Investigation: ‘Alarming’ rise in Harrogate council contracts awarded without tender

Harrogate Borough Council has blamed the pandemic and “urgent works” for a rise in the number of contracts awarded to companies without any competitive process.

An analysis of contract data by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows the council has awarded more than £820,000 worth of contracts without seeking rival bids since April 2020 – more than the previous seven years combined.

The rise has been described as “alarming” by opposition councillors, while the Conservative-run council has defended its record saying there have been several reasons why it has bypassed its own procurement rules.

A council spokesperson said: 

“These can include an urgency to carry out emergency repairs or to continue to provide an on-going service.

“Covid-19 has also meant some services and suppliers have been disrupted.

“All appointments are made with a view to ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.”

The council’s rules say it must seek rival bids for contracts unless it is spending time-limited grant funding, if “specialised” services are only available from one business or for reasons of “extreme urgency”.

During the pandemic, the council used firms for repairs at Knaresborough Swimming Pool and Harrogate Convention Centre where it also hired a traffic management company whilst the centre was in use as an NHS Nightingale Hospital.

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Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat party, said while there are sometimes “clear” reasons why exceptions to the rules can be made, the recent rise was still “very concerning”.

She said: 

“The increase in the amount spent on single tender contracts is quite alarming and something that has concerned the Liberal Democrats on several occasions.

“This is public money and councils should be open and transparent about the process of how that is spent.

“This has to be about ensuring that by spending taxpayers’ money the council gets exactly what it wants and at the best value available.”

The council has recently been forced to defend its reasons for bypassing the rules, including when it awarded a £165,000 contract to marketing firm Jacob Bailey Group to rebuild and maintain the Visit Harrogate website.

In January, the council said a bidding process for this would have taken six months to complete and that the “exceptional circumstances” of the pandemic meant the work was urgent.

It also said “very few companies in the UK have the expertise, skills or experience” to carry out the work.

In April 2020, the council awarded a £40,900 contract to landscaping firm Glendale Managed Services to repair the Stray – seven months after the parkland was damaged during Harrogate’s hosting of the UCI World Cycling Championships.

At the time, the council said there were “urgent circumstances” as the “optimum period for reseeding was fast approaching”.

The reseeding works did not start until two months later in June.

In total, more than £1.2 million worth of contracts have been awarded by the council without rival bids since 2013.

The council said it does not have any information before this as “the sourcing software the council uses does not hold records prior to 2013/2014”.

In numbers: Council contracts awarded without rival bids

2013 – One contract awarded at a value of £84,000

2014 – None

2015 – None

2016 – None

2017 – One contract awarded at a value of £50,610

2018 – Four contracts awarded at a combined value of £178,900

2019 – None

2020 – Fifteen contracts awarded at a combined value of £663,189

2021 – Two contracts awarded at a combined value of £165,319

Ferris wheel joins host of Christmas attractions in Harrogate

A ferris wheel is now in place on Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens joining a host of other Christmas fairground attractions including a helter skelter and a carousel.

The arrival of the ferris wheel was delayed due to a missing part but now it’s here it completes the Christmas attractions organised by Harrogate BID and Harrogate Borough Council.

The hope is that the three attractions, alongside the Christmas markets and other events, will entice people to visit the town and give a boost to local businesses.

These three rides are set to stay in place until early January.

A festive road train will also travel around the town centre from Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 12.

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Harrogate council criticised for lack of drink facilities at Hydro

Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised for a lack of drinks facilities at the town’s Hydro.

Bob Kennedy, who took his children to a swimming session at the leisure centre this past weekend, said there was nowhere to get a drink at the site for parents.

The Hydro, along with other facilities in the district, is now run by council-controlled company Brimhams Active.

Mr Kennedy said the cafe, which was open before the pandemic, was closed and there were no vending machines.

He added that there was only tap water available and a member of staff told him he had to bring a water bottle to use it.

Mr Kennedy said:

“There were no cafe, no vending machines, no water machine, nothing.

“As a spectator sitting there in the stifling heat for two hours, I have left completely dehydrated with a headache.”

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In response, Harrogate Borough Council said the company which ran the cafe at the Hydro had ended its contract due to covid.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“The café at the Hydro in Harrogate was leased to a catering provider that sadly, due to covid-19 and the unavoidable closure of the leisure centre throughout the pandemic, ended their contract.

“Part of this contract was also to supply vending machine drinks and snacks.

“We are looking at identifying a new supplier and as part of the multi-million pound refurbishment project will be exploring the future provision of a new and improved café at the Hydro.

“In the meantime, a water fountain is available for customers to refill their own drinks bottles”

Harrogate council requests interim-trustee body after it is scrapped

Harrogate Borough Council has requested that a charter trustee body is set up to take the place of the authority after it is scrapped.

The council will no longer exist in April 2023 after a county-wide unitary council is set up as part of devolution plans.

The move will leave the town with no lower tier authority.

As a result, council officials have requested to government that a charter trustee body in Harrogate is established after April 2023.

A charter trustee is a body which “preserves the rights and privileges” of an area which has borough status. However, it does not have any power to provide council services.

A report before the council’s cabinet said:

“Both Harrogate and Scarborough have Borough status, and in the absence of town/parish councils in the town centre areas, consideration needs to be given as to how to preserve the rights and privileges that accompany that status.

“Following a structural change, where there is no suitable local government body such as a parish council, charter trustees can be established to preserve historic property, privileges, rights and traditions presently enjoyed by local residents in council areas which will be abolished.”

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The body would be in place while a town council is considered for Harrogate.

Council officials will write to the unitary authority to recommend that it consider setting up of a lower-tier authority.

In July, Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said the creation of such a town council was “inevitable”.

He told a full council meeting that he had previously offered assurances that a Harrogate Town Council would most likely be created and that a review of services would be carried at “the correct time, in the correct way and by the correct people”.

According to a government letter to North Yorkshire chief executives, a structural change order, a parliamentary mechanism which would start the process of abolishing the two-tier system, is expected to be put before the House of Commons “around the turn of the year”.

What is a charter trustee body?

A charter trustee body is a ceremonial body which is set up when a district council is abolished and there is no parish in that area.

They were first set up in the 1970s as part of a wider range of reform in local government.

Councillors are elected to the trustee and a mayor is elected. The body is set up to “preserves the rights and privileges” of the borough and to continue the traditional roles carried out by the previous borough council.

The trustee body is funded through a local precept to fund administrative roles, such as the mayor. 

However, it has no legal power to levy a precept to run services that a parish council would, such as grass cutting or public toilets.

Yoga studio plan for former Laura Ashley shop approved

A yoga studio is set to open in the former Laura Ashley shop in Harrogate after plans were approved.

Harrogate Borough Council has given the go-ahead for the unit on James Street to be converted into a boutique yoga and pilates studio.

Ebru Evrim, which lodged the proposal, currently provides classes in Skipton and sells activewear clothing.

In documents submitted to the council, the owner said they wanted to replicate the business in Harrogate town centre.

As part of the plan, the unit will be converted into retail and teaching space over three floors.

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The two upper floors would be used as yoga and pilates studios and the activewear would be sold on the ground floor.

The owner said in its plans:

“This diverse development will enable a small and local business to occupy a prominent unit on a struggling high street.

“There are obvious economic benefits here to the town centre and wider district.”

The Laura Ashley store has been closed for some 12 months after the company went into administration following trading concerns caused by the covid pandemic.

Harrogate district taxi licence fees frozen again due to pandemic

Taxi licence fees in the Harrogate district have been frozen for the second year running due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee agreed not to increase fees after it was revealed there has been a big drop in the number of taxis on the roads.

Gareth Bentley, licensing manager at the council, said there are around 50 fewer private hire vehicles operating in the area, although he added there are “early signs” that the trade is recovering.

He said:

“There are some very small signs of recovery, but it is very early.

“The numbers of drivers and vehicles over the years has always been very steady – we have only ever seen very slight fluctuations.

“There are lots of reasons why this could have now reduced.

“It is a hard job for a start. Some drivers have migrated into other careers and decided that is where they want to be.

“Whether we will get a new set of drivers coming to replace the 50 we have lost – only time will tell.”

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Mr Bentley also said the reduction in drivers had an impact on the council’s budget as it meant less income.

He added he was hopeful that a recent policy change which removed a limit on the number of wheelchair accessible taxi licences would help boost vehicle numbers.

Richard Fieldman, who runs A1 Cars Ripon, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he would not “heap any praise” on the council for freezing licence fees again as many drivers had not forgotten the authority introduced a 10% rise before the pandemic.

He said:

“Previously fees went up by this amount two years running – those were both massive hikes.

“It is no surprise whatsoever that there are fewer drivers on the roads.

“As a driver for 29 years, I thought about packing it in myself during the lockdowns as this period highlighted to me how vulnerable we are.

“I personally managed to ride through this period, although I did end up in debt because of it.

“A lot of drivers have now realised there is very little reward in this trade.”

The licence fee freeze for the 2022/23 financial year was unanimously approved by members of the committee.

Covid could scupper Mayor’s Carol Concert at Royal Hall

A decision is still to be made on whether to stage this year’s Mayor’s Carol Concert at Harrogate’s Royal Hall.

The concert, which is traditionally held on Christmas Eve, is a popular part of the Harrogate district’s festive programme. Tickets are free but usually sell out well in advance.

The hall is open for business but with Christmas just five weeks away, Harrogate Borough Council still hasn’t given the carol concert the green light.

A council spokeswoman said:

“The council is currently working with public health to determine if and how the event can take place safely given the rising covid rates amongst school-age children who form the choir and orchestra for this event.”

The spokeswoman added the council hoped to be in a position to provide further details “in the near future”.

Last year’s concert was held remotely due to covid.

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Harrogate council asked British Legion about helter skelter location

Harrogate Borough Council has said it asked the Royal British Legion if it had any objections before placing a large helter skelter next to the war memorial.

The attraction appeared on the grass in front of the memorial on Tuesday. Harrogate BID, Visit Harrogate and the council hope it will encourage footfall during the festive season.

The Victorian-style ride has received some online criticism from residents who say it is disrespectful because of its close proximity to the memorial and its appearance just two days after Remembrance Sunday.

Others say the war dead would have wanted life to continue as normal and welcomed the idea of children playing on the rides.

A council spokeswoman told the Stray Ferret that it had chosen where to put the helter skelter “very carefully”. She added the council had received six complaints from residents about the structure.

The spokeswoman said the council asked the Royal British Legion if it had any objections beforehand, adding the charity did not but asked the council to monitor anti-social behaviour caused by the attraction.

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The spokeswoman said:

“We considered the location of the Helter Skelter very carefully and as part of our pre-event planning we consulted with the Royal British Legion on the proposed site. We received no objections but agreed with their only request that we are vigilant for anti-social behaviour in the area, which we are happy to do.

“We will monitor any anti-social behaviour caused by the attraction over the period and will act accordingly.

“The council have received half a dozen complaints in relation to its location, however we have also received a significant number of positive responses towards our Destination Christmas campaign.

“This includes many positive comments on Facebook from veterans and those whose relatives fought for the country, who are hugely supportive of what we are doing.”

Local Fund for the Harrogate District awards £85,000 to 29 community groups

Representatives of about 30 voluntary organisations joined councillors and civic dignitaries this week to celebrate the Local Fund for the Harrogate District, which awarded £85,000 to 29 community groups this year.

The fund, which will be issuing more grants in the new year, awards up to £3,000 to small voluntary organisations that have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people in the Harrogate district.

It helped Resurrected Bites launch a community grocery store for low income people and enabled Wellspring Therapy and Training to offer reduced costs on counselling.

Other successful applicants this year included Harrogate Clothes Bank, Artizan International, the Wesley Centre, Masham Town Hall Community Charity, Harrogate Bowling Club, Chain Lane Community Centre and Harrogate & Knaresborough Toy Library, Nidderdale & Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed and Boroughbridge and District Community Care.

The fund is a three-way partnership between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate & District Community Action and Two Ridings Community Foundation.

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At least 60% from each ticket sold on the Local Lotto, which has a weekly £25,000 jackpot, goes towards the fund.

Harrogate Borough Council has made a £200,000 endowment donation, which will help the fund provide sustainable long-term funding.

Local Fund

This week’s celebratory event at West Park Hotel.

Jan Garrill , chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, told the gathering at Harrogate’s West Park Hotel that it would match fund any donations to the Local Fund by individuals or businesses.

Karen Weaver, strategic lead at HADCA, which supports charities in the district, said:

“The Local Fund is all about addressing the hidden needs in our district, like loneliness and mental health.

“It’s so important that there is a dependable fund for small groups that make such a massive impact in the district.”

Further details of the fund are available here.

 

Harrogate district taxi driver shortage revealed due to covid

There has been a drop in the number of taxis on the Harrogate district’s roads in what drivers have blamed on the pandemic forcing them to abandon the trade.

Several cabbies quit during the lockdowns and many have now found new jobs with little desire to return as figures suggest around 60 fewer drivers are operating in the district.

Richard Fieldman, who runs A1 Cars Ripon, said his business only survived the pandemic by the “skin of its teeth” and that it has now continued to struggle.

He said:

“Times are still difficult for the trade.

“We are not back where we were before covid by any stretch of the imagination and we are not going to get there any time soon.

“As a driver for 29 years, I thought about packing it in myself during the lockdowns as this period highlighted to me how vulnerable we are.

“I personally managed to ride through this period, although I did end up in debt because of it.

“A lot of drivers have now realised there is very little reward in this trade.”

With fewer drivers on the roads, it has also had an impact on customers who could be left waiting on taxi ranks or unable to book journeys during busy periods.

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Kevin O’Boyle, owner of Central Taxis and the longest holder of a taxi licence in the district, said he believes the lengthy process that it takes to become a driver could be a reason why he is now finding it “impossible” to recruit them.

He said:

“I’m offering £600 for five shifts with tips and I don’t even get people coming through the door.

“Trade is still slow and the only reason people are making a living now is because the number of taxis on the roads have been diluted.

“We are involved with services for the NHS and if it had not been for these contracts we would have gone under during the pandemic, I have no doubt about that.”

Taxi licence fees frozen

The figures that around 60 fewer taxis are on the roads was revealed in a Harrogate Borough Council report, which has proposed no increase for taxi licence fees for the second year running.

Prior to this period, the council increased fees by 10% during 2020/21.

Mr O’Boyle said the proposed freeze for the next financial year would be “greatly appreciated” if approved by the council’s licensing committee on Wednesday, but added it only went so far to support the trade.

The report to the committee said: 

“Every year the licensing committee reviews the fees and charges for these licences. However, as a consequence of the impact of covid in 2020 there are now 60 fewer private hire vehicles.

“The proposed fees are set on a cost recovery basis and are not at a level that would discourage the trade investing in quality standard and accessible vehicles.”