Unison Harrogate canvasses election candidates over ‘shameful’ council pay

Unison in Harrogate is to write to next month’s local election candidates to find out their stance on local government pay.

Davie Houlgate, secretary of the Harrogate local government branch, said the union was looking to lodge a pay claim for the 2022/23 financial year.

The move comes after Unison’s attempt to call a strike in January over a 1.75% pay offer in the previous year failed because not enough members turned out to vote.

The trade union had branded the pay offer ‘derisory’.

The offer followed a national consultation by the Local Government Association, which is the national membership body for local authorities, over a pay increase.

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Mr Houlgate said the union was now considering another pay claim because the cost of living crisis is “squeezing” workers’ pay packets.

He added that officials will be writing to candidates ahead of the election in North Yorkshire on May 5 to find out their stance on the issue.

Mr Houlgate said:

“Local government pay must be increased to match the cost of living squeeze our members are now experiencing on the back of year-on-year below inflation pay increases.

“Without a decent above-inflation pay rise to help workers meet soaring costs, vital council services will struggle to hang on to skilled staff which could put some services at risk. Indeed this is already happening.

“Council workers need an above inflation pay rise, simply to try to catch-up with what they have lost in real terms over the past decade – a 25% pay cut. But it is more imperative than ever as a result of the cost-of living crisis we are now in.

“The situation is unsustainable and cannot go on.”

He added:

“We need to know if candidates have any idea of the enormity of the problems faced by council staff.  

“It’s shameful that people that make our towns and villages so attractive or do high skilled, essential and much-valued jobs on which everyone depends, don’t get paid enough to meet their basic costs.”

‘Worried’ Tories dig up old Facebook posts of Harrogate Lib Dem

The Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have said an article on a local Conservative Party website that digs up old Facebook posts from a prospective Lib Dem candidate “shows they are worried” about the upcoming council elections.

The article on Community News, which is run by Andrew Jones MP’s office, posted screenshots from the Facebook page of Michael Schofield, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Harlow Hill & St Georges.

Mr Schofield is the landlord of the Shepherd’s Dog pub on Otley Road.

The article included one of his Facebook posts in 2019, which the Conservatives called an ‘expletive-laden, bizarre online rant’ that referred to Brexit, Donald Trump and Guy Fawkes.

The post from March 2019 was written at the height of the wrangling in Parliament over Brexit. It said:

“This country needs one person to stand up! A Trump, a Thatcher, a Guy Fawkes. Politicians have shown their colours and let our country down. Nail your colours to either side but be Brexit or Remain not one of these self wanting a****** deserve a vote. GUY FAWKES WE NEED YOU”.

The article also posted a screenshot of Mr Schofield reposting a satirical article from December 2019, which said then-Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson should be in Bagpuss’s window with “all the other lost and broken things nobody wants anymore”.

Voters go to the polls on May 5 to elect councillors to sit on North Yorkshire County Council and its successor authority, North Yorkshire Council, which comes into existence in April 2023.

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Responding, Mr Schofield said:

“My response is quite clear. I apologise if language was offensive however at that time no party had a leader of credibility and I do believe it was the vote of a lifetime to make a difference.”

David Goode, chair of Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, criticised the campaign tactics used by the Conservatives.

He said:

“It’s no more than we’ve come to expect. It’s very standard practice for them to try and besmirch the opposition. It shows they are worried about the election.

“This election is so important for a whole raft of different reasons and they will try every trick in the book. I’d like to think we’ll keep more to the issues. We’ll have a go at them on their record, not at individuals.”

Mr Goode defended the comments of the publican Mr Schofield, which he said makes him a “far stronger candidate” due to his “passion”.

“At the time there was a lot of emotion flying about Brexit.  From Michael’s perspective, he probably used some language he shouldn’t have used. It reflects his passion and truly that’s what what we need. We need people with passion who care.

“With any political party people fall in and out out of love at certain times. We can’t always be 100% enthusiastic. In a way it makes him a far stronger candidate, he’s gone through bad times with the party and come back.”

What is Community News?

Community News launched in September 2020.

The home page makes no reference to the fact that it’s set up by the office of Andrew Jones.

This only becomes clear when you click on the “About” page, which also says the aim of the website is to provide news stories about Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge in a “positive” and “non-political way”.

Mr Jones’ office manager is current council leader Richard Cooper. The office also employs current Conservative councillors Matt Scott and Ed Darling.

Following the 2019 general election, Mr Jones commented on negative campaigning. He said: “politics needs to grow up” and “I don’t use these tactics”.

Mr Jones wrote on his website:

“I don’t like it when candidates spend much of their time demonising their opponents.

“I don’t use these tactics.  I simply say what I do in the local area and describe how I represent local people and our communities.  My literature and my team were positive about our achievements and our ambitions.  We didn’t pull down opponents or manipulate people to vote differently to their beliefs to ‘stop someone else winning’.

“Politics needs to grow up and step away from this old-fashioned and frankly US-style attack ad approach.  I hope over the next few years – at least locally – there will be agreement to adopt a more positive approach.”

The Stray Ferret asked Andrew Jones, Richard Cooper and the Conservative candidate for Harlow Hill & St Georges, Steven Jackson, to respond to Mr Goode’s comments but we did not receive any responses.

Council chiefs want ‘seamless transition’ to new North Yorkshire Council

North Yorkshire residents should see a “seamless transition” of council services when a new unitary authority covering the whole county launches in April 2023, council chiefs have said.

The new North Yorkshire Council will replace the existing county and district councils – with elections set to take place on 5 May.

It will mark the biggest changes to local government in the county since 1974 and will see key services from bin collections to social care, and street cleaning to leisure centres, come under the control of the new council.

Wallace Sampson, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council, told a virtual public meeting on Monday that the transition was now fast approaching and staff from all existing councils were working together to ensure services run smoothly from day one.

He said:

“There isn’t a lot of time to prepare for local government reorganisation and the new authority coming into force from 1 April 2023.

“All eight councils are really working hard to make sure the transition to the new North Yorkshire Council is as seamless as possible.”

The restructuring is linked to a devolution deal for North Yorkshire which could get millions of pounds in funding, more decision-making powers and an elected mayor by 2024.

The government had stipulated a key requirement of any deal was for the current two-tier councils system to be replaced by a single unitary authority.

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The aim is to streamline structures and save money, with some of the savings coming from a reduction in senior staff including the eight current chief executives.

Paul Shevlin, chief executive of Craven District Council, told yesterday’s meeting that another aim is to “keep the local in local government”.

He said each of the seven districts – including Craven, Harrogate, Selby, Scarborough, Richmondshire, Hambleton and Ryedale – would each still have a local council office under the reorganisation plans.

Mr Shevlin said:

“We need to look after not just the most vulnerable, but everybody in our society so a local office is going to be crucial.

“Some of the judgements on day one will be: Did you notice a difference? Could you access your local council?

“If the answer to those is yes, then we will have made a successful immediate transition.

“After that comes the transformation.”

Mr Shevlin also said six local area constituency committees were likely to be created on the new council – with 15 councillors on each given decision-making powers over services including licensing and planning.

In total, 90 councillors will be elected on 5 May to serve one year on North Yorkshire County Council before transitioning to the new unitary authority for a four-year term.

Mr Shevlin added:

“This really is the most important election in North Yorkshire since the last local government reorganisation in 1974.

“Please make sure you are registered to vote, and please do vote.”

A series of virtual events are being held this month for residents to find out more about the new North Yorkshire Council.

For more information go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/new-council-virtual-roadshows

Harrogate independents on why it’s ‘time for a change’

A politician promising change is often an alluring prospect for voters, and five fresh faces are hoping to steer Harrogate in a new direction on the new North Yorkshire Council.

Anna McIntee (Stray, Woodlands, Hookstone), Lucy Gardiner (Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate), Sarah Hart (Harlow Hill and St Georges) Daniel Thompson (Coppice Valley and Duchy) and Jon Starkey (Boroughbridge & Claro) have all put their names forward for the election on May 5.

The independents have aligned together and last week launched a website called ‘Time for a Change’ that is critical of decisions such as housing developments in the Kingsley area and the ongoing Harrogate Station Gateway project.

The Stray Ferret interviewed Ms McIntee, Ms Hart, and Mr Thompson yesterday to find out what they stand for and what they think needs to change.

Why are they standing? 

Ms McIntee is a mum-of-three and said she is normally a Tory voter. However, she believes the local party has ignored businesses and residents to the detriment of the town.

She said:

“It all started when North Yorkshire County Council tried to make Oatland’s Drive one way, it was ludicrous. I made a petition that got 2,000 signatures. Then I got more and more involved. It was like Pandora’s Box.

“With the election coming up, it’s the perfect time to make a difference. Our background isn’t in politics but we are just residents who are really really passionate and feel we can make a difference.”

Ms Hart has lived in Harrogate on and off since she was born and would normally vote Liberal Democrat. She said:

“I went to HBC cabinet meetings and scrutiny meetings and thought – hang on a minute – some of the things they are doing are not right. I was involved in the Local Plan and spoke at the public enquiry.

“I’m a resident at Harlow Hill and the West Harrogate Parameters Plan and Rotary Wood are huge issues, I heard about these secret meetings behind closed doors and thought, I have nothing to lose. I’m going to go for it”.

Mr Thompson was born in the town, owns a shop on Cold Bath Road and went to Ashville College. He said:

“I joined the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and attended a Zoom meeting where Harrogate Borough Council council leader Richard Cooper was a guest speaker. He ruffled my feathers and got my back up with the way he presented himself and the way he is tackling the issues of the town.

“I went to another meeting about the Station Gateway that was a sham. I was embarrassed for the council. It was a shocking display to be honest. That meeting really riled me. They have lost touch with reality.”

‘Had enough’

Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan, which sets out where new homes can be built until 2034, was signed off two years ago following a tortuous process that lasted over a decade.

You can see its impact when you travel around the periphery of Harrogate with swathes of green fields lost to housing. Ms McIntee said residents have now “had enough”.

More than 13,000 new homes could eventually be built when the plan is concluded. The Stray Ferret has calculated that at least 700 football pitches of green field land across the district will be lost.

A snapshot of development. Credit – HAPARA

The group of independents, who are self-funded, said with the new North Yorkshire Council there could be an opportunity to revisit the Local Plan much sooner than in 2025, which is the current proposal.

Ms Hart called the Local Plan “a car crash”.

“We need the right homes in the right places. We don’t need them in green fields miles away from sustainable transport.”

Mr Thompson pointed the finger at conservative council leader Richard Cooper and chief executive Wallace Sampson for their track record on housing.

“The one job they had to do was create a Local Plan that was fit for purpose and they failed. For Richard Cooper and Wallace Sampson to still be where they are when they failed miserably is truly astonishing.”

Richard Cooper (left) and Wallace Sampson

The independents won’t be the only party campaigning on housing. It will also be a focus for the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Greens.

But Mr Thompson said the Lib Dems have little credibility on housing as its councillors signed off on the Local Plan too.

“The Conservatives have lost their way but the Lib Dems were sat in meetings and also signed off on Local Plan. Both parties are complicit.”

‘Cars = sales’

Ms McIntee works part-time in a town centre shop and Mr Thompson owns an interior design shop on Cold Bath Road with his sister, Lucy Gardiner, who is standing as an independent in the Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate ward.

The Station Gateway scheme has pitted many town centre businesses against those who support the scheme and want fewer cars in the town and more walking and cycling.

Ms McIntee said the proposal has been pushed through without listening to retailers who live and work in the town.

Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate's James Street pedestrianised.

Station Gateway visuals that show Harrogate’s James Street pedestrianised.

Mr Thompson said the town centre is looking “tired and vulnerable” and Harrogate should forsake the car at its peril.

The group would like to see free Sunday parking as well as the first hour of parking free throughout the week to encourage more motorists to shop in the town centre.

He said:

“Cars equals sales. Everybody in retail knows that. You cannot ignore the power of the motor car. The car is not the enemy.”

An alternative vision?

Almost half of CO2 emissions in the Harrogate District are from transport.

Cars also contribute to poor air quality in our town centres, which studies have found contributes to a myriad of health impacts including lung and heart disease.

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council as well as green groups such as Zero Carbon Harrogate believe it is critical that Harrogate residents reduce their car use to help tackle climate change.

But Ms McIntee has been opposed to the Otley Road cycle path, Station Gateway, Oatlands Drive changes and Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood and her critics say she offers no solutions to the net-zero question.

She said this is unfair as the independents will campaign to introduce a park and ride scheme, subsidise school buses, introduce more electric vehicle charging points and plant more trees to absorb CO2.

The group would also like to see pavements improved to encourage walking in the town.

Mr Thompson said:

“There’s always an alternative vision, we’re just saying we don’t like the current vision, I don’t think that’s negative.”

Election Day

The group has a loyal group of supporters on social media but how successful the five would-be councillors will be on May 5 be is hard to predict.

They could split the Tory vote and help the Liberal Democrats or the opposite could happen.

But if they do manage to tap into the genuine anger felt around housing and transport they could cause a major upset.

Ms McIntee said:

“People need to vote for change, never before has that need been greater. There are independent councillors all over the UK that are doing a good job. It’s not a wasted vote. If all five of us get in we’ll have huge impact.”

Mr Thompson said

“Residents have been blatantly ignored and silenced. It’s offensive. We have a wealth of talents in the town and that’s the saddest part. The councils’ divide to conquer, that’s not how it should be. They have set groups against each other to railroad through their schemes.

“The council should be fighting for existing people of town, it’s not about NIMBYism, it’s about common sense.”

The full list of candidates standing on May 5 will be announced tomorrow. The Stray Ferret will be profiling the other political parties and candidates in the coming weeks.

Five Harrogate independents to stand for new council

Five independent candidates are to stand for the new North Yorkshire Council in Harrogate and Boroughbridge.

Anna McIntee (Stray, Woodlands, Hookstone), Lucy Gardiner (Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate), Sarah Hart (Harlow Hill and St Georges) Daniel Thompson (Coppice Valley and Duchy) and Jon Starkey (Boroughbridge & Claro) have all put their names forward for the election on May 5.

They say they are hoping to capitalise on anger felt towards new housing and cycling schemes in Harrogate.

The independents are aligned together and last week launched a website called ‘Time for a Change’ that is critical of contentious decisions, such as housing developments in the Kingsley area and the ongoing Harrogate Station Gateway project.

Ms McIntee and Ms Gardiner set up Harrogate Residents Association website and Facebook group last year.

The five independents believe there is an appetite in the district for an alternative to Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors, who they believe have let the town down.

Ms McIntee said:

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m really passionate about Harrogate. I’m really concerned about what’s happening to the town. If we don’t get in, where’s it going to end?”

Full interview to follow tomorrow.

Harrogate Tory leader attacks Lib Dems for using Dundee printers

The leader of Conservative-run Harrogate Borough Council has attacked the local Liberal Democrats for using a firm in Dundee to print a leaflet urging people to ‘buy local’.

Richard Cooper criticised the move in a post on the Community News website run by Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough. Cllr Cooper is employed by Mr Jones as his office manager,

It is a sign that the North Yorkshire Council election campaign is hotting up ahead of the vote on May 5.

Mr Cooper said it was “critical that we use local businesses where we can”.

According to the post, other local Liberal Democrat literature has been printed in York and Chesterfield.

Cllr Cooper said:

“It is critical that we use local businesses where we can and there are a lot of good local printers who would have wanted this business.

“It really is strange to call on others to ‘buy local’ when you are buying from York, Chesterfield and even Dundee!”.

Cllr Cooper, who has said he will not be seeking re-election next month, also said the leaflet’s ‘greener’ agenda was at odds with its creation.

Carbon footprint

He said:

“Even if they didn’t want to use local printers for some reason was it really necessary to go 60-odd miles north of Edinburgh? The carbon footprint of their literature is enormous.

“When you tell people you want to ‘buy local’ and ‘be greener’ you have to match your actions with words.”

The post said all election campaign leaflets published by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservatives were printed in Harrogate and Mr Jones’ annual reports were printed in Knaresborough.

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Pat Marsh, leader of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, told the Stray Ferret that the Conservatives “should really have bigger things to be worrying about than where we print our material”, such as spiralling energy bills, the fallout of war in Ukraine and “businesses feeling the bite of Brexit”.

Cllr Marsh added:

“This is a particularly strange attack from the Conservatives who, during the pandemic, took £10,000 of grants to pay for their office.

“We think these grants should have been used to support local businesses, not on political party campaigns. Since they print a lot of their material at their office many people will be questioning whether their taxpayers money is helping to fund Conservative election leaflets.”

She added that the Liberal Democrats’ process for using outside suppliers was to “try and get the best value for money”, which was “something Conservative-run Harrogate council could learn from”, adding:

“They spent £5,000 on a giant snow globe that was displayed in London for two days over Christmas and £700 on social media influencers. This is on top of the £13 million they wasted on a council office for a council their own government is abolishing.”

 

Starbeck feud boils over after residents’ group chair stands for Labour

A feud between the owner of Starbeck Post Office and the chair of Starbeck Residents Association has boiled over after the latter decided to stand for the Labour Party in the upcoming local elections.

Voters will head to the polls on May 5 to elect councillors to the new North Yorkshire Council.

This week, Chris Watt was announced as the Labour candidate for the newly created ward of Fairfax and Starbeck.

Mr Watt is also the elected chair of the SRA, which awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities in Starbeck.

However, Andrew Hart, who owns the local post office, believes the resident association’s constitution forbids political allegiances.

He claims Mr Watt is using his position as chair as a means of promoting his political platform and profile, which Mr Watt denies.

Mr Watt (centre) campaigning for Labour last month. Credit: Harrogate & Knaresborough Labour Party

The two have history — there was public acrimony when Mr Watt was appointed chair last year at the residents association’s annual general meeting.

Mr Hart set up a rival group called Starbeck Community Group, in part due to what he thinks are the failings of Starbeck Residents’ Association.

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Mr Hart said it was “an insult to the community” that Mr Watt was standing for a political party and called on him to step down from his role as chair.

He said:

“Last summer I asked Chris Watt several times if he would be standing for Labour in these elections, he refused to answer. At the SRA AGM I asked him again but he refused to answer in public. I stated that it was against the constitution, it was also morally wrong and not transparent as he was already a political officer for the Labour Party.

“The very least he should do is explain why he would not admit he wanted to stand at the AGM when he was repeatedly asked and how can he justify canvassing whilst he is supposed to be the impartial chair of the SRA.

“He must resign now and seek re-election if he fails to become a county councillor. This has nothing to do with political allegiances it is about transparency and clear rules.”

‘I want to give something back’

In response, Mr Watt said:

“I love living in Starbeck so want to give something back to our local community. I’m proud to serve as chair of the Starbeck Residents’ Association and work in partnership with local people in the best interests of our area, regardless of their political affiliation.

 “I’ve never made any secret of my campaigning work with the local Labour Party. It was raised at the Starbeck Residents’ Association AGM and I was pleased to be elected overwhelmingly by over 80 local people with only two people voting against me.

 “I am doing my best to repay the trust that local people placed in me and would be honoured to serve them further as their local councillor.”

Nominations open for elections to new North Yorkshire Council

Nominations have opened for candidates hoping to become one of the 90 councillors on a new unitary authority for the whole of North Yorkshire.

Elections to the new council will take place on May 5, with candidates able to put their names forward until April 5.

The move to a single council will mark a crucial time in North Yorkshire’s history and comes after the government announced in July that the area’s eight county and district councils would be scrapped in April 2023.

Elected councillors will represent 89 new divisions on North Yorkshire County Council for one year, before serving a four-year term on the new council.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said the councillors would play a key role in shaping how public services will work in the future as he also urged residents to make sure they are eligible to vote.

“If safe communities and thriving business matter to you, or services like schools, social care, housing, planning, roads, waste management and leisure, then it is really important that you take part in these elections.

“The people elected will determine the vision and values of the new North Yorkshire Council from the beginning.”

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The opening of nominations follows Parliamentary approval of legislation for the new council to replace North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils in Harrogate, Selby, Scarborough, Craven, Hambleton, Ryedale and Richmondshire.

The Structural Changes Order approved last week also enables parish elections to be held on the same day as the county elections.

Nomination papers must be completed by those wanting to stand as candidates in both the county and parish council elections. These papers are available from the district and borough councils.

To be able to vote you must be on the electoral register by April 14. Those who are signed up will receive polling cards or letters which are being sent out from the last two weeks in March.

Voters who are not able to get to their local polling station on May 5 can apply to vote by post or proxy.

Harrogate pub landlord on why he’s standing for the new council

As the landlord of the Shepherd’s Dog pub on Otley Road, Michael Schofield has been the eyes and ears of Harlow Hill for the past nine years.

He believes his unique place in the community will help give the area a stronger voice on the new North Yorkshire Council. Mr Schofield will be standing in the newly created Harlow Hill & St Georges ward for the Liberal Democrats in May’s local elections.

Newly elected councillors will sit on North Yorkshire County Council until it is replaced by the new unitary authority in April 2023.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council are currently dominated by Conservative councillors but Mr Schofield said their legacy in Harrogate had not been positive.

He said the two councils have been a “shambles” on issues like housing and transport.

Harlow Hill 

Mr Schofield was a member of the LibDems since the days of the alliance with the SDP but quit when Nick Clegg “sold young people down the river” only to rejoin in recent years.

He runs the Shepherd’s Dog with his wife Donna and has lived in Harlow Hill, on-and-off, since 1982. His daughter Mollie, 16, goes to Rossett High School and Harry, 12, goes to Harrogate Grammar School.

The Liberal Democrats emailed local members asking if anyone would like to stand in the upcoming elections and he said it wasn’t a difficult decision to put himself forward.

“I’ve wanted to do it for years. I thought, ‘do you know what? I’ve had enough of the ineptitude of the council’. With all the issues we have around Harlow Hill and St George’s, it’s time for a strong voice.”

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Pub chatter

The council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which lays out where development can take place in the district until 2035, says around 4,000 new homes could be built in the area that surrounds Harlow Hill.

Some residents believe the sheer volume of housing being built is changing the west of Harrogate for the worse.

Mr Schofield said many locals are frustrated that houses are being built without the infrastructure, such as roads and schools, to support them. The council’s West of Harrogate Parameters Plan aims to address this.

There is also the ongoing debate around the Otley Road cycle path, which Mr Schofield said was a good idea, poorly executed.

He said:

“The big issue at the moment is the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan, and the infrastructure around that. There is also the cycle lane and how farcical that’s been put together.

“People are also concerned about traffic and schools. Where are the secondary school places going to come from?

“No, I’m sorry, we’ve had more than our fair share over the last four or five years. We’ve had more than enough housing. There’s no need for all this building at this end of Harrogate.”

Community spirit

During the first lockdown in 2020, Mr Schofield and his wife opened a fruit and veg shop two doors down from the pub.

He said the experience reminded him of the importance of community. He said residents wanted a councillor that lives locally and speaks up on issues that matter to them.

“People would come and talk in the shop. It was lovely to see people mixing that don’t normally mix. Nothing is stronger than a good community and Harlow Hill is a special community close to my heart.”

Mr Schofield said if he’s elected he will still be found behind the bar pulling pints.

And if he can deal with difficult customers in the pub, he says going head-to-head with opposition councillors won’t be a problem.

“We’re all soapbox politicians in the pub, but we can no longer have politicians hiding away, we need someone approachable.

“It’s a cross section in the pub. People from every party comes in here. We do talk politics, but we never fall out.”

The elections will take place on May 5. Candidates must submit nomination forms by April 5.