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03
Apr 2024
Ex-Tory council leader named Harrogate Homeless Project chief executive
Former Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate Homeless Project.
Richard Cooper, who led the council from 2014 until last year, will relinquish his role as office manager for Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones to take up the role on July 1.
He will succeed Francis McAllister, who is retiring after two years in charge of the charity. Its hostel on Bower Street is close to Mr Jones' East Parade constituency office and Harrogate Conservative Club
In a press release announcing the move, the charity said Mr Cooper began voluntary work at the hostel in 1996 after becoming “drawn by its vision of ending rough sleeping in the Harrogate district”.
It added Mr Cooper continued to support Harrogate Homeless Project during his time as a councillor, and “regularly gives talks on homelessness, rough sleeping and street begging to community groups”.
Mr Cooper said:
Mr Cooper's last working day with Mr Jones, which will be on June 28, will mark the end of one of the most influential careers in local politics this century.
David Thomas, chairman at the project, added:
Asked how much Mr Cooper will be paid by the charity, Mr McAllister replied:
According to its latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission for the year ending August 31, 2022, no employees received annual remuneration of £60,000 or more.
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