The leader of North Yorkshire Council has apologised after incorrectly stating just 129 bin collections were missed in the first 100 days of the new authority.
North Yorkshire Council took over responsibility for waste collections from the seven former district councils, including Harrogate, on April 1.
Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the council, said today that out of 5.6 million collections across the county since April 1, just 129 were missed in that time.
He said:
“We hope that there will be even fewer missed bins as we move forward as even one missed bin collection is important to that household.”
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However, Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, questioned the accuracy of the figure at today’s meeting.
Cllr Gostlow said:
“Talking with my colleagues across the former Harrogate borough and hearing from my own residents, I understand that there has been a much higher than normal missed general, garden and recycling waste bins.
“Unfortunately it also includes assisted bin collections.”
Cllr Les apologised when it was established the figure was wrong, but added he was unable to provide Cllr Gostlow with the correct figure today.
He added that the information in his statement today was given in “good faith”.
Cllr Les said:
Gallery: Knaresborough’s midsummer party in the castle“I will establish that figure in due course. I will send you a written answer and circulate it to all members together with the verified figures.
“As I am wrong, I apologise.”
Hundreds of people watched a free live screening of the Glastonbury festival in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle on Saturday.
The Party in the Castle saw friends and families turn up with their own food and drink and soak up the atmosphere in glorious weather.
Organised by volunteers from Knaresborough & District Chamber, the event proved hugely popular.
The chamber hopes it will be the first of annual community events in the castle, providing North Yorkshire Council grants permission to use the site.
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Lead organiser and chamber member Kelly Young said:
“We were bowled over with the level of support both before and during the event and the feedback from the Knaresborough community has been fantastic. There was an amazing atmosphere and the whole place was like a big family party.
“We feel so privileged to have been given the chance to bring the town together through music, against such a stunning backdrop as Knaresborough Castle. We also hope that the central location of the event, close to many local businesses, will have bought increased consumer spend to our community, as well as making it affordable for everyone to attend on any budget.”
Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, helped to fund the TV through her councillor’s Locality budget. A crowdfunding campaign also contributed to funds for the not-for-profit event.
Here are some images from the night by photographer Mike Whorley.
