Strayside Sunday: Part privatisation is likely to make leisure more expensive

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political column written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party:

In 2019, Britain ranked sixth in the world in its incidence of obesity, with the proportion of us “struggling with our weight” growing faster than anywhere in the world.  And even before the emotional trauma imposed by lockdown, 1 in 4 of us experienced some form of mental ill health.  It’s for that reason that I believe the first principle for any governing body, be they national, regional (North Yorkshire County Council) or local (Harrogate Borough Council), is now to provide for the physical, mental and economic wellbeing of all the people it serves.  Without such holistic and inclusive thinking we will continue to see the wider determinants of ill health – low income, inadequate housing, poor diet and loneliness, to name a few – impact those of us that can least afford it, at a time when household budgets are going to be stretched to their limits.

In this context, the hiving-off of the borough’s leisure facilities by Harrogate Council (into what is known as a Local Authority Controlled Company) is not in the public interest.

On Friday, these pages quoted the wonderfully named Councillor Stan Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport, who justified his creation thus:

“This is like a partial privatisation. It allows us to benefit from some things that a private company would, but by keeping control of the business. It’s the best of both worlds.”

I am a conservative, so, as you might expect, I believe in the market economy, but only in terms.  The provision of leisure services is, I believe, an essential public good, especially at a time when we must surely nurture the health and wellbeing of our bruised and tender population.

Harrogate Borough Council, in the name of cost savings and efficiencies, is attempting to ‘marketise’ our leisure at precisely the moment it is needed most, by most.  Unsurprisingly, no long term assurances can be given about the future of Starbeck Baths, a monument to place and community, serving one of the less affluent areas of the borough, yet great plans await for the Hydro, a gentle walk down the hill from tree-lined avenues of The Duchy.  Setting aside the fact that, in the Harrogate Convention Centre, the council has not previously covered itself in glory with its similar arms-length operations (the centre has not been profitable for years), nobody has asked what seems to me to be the only important question: “Whatever the original decision, is it still the right thing to do?”

In my view, given the circumstances we now face, it is wrong to take a course of action that will likely make leisure more expensive and less geographically accessible, and, in so doing, negatively impact the wellbeing of the people of the borough.  The council seems set, as ever, to pursue blindly the ideology of privatisation.  To do this in the face of compelling new arguments is negligent.

As a former Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jeremy Hunt when he was Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Jones MP knows the negative impact that wider determinants can have on wellbeing, he knows too how important wellbeing is to economic success, both individual and collective, let alone to social stability and cohesion. That’s why I’d like to see Mr. Jones take this on as a cause celebre: I’d like him to call for a rethink from the council on leisure privatisation.  Sadly, I predict he won’t, because the campaigns he tends to favour, think “save” Stray FM and Nidd Gorge, allow him to avoid coming into conflict with his friends and constituency office employees at Harrogate Borough Council.

The very first class I walked into at university was taught by Professor, now Sir Simon Schama.  The class, “Britain Since 1945,” was co-taught with another ex-pat Brit, Professor John Brewer.  Thirty-four years later, what stands out in my memory is that these two undoubtedly brilliant academic friends and colleagues attempted to out-Popinjay one another with Flock of Seagull fashions and multi-coloured spectacle frames.  The class was brilliant.  It made me feel that, on the whole, we, the Brits, were the good guys, and could be proud of our heritage, history, culture and tolerance.

Sir Simon was in the news this week to comment on the protests against memorials across the land, these built or named to celebrate “Great” British historical figures from Baden-Powell (a Nazi sympathiser), to Colston (a slave owner), to Gladstone (supporter of the pro-slavery Confederacy) and to Robert Peel Jr (son of an anti-abolitionist) et al.  I’m with Schama when he says that if it was good enough for the Romans to melt down the statues of their fallen emperors for coinage, it’s certainly fine to dispose of the statue of a man, namely Edward Colston, whose riches came, at least in large part, from the blood, sweat and toil of slave labour.

If a protest captures the imagination, wins hearts and gains mass support, as Black Lives Matter has undoubtedly done, then progressive changes happen and we should celebrate them.  This especially if we are challenged to think critically about our existing assumptions.  But the right to protest is a gift, a gift actually achieved through our complicated and murky history, built by men and women who can never be judged unimpeachable by contemporary norms and contexts, given to us by an imperfect democracy which we abuse at our peril.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

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Harrogate disability charity brings countryside into homes

Harrogate charity Open Country, which works with people with disabilities, has been innovating to find ways to bring wildlife activities into its members’ homes.

The charity normally runs weekly activities for people with a disability including tandem cycling, walking and nature study. Several of its activities require guidance and close contact, specifically to members with visual impairments. But over lockdown these were suspended to protect members.

Telephone befriending, virtual spinning sessions and blogs about nature are a few of the ways the charity is supporting its members as restrictions remain in place.

The ONS reported that more than a third of disabled adults had spent too much time alone since lockdown began, compared with a fifth of non-disabled adults.

Lizzie Hughes, the countryside activities officer for Open Country, told The Stray Ferret about the impact of lockdown on their members:

“For people with a disability it is an even bigger struggle, it’s not just the initial 12 weeks it will be difficult for them in the coming weeks too. Until we can resume in a safe way we have no confirmed date to return. The severity of the situation means some members may be able to return earlier but we want to be as inclusive as we can.

“We know it won’t return back to normal instantly, it will take time for us to adjust and offer the same service again.”

Open country members have previously enjoyed group activities, but now the charity has to find new ways to offer support to its members.

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Nature has a positive impact on the charity’s members but under lockdown their opportunities to go outside are limited. To combat this Open Country has introduced a new initiative ‘Breakfree’ – a collection of local walks suitable for all abilities round Harrogate, Nidderdale and Wharfedale.

Lizzie added:

“The Breakfree packs were developed with wheelchair users and those with limited mobility in mind. But they’ve been perfect for families and local people who have been limited to an hour’s exercise per day around their local area. The packs are free to download and will help you discover footpaths on your doorstep.”

 

‘Outrageous’ series of bike thefts investigated at Harrogate Hospital

A total of seven bicycle thefts from Harrogate District Hospital have been reported to North Yorkshire Police since the beginning of April.

The thefts – including from key workers on long shifts – are being investigated by the Harrogate neighbourhood policing team, which says it is committed to finding the people responsible.

The force is also offering hospital staff and local residents the option to have their bikes security marked, by appointment only, in an effort to discourage the crime.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Since the beginning of April this year, there have been seven bicycles stolen from the Harrogate District Hospital site. Members of staff who have been dealing with the coronavirus crisis are among those who have been affected by these incidents.

“This is clearly outrageous and the Harrogate Neighbourhood Policing Team are working hard to identify those responsible and are helping staff to increase cycle security.”

The thefts are being investigated by police, who have reassured staff that those responsible will be found.

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Harrogate District Hospital is looking into further security measures following the incident. A trust spokesperson said:

“We know it is frustrating and upsetting to have a bike stolen. We’re currently looking at what we can do to improve bike storage facilities on the Harrogate District Hospital site.”

Mother Shipton’s reopens this weekend

Mother Shipton’s cave in Knaresborough is reopening tomorrow. Visitors will be allowed to explore the park for a maximum of two and a half hours to maintain limited contact.

There is a pre-booking system in place to allow visitors to book an arrival time slot in advance of their visit. The attraction is also limiting the number of passengers to seven people per car and each car will be charged at £20.

Vans, minibuses, and motorhomes will not be allowed and neither will pedestrians who arrive without a car. This is in an attempt to control the number of vehicles and people within the attraction.

Mother Shipton’s Cave reopens with several measures in place to make sure visitors are kept safe.

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Most of the favoured elements will be accessible to visitors including the petrifying well and of course, Mother Shipton’s Cave.

But the museum and gift shop will remain closed until the reopening of non-essential shops on the June 15. The adventure playground will also stay closed until government advice on playgrounds changes.

Ripon market traders argue for rent reductions

Ripon’s non-essential market traders returned to their stalls today after months of lockdown. But some traders believe they have been poorly treated by Harrogate Borough Council.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is planning to increase the rent for each stall by up to 32.4%, has offered the traders no rent holidays or reductions as they get back up and running.

The stallholders argue that due to the inability to trade over lockdown rental reductions should now be offered as they ease back into trading.

Nick Farnsworth, who has been selling women’s nightwear and underwear at Ripon for 25 years, said:

“It’s a disgrace that we are still being charged the full whack, when other areas are doing their best to help their market stallholders.”

Ripon market traders want more support from the council as they adjust to trading again.

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One market trader, Andrew Sutcliffe, who also trades in Knaresborough, agreed with other traders that more support from the council is necessary. He told The Stray Ferret that other markets he works on are currently offering rent holidays and reductions as they adjust to trading at full capacity.

In the week beginning 1st June, other local authorities including Barnsley and Leeds allowed stall holders selling goods classed as non-essential, to trade however the council decided to delay reopening to this week.

Harrogate Borough Council responded to the traders’ claims that they felt unsupported. They said:

“Throughout lockdown, the markets at Knaresborough and Ripon have continued to open in line with government guidance. We supported those essential goods traders to ensure they could continue to work. We’ve not charged for any trader who chose not to attend or wasn’t allowed to because of the coronavirus restrictions.

“Where we have charged, fees have been held at last year’s rates. It’s disappointing to hear that one or two traders feel we’ve not been supportive.  We’ve done all we can to ensure our markets can fully re-open safely and to enable traders to get back to business as usual.”

Black Lives Matter: Newby Hall uncovers links to slave trade

Newby Hall has uncovered its connections to the slave trade, leading its current owners to say that we must “recognise, take serious note and learn” from the past.

It is the first time that the Compton family, who are current residents, have spoken publicly about Newby Hall’s links to slavery and follows in the footsteps of many stately homes in England.

The family made the announcement after The Stray Ferret pointed out that the Weddell family, of which the Compton family are direct descendants, invested in the South Sea Company.

Richard Compton has updated the history page on Newby Hall’s website to detail its connections to the slave trade and highlight its work with the BAME community.

“It is known that the South Sea Company had significant financial involvement with the slave trade. It is not known to what extent this contributed to Thomas Weddell’s wealth but we do know that what was acceptable in the 1700s is abhorrent now.

“Newby is a modern and inclusive business and we have supported the BAME community. There is lots more we can do and post-Covid we look forward to renewing our links. The past is something we cannot change. We need to recognise it, take serious note and learn.”

“BLM” has been left near the war memorial in Harrogate.

The Newby Hall revelation comes in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and a wave of protests around the world. The Black Lives Matter movement believes systemic racism dates back to the slave trade.

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What is the South Sea Company?

South Sea Company was a public-private corporation that supplied slaves to the islands in the “South Seas” and South America.

Some historians estimate that the company set out to transport just over 34,000 slaves but around 4,000 slaves died on the voyage.

Others found that investors ended up with substantial returns if they got out before the “South Sea Bubble” burst in 1720. Thomas Weddell was one of those investors.

Thomas Weddell was the great-uncle of William Weddell and left him with a legacy that Thomas used to buy Newby Hall.

No plans for a review into Harrogate’s past

This week, a statue of Queen Victoria in Leeds has been sprayed with graffiti relating referring to slavery and Leeds City Council has said it is reviewing its statues. However, Harrogate Borough Council said that it has no plans to launch such a review.

The Queen Victoria statue in central Harrogate

Many councils in England are reviewing their memorials after protesters in Bristol toppled the Edward Colston statue and dropped it in the harbour.

There has also been pressure on other authorities and organisations to remove statues of people with links to the slave trade, such as Cecil Rhodes, whose statue in Oxford has drawn criticism because of his links with imperialism and colonialism.

Which shops across the district are opening next week?

As shops prepare to open their doors for the first time in three months, The Stray Ferret has created a list of those ready to welcome customers across the Harrogate district from Monday.

Those with an asterisk have either altered their normal opening hours or are opening later on in the week. Please visit individual shop websites for more details.

Harrogate Borough Council said it is prioritising the opening of public toilets for shoppers in the busiest areas, but a definitive list is not yet available.

Do you know of any more shops reopening? If so, email details to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate: 

Bek’s Electrical

Bijouled

Boho Chic

Bridal Rogue Gallery

Card Factory

Crown Jewellers*

Elegant era*

Furnish & Fettle

Georgie’s

G23

HMV

Hotel Chocolat

Imagined Things

India Mahon Jewellery

Inger & Rae

iStore

Lynx Menswear*

Morgan Clare

Number One Travel

Pandora*

Paper Chase

Porters Menswear

Primark

Rocca Fashion

Shine

Sophie Likes

Tiger Fifty 7

TK Maxx

Victoria Shopping Centre

27 West Park

Knaresborough: 

Chris Holmes Antiques

Country 2 Western*

Dragonfly Cards and Gifts

Harriets Ladies Clothing

Knaresborough Book Shop

Knitting pretty

Little Darlings Toys

Ruebury Flowers*

Sheer Bliss

Shoes@Knaresborough

Stomp

Wild Orchid

Ye Olde Chymist Shoppe

ZigZag Cards

Boroughbridge:

Issima

K.M & G Farrer

La tienda

K.M & G Farrer

Waltons Mill Shop

Ripon: 

Antiques & Collectables*

Hopscotch

Karma Clothing & Gift Shop

Kirkgate House

Memorable Moments

Oasis Florists

Ripon Bookshop*

Rosie and Clover*

The Original Factory Shop

Upstairs Downstairs

Wrens*

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Extinction Rebellion plans cycling protest in Harrogate town centre

Extinction Rebellion’s Harrogate branch is planning a bike ride in the town centre to highlight the need for change as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

The group, which only formed in Harrogate in January, says its aim is to highlight the issues facing the town, under the title No Going Back.

The bike ride will set off from Library Gardens on Station Parade at 10.30am on Sunday and complete two laps of the town centre, finishing at the war memorial. Organisers have asked participants to ride in groups of no more than six from the same household, and keep their distance from others who are not in their family group.

Anyone not able to cycle is encouraged to show their support with banners, bells and whistles, and to take photographs of the event. Organiser Vicky Wild said:

“During lockdown, an awful lot more people are cycling and walking. We don’t want to go back to the way it was.

“I’m someone who goes to work and the ships on a bike. I’ve lost count of the number of people who say, ‘I would love to do that, but I don’t feel safe’.

“It’s just trying to change the conversation a bit around public transport in Harrogate. Personally, I have certain routes I go on that I know are fairly safe. For some people, there are certain roads you just don’t want to go on.

“When I was cycling round during the lockdown at the beginning, it was heaven – it was lovely. I went twice round the Prince of Wales roundabout just because I could, because there were no cars on it. I don’t think I’ve ever been round it before.”

With traffic already heading back towards pre-lockdown levels, the group is keen to draw people’s attention to how different things have been and urge them to consider what can be done to make long-term changes.

It is also holding an online meeting tonight to discuss setting up a citizens’ assembly for Harrogate. That body would be made up of members of the public, rather than political party representatives, to look at facts and make decisions about the future of the town.

The group had held one event – a stall on Cambridge Street highlighting climate change, pictured above – before the coronavirus lockdown put paid to its plans for the year. Now, members are looking at action they can take safely in the coming months. Vicky added:

“The idea of Extinction Rebellion is things should be fun and inclusive and family-friendly. We’re trying to do things that won’t alienate people but will get people on board and asking questions.”

Full details about the citizen’s assembly meeting and the bike ride can be found on the Extinction Rebellion Harrogate Facebook page.

One coronavirus death at Harrogate hospital with six more in care homes

Harrogate District Hospital has reported one coronavirus death and care homes have recorded six more deaths in a week.

The death at the hospital happened yesterday and was reported with a total of 88 in England’s hospitals.

Patients were aged between 43 and 102 years old. Three patients, who were aged between 53 and 87, had no known underlying health conditions.

Up to May 29, care homes have recorded 78 coronavirus deaths. It’s an increase of six deaths from the previous week’s figures in care homes.

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Up to June 10, the hospital has reported 72 deaths. So, even with the lag in data of ten days, care homes have reported more deaths.

On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.

‘Council now talking to us’ says union

Discussions have been held between the council and trade unions over plans to transfer sport and leisure services to a private company.

Unison has this morning confirmed that it has met with Harrogate Borough Council representatives to discuss the proposal to form a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) to run its leisure facilities.

Unison branch secretary David Houlgate said:

“We are thankful that the Council is now talking to us and the meeting yesterday was helpful.  We are also pleased that the Council has let us have some written detail too.  We need to take a good look at that but already we can make the following observations:

“Clearly the council has ambitious plans for new and upgraded facilities and we cautiously welcome this but it has to be remembered that sport and leisure is a discretionary service so we would not wish to see high spending in this area impact on other, more critical, services elsewhere which could put jobs at risk.”

As well as the council’s six six leisure centres and its Active Health service, the plans could include transferring Little Explorers Day Nursery, the Turkish Baths, and community centres in Jennyfield, Fairfax and Knaresborough to the LACC.

According to a report set to be considered by HBC’s cabinet next week, transferring services stands to save £222,000 in business rates and £76,000 in VAT, with improved financial performance of £130,000 per year. There would be additional costs of £144,000, leaving savings of £284,000 per year, in the council’s figures.

The council has projected an increase in revenue of around £500,000 – equivalent to 10 percent of its current income – as a result of being run by a single-focus company.

The report also states that the council commissioned four studies into its leisure services in and alternative ways of delivering them, in 2018. It adds:

“SLL’s final report was presented to Cabinet on December 16, 2019 and as a result cabinet agreed in principle to progress the creation of a Company to run its sport and leisure facilities and services.”

Discussions between HBC and unions this week follow a public disagreement between them. Unison said on Monday it was disappointed that the council had failed to make any contact with its members – a claim which HBC branded “ridiculous”.

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The council consulted with residents last month about the proposals. In the report to cabinet, the results show 46 percent of the 433 people who responded either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the plans. Twenty-seven percent agreed or strongly agreed, while 27 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

“We have seen the council report and it would appear that this decision was actually taken last year, so we do wonder what the point of the recent resident’s survey was.  Having now seen the survey responses it does seem to confirm our view that there is not much support from the 433 residents who responded, for sport and leisure to be run by a LACC.”

The union has welcomed measures to protect employees, including keeping them in the local government pension scheme. However, it raised concerns about changing terms and conditions after the LACC is formed, and the possibility that an outside provider will be found to run services in future.

The proposals to create the LACC will be put before the council’s cabinet when it meets online next Wednesday, June 17.