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22
Feb
Mayor Watch: Closing his shop, tourism tax setback and Ripon shuttle bus
Each month, the Stray Ferret analyses the activity of the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, and his deputy mayor for policing, Jo Coles.
We look at their decisions, their public and online presence and their use of money by both politicians.
During February, Mr Skaith closed his menswear shop but denied it was as a result of the Labour government’s economic policies.
The Labour mayor also revealed plans to hike the precept for North Yorkshire Police by £15 a year for a Band D property.
Mr Skaith was also dealt a blow to his tourism tax plans when businesses responded to a consultation on the proposal.
Here is what else we found after analysing their online presence.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire
What did he do?
Mr Skaith proposed a £15 precept hike for band D properties to pay for police and fire services. He said it was vital the emergency services had the resources they needed to keep the public safe.
On February 4, the Labour mayor was given a first look at Harrogate College’s £22 million campus.
Mr Skaith was dealt a blow to his tourism tax plans on February 9 when 71% of businesses in North Yorkshire said they opposed the idea. A national consultation on whether to grant regional mayors powers to charge on overnight levy on visitors ended on February 17. The following day Harrogate hotels rejected the chance to introduce a separate tourist tax.
The mayor said a £1-per-room, per-night charge on all overnight accommodation, including yurts and bed and breakfasts, would be a “total game changer” that could generate more than £50 million a year.
Mr Skaith also gave a cool response to Ripon Business Improvement District's call to fund a shuttle bus service between Ripon and Thirsk, to connect the city with the East Coast Main Line.
What decisions did he make?
Mr Skaith agreed his precept plans for both North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue on February 6.
The police precept will rise by £15 for a band D property and the fire service share will rise by £9.60.
He also launched a pilot mentorship programme to connect local mentors with small businesses to support their next stage of growth.
What else?
The Stray Ferret asked the combined authority if it had anything further it wished to add to Mr Skaith’s activity.
In a statement, the mayor said:
We’re continuing to move forward on the issues that matter most to our communities - keeping people safe, access to healthcare, backing our farmers, and laying the groundwork for a game changing overnight visitor levy.
Our region boasts some of the country’s best destinations, but all of them need some investment. That’s why I have funded town investment plans across the region, to get a local-led plan for investment in 32 towns, cities and villages across York and North Yorkshire. The money to deliver on all those priorities straight away isn’t just sat around waiting. With an overnight visitor levy, we can start to get projects off the ground that local residents and businesses want for their area.
I know that many tourism and hospitality businesses have concerns and I’ve met with more than 100 hospitality leaders to hear their concerns and discuss the opportunities of a visitor levy. We’re at the start of this process, and we must get this right for our region, that’s what I’m focussed on as we go through this process,
Our police and fire services do an amazing job keeping everyone safe, and it is vital that they have the resources to carry on doing so while investing in the future. The precepts agreed this month balance the need to maintain these essential services while placing the minimum possible burden on council taxpayers.
Jo Coles.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor of York and North Yorkshire
What did she do?
At the end of January, Ms Coles issued a statement on government plans to amalgamate Yorkshire police forces as part of reforms to policing.
She said it was important that the proposals “deliver fair and effective policing for all”.
On February 8, Ms Coles said it was “deeply, deeply dangerous” for public servants to worry about possible criticism from politicians when raising child safeguarding concerns.
Her comments came after after Thirsk and Malton Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake called for a review of a North Yorkshire Police officer’s decision to file a safeguarding report on a farming family when attending a reported burglary at their home.
Ms Coles responded to the Community Safety Trust’s recent report into antisemitism.
She said the charity’s report showed a continued rise in antisemitic hate which “has no place in York and North Yorkshire”.
Ms Coles also invited people to take part in her next online public meeting at 2pm on February 26, when she scrutinises chief fire officer Jonathan Dyson's performance. You can tune in here.
What decisions did she make?
Ms Coles made no formal decisions in January, according to the Office for Policing, Fire and Crime transparency details. Her last one was on December 12.
What else?
On the Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning website, personal expenses for Ms Coles are published monthly.
The office published expenses claims for January this year, which are the most recent data available.
Last month, Ms Coles claimed for a parking ticket in Selby, which cost £1.20, and dinner receipts of £14.48 on January 28.
She also claimed for tube travel on January 28 and January 29 for a conference which totalled £11.30.
Ms Coles also claimed for 96 miles in milage during January for an interview at Selby Abbey and a ceremony in Northallerton.
The Stray Ferret approached York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to ask if it had anything further it wished to add to Ms Coles’ activity.
In a statement, the deputy mayor said:
Over the past month, final approvals were confirmed for precepts for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Police. These decisions were guided by the mayor's priorities, public precept consultation feedback and assurances from the chief fire officer and the chief constable.
I also welcomed the police reform white paper, which was announced nationally at the end of January. The reforms offer important opportunities to strengthen community safety. My priority now is to ensure rural policing is safeguarded, strong and effective local accountability is maintained, and public confidence is built across a region five times the size of the Metropolitan Police area.
I opened the first Northern Regional Road Safety Partnership Summit in Northallerton. Over the last decade 390 people have been killed on the roads, this number has remained stubbornly high.
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