Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructureHarrogate Borough Council agreed exit packages worth £222,000 last year with the bulk of the payouts given to former marketing staff in its culture and tourism departments.
In the summer of 2021, the council agreed to create a new destination management organisation for the district called Destination Harrogate after a review found the authority had a “fragmented” approach to tourism and marketing.
Destination Harrogate was set up to raise the profile of the Harrogate district and help attract tourists and investment but the restructure meant its marketing teams from Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Convention Centre were merged into the one organisation, resulting in job losses.
The council’s draft statement of accounts, which lists income and expenditure during 2021/22, includes details of 14 exit packages with the majority of payments linked to the restructure.
It says 12 payments worth up to £20,000 were agreed as well as one payment worth between £20,001 and £40,000 and another worth between £80,001 and £100,000.
The number of exit packages last year was unusually high for the authority. In 2020/21 it only agreed one worth £15,000.
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In 2022, Destination Harrogate unveiled a three-year plan to position the Harrogate district as a “first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment”.
Alongside its partner Market Place Europe Ltd, it recently organised Christmas festivities in Harrogate, which included a Ferris wheel, ice rink and Christmas market.
A council spokesperson said:
“In summer 2021, Harrogate Borough Council agreed a restructure of the culture, tourism (including Visit Harrogate) and Harrogate Convention Centre marketing teams in order to establish a new destination management organisation for the Harrogate district.
“The destination management organisation’s purpose was to raise the profile of the Harrogate district as an exceptional place to visit, meet and invest.
“The destination management organisation required a staffing structure that was fit for purpose and suitably flexible to respond to changing customer expectations/market developments and seasonal demand. The restructure supported this and enabled the right mix of skills and experience to be in place to deliver the DMO’s vision and strategy.”
Strong winds lead to Knaresborough Market cancellationHigh winds led to Knaresborough Market being cancelled today.
The historic market, which takes place on Market Place in the town, is usually held on a Wednesday from 7.30am until 3pm throughout the year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council cancelled the market today due to strong winds.
The move comes as strong winds and showers have been forecast across the Harrogate district throughout the day.
The Met Office recorded gusts of up to 40mph during this afternoon.
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Sharow pub owner appeals housing plan refusalThe owner of the Half Moon Inn at Sharow has appealed a decision to refuse plans to convert the pub into a house.
The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.
Mark Fitton, owner of the pub, lodged a plan to convert the former pub into a house in March last year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the proposal on the grounds that “insufficient evidence” had been submitted to demonstrate that no community use existed for the property.
Mr Fitton has now taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, the body that deals with planning disputes.
He has also resubmitted the proposal to the council and challenged a decision to allocate the former pub as an asset of community value.
In documents submitted to the government, he said:
“Contrary to the stated reason for refusal, an abundance of evidence was submitted to demonstrate that no community use exists for this property.”
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A government planning inspector will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Following the council’s decision to allocate the building as an asset of community value, residents have called for the pub to be reinstated.
However, Mr Fitton has challenged the move and called for a review of the decision.
In a letter to Mr Fitton, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review by January 29, 2023.
Conversion of former Ripon pub to new homes moves a step closer
The conversion of a famous former Ripon pub into flats as part of a new housing development is moving a step closer.
In October 2021 Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to convert the Ship Inn on Bondgate into five two-bedroom flats.
The vacant site has attracted various incidents of anti-social behaviour since the pub closed in 2020.
The new development will see the construction of four terraced houses and a detached dwelling on the site.
Original proposals to redevelop the site, which include the creation of 14 parking spaces, were submitted by Leeds-based NRG Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd.
Now Sharow-based firm Watson Batty Properties LLP has applied to the council to vary the planning conditions to allow for the external use of brick and render in the development.
Planning documents submitted to the council say the development should begin on or before October 13, 2024.
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At the time of submitting the planning application NRG Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd. said:
“The site is now better suited for residential use, which help bring a more appropriate residential feel for the community, limited to scale and type which does not cause nuisance.
“The provision of new residents will potentially have some benefit to local enterprises and will add to and consolidate the general activity of Ripon.”
Plan to convert former Markington pub into house approvedA plan to convert a former Markington pub into a house has been approved.
The Cross Keys Inn, on High Street, closed in 2016 after declining turnover and profitability.
Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert the former public house into a home.
ID Planning, which lodged the plan on behalf of Leeds-based Lotherton Property Services, said in documents submitted to the council the building had been extensively marketed for sale as a pub.
But it added potential buyers had shown little interest in reopening it for that purpose.
The documents said:
“No party expressed any interest whatsoever in reopening it as a public house or indeed any other use other than residential.”
The proposal would see the former pub converted into a four-bedroom house along with three car parking spaces.
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Revealed: locations of 100 new electric charging bays in Harrogate districtOne hundred new electric vehicle charging bays are due to be installed in the Harrogate district this year, bringing the total to 120.
The bays are expected to be available early this year but the dates for each locality have not yet been published.
Half of the district’s 120 bays will be in Harrogate, which will have 60. They include a dozen each at the Victoria multi-storey car park, the Odeon cinema and Hornbeam Park.
There will be 27 in Knaresborough, 19 in Ripon, six in Boroughbridge and four each in Pateley Bridge and Masham.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said the bays would help achieve a net zero-carbon economy by 2038, adding:
“These new charging points support the uptake in electric vehicles for both our residents and our visitor economy, and complement other sustainable travel options.”
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Chapel Street car park in Knaresborough
The decision to block off existing car park spaces for the new bays before they were in use caused controversy in Knaresborough last month when one business said it was damaging trade.
Hairdressers Kelly Teggin said she supported the introduction of electric charging bays but couldn’t understand why it had been done in the run-up to Christmas when the new bays weren’t even in use yet.
Harrogate
Victoria multi-storey car park – 12 Bays
Hornbeam Park – 12 Bays
Odeon – 12 Bays
West Park – 8 Bays
Park View – 6 Bays
Dragon Road – 10 Bays
Knaresborough
Conyngham Hall – 12 Bays
Chapel Street – 10 Bays
Leisure Centre (new) – 5 Bays
Ripon (new)
Cathedral Car Park – 6 Bays
Blossomgate Car Park – 4 Bays
Ripon (existing)
Leisure Centre – 5 Bays
Phoenix Business Park – 4 Bays
Boroughbridge (Phase 2)
Back Lane Car Park – Up to 6 bays
Pateley Bridge
Southlands Car Park – 4 Bays
Masham
Market Place – 4 Bays
Last chance to visit Harrogate’s ice rink and ferris wheelThe ice rink, carousel and ferris wheel that have become key features of Harrogate town centre over the last month are set to close.
Harrogate Borough Council introduced the attractions to attract local people and tourists to the area over the festive season.
The Christmas offering began on December 2 with the opening of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which consisted of about 50 market stalls in town centre streets, along with the ice rink, carousel and 32-metre ferris wheel.
The fayre and the free candy cane express road train, which transported people around town, lasted 10 days.
Since then the festive feel has continued with the ice rink, carousel and other fairground rides at Crescent Gardens and the ferris wheel in the very centre of town alongside the war memorial.
The ferris wheel is due to make its last rotation at 5pm tonight. The attractions at Crescent Gardens will end tomorrow.
The council organised the activities in partnership with events company Market Place Europe, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Events By Cynosure.
Details of the costs and impact on the local economy have yet to be released.
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Parks in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough to get contactless donation pointsHarrogate Borough Council looks set to install contactless donation points in parks in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.
The donation points will be put in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, Knaresborough Castle, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and in Ripon Spa Gardens to generate income for the upkeep and development of parks and open spaces.
Councillors are expected to approve spending £18,000 to install them at a meeting on January 10.
Ripon Spa Gardens
A report to councillors said all the locations”feature high quality ornamental gardens and relatively high levels of footfall”.
There will be three sites in Valley Gardens — the main entrance, the band stand and the children’s play area. The report said:
“The proposed locations will encourage visitor interaction as each is a prominent footfall area and will be particularly busy during the increased number of events held in the gardens.
“The colourful ‘duck’ for coin donations that is emptied and banked at Claro Road is proposed to be retained.”
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The Valley Gardens Development Strategy, published in July last year, proposed creating contactless donation points.
Subsequent consultation with Bournemouth Parks Foundation and the Lake District Foundation suggested an average annual income of £2,000 per donation point.
Knaresborough Castle
It added financial modelling indicated the initial capital investment of £18,000 would be repaid within two years with an annual income of around £12,000 achieved thereafter.
A phased roll-out this year, starting with Knaresborough Castle, Ripon Spa Gardens and Valley Gardens by the end of March, are set for approval. The report concludes:
“Supporting the additional contactless donation points will help raise additional funding to maintain and improve parks and open spaces for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and will support the wider local economy.”
Looking ahead 2023: Devolution – what happens now?When Harrogate Borough Council is abolished in April, the first signs of political change in the district will come to fruition.
This year, we can also expect to hear more about the £540 million devolution deal for North Yorkshire which has been agreed in principle.
But what happens now with devolution and when can we expect to see a new mayor and combined authority that comes with the deal?
What happens from April?
On April 1, Harrogate Borough Council will no longer exist.
It will be replaced by North Yorkshire Council, which is replacing all seven district authorities and North Yorkshire County Council.
It means that council tax will be paid to the new council and services, assets and planning decisions will be transferred to the new authority.
What about the devolution deal?
The £540 million devolution deal, which includes a directly elected mayor for North Yorkshire and York, has been agreed in principle.
A public consultation on the deal was completed last month.
However, it still has to be ratified by both City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
It is expected that this will come before both councils in February 2023 to decide whether to proceed with the deal.
When will a mayor for North Yorkshire be elected?
Councillors still need to agree to the devolution deal in order to start setting up the office of an elected mayor for North Yorkshire.
Both councils can then undertake a governance review in order to create the position of mayor.
According to the timetable outlined in the devolution deal agreed between City of York Council, the county council and government, a mayor could be elected in May 2024, should all go ahead.
What about the combined authority?
As part of a devolution deal which was announced this week, a combined authority will be set up for North Yorkshire and York.
The move will be historic for the county as it joins Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley in setting up such an authority.
A combined authority is a body set up for two or more councils to make joint decisions.
In this case, the upcoming North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council would come together to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.
Should it be given the go-ahead, a combined authority could be set up for North Yorkshire and York by autumn this year.
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Looking ahead 2023: Major development in the Harrogate districtThe Harrogate district is expanding with new homes and businesses.
Next year will be no different as both Harrogate Borough Council and the new North Yorkshire Council are set to decide on some major developments.
From 1,300 homes in Ripon to a new Tesco on Skipton Road in Harrogate, there are some key planning decisions to be made.
Here are some of the major developments on the cards for the district.
A new Harrogate Tesco?
In the pipeline for nearly 20 years, talk of a new Tesco in Harrogate could now potentially become a reality over the next 12 months.
The company has earmarked land at former gasworks site on Skipton Road for its new store.
Since pulling out of plans for the site in 2016, Tesco returned at the end of last year with fresh plans for a 38,795 square feet supermarket.
Artist impression of how the Tesco will look on Skipton Road.
Throughout 2022, objections have been lodged against the plan from residents and retailers – including the Co-op, which argued the new store could damage takings at its Jennyfields shop.
The proposal represents a major scheme for Harrogate, which currently does not have a Tesco supermarket.
However, in 2023, that could change if councillors side with the retail giant.
West of Harrogate expansion
The west of Harrogate has been earmarked for major development for some time.
The scale of the housing planned for the area has led to the approval of a parameters plan by the borough council.
Among the schemes include 480 homes at Bluecoat Wood, 770 homes at Windmill Farm and 200 homes at the former police training centre off Yew Tree Lane.
Some of the developments are yet to be decided and could be heard this coming year.
More housebuilding in Kingsley
Another area of Harrogate that has seen extensive housebuilding is Kingsley.
Developers including Persimmon Homes have pursued schemes on Kingsley Drive for the past 18 months.
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A revised proposal for 162 homes has just recently been tabled for the street this month.
Despite concern from residents that nearby Rydal Road, Birstwith Road and Leyland Road have been used as rat-runs due to housebuilding, the area looks set to be subject to further applications.
Knox Lane controversy
Perhaps one of the more controversial developments which could be decided this coming year is new houses off Knox Lane.
A decision on the 53-home proposal has been delayed since October after councillors raised concerns that the site is likely to be contaminated by coal and tar spillages from a former railway track.
The plans were first submitted in April 2020 and initially included 73 homes, but this was reduced to 53 after local complaints.
Despite further changes, residents have continued to strongly oppose the development with more than 300 objections and no letters of support being submitted to the council.
Campaigners dressed as woodland creatures also took to the Nidderdale Greenway to collect signatures against the proposal.
A computer generated image of the proposed Ripon Barracks site
New homes in Clotherholme?
One of Ripon’s longest running housing schemes is the planed 1,300 homes on the former Clotherholme barracks.
The plans were first submitted in 2020 by Homes England, the government’s housing agency.
However, since then, there has been a bitter debate over the scheme and its impact on health, transport and the site’s military history.
A consultation into the homes was extended in March following a request by Ripon City Council.
However, there has been little movement on the development since.