A group hoping to form the Knaresborough Business Improvement District (BID) is developing a business plan before moving into the campaign phase next year.

The group has its task force in place and now wants to engage more local businesses.

It has employed consultants to speak to businesses within the town in order to gain support for a ballot in March.

BID organisations work with funds collected from businesses – this is an additional levy to business rates. Knaresborough’s BID will use a band structure based on the rateable value of each business to determine how much they contribute.

Treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and BID representative, Bill Taylor, said:

“We’ve now got around two thirds of the money we need for the project. We currently have around 30 businesses who are supportive and we need approximately 100 businesses to support us to gain a majority.

“The business plan is based on needs of business but we want them to add to it – we want to give them the platform to express their opinions. Undersold and unknown were two of the words highlighted in a survey of Knaresborough businesses last year and we want to change that. We want to improve the public view of Knaresborough to increase visitors and then encourage business.”

Common themes adopted by BIDs include improving marketing, further support for businesses, support for visitors to boost trade and accessibility and sustainability within the town. All of these are being discussed by Knaresborough BID.

Read More:

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Harrogate Borough Council has offered its support to the BID, and will be a large contributor. The BID also hopes to work closely with the Knaresborough Chamber of Trade.

Harrogate BID has faced criticism this year – four board members including the chair stepped down stating there was undue influence by the council. More recently the council leader Richard Cooper also stood down.

BIDs across the country can encounter issues when trying to find a common ground for the objectives within its business plan. Bill Taylor says Knaresborough’s size is an advantage:

“We have to be careful of getting fractured and disjointed which due to our small size we’re hoping to avoid.”

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has resigned from Harrogate BID.

Cllr Richard Cooper is still listed as a board member on the organisation’s website, but information on Companies House reveals he stepped down in June.

He was replaced on the same date by Trevor Watson, HBC’s director of economy and culture. Neither the council nor the BID has given a reason for the change.

Harrogate BID Acting Chair Sara Ferguson said:

“On behalf of Harrogate BID, its Board and members, I would like to thank Richard for his valuable contribution.

“Richard’s place on the BID board has been filled by Trevor Watson from Harrogate Borough Council’s economic development team, who has already attended a number of board meetings.

“Additionally, we have also co-opted two additional advisors, Lesley Wild, the former Chair of Bettys and Taylors Tea, and Jim Mossman, co-owner of Cold Bath Brewing Company.”

‘Strong influence’

Cllr Cooper’s resignation came six weeks after four board members – including the chairman – stepped down, citing the undue influence of the council in the organisation.

In their joint resignation letter, outgoing chairman Bob Kennedy and board members Chris Bentley, Robert Ogden and Rob Spencer said:

“Without a consensus view on the board of the dire state of the town’s economy, particularly its retail heart, and its causes, addressing the key issues cannot be achieved.

“The strong influence of Borough and County Council on the board of an organisation that according to government guidance is supposed to be a ‘business-led’ partnership means that any initiative that addresses the councils’ input is endlessly debated, and sensible options resisted. It has not even been possible to garner cross-board agreement that the current aesthetic state of Harrogate town centre is not adequate, something that is self-evident to business leaders and residents alike but is constantly denied or excused by councils.”

Mr Spencer, of Townhouse Design, told the Stray Ferret at the time that the council members on the board were “very defensive” about what others felt were problems in the town, such as the level of cleanliness and the overall appearance. The letter also said additional confidentiality restrictions imposed on board members were a threat to the organisation’s transparency and were incompatible with the function of a public body.

Read more:

• Council leader: ‘some Harrogate businesses will not survive’
• Ex-MP Phil Willis on how Harrogate can thrive again

Harrogate BID is funded by a compulsory rates levy on businesses in the centre of Harrogate. It was voted in at the end of 2018 and began operating the following year, with a five-year term before rate payers will have to vote on whether it should continue.

As lockdown was eased, the BID announced it would fund additional street cleaning in early June to make the town centre attractive to returning shoppers. It also offered small grants to businesses to fund social distancing measures to enable them to open safely, and sent out packs of signage for levy payers to use around their premises.

David Bowe, director of North Yorkshire County Council, remains on the BID board, along with representatives of local businesses across sectors including independent retailers, chain stores, hospitality and service companies.

Harrogate Borough Council did not respond to the Stray Ferret’s request for a comment.

Residents in Burton Leonard are “about to erupt” over a housing development which they say has breached planning conditions around the invasive plant Himalayan balsam.

Chartford Homes has planning permission to build 31 homes at Flats House in the village but an ecology report found there is an infestation of the plant on the site. Himalayan balsam is infamous for its impact on the environment and its explosive seed heads spread very easily.

According to Harrogate Borough Council planning documents, there is a condition attached to the development that says there must be an exclusion zone to remove the plant before construction can begin.

However, Keith Townson from Burton Leonard Parish Council told the Stray Ferret that construction workers were ignoring this for weeks and potentially spreading Himalayan balsam around the village.

Mr Townson said HBC’s planning enforcement department has been “as much use a chocolate fireguard” and called on them to pause the development until the problem is dealt with.

He said:

“Once you know there’s an invested area you have to fence it off but they’ve had trucks and land rovers through it. We’re worried it will spread all over the village. They were supposed to have a tyre washing but they’ve not got that in place either.

“It’s disgraceful. Harrogate Borough Council is allowing the developers to ride roughshod over planning conditions.”

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Harrogate Borough Council said: “We have attended the site, spoken to the developers and the parish council and can confirm there are no further issues at this time.”

Chartford Homes declined to make a comment when asked by the Stray Ferret.

Harrogate BID has given a Super Saturday boost to its levy payers with a match-funded grant of up to £750.

It means that the business can spend up to £750 on signage, barriers, and screens or any other equipment and get a matched contribution towards the cost.

Read more:

• What to expect as pubs and restaurants reopen
• A number of pubs across the district will not be opening this weekend 

All levy-paying businesses within the Harrogate BID area are eligible to receive the grant. But it does not include PPE equipment or employee costs.

Harrogate BID Interim Manager Simon Kent said:

“We are acutely aware that many businesses have had to incur costs to enable them to comply with legislation in order for them to reopen safely. To assist with this financial burden, we have set aside £20,000 to provide match-funding.”

The BID gets its funds from levy payers in the town. This will mean that levy payers will get some of that cash back to support their specific needs to reopen.

Last month, Harrogate BID produced packs of social distancing floor stickers and window posters for. It also bought outdoor tables and chairs for pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and the Harrogate BID group have organised town centre “ambassadors” as they work to allay shoppers’ fears and welcome them back to the district’s town centres.

The council says its ambassadors will be on hand to help welcome people and offer information and advice to shoppers where they can.

The council has organised a toolkit with advice and materials to help businesses across the district open, including a checklist of the measurements required both in and outside shops. It’s also distributed printable posters and directional signs to help shops manage the flow of customers.

Harrogate BID has also organised town centre “hosts”  and distributed leaflets and posters. The hosts will be tasked with giving shoppers peace of mind as lockdown is eased by welcoming them, giving out information and noting hotspots that need to be cleaned.

It’s not clear if both sets of ambassadors will be working in the town centre at the same time.

One of Harrogate BID’s posters for the town centre

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The council says public toilets in the busiest areas will be opened and parking charges have been re-introduced.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy council leader and cabinet member for economic development, said:

“Monday will be an exciting and anxious day for everyone as we all learn to adapt to a new normal.

“Many of our retail businesses are pulling out all the stops to be ready to open safely and we are doing everything we can to support their efforts.

“Our package of measures are designed to support retailers and their customers to get back to trading and shopping as soon as possible and operate in a safe way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“We know we are at the start of a long road, but we are committed to working with businesses to progress the district’s economic recovery in the months ahead.”

Yesterday, we reported on the anxieties of shoppers returning to clothes stores in the district. Given the fear expressed by many of stepping foot back onto the high street, is Harrogate doing enough to entice them back in?

As part of examining what the town is doing to win over shoppers, we looked at Harrogate’s closest retail rival and a city which attracts a lot of shoppers from the district.

16 miles down the road in Leeds, the city is putting in place a range of measures to bring customers back and encourage them to part with their hard earned cash again.

The city is offering free car parking for another month, as well as deep cleaning the streets and offering hand sanitiser on demand.

The city council has worked with the local BID to come up with measures to entice shoppers in and also offer reassurance, including one way systems and more outdoor space for street cafes in areas like the Corn Exchange and Park Row.

Read more:

• Harrogate retail prepares to fight for survival
• Many in district still fearful of shopping for clothes
• Harrogate Monsoon store saved from closure

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said the measures were important to get the city back up and running again.

She said: “Getting our city centre and district centres back open again will be a key priority in the weeks ahead, however it needs to be done in a careful and controlled way in order to keep everyone safe.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in creating and implementing this plan, and I’d like to again thank the people of Leeds for their resilience and ask that it continues in terms of following the rules and adhering to the two-metre social distancing especially.

“Things may look a bit different in our public spaces, but if everyone follows the rules they will be safe places to work and visit as we start the process of recovery in Leeds.”

In light of the measures being put in place, can Harrogate compete and win over the anxious shopper?

Harrogate Borough Council was handed £141,000 from the European Union to help reopen and advertise the high streets, but a plan of how the money will be spent has yet to be revealed.

Meanwhile, the authority’s decision to reintroduce car parking fines left local trade associations frustrated and deeply disappointed.

Harrogate BID launched a deep clean of the town centre earlier this week.

Harrogate BID has also outlined its own plans to make the town centre attractive to shoppers again and started to put measures in place.

A deep clean is already underway and the group is in negotiations with a supplier to introduce high street daytime hosts and nighttime street marshalls in a couple of weeks.

The hosts will be tasked with giving shoppers peace of mind as lockdown is eased by welcoming them to the town centre, giving out information and noting hotspots that need to be cleaned.

Areas like James Street have already had pavements widened and retailers have also been offered social distancing posters to reassure shoppers that their experience will be safe.

Floor stickers will help to show customers where to stand two metres apart.

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, said the organisation was aware of the challenges that face retailers in the district but added that she was optimistic of shoppers coming back.

She said: “We are trying to make it as welcoming as possible.

“I feel like people are a bit sick of lockdown and there will be changes on the high street for sure, but people will have time to shop.

“I’m hoping that people will feel a bit more relaxed.”

Tomorrow in our final report, we look at the longer term plans for Harrogate.

A deep clean of Harrogate town centre began last night as retailers prepare to re-open next Monday.

The four-year contract for the clean was given to a team from the Yorkshire-based company UK Nationwide Cleaning services. The team began on Market Street and Cross James Street.

The clean is expected to take three weeks with a team working through the night, five days a week. The pavements and street furniture will be power washed throughout Harrogate’s retail space.

The cleaning team began in the heart of the retail town today.

Read more: 

• Harrogate retailers prepare to fight for survival as they await to re-open next week. 
• Car parking fines are re-introduced as shops prepare to open again. 

Once the town centre clean is complete, it will then continue into the wider BID area.

Harrogate BID Interim Manager Simon Kent said:

“The deep clean of Harrogate town centre has been a long time coming, and I’m delighted that it has now got under way. In a recent survey by Harrogate BID, the majority of businesses who responded said they saw this as the number one priority. UK Nationwide Cleaning Services, whom we awarded the contract to, are experts in this line of cleaning, having worked successfully with BIDs across the UK, including a number in Yorkshire.”

Further questions have been raised about the role of councils on Harrogate BID after outgoing board members said their plans were thwarted by local authorities.

After four board members including the chairman resigned last week, two of those behind the critical resignation letter have spoken out further.

Rob Spencer, who runs Townhouse Design, said he grew frustrated that the hard work of board members came to nothing when they tried to get the council to act or agree to their plans. He said:

“One of the things I’m passionate about is having our town looking great to welcome visitors and it certainly doesn’t look as good at the moment as it has done previously. Nobody can afford to be complacent.

“The town hasn’t been looked after to the standard it has been previously, yet council tax has gone up. When we presented that to the council members they were very defensive and very keen to get the BID to spend money from doing additional things to embellish the town or attract people but it shouldn’t be having to undertake basic duties to keep it to a reasonable level.

“It was met quite often with a lot of resistance when it was mentioned to council members on the BID. They would refer to other towns and say Harrogate was better and you would think, ‘that’s not relevant’.

“With our potential and history to encourage visitors, we do have a duty [to maintain a high standard] because Harrogate is a beautiful town and a spa town and quite unique. You can’t afford to think it’s going to stay successful because of that historic interest.”

His comments were echoed by fellow signatory Chris Bentley, of Hornbeam Park Developments, who said: “One of the board members volunteered to liaise with the council over street cleaning. They couldn’t get that any further forward. Now they’re trying to do it with third-party cleaners which brings another level of bureaucracy.”

Harrogate BID says it is working on initiatives to draw people back to town once the lockdown is lifted

The four board members who resigned last week were appointed after applying for the positions at the end of 2019, hoping to bring more positive action on behalf of local businesses. It followed after a difficult first year for the BID, which saw numerous board members step down and the first manager departing after less than four months in post. Mr Spencer said:

“I wanted to do some good and help the town. I had mixed reasons for wanting to come out. I run a small business and I’m involved in that day-to-day and that has to come first. Particularly at the moment, that’s more crucial than ever.”

‘Still a great town’

Last week, following their resignations, Harrogate BID issued a statement saying it was aware of the challenges facing the town and was dedicated to making improvements for the benefit of all its levy payers.

Both Mr Spencer and Mr Bentley praised the hard work of the remaining board members and some of the initiatives they had proposed, particularly to make the town centre as vibrant as possible during the run-up to Christmas, should social distancing allow.

But they said at a time when businesses were facing unprecedented challenges, they had to focus on areas where they could make the most difference, which meant spending time on their own businesses. Mr Spencer added:

“We’re still a great town and there are some great businesses. We’re in unprecedented times and I’m confident things will return and bounce back.

“Everybody in their businesses has to work very hard. When we’re investing in our businesses, we want to know that the council are doing the right things with people’s council tax and are not complacent about things.”

Harrogate Borough Council declined to comment on its involvement with the BID. The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council for a comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Harrogate BID’s statement comes after The Stray Ferret yesterday reported on the resignation of its chairman and three of its directors.

The four sent a stinging letter of resignation to the board citing undue council influence, a lack of openness, and a business plan that does not reflect the reality of the state of the town centre.

Chairman Bob Kennedy and directors Chris Bentley, Robert Ogden and Rob Spencer cited an accumulation of negative impacts from the UCI Road World Championships and the Covid-19 lockdown, as well as a more general crisis for retail. Read the resignation letter in full here.

In its statement the Harrogate BID does not refer to many of the criticism’s raised in the resignation letter – but does say the BID recognises the challenges facing Harrogate:

“We are naturally very disappointed by the resignations of the four board members after only four months, but we would like to thank them for their contribution since the beginning of the year.

“The Covid19 crisis has meant that our programme of activities outlined in our business plan – which was revised at the beginning of the year and agreed unanimously by all the Board members including those who have resigned – is having to be re-thought.

“We are now looking at a number of innovations and promotions to ensure that, when the lockdown is ended, Harrogate is the first choice shopping destination for residents and visitors alike

“We are here to work with all town centre stakeholders – namely traders, transport providers, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council, and of course our Customers who come here to shop, eat and be entertained

“We are certainly not under any illusion about the challenges that we face over the coming weeks and months.

“The departure of these four will not detract us from the job in hand. Our focus is firmly fixed on making the town the best it can be, enhancing what we already have here, and promoting the town centre and the diverse range of businesses that it is home to.”

The Stray Ferret has asked for a response from both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council to the issues raised in the resignation letter and have not received a reply at the time of publication.

The chairman of Harrogate BID and three of its directors have sent a stinging letter of resignation to the board.

Citing undue council influence, a lack of openness and a business plan that does not reflect the reality of the state of the town centre, the four – more than a quarter of the board’s 15 members – have stepped down with immediate effect.

The letter highlights the desperate situation which chairman Bob Kennedy and directors Chris Bentley, Robert Ogden and Rob Spencer believe Harrogate is now facing. It refers to an accumulation of negative impacts from the UCI Road World Championships and the Covid-19 lockdown, as well as a more general crisis for retail.

It says:

“Without a consensus view on the board of the dire state of the town’s economy, particularly its retail heart, and its causes, addressing the key issues cannot be achieved.

“The strong influence of Borough and County Council on the board of an organisation that according to government guidance is supposed to be a ‘business-led’ partnership means that any initiative that addresses the councils’ input is endlessly debated, and sensible options resisted. It has not even been possible to garner cross-board agreement that the current aesthetic state of Harrogate town centre is not adequate, something that is self-evident to business leaders and residents alike but is constantly denied or excused by councils.”

Chairman Bob Kennedy is among four directors to have resigned from Harrogate BID

The letter then says the original business plan created by the BID will waste money on some areas and fail to fund others adequately. The plan should have been re-written and the budgets re-allocated to reflect the changing challenges of the last 18 months, according to the four signatories.

They also cite a lack of openness in the way the BID is being run:

“From the start, Harrogate BID was set up not to operate in the open or transparent way it should, with addended confidentiality provisions for directors that other BIDs, for instance York’s, do not have and which we are informed are incompatible with it performing a public function. Recent events reinforce this view, and BID is currently pursuing an approach that appears to be more about suppressing criticism and spinning positive messaging than acknowledging the hard realities of the situation.”

Strong council influence

Finally, the directors say they have lost confidence that the board is going to spend its money in ways which will benefit businesses, not least because of the influence of the two local authorities. Funded by a compulsory levy on rate-payers in the town centre, it has an annual income of around £500,000. They say:

“Such transformative commercial imperatives as free parking would be unlikely ever to be championed by Harrogate BID, as they have been by other BIDs across the country, while there is such a strong council influence on its board, and the business plan forces spending on areas that do not address the key issues.”

The resignations come just 10 days after the announcement of a new manager for the BID, Simon Kent. The four directors recognise his appointment and wish the remaining board members well, but say:

“Much as it pains us to state this, Harrogate was struggling before COVID-19. Now, the reality of the situation is becoming very serious indeed.”

More:

Read the resignation letter in full

Where does Harrogate BID go from here?