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15
Dec
Mayor’s lamppost could be permanently moved to Ripon Town Hall
A working party is to be formed to consider whether to permanently site the mayor’s lamppost outside Ripon Town Hall.
The ceremonial lamp has been moved around the city for almost a century to outside the home of whoever is mayor.
Many people were unaware of its existence until the £6,799 quote for moving it was raised during recent feuding at Ripon City Council.
The relocation costs are usually borne by North Yorkshire Council. But September’s mid-term mayoral resignation of Councillor Jackie Crozier meant it had to be moved twice in one year and this time the cost fell on Ripon taxpayers.
Ripon Town Hall
However, the lamppost has yet to be relocated to the home of current mayor Councillor Barbara Brodigan, who proposed it be permanently sited outside the town hall at last week’s full city council meeting.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Brodigan said: “Enough money has been wasted on a parish poll that has no legal binding and this council has to bear those costs”.
She said it would cost about £5,660 to permanently site the lamppost outside the town hall, adding:
Over a period of time that would actually save this council money. Money that I feel could be better spent elsewhere. It’s quite extravagant to move what is a beautiful lamppost around the city every time we have a new mayor.
Cllr Brodigan, alongside locum clerk Adam Chugg
'Longstanding tradition'
Cllr Brodigan said more people would see the lamppost at the town hall.
But Cllr Andrew Williams, who leads the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group, which hold a majority of seats, said he didn’t support the proposal.
Cllr Williams said:
“This is a longstanding tradition in the city, and I don’t think it should simply be dispensed of without proper consideration.”
He said putting a new structure outside the grade two listed building would require planning consent and added: “I have doubts as to whether the conservation officer at North Yorkshire Council would be particularly keen on the siting of the lamppost in front of the town hall.”
Cllr Williams added there was already a lamppost fixed to the town hall and “what are we going to do with that one?”.
He said it was an issue that needed widely consulting on with groups such as Ripon Civic Society and Cllr Brodigan’s proposal “doesn’t allow for any of that”.
Cllr Andrew Williams
Japanese tourists
Cllr Williams said the lamppost also encouraged people to visit lesser-known parts of the city, adding:
“I speak from rather painful personal experience of coming home to find two coachloads of Japanese tourists outside my house when I was mayor some years ago and over 100 people wanting their photograph taken under the lamppost.”
Councillors voted in favour of his proposal to set up a working party to consider the matter.
The city council is holding two committee meetings today. The new human resources committee was due to convene at 2pm to begin recruitment of a chief officer and deputy clerk.
The Hugh Ripley Hall committee was due to meet at 6pm to discuss issues such as room hire prices and the installation of a stairlift and disabled toilet.
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