The clock is ticking on the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council, which could leave Harrogate itself without any lower tier authority.

The borough council will no longer exist come April 1, 2023, as part of the biggest shake-up in local government since 1974.

This has led to calls for North Yorkshire County Council to create a Harrogate Town Council. But what is a town council, what powers will it have and how will it be funded?

What is a town council?

Town and parish councils run services such as community centres and play areas, as well as maintaining bus shelters. Councillors are elected to serve on them but they are not paid.

The councils can also charge a precept as part of council tax bills to fund the services provided, meaning there is a cost to the people they serve.

In the Harrogate district, there are town councils in areas such as Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Kirby Hill.

Because Harrogate does not currently have a lower tier council, it raises questions over what its boundaries would be.

What powers would a Harrogate Town Council have?

North Yorkshire County Council officials have promised further powers for towns and parishes in a move described as ‘double devolution’.

It would see the councils able to run services and take on additional responsibilities.

Council bosses have looked at areas such as Cornwall as an example of this.

Read more:

• Harrogate town council referendum will be held ‘as soon as possible’
• Harrogate town council: will it be created and what would it cost?

In 2009, Cornwall scrapped its six districts and county council and set up a single unitary authority — just as North Yorkshire is doing now.

In an effort to reach out to local areas, it started a process of double devolution to its 197 parish and town councils. This saw town and parish councils take on more assets and, in theory, given more control.

Truro City Council took over the city’s library, youth centre, sports hall and open spaces, such as Lemon Quay.

Other town councils opted for more modest bids and took control of art galleries and CCTV services.

If a town council is created in Harrogate, it would raise questions over what assets it could feasibly take control of, and what assets would remain with North Yorkshire Council.

How would it be funded?

Parish and town councils are largely funded through a local precept, which goes on top of general council tax.

Those who live in Knaresborough, Ripon and other parishes already pay a parish precept on their bills in addition to the precepts for North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Ripon City Council has frozen its precept for the average band D at £71.89 for the last two years, while Knaresborough Town Council set its share at £25.27.

Ripon Town Hall, where the city council sits.

People in Harrogate do not currently pay a parish precept. But they would if a town council is created in order to fund services it runs.

The more powers it took on as part of the double devolution agenda, the more its bills could increase.

Many of the town and parishes in Cornwall have taken control of car parks in order to raise money.

Should a Harrogate town council want to replicate the model in Cornwall, it could mean similar actions being taken.

When will a town council be created?

Some newly elected county councillors have pushed for action but no formal moves have begun yet.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Hookstone division, last week called for a town council to be created at “as soon as possible”.

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

In order to create a new parish, county council officials would have to begin a process known as a community governance review, which would be consulted on with the public.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the authority, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently that it would be up to residents to decide if plans should go-ahead.

He said:

“I’m a great advocate of parish and town councils, and I do believe Harrogate and Scarborough would be well served if they had them.

“That said, it is for the people to decide whether they want them or not.

“I’m very keen that we start the process as soon as possible and we will go to the public in Harrogate and Scarborough at the earliest opportunity.”

With North Yorkshire Council not coming into existence until April 1, it is doubtful whether moves to create a Harrogate Town Council will seriously begin until then so it could be some years before one is up and running — if residents decide to create one.

Proposals to create a pharmacy and retail unit at a former William Hill bookmakers in Harrogate have been approved.

Leeds-based The Pharmacy Group submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the boarded-up unit on the town’s Beulah Street.

It will see the bookies, which has been closed for some time, converted into a shop and the unit facing Station Parade converted into a pharmacy.

Office space will also be created in the space above the pharmacy.

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Harrogate Borough Council has now approved the plan.

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the proposal would bring “positive benefits” to the area.

It said:

“The change of use from turf accountants to retail and offices and the proposed redevelopment of the site will bring positive benefits to the area by maintaining, enhancing and giving new life to a key property on both Beulah Street and Station Parade.”

The Pharmacy Group is a third generation family-owned business with 30 NHS community pharmacies across Yorkshire. They include Harrogate Pharmacy on Haywra Crescent.

Harrogate Borough Council is set to award a £40,000 contract to create a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery.

The crematorium will be built inside a converted shipping container at the crematorium on Wetherby Road.

The contract would cover the purchase and installation of a cremator, as well as five years maintenance.

Councillors backed plans for the district’s first pet crematorium in March 2022.

Stephen Hemsworth, bereavement services manager at the council, said at the time it was likely to cost about £50 for a rabbit to be cremated and over £200 for a dog.

The contract, which is being advertised on a government procurement website, is expected to start in June this year.

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• Bird flu forces cancellation of poultry classes at Great Yorkshire Show
• Councillors approve ‘much-needed’ Harrogate pet crematorium

It says:

“This contract includes the purchase of a pet cremator and container in which the cremator will be housed and operated, including delivery, installation, training and periodic maintenance.

“The anticipated contract value is £40,000.00 for the purchase, delivery, siting and installation of the containerised pet cremator including five years maintenance from the date of installation.”

The move to set up a pet crematorium follows in the footsteps of councils in North East Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have built similar facilities.

The Harrogate facility will include a “goodbye room” in a converted garage where owners can say final farewells to their pets.

A court has closed down a Harrogate council house for three months following claims a drug-dependent woman was being exploited by drug dealers.

Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the property on Cawthorne Avenue, applied to Harrogate Magistrates Court for a closure order on the property under Section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2014.

A notice was served this week at the one-bedroom property, which has been occupied by a 27-year-old female tenant, who was named in court, since June 2021.

Harrogate Borough Council solicitor Lynne Ashton told the court yesterday the “draconian order” was necessary due to the tenant’s spiralling addiction to class A drugs and the fact that known dealers and users were regularly seen visiting when she was not there.

The court heard how council housing staff have made repeated attempts to visit the tenant due to ongoing problems at the house, which have included threats of violence towards neighbours.

Ms Ashton said there was intelligence that the house was being used as a crackhouse and the tenant “appeared to be the victim of cuckooing”.

Cuckooing is when drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for drug dealing.

The tenant did not attend court to offer a defence.

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Squalid conditions

Ms Ashton read out a witness statement from a North Yorkshire Police officer who visited the property in April and found over 200 used needles in a bag.

The statement described the squalid conditions at the property, including a double mattress on a concrete living room floor with needles and other drug paraphernalia scattered around.

The officer’s statement said:

“I was disgusted. It was one of the worst houses I’ve ever been in my career as a police officer”.

Ms Ashton also told the court that the house was near Willow Tree Primary School and there were concerns about used needles being left outside when children walk to school.

The court agreed to close the property for three months, effective immediately.

Ms Ashton said the tenant will be offered a place at Fern House, a specialist hostel for homeless people in Starbeck operated by Harrogate Borough Council.

Rural property firm GSC Grays has opened a new office in Boroughbridge.

The High Street branch, which opened on Monday, is the company’s ninth office to open in the past 10 years.

It now employs over 100 people, mainly in the north of England. Twenty-three are based at the Boroughbridge branch, five of whom have been newly recruited. 

A number of the farm and land management consultants are from the local area, and some members of staff grew up or live on farms.  

Managing director Guy Coggrave said:  

“This gives us exceptional expertise at a time when the farming industry is dealing with the impact of the Agricultural Transition Plan, the biggest change in agricultural policy in half a century.”

GSC Grays specialises in land and farming, estate agency, planning and development, and environment and sustainability.  

HSBC and Harrogate BID install third contactless donation point for Street Aid

A third contactless donation point for Street Aid has been installed by HSBC and Harrogate Business Improvement District in Harrogate town centre.  

The ‘tap terminal’ encourages people to make donations to Street Aid, which supports people in Harrogate who have experienced homelessness.  

The most recent donation point is in the Cambridge Street branch of HSBC, where donations from £3 to £20 can be made via a contactless payment.  

The new donation point in HSBC

Linda Lewis, senior network manager at HSBC, said:  

“It’s our pleasure to be part of this scheme and house the third Street Aid terminal.  

“Since its installation, I’ve seen a number of customers tapping it with either a card or a phone to make a donation.” 

The scheme was launched in October 2019, after research was conducted by Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Homeless Project and North Yorkshire Horizons.  

Since then, the charity has raised over £20,000 through online donations and the three donation points. 

The two other stations are in the Oxford Street M&S window and in Victoria shopping centre. 

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:  

“We are delighted to throw our weight behind the Street Aid scheme, which helps those who are genuinely in need get back on their feet. 

“We want Harrogate to be known as a friendly, caring, welcoming town.” 

Money raised has been administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation to fund items for 28 individuals, ranging from fishing equipment, furniture, a gym membership, bikes and clothing.  

Plans have been lodged to convert the Old Courthouse in Harrogate town centre into three townhouses.

The building on Raglan Street was previously occupied by Stowe Family Law, which vacated the property for another site in town in February this year.

Proposals have now been tabled by Park Design Architects to convert the site from offices into two three-bedroom and one two-bedroom townhouse.

Six car parking spaces are also included in the plans.

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the site was a “sustainable location” for new homes.

It said:

“Overall, the site is located within a highly sustainable area and will utilise existing car parking provision to serve the proposed use, with easy access to alternative means of transport other than the private car to support sustainable travel.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Read more:

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• Housing plan for Lamb and Flag pub refused

The original building was built in 1857 and was initially a police house for the town.

This was later demolished and replaced with a courthouse, which was used by justices of the borough until 1991.

Stowe Family Law moved into the property as tenants in 2004.

Plans have been approved to convert the former Ripon Cathedral Choir School into four townhouses.

Persimmon Homes lodged the proposal for the building, which had previously been earmarked to be demolished to make way for 12 flats.

Harrogate Borough Council has now approved the proposal.

The developer tabled the fresh application after the demolition plan was met “negatively by the public”.

A total of 68 objections from residents were lodged to the council against the previous proposal.

In documents submitted to the council, Persimmon said the new bid to convert the building followed discussions with council officers.

It said:

“Following feedback and discussions with the case officer, Persimmon Homes have sought to amend the proposal, withdraw the application and submit a new application for the conversion of the school building.

“The conservation officer confirmed via email in April 2021 that retaining the building is ‘the way forward’.”

Read more:

• Persimmon Homes submits plans to demolish Ripon Cathedral Choir School
• New £6m plans to extend Ripon Cathedral facilities proposed

Persimmon said in its plans that the current building is in “extremely poor condition”.

The new proposal will see the existing brickwork retained but the roof replaced in its entirety due to its poor condition.

The building was originally constructed as a late 19th Century grandstand. It was converted in the early 20th century into two semi-detached dwellings, then extended for use as a school.

Ripon Cathedral Choir School began using the site in 1960 until it closed in 2012. It had planned to merge with a local preparatory school but this fell through.

A leaked email reveals Harrogate Borough Council chief executive Wallace Sampson gave a councillor a dressing down after he said spending £700 on a social media influencer to promote the town was an “appalling waste of money”.

The Stray Ferret has obtained an email Mr Sampson sent to the Liberal Democrat councillor for New Park, Matthew Webber, in February.

In the email, Mr Sampson claimed the councillor’s comments, published on this website, caused a “great deal of hurt” to council staff.

However, Cllr Webber said the tone of Mr Sampson’s 500-word email was “laughable” and compared it to a schoolteacher telling off a child for being naughty.

Cllr Webber said:

“Councillors should be there to hold people to account. People shouldn’t get upset if we’re asking difficult questions. Nothing was said in a personal way or at individual people.”

Value for money?

The Stray Ferret revealed in January that Harrogate Borough Council paid Heather Cowper from Bristol £700 to promote the town’s Christmas Fayre in a blog — which only received two likes when posted on Facebook, including one from the council itself.

Her posts performed slightly better on Instagram but the investment raised questions over whether the fee represented good value for money to council tax payers.

Cllr Webber, who sits on the council’s audit and governance committee that scrutinises council spending, said the council should have used local residents to promote the town instead.

Cllr Matthew Webber

He said in January:

“It probably received less likes on the various social media platforms than we could have got from just posting a similar article ourselves or other local residents who have social media profiles.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council paid social media influencer £700 to promote town
• ‘Waste of money!’: Harrogate council criticised for spending £700 on social media influencer

A telling off

The email from Mr Sampson to Cllr Webber was sent in February this year.

Mr Sampson also copied in local Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Pat Marsh as well as council employees Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre and communications officer James Sherwood.

Mr Sampson’s email said “I don’t expect an apology from you” but warned that negative comments about the council in the press can “undermine morale and motivation of our hardworking staff”.

The email says:

“I also don’t think that it is unreasonable to expect members to support the hard work and dedication of their officers, especially following the events of the last two years, and to trust in their professionalism.”

The full email is below.

The email from Wallace Sampson to Cllr Webber

Free to comment

Cllr Webber said he was “surprised” to receive the email from Mr Sampson regarding his comments about the £700 spend on a social media influencer, which he said he stood by.

He said councillors should be free to comment on how the council spends the public’s money without interference from the chief executive.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Sampson for a comment but did not receive a response.

Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to build five houses at the Lamb and Flag pub in Bishop Monkton.

The proposal was tabled by Carol and Trevor Pawson for the 200-year-old pub, which also had a bed and breakfast.

As part of the plan, two houses would be created by converting the pub itself and another would be created at the barn next door.

A further two homes would be built at the car park at the back of the pub.

However, council officials have refused the application on the grounds that “insufficient marketing” has been done to demonstrate that the pub could not be used for community use.

Officers added in a decision notice that two of the houses on the car park are outside the development limits.

Officials said:

“Insufficient marketing has been carried to demonstrate that in the absence of any use as a public house there is no alternative community use for which the property may be suitable and the proposed use of the public house as two dwellings consequently is in conflict with Policy HP8 of the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-2035.”

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Bishop Monkton, which the Domesday Book referred to as the Tun of the monks, has seen a significant increase in residential development in recent years.

Despite new developments and growing populations, village pubs have found it difficult to survive.

At one time, there were seven pubs within Bishop Monkton’s parish boundaries but it is now currently served by just the Mason’s Arms.

The first wheelie bins were delivered to homes on Appleby estate in Knaresborough today in a trial that could see a new recycling system rolled out across the Harrogate district.

After years of uncovered recycling being blown across the streets on windy days, Harrogate Borough Council finally announced this month it would introduce blue-lidded wheelie bins.

The wheelie bins, which replace the old black boxes, will be used for glass bottles and jars, tin cans and foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles and tubs.

Blue bags will continue to be used for recycling paper, card and cardboard.

The council chose Appleby estate, which has around 200 houses, to test the new system and today saw the first batch of wheelies bins delivered and the old black boxes taken away.

If the trial is a success, the black boxes will soon become a thing of the past in the district.

The Stray Ferret visited the estate today to witness the new system being introduced and to speak to residents.

Numerous people told us they were pleased to be given an “upgrade”, adding the main positives were no longer having to pick up rubbish that has blown out of the boxes and having more capacity to recycle.

Paul Clayton, who lives on Appleby Avenue, said:

“Especially in this cul-de-sac it can be quite windy so rubbish often flies about. The only concern is will they be emptied as regularly but other than that it’s all a plus.”

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The first wheelie bin collection will be in two weeks but the early indications were overwhelmingly positive.

Mr Smithson, who also lives on Appleby Avenue, said:

“Everybody here is really pleased to be told we would be the first in the trial, we take a lot of care around here. It’s a nice place to live and we look after it.”