and no longer have any patients who have been waiting over two years for treatment.”
Read more:
- Positive covid patients at Harrogate hospital doubles in three weeks
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service declares ‘critical incident’ status
The Harrogate district’s weekly infection rate has been climbing steadily over the last few months and currently stands at 288 cases per 100,000 people.
The latest figure is up from 52 in May, but well below the previous peak of 1,007 in March.
The increase comes as the government has announced that everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a booster vaccine this autumn to top up their immunity.
Younger people at high risk from covid, as well as health and social care staff, will also get the booster.
Dr Shepherd added:
Ripon Together unveils programme of free summer activities for children“Covid vaccinations have been extremely successful in reducing the severity of the virus, however, the highly infectious nature of the new variants is having an impact at our hospital.
“Thankfully, most patients who have tested positive are here for other medical issues or surgical procedures rather than having acute covid symptoms.
“However, in most cases it does mean that their treatment cannot be progressed until they test negative, which increases the time they need to stay in hospital and reduces the number of beds we have available.
“Whilst we are much better prepared at treating covid than we were two years ago, this virus has not gone away and it still has a significant impact on the hospital and is still a threat to people’s health – particularly vulnerable or unvaccinated patients.”
Ripon Together has unveiled its FunFest programme of free summer activities and events for the city’s children and young people.
It is working in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District on the initiative.
Details about the activities, ranging from river dipping in the River Skell to an exhibition wheelchair rugby match at Ripon Grammar School, can be found by clicking here.
The programme, which runs from Saturday August 6 until Thursday August 18, is inclusive and open to people of all abilities at venues with good accessibility.
Simon Hewitt, of Ripon Together, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have built on what we learned from running the post-covid lockdown Summer of Fun 2021 and focused on events that proved popular last year, while adding new activities.”
Ripon Spa Croquet Club, whose lawns are located at Studley Royal Cricket Club (pictured below) is offering the opportunity for young people to try their hand at the sport and child-sized mallets will be available.
The huge natural amphitheatre with its clubhouse, is the principal FunFest venue for events and activities on August 15, 16 and 18, including junior cricket and athletics coaching, an inflatable obstacle course, air rifle shooting and archery and a free hog roast and ice cream, supported by Morrisons supermarket.
Steve Harris, a trustee at the cricket club, said:
“We are very pleased to work alongside Ripon Together, Ripon BID and croquet club members, to support these community activities, which will benefit children and their families.”
The FunFest programme starts on Saturday August 6, with Friends of Hell Wath running forest schools at the nature reserve, funded by the Skell Valley Project.
There will also be a drumming workshop and family groups are invited to see what they can discover about doing some river dipping.
Swimming, climbing and Lego
Ripon Disability Forum in liaison with GB Wheelchair Rugby, has organised and exhibition match between Featherstone’s Yorkshire Lions and County Durham’s North East Bulls at Ripon Grammar School on August 13.
The school on Clotherholme Road will also be offering accessible swimming, a climbing wall and giant board games on that day while, in the city centre, Ripon Library will be the venue for a bicycle MOT, Lego event and sports and information roadshow.
David Ingham of Ripon Together said:
“We hope that as many children, young people and families as possible come to enjoy the free activities and we have made arrangements with YorBus for them to provide free travel to venues.
“This service can be accessed via the YorBus app and bookings for participation in the various activities that we have arranged can be made via the Ripon Together website.”
Read more:
- Sink or swim tales from the riverbank in Ripon
- Dean calls for council’s support for Ripon Cathedral development plan
Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update
The extreme heat over the past two days is still effecting some Harrogate district train services this morning.
Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update
Roads
Drivers should expect the usual traffic on Wetherby Road and Skipton Road this morning during the rush hour.
Works are due to take place today at the junction with Leadhall Lane and Hookstone Road in Harrogate to replace junction markings, according to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map.
The work is scheduled to finish tomorrow.
Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.
A diversion route is in place in the village.
Trains and buses
Following the heatwave, Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.
Meanwhile, LNER is urging passengers not to travel to London Kings Cross due to damage to the rail line near Peterborough which was caused during the hot weather.
This has led to the direct service from Harrogate to London Kings Cross at 9.36am being cancelled as repairs are carried out.
The Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on the 1C and the 7 this morning.
You can find out more information on the disruption here.
Read more:
-
£1 billion plan to dual A66 takes a step closer to construction
-
Questions over deadline for £11.2m Harrogate Gateway project hit by legal threat
Harrogate firefighters battle extreme heat as five fields go up in flames
Harrogate firefighters dealt with five field fires on the hottest day of the year today.
On a day when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the number of call-outs, the crew at Harrogate attended three major fires.
At first they were called to a blaze near Forest Lane in Harrogate at about 1pm where an area of woodland measuring 20m x 20m had caught fire. Harrogate fire station put on Facebook:
“We believe a discarded cigarette, or strong sunlight shining through a broken glass bottle may have caused the fire.”
After extinguishing the fire, one of the Harrogate appliances was sent to a standing crop on fire in a field near Marton cum Grafton, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.
The fire station said on Facebook:
“Due to the extremely dry conditions the fire caught hold of four fields very quickly. The wind direction kept changing making the condition challenging.
“Fire crews also came to help from Knaresborough fire station, Ripon, Acom, and the water bowser from Tadcaster.
“Crews worked hard in the extreme heat (nearly 40 degrees!) to extinguish the fire using hosereel jets, main branches and beaters.
“Thanks also goes to the farmers for helping out and putting a fire break in the crop.”
While this was going on, the second Harrogate fire engine was called to a field on fire near Northallerton.
Read more:
“As you can imagine, the ground is tinder-dry at the moment making it easy for fire to spread quickly.
“So please do be careful if you are out and about. Make sure you discard cigarettes carefully and avoid having barbecues.”
The Harrogate district is slowly cooling down from its hottest day ever.
Here’s how the heatwave impacted on life in the district today.
5.39pm – Temperatures start to fall
Temperatures are finally beginning to fall from their afternoon peak. It is forecast to still be 26 degrees at 10pm and not drop below 17 degrees all night. Tomorrow is set to be much milder, with some rain later on, and a maximum temperature of 23 degrees.
4.10pm – Met Office storm warning
A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place in Yorkshire and Humberside from 4pm until 8pm.
The Met Office says:
“Thunderstorms could bring disruption this afternoon from lightning strikes and strong, gusty winds.”
4.06pm – Yorkshire Water reports record water use
Yorkshire Water has said it provided more than 1.56 billion litres of water on Monday – which is around 260 million litres more than usual.
The increase is enough to supply the equivalent of the whole of York and Leeds and is the highest the water company has seen since 2006.
Yorkshire has seen a particularly dry spring and summer, with only 52% of rainfall expected in June actually falling on the region.
Neil Dewis, director of water at the company, said:
“Our reservoirs are still feeling the impact and levels do continue to decrease. As the ground incredibly dry, we would need a few weeks of wet weather to help them return to their usual levels, so it’s really important that people keep taking steps to save water throughout the summer.”
3.38pm – Temperatures touching 40 degrees as peak heat hits
We are now hitting the hottest part of the hottest day. According to local weather stations, which post their details online, most places are at about 38 degrees but Staveley is at 39 degrees. In old money, 39 degrees is 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.50pm – Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate
Bystanders in Harrogate had to smash a car window today to free four dogs who were trapped for 40 minutes without even a window open.
Ruth Watson and her partner had been shopping at Aldi on Oak Beck Road at around midday when they spotted the labradors who were visibly distressed and barking in the sweltering heat, which has topped 38 degrees today.
1.25pm – Lunchtime meltdown in Valley Gardens
Harrogate is unusually quiet at lunchtime as most people avoid the approaching hottest part of the day.
Daniella Kerr and Albie Kerr staying cool in Valley Gardens paddling pool.
Staying in the shade
Brollies up to shield from the sun.
12.31pm – Major Tom’s closes for the day
Major Tom’s Social on The Ginnel has succumbed to the heat for the day.
A post on its Facebook page says:
“Hey all, we’re taking the day off today. It’s already pretty warm in here and the kitchen feels like the centre of the earth at the best of the times! Back to normal from tomorrow.”
12.22pm – Free ice cream in Harrogate
A cafe on Beulah Street in Harrogate is offering free ice cream to help shoppers stay cool.
Cafe Lago Di Como posted on Facebook that it was going to place an ice cooler filled with free water bottles outside its cafe today. It added:
“We are also offering for free ice cream all day.”
11.54am – Burst main causing low or no water in HG2
On a day when we are being urged to keep hydrated, this isn’t great news for people in HG2,
⚠️ We are currently doing some work on a burst on a main in the area which may be causing low pressure or no water. We aim to get your supplies back to normal as soon as possible. -Tarna pic.twitter.com/AbgWXwZFHt
— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) July 19, 2022
11.05am – Harrogate chip shops closed for the day
The Wharfe of Harrogate has confirmed it will be closed today.
In a post on its Facebook page, the restaurant said it will be shut due to extreme heat but be open as usual tomorrow.
10.45am – Heatwave impacts on River Nidd
The heat is having an impact on the Harrogate district’s rivers.
Compare and contrast the two pictures from the River Nidd at Birstwith above. Pictured right is the river in February and left is its current level.
10am – 30 degree morning heat in Killinghall
Local weather stations are reporting 30 degree heat in Killinghall at 10am.
Meanwhile, its 29 degrees in Knaresborough and 28 degrees in Ripon.
9.50am – Businesses close during the heat
Some businesses in Harrogate are either closed today or closing early because of the extreme heat.
KD Fruiters, which is based at Harrogate District Hospital, will be closed today as its stall is outside.
Meanwhile, Imagined Things Bookshop, which is based on Montpellier Parade, has asked customers to check its social media in case it makes the decision to close early.
Resurrected Bites has also asked people to keep an eye on its social pages for information on whether its grocery outlets will be open. It has, however, said its Gracious Street cafe will be closed.
9.20am – County council warning over tourist hotspots
North Yorkshire County Council has issued advise over tourist hotpots during the extreme heat.
It has urged people to plan journeys in advance and take water with them.
Popular tourist destinations are expected to be very busy during the hot weather.
If you're planning a trip out please:
– Plan your journey in advance
– Take water with you
– Be kind to others around you
– Park consideratelyGet #heatwave advice ⬇️https://t.co/LvFJHsibGi pic.twitter.com/rAYqnilVAs
— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) July 19, 2022
8.45am – Yorkshire Water issues reservoir plea
Yorkshire Water has urged people to act responsibly around its reservoirs today as temperatures soar.
It has also asked people not to use the reservoirs to cool off.
https://twitter.com/YorkshireWater/status/1549295368994783233
8.35am – Bin crews out early in Ripon
Harrogate Borough Council’s refuse crews across the district are ensuring that homes are clear of rubbish as temperatures soar. In Ripon, the sack crew who collect black bags left outside thousands of city homes, started two hours early at 5am today in a bid to beat the heat, while maintaining hygiene for householders.
Simon and Danny (pictured) were out in the city this morning.
8.20am – Northern: Do not travel
Northern is urging people not to travel today amid the extreme heat.
Those who have to travel are advised to carry water and find a safe spot in the shade while waiting for their train.
https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1549287296825966594
8am – Amber weather warning in place
The Met Office has an amber weather warning in place for the Harrogate district until midnight.
7.45am – Dog walkers out early in Ripon to beat the heat
Dozens of early to awake men and women were out before dawn in Ripon today to walk their dogs before the scorching sun makes being outdoors too hot to handle.
Later today, there will be nowhere hotter than Hell Wath’s wide open spaces, so many regular dog walkers wanting to find cool paths to protect the paws of their pets, were up before the dawn and walking in the shade of the nature reserve’s trees and shrubs.
Kathy and her dogs Mile and Max.
Among them was Kathy, with her rescue dogs Mila aged 12 and six-year-old Max, who told the Stray Ferret:
“I wouldn’t normally be here this early, but with the forecast weather, I decided to take the dogs out before the heat arrives to keep them safe.”
Paula with her fox red labrador at Hell Wath.
The same applied to Paula and her Fox Red Labrador, who said:
“This is definitely the best time to come, before the paths get too hot.”
Hell Wath, which is one of the few places in Ripon where it is safe to let a dog off its lead, has been popular with generations of owners, many of whom bring their pets for morning exercise.
7.23am – Bin collections to start earlier
Harrogate Borough Council has said bin crews will be out earlier this morning due to the soaring temperatures.
It has advised people to put their waste and recycling out early.
⚠️ Due to the expected high temperatures tomorrow (Tuesday) and possibly later in the week, our crews will be starting earlier than normal.
Please can you ensure your waste and recycling is presented the night before your scheduled collection. pic.twitter.com/ST4GQIWDIr
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) July 18, 2022
7.20am – School closures amid heatwave
Harrogate Grammar School, the largest school in the Harrogate district, is closed today due to the extreme weather.
Hampsthwaite Primary School has also told parents that although the school will be open, if parents are uncomfortable sending their children to school it will not be considered unauthorised absence.
Meanwhile, St Aidan’s Church of England High School has told parents that the school will be open. Those in year 7 to 10 can wear their school PE kit, while sixth form can wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
7am – LNER cancellations
No trains will run from Harrogate to London Kings Cross today due to the extreme heat.
LNER has cancelled the direct trains and urged customers not to travel.
https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1548638466656931840?s=20&t=RqCt_XWfE1CyMZlgOOFXLQ
£1 billion plan to dual A66 takes a step closer to constructionA £1 billion plan to dual one of the busiest roads in northern England has taken a step closer.
National Highways, formerly Highways England, wants to dual the remaining parts of the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1 at Scotch Corner.
The road is used by thousands of drivers in the north of England each day to travel between the north east and Cumbria and on to Scotland.
Now, proposals have taken a step further after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved a development consent order from National Highways.
Lee Hillyard, National Highways’ A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project director, said:
“We are pleased that our DCO submission has been successful and accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and this marks another significant milestone for this important project.”
Should the Secretary of State for Transport give the final go-ahead for the scheme, construction will start in 2024.
Read more:
Hospitals, schools and care homes braced for record temperatures in Harrogate district
Schools, care homes and public services across the Harrogate district are putting in place measures to protect vulnerable people from the extreme temperatures expected today and tomorrow.
With the Met Office forecasting highs of 38C and red warnings in place, there is a risk to health, especially for the elderly, very young and people with existing medical conditions.
Ice creams for hospital patients
Measures are being put in place to help patients and staff keep cool at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital.
On the wards and in outpatient areas, temperatures will be monitored and air conditioning units are available if needed. High risk patients will be watched closely and ice creams and lollies will be available to help people cool down.
A spokesperson for Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust said staff have been given advice on ways to keep cool while working during the heatwave, including wearing light-weight scrubs.
Some appointments where physical exertion is needed, such as physio appointments, may be postponed until the weather is cooler.
The spokesperson said:
“Our emergency department is always busy and under pressure during severe weather due to an increased number of people visiting our hospital – some with heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
“Waiting times to be seen during these times can be longer than usual due to demand.”
Anyone considering going to the emergency department is asked to call NHS 111 first or visit the 111 service online, unless it is a severe or life-threatening situation.
The service can offer advice and even book people in to be seen quickly on arrival if a hospital visit is needed.
Anyone arriving without an appointment will still be seen, with the most urgent cases being dealt with first.
Council bin collections to start earlier
Harrogate Borough Council has made some adjustments to its services in order to keep staff safe.
A spokesperson said:
“Waste and recycling collection rounds will be starting earlier in the morning to enable rounds to be completed earlier and limit work time in the hottest part of the day.
“In relation to our Brimhams Active health and wellbeing services, all staff cover heat exhaustion as part of their staff training, they will be reminded of what to look for and how to treat any incidences.
“At our community wellbeing hubs we have plans in place to increase breaks and water at all sessions.
“We are using the government guidance for vulnerable adults and will err on the side of caution and cancel when/if appropriate.”
Risk assessments have been completed for extreme heat and adjustments made, including for staff working outdoors. The spokesperson said there may be some changes to services if required to protect staff and vulnerable residents.
Read more:
- Harrogate district prepares for heatwave as red weather warning issued
- Social care pilot scheme in Harrogate district ‘could bankrupt council’ without more funding
Extra checks on vulnerable residents
As the public health authority for the Harrogate district, North Yorkshire County Council has issued advice about keeping homes cool, including:
- closing curtains and windows in rooms facing the sun
- turning off unneeded electrical appliances
- finding shade outside, which may be cooler than indoors
- not leaving anyone, including children, the elderly and animals, inside a closed, parked vehicle
- storing medication according to packet instructions
- ensuring fridges, freezers and fans are working properly
The council’s director of public health, Louise Wallace, said:
“Those in our communities who may be more vulnerable will be receiving increased checks on them throughout hot spells.
“However, we would appeal to those who are able to take the time to check whether friends, relatives and neighbours need help and to call for assistance if necessary.
“Public buildings operated by the county council will also be kept as cool as possible while temperatures remain high, but we would advise people to avoid making unnecessary journeys while the weather remains hot.
Care homes focus on hydration
Jill Young, operations director at Vida Healthcare, said its homes have plans in place ready to be activated in the event of a heatwave and some measures began to be introduced last week.
She said hydration was a particular focus, as well as adapted menus with cold foods to reduce use of ovens in the kitchen, adding:
“During hot weather, we also introduce extra fluid measures. Our chefs make jelly sweets that contain 20ml of water per sweet – our residents love them and it can be a straightforward way of giving them a little extra fluid.
“Our freezers are kept stocked with ice creams and ice lollies for both staff and residents which are available at all times, and our residents also have access to jugs of juice and water in their rooms and the communal areas.
“We’re very lucky that all three of our homes have access to secure outdoor spaces with shaded areas that our residents can enjoy.
“If a resident is keen to go outside, our staff will make sure they’re wearing a hat and suncream, and will encourage them to sit in the shade to keep safe from the sun.”
At Emmaus House, opposite Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, manager Chrissie Steel said extra jugs of cold squash will be placed around the home.
“For people with dementia, they may not be able to recognise they are thirsty, or to tell us they need a drink, but they can often point to a jug if they see one.
“We’re very fortunate to be close to the Valley Gardens to get outside when it’s cool enough – and many of our residents who have spent time in Africa earlier in life absolutely love this heat!”
Schools relax uniform policy
Some schools have relaxed uniform policies for Monday and Tuesday, allowing students to attend in light-weight clothing.
Many have said they will keep children indoors during the hottest part of the day and will be ensuring they drink more water than usual.
NYCC public health director Louise Wallace said:
“Staff in schools are aware of the potential risks created by a heatwave and school children should aim to have sun cream applied before attending school next week, and ensure they have a refillable water bottle with them.”
Warning over power supplies
Northern Powergrid has warned the high temperatures could cause disruption to power supplies.
It has asked people to report power cuts via its website or by calling 105.
Anyone who could need more assistance in a power cut, such as people with medical conditions or disabilities, or families with very young children, can sign up for priority services membership and will be kept updated during any disruption.
A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said:
“Our customer support vehicles are also prepped and ready to go out into local communities, where possible.
“We have also taken action to remind our people of the importance of staying hydrated and protected so they can continue to work safely during the hot weather.”
Social care pilot scheme in Harrogate district ‘could bankrupt council’ without more funding
A national overhaul of the adult social care system will be trialled across North Yorkshire next year – but could leave authorities with a budget deficit stretching into the millions.
North Yorkshire County Council is one of five authorities signed up to be part of the pilot scheme from January, before it is rolled out across the country in October 2023.
It will see a cap of £86,000 placed on each individual’s spending on their care in their lifetime, after which the local authority will fund it for as long as needed.
The reforms will also allow people to retain up to £100,000 of their own assets and still qualify for funding for their care. The current limit is £23,250.
While the result will be a benefit to individuals who get to keep more of their own money and pass it on to their relatives, there is an obvious challenge facing local authorities.
NYCC believes the new system could cost it £45m per year more than it currently pays for adult social care, and it has yet to be told how much money it will be given for the pilot scheme, known as ‘trailblazers’.
Cllr Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult care, told the Stray Ferret:
“It will benefit residents because no-one is going to pay more [for their care during their lifetime]. Most people are going to pay less, depending on how long they’re in the care system.
“It’s entirely positive for residents from a financial perspective. The rub is, who’s going to fund it?”
Read more:
- Reassurances issued over ‘onerous’ social care revamp across Harrogate district
- Harrogate county councillor calls for ‘major change’ in politics as Prime Minister resigns
At the same time as the changes to funding are introduced, reforms in care fees are being planned.
They will do away with the current two-tier system, which sees local authorities pay a lower rate than a private individual has to pay for the same care.
Cllr Harrison said it is not yet clear what the new fees would be, but it was inevitable that local authorities would end up paying more so care homes did not see a drop in funding.
“If you reduce their income, the viability of the market is threatened.
“Whatever we’re paying, when it comes down to what the individuals working in social care earn, most of them are either on minimum wage or not far off.”
Cllr Michael Harrison
While those two reforms to funding and charging are being planned, a third financial implication for local authorities will come in the form of overseeing an inevitable rise in the number of people accessing local authority funding towards their care.
“The sheer workload of assessment and brokerage and IT – there’s a huge weight of bureaucracy surrounding that because there’s just going to be more people in the system.
“We don’t know how many people are out there self-funding who will come to us – why would we?
“It’s new costs in a market that’s already under stress. How much, we don’t know.
“A piece of work has been done by the County Council Network and we think this could all cost NYCC up to £45m a year – additional [to what it already spends on care].”
Implementation of the new equal care fees system has recently been delayed by the government. The new funding structure being introduced next year will also only apply to people entering the care system, not those already in it.
While this takes the immediate pressure off NYCC’s budget by phasing in some of the changes, Cllr Harrison and his department’s officers know the full impact will be felt in the future.
The changes are set to be funded by the new health and social care levy, brought into effect in April, which has seen a 1.25% increase in National Insurance. The money raised is to be shared between the NHS – which will take most of it – and adult social care.
However, the current Conservative leadership race has seen almost all of the contenders to be Prime Minister declare they would scrap the levy – yet none has said what they would do about funding the scheme without it.
Meanwhile, Cllr Harrison said it has not yet been confirmed what NYCC’s share of the money will be to fund the new system coming into force in less than six months.
“If we apply the normal ratios, we can usually be pretty confident what our share of funding would be. If we’re right, we’ve got up to a £23m hole in our budget in a council already producing a structural deficit of £50m. It would bankrupt us.”
So why did NYCC agree to be part of the trailblazers project, bringing the problems of the new system forward by nine months?
Cllr Harrison said he believes North Yorkshire County Council has a reputation for being competent and working constructively with central government.
At the same time, North Yorkshire has certain characteristics that can be tested through the pilot scheme: an older than average population, a large, rural landscape, with 500 care providers spread across it, and a relatively high proportion of self-funders accessing services.
The rural nature of the county, along with a higher than average elderly population, make it a useful case study for the government to test how its new system will work.
He also hopes it will be an opportunity to make careers in care better funded and more respected, in line with the council’s Make Care Matter campaign.
“Part of being involved in the trailblazers is to try and shape government policy to understand the challenges and find solutions to those challenges and pilot the changes up front.
“The risk to us is if it’s going to hurt us financially before the rest of the country.”
However, he said, there are clauses in the agreement which will allow NYCC to pull out if the scheme is not working and to revert to the current arrangements until all councils move to the new system after the pilot concludes.
The aim, however, is to go through the trailblazers project with the ear of the government, proving that more money is needed before it can be rolled out further. But will the funding come through?
“I’m hopeful. If it doesn’t, it will bankrupt a number of councils round the country and potentially impact the viability of the whole care sector.”