The number of adults with substance abuse problems is increasing in North Yorkshire, according to a report.

It comes as North Yorkshire Council is set to extend the contract for its specialist drug and alcohol support service North Yorkshire Horizons for another five years.

North Yorkshire Horizons was launched in October 2014 with a £3.6m annual contract awarded to charity Humankind to provide the service, which is rated outstanding by regulator the Care Quality Commission.

It has specialist hubs in Harrogate, Skipton, Selby, Scarborough and Northallerton where people can get advice on drugs or alcohol, receive health treatment and take part in therapy sessions.

Since it was set up, the report says North Yorkshire Horizons has “significantly increased” the numbers of people engaging with the service. As of June 2023, there are 2,500 people taking part in treatment.

The number of people seeking support for drugs other than opiates has also increased by 50%.

North Yorkshire Horizons is largely funded through a government grant but the report warns that drug and alcohol services are more expensive to deliver than they were before the covid pandemic, due to cost-of-living rises and inflation.

It also says there is an “unmet need” and “increasing profile” of people who experience substance use in the county.

An independent review of drugs led by Dame Carol Black in 2021 warned that investment in drug and alcohol services has reduced significantly over the last decade nationally.

In response, central government has increased spending for local authority-led treatment with North Yorkshire Council receiving an additional £1.4m funding. Another £1m is expected in 2024/25.

The contract with Humankind is set to be extended by Cllr Michael Harrison, Conservative executive member for health and adult services, at a meeting tomorrow.

The report says:

“Evidence shows that drug and alcohol substance use treatment services are cost effective to the public purse, and clinically effective in terms of outcome for the individual.

“Investing in substance use services not only helps to save lives, but also substantially reduces the economic and social costs of harms associated with harmful patterns of substance use.”

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Bewerley Park, near Pateley Bridge, looks set to get a new 84-bed accommodation block as part of a £4.2 million upgrade.

North Yorkshire Council has outlined plans to modernise its two outdoor education centres at Bewerley Park and East Barnby.

The residential sites popular with schools offer a range of outdoor activities, such as canoeing, paddle-boarding and caving.

Phase one of the plans proposes to provide a new 84-bed accommodation block at Bewerley Park and to make improvements to East Barnby accommodation blocks and the dining room.

Bewerley Park, which recently faced the possibility of closure, currently has 173 beds for students and teachers.

Councillors will be asked to approve the phase one plans at an executive meeting on Tuesday.

If given the go-ahead, detailed designs will be developed, followed by a two-stage tender process to carry out the work.

Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, executive member for education, learning and skills, said:

“This is an exciting project. For decades both centres have proven very popular, being visited by generations of families. Thousands of children and young people visit the centres each year and leave with positive, happy memories.

“It’s vital that our centres continue to deliver wonderful experiences in a more modern environment.”

East Barnby in North York Moors National Park is also part of the scheme. The plans outline improvements to its accommodation blocks and the dining room.

Work for phase one is expected to cost up to £4.2 million and a decision on phase two is expected in 2027-2028.

Read more:

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The council’s assistant director for education and skills, Amanda Newbold, added:

“If given the go-ahead, we expect phase one to be completed by 2025. The new buildings and improvements won’t affect our visitors – in fact, we look forward to welcoming more visitors as the works take place.”

The plans come after North Yorkshire Council found a 21% price increase for trips to Bewerley Park proved “prohibitive” to some local schools.

The site, which opened in 1940, hiked its fees and charges to reflect inflation and rising costs.

However, Teresa Thorp, head of outdoor learning services at the council, said in a report published in September:

“There have been a few schools who have found the increase in fees and charges for 2023-24 prohibitive, demonstrating that last year’s fees and charges increase has adversely affected the take up of services in some cases.”

Ms Thorp added the council had to compete with other outdoor learning centres, such as Low Mill, Robin Wood and Carlton Lodge.

The Conservative councillor in charge of transport at North Yorkshire Council has urged local Liberal Democrat members to support the scaled-back Harrogate Station Gateway proposals.

The £11.2m scheme’s most controversial aspects, such as the single-lane proposals for Station Parade and the part-pedestrianisation of James Street, are set to be dropped for it to proceed and to avoid legal peril for the council.

The plans were thrown into doubt over the summer when Harrogate-based property firm Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns several commercial properties on James Street, issued a legal challenge.

Conservative executive member for transport Keane Duncan and the Liberal Democrats have had a turbulent relationship when it comes to the Station Gateway.

In July, Cllr Duncan accused the Lib Dems of “playing politics” after it withdrew support. Then in August, the party called on him to resign due to his handling of the project.

But at a meeting in Northallerton last week, Cllr Duncan made a plea for unity ahead of a final decision on whether the project will move forward.

One Arch

This will be made by the council’s ruling Conservative executive so does not require cross-party support to get it over the line but Cllr Duncan said he still hopes it can be backed by councillors in the town.

He said:

“My sincere hope is that Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors can unite behind a deliverable plan that secures £11m of investment for Harrogate. This is important for Harrogate and it’s important for North Yorkshire too.”

Funding for the Station Gateway is coming from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund but Cllr Duncan warned that if it doesn’t proceed and money has to be handed back to Whitehall it could risk future funding bids for the whole county.

He added:

“We should not return hard-fought money to government. This would be immensely damaging to the reputation of this council and future investment for our county. I am committed to working with Harrogate and Knaresborough colleagues to devise a proposal that commands clear public and business support.”

‘Complete incompetence’

In recent weeks, meetings have taken place between council officers working on the scheme and local councillors, including a walk around the proposed Station Gateway area where councillors of all parties have made suggestions.

Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat councillor for High Harrogate & Kingsley, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the party accepts changes must be made to the scheme, which he blamed on “complete incompetence” by Cllr Duncan and the Conservatives.

He added:

“While further pedestrianisation of some areas of Harrogate town centre and much-needed improved connectivity for cyclists remain in our long term vision for the town, it is unfortunate that these must remain, in the main, long term aspirations, which can’t now happen within this scheme.

“However we do feel that some of the real positive elements of the scheme remain achievable within the timescale, such as a dedicated bus lane improving access to the bus station, improvements of the public realm in Station Square and One Arch, improved covered cycling storage and better connectivity of traffic lights and crossings for pedestrians and vehicles.

“The Lib Dem group regrets that the engagement with local residents and the town centre business community, as well as local councillors, which we called for back in May, has only just started to happen now. But we look forward to more of it in the next few weeks and hope to play our part in delivering these much needed improvements within the town centre.”

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Market Place East

“Fury at plans to dig up stones of historic market square”

“A beautiful market town is being ruined with the council ripping up the historic square to lay tarmac.”

“It’s unfortunate that the two papers appear to have got hold of the wrong end of the stick and given their readers a mistaken impression of what is actually planned.

“The resurfacing with tarmac, which is going to take place next October, is designed to ensure a uniformly smooth surface for the roads on either side of the square, making them safe for use by pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.”

“Part of Ripon City Council’s double devolution bid is to take control of Market Square, so that we can ensure that the block sets on the square, which were put in place 20 years ago, are properly maintained at this historic location.”

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A commercial property management business in Harrogate is on target to achieve 33% growth this year after receiving a six-figure investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Robinsons Facilities Services will use the money – which follows a first round of funding in 2020 – to plan for its next phase of growth and create new jobs.

The company was spun out of Robinsons Group in 2013, and since then it has experienced year-on-year growth and has broadened its service offering to include fire, security and life safety systems and many other commercial building services. It now has more than 500 sites in Yorkshire, and deals with a variety of sectors including leisure, industrial, healthcare, multi-property residential landlords and education.

Managing director Luke Kitchen said:

“Today, the business is over almost four times the size it was in 2013 and we’ve broadened our services to include everything that’s needed to maintain and repair commercial buildings.

“The investment received from FW Capital has provided us with a secure platform to grow our business with confidence. We’ve also expanded our workforce and recently taken on an engineer and two more admin roles.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Council’s new economic growth plans

North Yorkshire Council has adopted a new five-year economic growth strategy.

The purpose of the plan is to accelerate economic growth across the region, and it includes measures to create a carbon-negative economy, maximise investment, support business growth, increase innovation and productivity and improve skill levels.

Carolyn Frank, York and North Yorkshire Federation of Small Businesses development manager, said:

“Businesses will welcome the joined-up approach recommended in the strategy, and the ambitions outlined, but will be focused on the ‘making it happen’ steps to follow.

“There is widespread economic uncertainty and it is crucial that the council works in partnership with business owners of all sizes to make sure that North Yorkshire continues to be a great place to do business, with businesses and self-employed needs understood.

“There are many exciting opportunities ahead through devolution and these will only be realised by the public and private sectors working in partnership. In a turbulent economy and time of rapid change, a strategy can only make a lasting difference if the implementation is action-oriented, agile and impact focused.”

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North Yorkshire Council’s hopes of winning £20m from the government to go towards a major refurbishment of Harrogate Convention Centre were dashed today.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced the winners of the third round of the Levelling Up Fund, with more than £1.1bn awarded to 55 schemes — but Harrogate was not on the list.

Unlike the first two rounds, councils were not invited to make formal bids for funding.

Instead, the government selected the best bids from round two that were not chosen last time.

The government scored each bid out of 100, with criteria including deliverability and the characteristics of each place.

The news will come as a blow but not necessarily a surprise to North Yorkshire Council.

Previously published feedback on the convention centre bid described it as “relatively strong” but said it lacked “evidence and rationale” into how the proposals would increase business.

The council has still not decided if it will proceed with a £49m refurbishment of the facility which it inherited from the defunct Harrogate Borough Council.

A contractor has been appointed to draw up more detailed plans for the redevelopment and a final decision was expected this year.

The convention centre opened in 1982 with conferences providing a boost to the town’s bars, restaurants and hotels, however, it has struggled to turned a profit.

It’s hoped the refurbishment would help the facility compete with other conference venues in the north but it remains unclear how North Yorkshire Council, which is looking to slash £70m from its budget over the next three years, will pay for it.

Nic Harne, the council’s corporate director for community development, said:

“We received £19m from the second round of levelling up funding for redeveloping Catterick Garrison’s town centre.

“We are disappointed that other projects have not been allocated funding under the department’s assessment process and will be seeking feedback on why those schemes were not prioritised.

“Our bids were submitted by the former councils and we could not put any further bids in.”

Read more:

• Government rejects £20m levelling up bid for Harrogate Convention Centre
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A Liberal Democrats councillor has called for elections to be held for a future Harrogate town council in May 2024 rather than 2025.

In July, North Yorkshire Council agreed to pause work on the new council to undertake a third public consultation about how it will be formed.

Harrogate and Scarborough are the only two areas in the county without a parish council and the council is creating them at the same time.

But the Lib Dems have raised concerns that another consultation will mean a longer wait for Harrogate residents to be represented on a town council.

Harrogate Town Council would have far fewer powers than North Yorkshire Council or the former Harrogate Borough Council but it could run some local services.

Cllr Philip Broadbank

Cllr Broadbank, who represents Fairfax and Starbeck, raised the subject at a meeting in Northallerton last week.

He asked if Harrogate could be treated separately from Scarborough and if the process could be speeded up so elections can take place in six months’ time.

Cllr Broadbank said:

“Whilst new warding proposals for Scarborough will of course be new and take longer to formulate, boundaries for Harrogate town already exist.

“A consultation on whether Harrogate has single member or two member wards can be done quickly and allow elections next year rather than 2025 as currently envisaged.”

However, his proposal was knocked by Conservative executive member for corporate services David Chance, who said a decision had already been taken by councillors in July.

Cllr Chance said:

“The proposals for Harrogate and Scarborough have been brought forward together and delivered in tandem to deliver parity in our approach.”

Read more:

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Last month, the council revealed the winners and losers of the 12 ‘double-devolution’ bids from parishes that would like to take control of assets in their areas.

These included Ripon City Council, which wants to take over the running of assets including the town hall and market square.

Knaresborough Town Council has been invited to develop a business case to run the town’s weekly market.

Harrogate was excluded from the process because it doesn’t have a parish council. If a Harrogate Town Council were created, it could bid to run services in the town such as looking after its parks or the Stray, operating car parks or managing the Royal Hall.

It has previously been suggested by North Yorkshire Council that residents would pay between £40 and £60 on top of their council tax each year to pay for the new council.

Knaresborough’s new £17.5 million leisure and wellness centre will open on December 11.

The centre includes a six-lane 25-metre pool, a leisure pool with flume and a 60-station fitness suite.

There is also a studio for group fitness classes, a bespoke group cycling studio, sauna and steam rooms, a café and an outdoor children’s play area.

The centre has been developed next to the old Knaresborough Pool, which was built in 1990 and last refurbished 20 years ago.

Work on the exterior of the site.

The changing room area.

Cllr Simon Myers, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said:

“I am delighted that we have an opening date for this exciting new leisure provision for Knaresborough – it’s a perfect Christmas gift for the town.

“The local community had long outgrown the old pool – there was a call for fitness provision as well as spaces for classes and post workout relaxation spaces.

“By shifting the service offer from conventional swimming pool provision to a community health and wellbeing service we aim to help people move more, live well, feel great and reduce the proportion of the population that is physically inactive.”

The project is part of a wider £47.9 million investment in leisure provision, including the recently completed refurbishment of Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre and the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon.

All the centres are managed day-to-day by Brimhams Active, the council’s health and wellbeing company.

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A developer has lodged plans to build 24 new flats for people aged over 55 in Kirk Hammerton.

The scheme would see the flats built on the Geoffrey Benson and Son Furniture Showroom site on York Road in the village.

The showroom, which would remain open, has been on the site since 1992 when it moved from York. It is a distinctive feature on the A59 between Harrogate and York.

Under the plans, which have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by the furniture company, a further four two-bedroom apartments would be created in the first and second floors of the existing showroom building.

In documents submitted to the council, the company said:

“The applicant has established through dealing with a particular sector of customers that there is a huge gap in current planning policy for dwellings for purchase for over-55s and there is a large demand and need in this area for high quality freehold apartments with 2 bedrooms for the over-55 age group. 

“They are by and large people who already live locally and do not wish to move to a town away from their friends and relations. 

“These people do not necessarily require affordable dwellings but well designed and appointed quality spaces with fewer responsibilities and maintenance requirements of larger a property.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

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North Yorkshire Council has revealed it is facing an annual black hole of up to £100m over its spending on special educational needs and disability (SEND) children in as little as four years due to spiralling demand for support services.

While the council says the projected financial pressure was triggered by legislation in 2014, it says a simultaneous increase in complex needs has seen SEND children each cost up to £1.5m a year to support.

In addition, sources say while covid will have had an impact, it is difficult to pinpoint why North Yorkshire is seeing such an explosion in numbers of SEND children, for which the council already has a £13m annual deficit.

Some point to the Children and Families Act 2014, which allows young people and their families to request local authorities to carry out an assessment and provide support, including allocated funding, for each child or young person who applies.

While declining to go on the record, some politicians at County Hall have suggested the relatively large proportion of middle class parents in the county is partly behind the council’s plight, with a common view that getting a SEND statement for a child brings financial and other benefits.

North Yorkshire is in the bottom quartile of funding per head of population for SEND children nationally, partly because the government funding formula is weighted towards areas of high deprivation. 

However, some politicians believe areas with more middle class people able to articulate arguments for their children end up with significant SEND demand.

Parents are believed to have had an almost perfect success rate in getting children, some of whom have “mild” or “borderline” issues, classed as having special needs after appealing the council’s decisions.

One source stated: 

“It is getting to the stage where children with mild difficulties are taking funds away from children who actually need it. It is just unsustainable.”

The financial alert, issued at a full meeting of the authority this week, came days after the authority’s chief finance officer gave evidence to the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities select committee the authority was facing “a perfect storm” financially.

Gary Fielding, the authority’s corporate director resources, told the committee even well-run councils were now facing “existential challenges”.

He added the council was looking at using savings of between £30m and £70k generated by merging the county’s eight district, borough and county councils into a unitary authority, “cashing in the dividend that has been delivered by unitarisation” to balance the books.

Mr Fielding said: 

“There is a whole host of issues, which I would describe as a perfect storm, with SEND, adult social care and children’s placements.

“What we’ve got in part is a disrupted market, a dysfunctional market in most areas, we have supply and demand out of kilter, we’ve got not enough money chasing not enough places, so prices go up.

“We are seeing incredible increases in levels of complexity. There is demand increases, but what I am observing more is the complexity of need that’s presenting, and therefore the cost of that.”

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Mr Fielding said while the funding for many SEND services came from a ring fenced Department for Education grant, the increase in demand was draining the council’s general budget, for example with the SEND home to school transport cost soaring from £5m annually to £21m in just five years.

He added the council would be reviewing policy areas as a contingency if the unitarisation savings plan did not work.

The full council meeting had heard residents were questioning when the authority would “reap the benefits of the millions saved by becoming a unitary authority”, a leading argument behind the controversial reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire.

After outlining “benefits” such as devolution and savings on senior officers’ salaries the authority’s executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said the savings would “help mitigate some of those challenges that we are facing”.

He said: 

“We are in a far better position, I would contend, than most other local authorities up and down the country.

“We have a plan that’s yet to be fully aired and scrutinised by members and that will become apparent in the budget-setting process. It will be two or three years before we reach the top of that hill and can look down with some ease. We have a plan – it will be extremely difficult.”

After the meeting Cllr Dadd added: 

“The incoming government will either have to take the [SEND] criteria up and give children different guidance or find a load of money. This has the potential to bankrupt prudent, decent local authorities. It is the biggest hurricane we can see on its way.”