Harrogate Borough Council has begun a review of the UCI Road World Championships, almost two years after the event was held.

Posted on the council’s website, the survey is open to residents and businesses and will run until June 16.

The authority says the purpose of the review is to build on “its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events”.

The review will be conducted by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, which is made up of elected councillors and aims to scrutinise council business.

The Stray Ferret asked the council why it was holding the survey and what the process was for the review.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“The overview and scrutiny commission has decided to look at the UCI Road World Championships with the aim of building on its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to help inform the organisation of future events.

“Following the consultation the task and finish group of the overview and scrutiny commission will produce a report.”

You can give your thoughts on the 2019 UCI World Cycling Championships by filling out the survey here.

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A controversial event

Hundreds of cyclists from 67 countries took part in the event over nine days in September 2019, with each day’s race finishing in Harrogate town centre.

It received a hostile reception from many local traders, who said they did not feel the benefits of the event coming to town, particularly as it led to many road closures that deterred people from coming into Harrogate.

But a council-commissioned report by Ernst and Young claimed the championships brought in an estimated £17.8 million boost to the district economy.

The UCI event was held on West Park Stray.

The event, which was cursed by rain, generated further controversy when it was revealed £130,000 of damage was caused to West Park Stray.

Seven months after the competition, the council brought in Lancashire firm Glendale Services to restore the Stray.

The authority gave the contract for the restoration works “under urgent circumstances”, a decision criticised by local companies at the time.

Yorkshire 2019, the organisers of the UCI, agreed to pay £35,500 to help restore the Stray.

A Harrogate farm shop and bohemian-style cafe has applied for a licence to serve alcohol.

Harrogate Borough Council will decide whether to grant the licence for 53 Bo’Grove at a meeting next week.

The shop on Grove Road has applied to sell alcohol with meals on the premises from 9am until 5pm Monday and Tuesday, 9am until 8pm Wednesday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sundays.

In its application, Bo’Grove said the premises would operate as a farm shop, cafe and bistro, not as a bar or “vertical drinking establishment” where people mostly stand up to drink.

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It added that any drinks purchased on site would only be allowed to be taken off premises in sealed containers.

Kyrensa Bentley, owner of 53 Bo’Grove, set up the cafe back in 2019 and later opened a farm shop on the site.

Bo’Grove Groceries subsequently opened on Commercial Street, Harrogate this year.

Kyrensa Bentley outside her shop on Commercial Street in Harrogate.

A report due before the licensing committee next week said North Yorkshire Police initially objected to the application, but later withdrew its concern after conditions for the licence were met.

Councillors on the committee will make a decision on June 8.

A Harrogate councillor will this week make a third attempt to win final approval to build a new countryside home after her previous plans were refused over size concerns.

Margaret Atkinson, a Conservative who represents the Fountains and Ripley ward on Harrogate Borough Council, was granted outline permission for a four-bedroom farmhouse opposite her existing home in Kirkby Malzeard in 2019.

But she has since made two failed attempts to secure a final go-ahead.

Her plans were previously refused because officers said she could not justify why the property needed to be so big.

However, cllr Atkinson has now submitted a scaled-back application, which has been recommended for approval at a meeting on Thursday.

A report to the meeting said the property – which is classed as a farm workers dwelling – had been reduced in size by around 75.5 square metres.

It said:

“The proposed dwelling provides for four-bedroom accommodation as per the previous application but the overall floorspace has been reduced from 276 sq m to 199.5 sq m.

“The revised proposal provides a dwelling that is considered to be of a scale and level of accommodation commensurate with that of an agricultural workers dwelling.”

The report added while the farmhouse was still larger than government’s nationally described space standards, which recommended up to 124 sq m, this was only guidance and the size was justified by the amount of space needed for farm work.

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As well as four bedrooms, cllr Atkinson’s plans also include a living room, dining room, kitchen, sunroom, office, storage space and two-bay carport.

Other reasons for refusal previously given by officers were a negative impact on the surrounding countryside and that the farmhouse would not have been affordable to any future owners because of its size.

The scale and layout of a proposed garden area was also a concern, as well as a lack of “suitable planting species and mix”.

However, the report to Thursday’s meeting said these areas had now been addressed in the new application. It said:

“The overall layout and design of the proposed property is considered to be in keeping with the local area and would not have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“The proposed landscaping scheme sets out a clear delineation of the domestic curtilage from the wider landscape and the proposed planting  provides opportunities for biodiversity net gain and a suitable level of screening.”

Kirkby Malzeard, Laverton and Dallowgill Parish Council did not support or object to the latest application, but did ask for reassurances over highway safety, future development on the site and the impact on the countryside.

A trade union has warned that almost half of Harrogate Borough Council‘s museum and tourism staff could lose their jobs in a “dumbing down” of the services.

Unison Harrogate local government branch added the move could also cause “huge reputational damage to the district and the council and also impact on much-needed income generation”.

It urged the council to reconsider its plans, which are part of a staff review instigated in the wake of the creation of a new destination management organisation in September.

The organisation will, according to the council, “ensure the best possible visitor experience and make the district of Harrogate a must visit destination for leisure and business tourists alike”.

But its plans to merge Visit Harrogate, the convention centre’s marketing team and the tourist information centres have met opposition from Unison.

David Houlgate, Unison branch secretary, said the proposals could lead to “a reduction in staffing of nearly 50%” as well as new ways of working that would worsen the service provided and pose risks to staff safety.

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Remaining staff would have to carry out “hybrid roles” as tourist information and museum posts are merged and visitors would be denied seeing as many staff.

Mr Houlgate said:

“We have been through many reviews at Harrogate Borough Council over the past 10 or so years and technology has enabled some automation and rationalisation but you cannot deliver museum services online, you need people in place to engage with visitors and know what they are talking about and if the full proposals go through there simply won’t be enough staff to do that, nor will they have time to enhance their knowledge through training or professional development.

“There may have in recent years been a shift in how the public accesses tourist information but it has not got to the stage where a physical presence is not needed.”

A source alerted the Stray Ferret last month to concerns staff would be made redundant if they didn’t accept new roles. It is believed up to 30 staff are affected by the changes.

Mr Houlgate called on the authority to put the plans back in order to “fully engage with staff in visitor, cultural and museum services”.

He said:

“This will enable the focus to be on the new place marketing, event bureau and partnership and commercial development functions, so that these can get successfully established and embedded in their own right and staff can be fully engaged and involved with the process throughout.

“It will also enable the council to fully engage with staff in visitor, cultural and museum services too and allow time to explore a number of opportunities and options staff have identified regarding increased footfall, enhanced income generation and service improvement.  This should maintain and build on the current service provision with the aim of complimenting the new functions being introduced.

“It would seem at odds that the new destination management organisation has been set up to position Harrogate as an exceptional place to live, visit, meet and invest and yet at the same time it’s cultural and heritage offer is being downgraded.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“The destination management organisation for the district of Harrogate will bring together the strengths of Visit Harrogate, the convention centre’s marketing team and the tourist information centres.

“This collaboration will ensure the best possible visitor experience and make the district of Harrogate a must visit destination for leisure and business tourists alike.

“This DMO will also work closely with Think Harrogate, Harrogate BID, and other organisations such as Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association to further strengthen the economic impact and support the district’s recovery plans following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As part of the DMO being established, we will be ensuring we have the right roles across the organisation to help deliver these aims and provide best value for the tax payer.

“These proposals are still being developed and will involve a consultation with staff.”

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. See below for details on how to contribute.

Beware of dogmatic assertions on pedestrians are cyclists

Marilyn Stowe is right in her article for criticising the dogmatic assertion that “if you build it, they will come” when the council dreams up fantasy numbers of extra pedestrians and cyclists.

It rains in Harrogate. There are hills. Electric bikes are legal up to 25 kilometres per hour (that’s 15 miles per hour) on a bike path shared with pedestrians and with house entrances peppered along the pavement.

E-scooters, Segways, hover bikes are all illegal to use anywhere in the UK except on private land. And if everyone shifts to bikes anyway, where will all the bikes be parked when people are going about their shopping or having a coffee? We will need loads of ‘toast racks’ on pavements for bikes to be secured against theft, and these obstructions on the pavements will make it harder for pedestrians, not easier or more enjoyable.

The destruction of Otley Road environs is inevitable if the council forces in two cycle lanes, two pedestrian walkways and two lanes of traffic. What will go? Trees, hedges, common sense and money.

Just because there is a grant of £8 million, it does not have to be spent.

A small fortune has been spent at the Harlow Moor Road / Otley Road junction; minimal benefit for large disruption and large cost.

It seems that any amount of traffic disruption is justifiable now if some trivial improvement can be made.

Councils used to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money. Now the approach seems to be to grab money from any source and spend it on pet projects — but keep most of the discussion papers secret.

Bob Hankinson, Harrogate

Salon was right to refuse customer with no face mask

I fully support the actions of the salon that refused to admit a customer who wasn’t wearing a face mask.

People who enter a shop without a face mask, whether they are disabled or not, present an unacceptable health risk to everyone else in that shop.

Coronavirus has put restrictions and loss of liberty on all of us. Disabled people cannot be excluded from this.

Those granted exemption from wearing a face covering are not exempt from catching or spreading coronavirus and are a risk to the health of everyone else.

We cannot allow the needs of the few to put at risk the health of the many.

Mike Monkman, Bilton

I fear for the future of Harrogate

“Shocked” and “depressed” at Stray litter

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Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Harrogate Borough Council will press ahead with an investigation into a hole in the ground found next to Ripon Leisure Centre following assurances from senior officers over the work.

Senior councillors on the authority’s cabinet approved the measures at a meeting earlier this week, which is estimated to cost £110,000.

In a report before councillors, the authority said it was required to investigate the “void in the ground” in order to retain its business insurance on the building.

The city has a history of sinkholes caused by the soluble of nature gypsum, the rock that lies under much of the area.

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The hole was discovered next to the entrance of the existing leisure centre last year and has been filled with crushed gravel as a short-term solution.

Michael Constantine, head of operations at the council, told the cabinet meeting that he could reassure them that the council had employed expertise to handle the investigation.

He said:

“I’m very content to be able to give cabinet, council and any interested residents my assurance that as a project team we are employing sufficient qualified and experience geologists and technical engineers.

“The ground investigations works is proposed to take place and be delivered by the company who have undertaken the main series of investigations and reinforcement works for the main new pool facility.

“They have a very detailed knowledge of the site and they are pretty much the UK industry experts in stabilisation.”

Consultant engineers have told the council that further investigation will be required and remedial work if necessary.

In order to carry out the work, the council will have to self-insure as it says it will not be covered by any third-party insurance

The current insured value of the centre is £3,796,135 plus 10% contents, which the authority says would be lost should any damage be caused as a result of the work.

But, council officers have said this would be a “worst case scenario” and is considered to be an “unlikely event”.

Concerns over Ripon Pool void

Before the meeting on Wednesday, Dr Alan Thompson, is a chartered geologist and a director of Cuesta Consulting Limited, emailed members of the cabinet.

He called on them to take concerns, raised by Ripon-based chartered engineer Stanley Mackintosh, “very seriously”.

Mr Mackintosh has consistently raised concerns with HBC about the suitability of building a swimming pool on land with a history of ground instability issues.

However, his comments, made at the June 2019 planning meeting, where the £10 million plus pool scheme was approved, he feels were largely dismissed.

On Tuesday, Mr Mackintosh reiterated his concerns in an email sent to all cabinet members.

Both his and Dr Thompson’s emails, were sent prior to the HBC cabinet meeting, where senior councillors considered a report about a ‘hole’ discovered last year, next to the entrance of the existing Ripon Leisure Centre.

The refurbished leisure centre is physically attached to the new pool.

Ripon’s new swimming pool and refurbished leisure centre was originally due to open in Summer 2021, but signs there now say ‘Opening Autumn 2021.’

Dr Thompson, who is also the principal author of the definitive report into gypsum-related subsidence in the city, said in his email:

“Prior to your consideration of the proposals for further geological investigations and remediation in connection with the Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool, I am writing in support of the concerns expressed by Mr. Stanley Mackintosh.

“Mr. Mackintosh, amongst others, has kindly kept me informed of those developments and of his very serious concerns regarding the ongoing risk of subsidence, the inadequacy of recent ground investigations, and the prospects of instability being exacerbated by some of the techniques used.

“The purpose of this email is very simply to lend support to Mr. Mackintosh and to urge you to take his concerns very seriously.

In 1996, Dr Thompson and fellow experts produced a report, titled ‘Assessment of subsidence arising from gypsum dissolution with particular reference to Ripon, North Yorkshire’.

The report was commissioned by HBC and the former Department of the Environment, provided the basis for the land instability policies which the council has in place.

A Knaresborough pub has been granted permission to sell customers alcohol outside until 10pm after a police objection was withdrawn.

The Cricketers, located on Thistle Hill, Calcutt, has won approval to extend its premises licence to include an outdoor bar after agreeing to rules around CCTV suggested by North Yorkshire Police.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council confirmed the decision to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Wednesday.

They said:

“The applicant has agreed to conditions which mean representations were withdrawn and therefore the meeting has been cancelled.”

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A decision on the licence application was due to be made at a meeting next Tuesday (June 1) but this has now been cancelled.

North Yorkshire Police licensing officer PC Jackie Allen previously said in a report that CCTV cameras which have been installed must be of a high quality, recording at all times when the pub is open and with the footage made available within 48 hours of any request.

She said:

“North Yorkshire Police believe that the following conditions need to be placed onto the premises licence for the purposes of strengthening and promoting the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.”

The pub is located at the former Union Hotel and is owned by national brewing and pub retailing business Marston’s.

The Royal Hall in Harrogate is set to undergo roof repairs and refurbishment after an “ongoing issue” with leaks.

Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at Harrogate Borough Council, approved awarding a contract for the repairs earlier this week.

It will see the roof repaired and refurbishment carried out to ensure the “premises are wind and watertight and legislative compliant”.

The move follows a condition survey carried out by the council in February last year.

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It also investigated an ongoing issue of “water ingress emanating from the main central copper dome on the roof”.

A report before Cllr Swift said:

“In line with good asset management, a detailed condition survey of the Royal Hall was completed between January and February 2020 to provide an updated building condition report, with costings, over a 10-year cycle.

“It was also to investigate an ongoing issue of water ingress emanating from the main central copper dome on the roof, into the lower lantern and then finding its way down to the auditorium floor below.”

The report said the works will see “undertaking timber repairs and forming ‘out shoots’ for rainwater drainage” and maintenance work for areas of slipped and damaged slates.

It added that six contractors expressed interest in the contract, which closed for tendering on March 26.

However, just two contractors bid for the contract by the time the process closed.

While the council approved the awarding of the contract, the report did not include who the bidders were, how much it would cost or whether or not the Royal Hall would be closed during the works.

The Stray Ferret approached the council for a response to those questions, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The grade-II listed building underwent a major £8 million restoration project back in 2005.

Following the restoration, the Royal Hall was reopened by the Prince of Wales in January 2008 when it was completed.

Harrogate Borough Council has written off more than £632,000 in unpaid council tax and business rates bills which stretch back almost a decade.

The debts – some of which stretch back to 1993 – were owed for a variety of reasons including taxpayers being untraceable, dead or in prison, and businesses going bust.

Matthew Waite-Wright, revenues and income manager at the council, told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday all attempts to recover the cash had been exhausted and that the amount written off was “minute” in comparison to the £237 million total collections this year.

He said:

“These write-offs are for last year’s debts but also for preceding debts going to back to 1993. Each individual debt has been investigated fully and considered by at least two officers before the decision to write off has been made.

“We would stress that the figure of £632,000, whilst of course is a large number, is minute in comparison to the actual billings at the moment.”

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Harrogate council is not only responsible for collecting its own council tax and business rates charges but also those for North Yorkshire County Council and police and fire services. All figures mentioned also include these public organisations.

A breakdown of the debts written off show almost £339,000 was unpaid council tax bills and around £285,000 was unpaid business rates.

The most common reasons for outstanding payments were old debts which were “unreasonable to chase” and business insolvency. Other reasons included incorrect bills being issued, debtors moving abroad and ill health.

Mr Waite-Wright said in a report that writing off debts is good accountancy practice and would not impact on the council’s spending plans.

He said:

“The council has adequate bad debt provision, and there is no impact on the 2020/21 revenue budget. Identification of bad debt and taking decisions on irrecoverable debt is considered good financial management to ensure the council is utilising its resources effectively.

“The amounts now recommended to be written off are a creditably small percentage of the annual collectable debit.

“The actual collection rate remains high at around 97% for council tax but has fallen to around 92% for non-domestic rates in 2020/21 due to covid.

“However, this has not yet affected the level of write offs but an increase is anticipated in future years.”

Earlier this week Harrogate Borough Council apologised for wrongly sending letters to residents threatening them with court action for not paying council tax after incorrectly billing them in May this year. 

A trade union has expressed concern that jobs could be lost as part of a staff review at Harrogate Borough Council’s new tourism organisation.

The authority set up a destination management organisation in September to ‘further grow economic impact and support the district’s recovery plans following the covid pandemic’.

Gemma Rio was recruited as head of destination management to lead the new organisation, which combines Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Convention Centre’s marketing team and the district’s tourist information centres.

The council is now consulting on the new structure.

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The Stray Ferret was contacted by a source worried the process would lead to staff being made redundant if they didn’t accept new roles.

We understand 25 to 30 staff in areas such as tourism information and museums fall under the review.

A consultation on the review is expected to end tomorrow.

The Stray Ferret approached Unison Harrogate local government branch and asked whether it had responded to the review.

A spokesman for Unison said it had concerns that staff were “at risk of being made redundant” and that it had “identified a number of concerns regarding the proposals but that there are also some things we believe we can support”.

He added:

“The key thing for us is our members jobs and pay but also that the council has a service that is fit for purpose once the review is completed.”

A council spokesperson said the destination management organisation “will ensure the best possible visitor experience and make the district of Harrogate a must visit destination for leisure and business tourists alike”.

The spokesperson added:

“As part of the DMO being established, we will be ensuring we have the right roles across the organisation to help deliver these aims and provide best value for the taxpayer.

“These proposals are still being developed and will involve a consultation with staff.”