Campaigner demands council pension fund ‘immediately offloads’ fossil fuel investments

An environmentalist has told councillors the North Yorkshire Pension Fund should “immediately offload” its investments in fossil fuel firms.

The fund receives contributions from staff at 160 firms, plus past and present public sector workers, and is worth £4.9bn.

The Stray Ferret revealed in January that the fund holds over £70m in climate-damaging companies, such as Shell and BP.

Richard Tassell, of Fossil Free North Yorkshire, told a meeting of the fund’s committee at County Hall in Northallerton that the world has “just 30 months” to begin radical changes.

Mr Tassell, a former staff member of both York and North Yorkshire authorities, said although the fund was working to invest more in renewable energy firms, this was “an entirely inadequate response to the scale of the crisis we are facing”.

He told the committee:

“We are asking that the council actively and urgently consider divesting from fossil fuel investments currently held by our pension fund and seek reinvestments in renewable projects.

“The Ukrainian invasion by Russia has highlighted the precarious nature of western countries’ energy supplies and when set against the developments in renewables over the past five years to a point where this technology is cheaper than coal, gas and oil. We must move away from those fuels at pace.”

He called for the committee to set time-specific targets to end fossil fuel investments and consult with all the pension fund’s members.

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A spokesman for the committee did not respond to either of the calls, but said getting rid of investments in fossil fuel firms immediately may exacerbate climate change.

The spokesman told the meeting the fund had been reducing its fossil fuel-related holdings in recent years and they now stood at less than 1%, which was “very low compared with just about every other local authority fund”.

He added:

“We have taken a view that we favour engagement over divestment from oil and gas companies. The reason for this is that we believe through engagement we can influence the direction of travel of these companies towards a low carbon economy.

“We also believe that if we were to sell the shares they would be more likely to be acquired by investors that would not have those responsible investment beliefs at their heart.”

He said the committee had been “quite ambitious” in terms of putting more money into low carbon investments and renewable investments.

Councillor John Weighell, the committee’s chairman, told Mr Tassell:

“I think the main difference between us may be not of the end result, but timing. We will get to the position that you want us to, but not as quickly as you would want us to.”

£41,000 given to 14 community groups in Harrogate district

A total of £40,688 has been given to 14 community groups and charities by The Local Fund for the Harrogate District.  

The grants of up to £3,000 each will fund activities for young people and older people, sports clubs, mental health and wellbeing groups, and help people affected by the cost of living crisis.  

Some of the projects funded by the grant include:  

The fund is a joint initiative between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate & District Community Action, and Two Ridings Community Foundation, with donations from the Harry Bolland Trust Fund, The Local Lotto and businesses and individuals.  

Two Ridings Community Fund has found that many community groups are still struggling after the pandemic with funding, turnover of key staff, poor mental health, and the cost of living crisis.  

Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, which administers the funding, said: 

“We are delighted that 14 small community groups benefit, because we know they make a huge impact on the wellbeing of local people all over the district.” 

Councillor Sam Gibbs, who is a panel member for The Local Fund, added:   

“The work these numerous organisations and charities do makes such a huge difference so I’d like to thank everyone involved in providing this on-going support.”

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The Local Fund has been running in Harrogate since 2017, and last year it donated over £80,000 to 29 different community groups in the district.  

This year, the groups receiving funding are:  

Harrogate district community groups encouraged to apply for £2,500 grants

Groups and organisations in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £2,500 to help support local communities.

The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm community benefit fund helps to fund projects which benefit local people, such as renovations to buildings and new equipment for playgroups.

It has also helped fund public Internet and computers at Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall.

The fund is aimed at organisations in Hampsthwaite Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Norwood, Darley and Menwith, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw and Fewston in Nidderdale.

It is available to small local charities and voluntary and community groups in those areas.

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The fund, which is operated by Two Ridings Community Foundation, has grants that are awarded to “enhance quality of life for local residents” and “contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities”.

RWE Renewables, which set up the fund, said:

“The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm Community Fund is designed to help voluntary organisations, community groups and small charities and other types of not for profit organization that support charitable, educational, community, environmental, energy efficiency or general community amenity projects in the local area.”

Those applying for the grant must be a voluntary organisation, community group, small charity or other type of not for profit organisation and have been in existence for six months.

They must also have a governing document or a constitution. The deadline for applications is May 9, 2022.

More information can be found on the Two Riddings Community Foundation website.

Harrogate district students can apply to £1,000 fund to pay for books

Harrogate district students studying away from home can apply for a grant to help pay for books, equipment or travel costs.

Any student currently taking a post-16 education course at a school, college or university outside of the Harrogate borough is eligible to apply.

The fund, which is administered by North Yorkshire County Council, has been made available by Haywra Crescent Educational Trust following the sale of a former education property in Haywra Crescent, Harrogate.

This year the trust has around £1,000 in total to distribute to students.

Further information and application forms are available by emailing post16@northyorks.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is January 31.

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