Exclusive: Ex-MP Phil Willis calls on ‘amateur councillors’ to step back from convention centre

Former Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrat MP Phil Willis has called on “amateur councillors” at Harrogate Borough Council to step back from their involvement with the convention centre.

In his first interview since he left office ten years ago, Lord Willis of Knaresborough, as he is now known, told The Stray Ferret that local businesses need to have a greater say in how the “highly specialised and highly competitive” business is run — or else Harrogate’s unique vibrancy could fail.

He said:

“I’m at a loss to what the council’s about anymore. You need to have some clear direction as to what it is they want to achieve and what are the time scales, then work back from there.”

Lord Willis, who was Harrogate & Knaresborough’s MP from 1997 to 2010, still lives near York and said he has kept an eye on local politics.

He said it made “good sense” for HBC to allow the NHS use the site as a Nightingale hospital – but said there “was no long term planning to see what happens when they move out”.

He added:

“It’s that lack of looking forward that as an outsider very much worries me.

“It’s too easy to just collect the rent. In the short term it was good for the town and the NHS. But it was quite obvious, literally within a month of it opening, that it wouldn’t do any business.”

Before becoming MP, Lord Willis was the leader of HBC running a Liberal Democrat council. In 1990 when he took up the role, the conference centre was haemorrhaging money.

He estimates that two out of every three pounds of council tax that was collected at that time went to financing its debts.

During this period, Lord Willis was chair of the convention centre board and said they placed more decision making in the hands of local businessmen, including John Hardy and Richard Hanwell.

Lord Willis said they brought the dynamism required to make the convention centre a success in the 1990s.

He said:

“They were right wing in a political sense but very successful businessmen. They really influenced the way in which we had to use the conference centre. I was in awe of the way business people made it work.”

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Regarding the convention centre’s future, Lord Willis said HBC has failed to come up with a modern vision for the site.

He suggested they could be trying to target more American-style comic book, movie or videogame events.

He said:

“We’ve moved into a digital age but I don’t get the sense we’ve gone after that market.

“They are hugely popular everything from Star Wars to more niche conventions. You need people to think outside the box as to where is our next people coming from. I just don’t see that.”

Last week HBC announced it planned to spend £1.1 million on detailed design and project work for the facility, potentially leading to a major £47 million investment.

However, Lord Willis said this is only worthwhile if HBC has a sound plan, which he doubts.

He said:

“It’s not about bringing in a set of consultants, it’s about bringing key individuals who have an interest in looking at the business’s strengths and weakness.

“It’s not just money. It’s how you invest that money and recognising it might be three years before you get a return on it. That takes a lot of political selling.

“The council has already made the faux pas of getting rid of the council offices and building a new palace. That’s done nothing for the town and all it has is a semi-derelict building.

“It’s that lack of thinking ahead.

The Stray Ferret has asked current Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones for his thoughts on the future of the convention centre but he has so far declined to comment.

Tomorrow The Stray Ferret will publish part two of our interview with Lord Willis, where he talks about how Harrogate town centre could be reinvigorated and whether the House of Lords should move to Yorkshire.

Harrogate businesses back £47m conference centre renovation

Harrogate business leaders have urged the local authority to press ahead tomorrow with plans for a £46.8m renovation of the town’s convention centre.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet will recommend spending £1.1m on a detailed feasibility study and a full economic impact assessment, according to confidential cabinet documents seen by The Stray Ferret.

The prospect of this leading to such a huge investment in the centre of Harrogate has alarmed some people in Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge, who fear their locations won’t reap the benefits.

But businesses in Harrogate have said investment is necessary for the survival of the town’s hotels, restaurants and bars.

Simon Cotton, managing director of the HRH Group, whose properties include the Yorkshire Hotel, the White Hart Hotel and the Fat Badger pub, said the visitor economy was “massively driven” by the centre, which is currently being used as a Nightingale hospital. He added:

“The hotels are really feeling the effects of it being closed. Some are asking whether they can afford to stay open.

“I absolutely support investment. I don’t see an alternative.”

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A spokesperson for Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Association said redevelopment “will help Harrogate attract new events and drive even more business to the town, which is great for local restaurants, retailers and the hotel and accommodation sector”.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the “backbone of the town” would change if Harrogate lost the centre.

But Ms Doherty said the centre was “far behind its rivals, which offer more adaptive space to include breakout rooms, the ability to offer smaller conference space and the technology to support it”. She added:

“The need to invest should be part of a rolling programme rather than years of little to no investment, which results in the big ticket option we are faced with today.”

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of the Harrogate BID, said:

“It’s vital we have a modern facility, one that will continue to attract major clients from not just within the UK, but from abroad too.”

YEC Flooring Show moves to new Harrogate venue

A trade show usually held at Harrogate Convention Centre in September has announced it will stay in Harrogate, with new dates released.

With the future of the NHS Nightingale still unconfirmed, The Flooring Show has struck at deal with Yorkshire Event Centre to use its halls from February 28 to March 2 next year.

It is good news for the town’s economy, keeping visitors in the area to use hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and more during the event. Organisers said they will put on a free shuttle bus for delegates to access the town’s “unique charm and plentiful amenities”.

Heather Parry, Managing Director of Yorkshire Event Centre Ltd said:

“We are delighted to be able to host The Flooring Show at the Yorkshire Event Centre and ensure that the UK’s biggest national flooring event remains here in Harrogate.

“Harrogate continues to be an ideal destination to hold events, in keeping with the latest government advice on social gatherings. We are pleased to play our part in supporting the local economy.”

Event director Alex Butler said:

“We have been in discussions with our exhibitors and visitors to find a new date for The Flooring Show that will work for the whole industry. After listening to key stakeholders, it’s clear that moving to the early part of 2021 is the preferred option for the sector to meet and do business.

“As well as sourcing the latest products, we know that networking and making valuable new connections is a hugely important part of The Flooring Show. There is no substitute for those face-to-face interactions, and they will be much easier to facilitate next year.”

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The show also plans to keep its usual September dates in 2021, meaning there will be two events next year, though the venue has yet to be confirmed.

Pool and gym opens at Harrogate Hydro with safety measures

The Hydro in Harrogate will reopen tomorrow with new safety measures in place for the pool and gym.

All sessions will need to be pre-booked to help the centre control numbers and allow for cleaning.

The safety measures mean that people will only be able to swim for up to 45 minutes and use the gym for up to an hour. Anyone who turns up early will need to queue outside or wait in their cars.

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Harrogate Borough Council has not yet given a date for the reopening of its other leisure facilities.

This comes after the council gave its backing to an overhaul of its leisure services. It will mean that the council will hand over control to its new company.

Heading to the pool?

Those heading to the pool will be allocated their own changing cubicle and locker to ensure social distancing.

However, the current guidelines mean that the showers will need to remain off-limits.

The council has limited the number of people who can swim to a maximum of five per lane. Family sessions will be in the activity pool.

At the end of the session, the staff will ask people to leave as soon as possible.

Heading to the gym?

There are no lockers or changing cubicles available for those visiting Brimhams Fitness Centre so people will need to turn up ready for their sessions.

Staff have widened the space between equipment and limited the number of members in each zone, so there may be a wait.

The council has also provided cleaning equipment for gym users to apply before and after their workouts.

Emotional goodbye for Harrogate jeweller after 43 years

A Harrogate jeweller may shed a tear when he closes the doors for the final time in the next month after 43 years in business.

GA Taylor, on Oxford Street, is coming up to the end of its five-year lease in September but will not renew after the owners saw sales dwindle.

They are holding a closing down sale.

The shop’s owners did not blame coronavirus and said it had plenty of government support. But, they said, the business is not viable going forward.

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It has seen a spike in interest recently after holding a closing down sale, but will close when the stock runs out, which could be in the next few weeks.

Andrew Taylor, son of the owner Graham Anthony Taylor, told The Stray Ferret:

“It’s sad but positive at the same time. Speaking for my father, it is hard to tell that anything is happening, but when we close that door for the final time I think it will be emotional for him.

Through the years we have seen a lot of changes in Harrogate. It was quite a prosperous business when we first set up but there wasn’t the competition from online shops.”

They have seen a spike in interest since the closing down sale.

Mr Taylor added that a combination of high rent and low footfall in the area has made it difficult for the business going forward.

Since announcing the closure, GA Taylor has been inundated with supportive messages from former customers – many of whom reminisced about buying their wedding rings from the long-standing firm.

Clap for Saint Michael’s Hospice who cared for friend’s “soul-mate”

A Harrogate resident has organised an emotional tribute to her friend who was cared for in her final days by Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Anne Boland lost her “soul mate” Dora Storey this month. Dora was cared for by the home service palliative team at Harrogate-based charity Saint Michael’s.

To say thank you, Anne invited residents from her street to clap for the end of life team when the hearse carrying Dora passed by on Friday.

Both Anne and Dora worked in end of life care for over 25 years. Anne said:

“Dora knew how ill she was and wanted to die at home – she got her wish and for the last weeks of her life received the most wonderful care. We both felt the Saint Michael’s home care service was thoughtful, responsive and that the level of communication between services was extraordinary.

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Residents of Poplar Crescent as well as a member of the Saint Michael’s home team lined the street to applaud as the hearse drove past. Anne said:

“I invited the street to come and applaud as I wanted to be able to honour Dora and at the same time, draw attention to the wonderful teams who work in local palliative care.”

More than 100 Eat Out to Help Out businesses in Harrogate district

From next week people will be able to ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ by taking advantage of a 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the Harrogate district.

More than 100 restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs in the district have signed up to the new government scheme to boost hospitality.

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It is valid all day Monday to Wednesday from August 3 to 31, as long the town or city is not in lockdown.

Customers can get a maximum of £10 off food and drink when they eat or drink in. There’s no minimum spend and it can be used in conjunction with other offers.

The government has released a list of establishments registered for the scheme, which we have compiled by area. If your business is not on the list then get in touch.

Harrogate – 66

Knaresborough – 14

Ripon – 9

Boroughbridge – 6

Nidderdale – 6

Masham – 4

Historic Killinghall pub reopens

One of the oldest pubs in the Harrogate district reopened on Friday – just weeks after planners granted permission to convert the site into a convenience store.

Locals in Killinghall wondered whether last orders had been called for the final time at The Three Horseshoes when it closed for lockdown.

Ilkley company Dynamic Capital Killinghall had submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to demolish the building and construct a convenience store and four flats.

When the plans were approved this month, it appeared to herald a new chapter for the site, which has hosted a pub for 150 years.

But the pub reopened at the weekend and the developers have yet to confirm when the conversion will take place.

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Will Rogers, a planner at Planning Potential, which is the agent acting on behalf of Dynamic Capital Killinghall, told The Stray Ferret “the applicant remains committed to the site”.

But he was unable to confirm when work will begin, adding:

“We have a series of planning conditions we need to discharge first and then we’ll know more on timescales.”

One of the council’s conditions was to install six electric vehicle charging points.

Rogers said the convenience store, which will be in the middle of Killinghall on the busy Ripon Road, would open seven days a week from 7am to 11pm and was expected to create 15 part-time and full-time jobs.

Architect's impression

How the convenience store will look.

Forty-one individual representations supported the proposal and six opposed it. The council also received a petition signed by 232 people objecting to the loss of the pub.

Councillors decided “the proposal would provide substantial social and environmental benefits” and approved it.

The public body Historic England rejected a proposal this year to grant the pub listed building status.

Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, did not reply to The Stray Ferret’s request for a comment.

Column: Can you force an employee back to work?

This article is written for the Stray Ferret by Harrogate employment lawyer Richard Port. Richard is Principal Solicitor and Founding Director at Boardside legal. Over the next 3 weeks he will explore the issues raised for employers and employees returning to work post furlough. This article is not legal advice – more a look at the complexities of the current situation. 

Recent government announcements have suggested that the current furlough guidance might shortly be changed and that those who can go back to work safely should now do so. It is worth noting that it is currently a criminal offence for a person to go to work, when such work can reasonably be done from home.

However, if the changes are made, I’m sure that many people will want to return to work straightaway, but there will be many who do not. Indeed, I have dealt with a number of company clients in the last few weeks who are having to grapple with the conflict between ending furlough and dealing with reluctant returners: in my case a food production business (ABC Ltd) and the reluctant ‘Fred’.

First and foremost, the place of work needs to be covid safe, to reduce the potential for transmission as much as possible. This means providing adequate PPE and having a robust hygiene system in place, and compliance with social distancing rules.

Imagine that ABC Ltd has done it all; it is the paragon of compliance and hygiene. Nonetheless, despite his employer being an essential service, Fred is reluctant: he is worried, claiming that he has a ‘new’ medical condition (understood to be asthma) for which he must take steroids. Fred considers himself to be clinically vulnerable, though he does not have any form of medical certificate signing him off work. ABC Ltd has kept in touch with Fred during furlough and is now asking him to return to work. Sometimes getting hold of Fred has been quite difficult, despite being “house-bound”. We understand that Fred enjoys his golf.

Of course, there will be a wide variety of reasons (supported by various legal protections) why employees may be reluctant to return to work which should be taken seriously. In other cases, like Fred, employees may have no good reason for refusing. Leaving this aside, what options does ABC Ltd have in relation to Fred? As difficult as it might be, ABC Ltd needs to tread carefully. Employers should work on a case-by-case basis and ensure that they have carried out thorough risk assessments and implemented relevant covid safety measures.

Ultimately, ABC Ltd may seek to stop paying Fred in the circumstances, or even to dismiss him, but both of these courses of action for refusing to return to work are fraught with danger and could lead to employment tribunal claims being raised, particularly if the employer’s health and safety processes are short of what is reasonably practical to put in place.

It is a complicated subject, but my experience is that many organisations are now reviewing their working practices and looking at ways to create a more adaptive, innovative and resilient workforce. If ABC Ltd gets this right, it will ensure its long-term viability and the health and well-being of its workforce, with better morale and higher productivity.

 

Next week, Richard looks at the rights of the employee and looks at the case of Fred.

 

 

Farm shop opens in Harrogate after demand soars at cafe

The owners of a bohemian-style cafe in Harrogate will open a farm shop today after the demand for groceries soared in the coronavirus lockdown.

Kyrensa Bentley set up 53 Bo’Grove Cafe, based on Grove Road, just under a year ago and it has been growing ever since.

The grand opening is tomorrow.

Following in the footsteps of the antique shop, the refill shop and the garden centre, the new rustic farm shop also has an environmentally-friendly focus.

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53 Bo’Grove Farm Shop will officially open its doors today at 10.30am with a selection of fruit and vegetables as well as oils, chutneys, jams, bread, cakes, and more.

The farm shop is based at 53 Bo’Grove.

The shop will have a mix of Yorkshire-based suppliers as well as some continental offerings. Ashley Johnson is taking up the reins as manager and said:

“We’ve got balloons, we’ve got banners and we’re giving away some big fruits and cheese hampers. It will be a great day to celebrate, we are still in the coronavirus lockdown but we can enjoy something a bit closer to normal.”

It will sell fresh fruit and vegetables.

The cafe had set up a cart out front to sell fruit and vegetables and it went so well they decided to set up a more permanent offering in the farm shop.

Kyrensa Bentley, the owner of 53 Bo’Grove also told The Stray Ferret:

“We started planning for a little farm shop about halfway through lockdown. This project didn’t start out with a lot of money, we have just saved up as it has grown. It has grown quite organically.”