Council criticised for making ‘nonsense’ of Harrogate planning committees

The chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee has strongly criticised North Yorkshire Council after another meeting was cancelled.

Planning committees comprise of a group of cross-party councillors who are supposed to meet each month to make decisions on the most important planning applications.

However, North Yorkshire Council has cancelled the next Harrogate and Knaresborough meeting scheduled this month due a lack of applications to consider.

Out of eight planned meetings, just four have taken place since North Yorkshire Council was created in April to replace Harrogate Borough Council as the lead planning authority.

North Yorkshire Council pledged to allow local councillors the ability to approve or refuse key applications but there have been concerns across the county that power has been concentrated centrally with unelected officers making the decisions instead.

The committee’s chair Pat Marsh, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone for the Liberal Democrats, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week that she believes the current system is “wrong” and is removing councillors from the decision-making process.

Councillors are able to call in applications to be considered by the planning committee but only if there are sound planning reasons.

Cllr Marsh said: 

“It is making a nonsense of having a planning committee and removes public participation from the planning process. I would like a review of the process and not just rely on councillors calling an application in. This is about openness and transparency.”

Read more:

Conservative vice chair of the committee Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the LDRS there is an ongoing review of the new planning committees and workload to ensure that they are deemed “fit for purpose.”

He said there has been recent meetings between the various chairs and vice-chairs and officers, where several reasons were given as to why there are fewer items going to committee.

Cllr Haslam said: 

“Development applications are down 10% nationally, locally its about 20%. The nature of applications has also changed and there are more individual housing applications such as extensions as a percentage of the applications. All developments over 50 houses would automatically come to the planning committee.

“Additionally, we have a local plan and this has reduced the number of speculative applications. Finally the Harrogate district is much reduced in size and if you were to take the original area then we might have had as many as six applications to review, but these are now with other planning committees.

“I am therefore not sure that there is too much wrong with the process but that it’s a function of the market place and having a local plan. However it is subject to review and I am keen for us to get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later.”

Celebrations planned for 900th anniversary of Knaresborough Castle

North Yorkshire Council says it will explore how to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Knaresborough Castle in 2030.

The first written reference to the castle, which overlooks the River Nidd, was in 1130 during the reign of King Henry I when custodian Eustace Fitz-John spent £11 on building works.

The council will also look at how the town can mark the 255th anniversary of the Enclosure Act in 2025, after the covid lockdown prevented celebrations in 2020.

The 1770 act spelled the end of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough, which spanned a vast area west and south of the town and was a hunting forest for centuries.

It’s hoped the anniversary could be used to promote a vision to create a new community forest in north and west Yorkshire called the White Rose Forest.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Knaresborough West, Matt Walker, asked the council’s Conservative executive member for culture, Simon Myers, at a meeting this week if North Yorkshire Council would commit to celebrating the two anniversaries.

Cllr Walker is also a member of Knaresborough Town Council, which earlier this year published papers outlining its hopes to mark the two events.

In response, Cllr Myers said that North Yorkshire Council will head up a taskforce that will work with local groups and councillors in order to celebrate the anniversaries.

He added:

“Let’s see what we can do to really celebrate that and how best we can use Knaresborough Castle and its environment for the benefit of everyone in the future.”

Knaresborough Castle is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, which is a portfolio of land, property and assets held in trust for the King.

It is leased to North Yorkshire Council and Cllr Myers confirmed that discussions are underway with the Duchy to extend the lease.

The ruined remains of the castle are open to the public and there is a charge of £3.80 for adults and £2.20 for children to enter the building.

The castle’s courthouse was converted into a council-run museum that shows aspects of the town’s history.

You can read more about the history of Knaresborough Castle here.

Read more:

 

Explained: the North Yorkshire councillors’ pay rise

North Yorkshire councillors voted to increase their allowances by 10% this week .

The vote, which was held at a full council meeting in Northallerton, proved contentious with some members of the council claiming it was immoral due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Others argued that the increase amounted to a “real terms pay cut”.

It represented an ongoing debate over how elected councillors should be paid for their service.

Here is what you need to know about how North Yorkshire councillors are paid

How are councillors paid?

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council are not paid a salary. They are paid an allowance, which each elected member can decide whether to accept all or part of.

Some offer to donate parts of their allowance to charity.

Read more:

The purpose of the allowance is to cover expenses which come with the commitments of a councillor, such as time and travel to meetings for council business on behalf of their constituents.

They are not paid a salary like council officers and directors.

How much is the allowance?

Prior to this week’s vote, all 90 councillors were offered a basic allowance of £15,550.

If a councillor has a special responsibility, such as the leader of the council or a cabinet member, then they are paid an additional allowance.

For example, the leader of North Yorkshire Council has a special responsibility allowance of £39,654 and the chair of the council receives an additional £12,142.

Who decides how much the allowance is?

An independent renumeration panel meets every year to review councillors’ allowances.

The panel, which consists of three members, publicises its recommendations.

Those recommendations are then discussed by the council’s executive before going before a full council meeting to be voted on.

Why did councillors vote to increase their allowances?

On Thursday, a full council meeting of North Yorkshire Council voted to increase allowances by 10%.

It means the councillors’ annual basic allowance will be increased from £15,500 to £17,000.

There will be a two per cent increase in the special responsibility allowances paid, with the exception of sessional payments to chairs of the licensing sub-committees.

Panel chair Keith Trotter cited the increased workload caused by the creation of North Yorkshire Council, inflation and the cost of living as reasons for the recommendation.

However, Liberal Democrats voted against the recommendation on the grounds that there was a cost of living crisis and it would not be right to support the increase.

Other councillors, such as Cllr Andy Brown argued that it represented a “real terms pay cut” as it prevented working people from being able to become councillors.

Conservative Cllr Carl Les, leader of the council, said the independent panel had considered the current cost of living when making the decision to recommend the rise.

North Yorkshire councillors reject call to ban trail hunts on council land

Councillors in North Yorkshire have rejected calls to ban trail hunting on North Yorkshire Council owned land.

This week, Labour councillor Rich Maw, who represents Weaponness and Ramshill, and Green councillor Arnold Warneken, who represents Ouseburn, tabled a motion at a full council meeting to prohibit the practice.

Trail hunting involves laying an animal scent, usually urine, for hounds to track and is followed by a group on foot or horseback.

The practice is legal, but organisations such as animal welfare charity the RSPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports have called for it to be banned.

Cllr Maw and Warneken said in their motion the hunts had been used as a “loophole to carry on hunting foxes and other animals”.

At a meeting on Thursday, Cllr Warneken said:

“The issue is that we’re trying to ask this council to stop an illegal activity taking place on their land and any measures that we can do to achieve that.

“I think that’s ethically and morally responsible, if we can do it within the law.”

Read more:

Conservative and Independents Cllr Andrew Williams, of Ripon Minister and Moorside, said he had no desire to stop people undertaking a “legal pursuit” and called for the motion to be rejected.

The motion was rejected by 47 votes to 26.

Ahead of the vote, the Countryside Alliance, which previously described the call as a “waste of time”, contacted councillors urging them to vote it down.

Following the meeting, Polly Portwin, director at the Countryside Alliance, said:

“While we are pleased that North Yorkshire Council has finally kicked this divisive motion out, we are incredibly disappointed that so much vital council time and resources has been wasted on debating a lawful activity.

“To be frank, Cllr Maw should apologise for demonising significant swathes of North Yorkshire’s rural community. In the future he should use his time as an elected member to pursue an agenda which benefits the people living in the Weaponness & Ramshill division. The trail hunting community across Yorkshire provides invaluable benefits to the countryside, both socially and economically.”

Junction 47 upgrade on A1(M) cost £3.1m above budget

The junction 47 upgrade on the A1(M) near Knaresborough cost £3.1 million more than budgeted, it has finally been revealed.

North Yorkshire Council said this week the scheme, which was forecast to cost £7.7 million, actually cost £10.8 million.

The project finished in April last year, seven months later than planned.

North Yorkshire County Council, which was abolished on April 1 this year, said last year costs had increased to £10m.

But no figure had been given since despite requests from the Stray Ferret. The council said this was due to ongoing discussions with contractors over the final amount.

But following our latest enquiry, Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, said:

“The final costs are £10.8 million. This includes the additional costs for delays which were caused by the discovery of the protected great crested newts, as they legally had to be relocated.

“We also experienced poor ground conditions on the southbound slip road, and during the coronavirus pandemic operatives had to comply with strict health and safety guidance which extended the timescale.”

He added:

“The Junction 47 upgrade has proved hugely successful, meeting the high traffic volumes without delays at peak times including during the Great Yorkshire Show.

“It was voted the winner of the best large projects award at the CIHT Yorkshire andHumber awards in October 2022.”

A gathering of officials and councillors to mark the upgrade of the junction last year.

Three of the four slip roads onto and off the roundabout were widened to increase capacity.

Traffic signals were installed on the roundabout to improve traffic flow and lights were added to the T-junction between the A168 and the A59, a short distance from junction 47 on the York side, to benefit drivers turning onto the A59 and to improve safety.

To the west of junction 47, between the A1 and the Flaxby roundabout, a lane was added for traffic travelling east, so there are now two lanes in each direction between those two roundabouts.

Major roads in Harrogate and Ripon to be resurfaced

Major roads in Ripon and Harrogate are set to be resurfaced as part of additional funding from government.

North Yorkshire Council is set to consider its highways capital programme on Friday (November 24), which outlines how £40.07 million funding from the Department for Transport, will be spent.

The sum was boosted by a further £9 million allocated last week by the national government to tackle road maintenance over the next two years.

Next year’s resurfacing programme includes £630,000 for Ripon Market Place, £300,000 for Pannal Ash Road and £582,000 for York Place in Harrogate.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, said:

“Keeping our 5,800 miles of roads in the best condition is a key priority for us, but an ongoing challenge.

“To rise to this immense task, we’ve already invested £6.5m more this year. I am pleased we can invest even more this year and next year, too.

“This significant, extra funding will be an immense boost and allow us to repair even more roads next year than expected.

“I know this investment in our road network will be welcomed across North Yorkshire.”

Read more:

The plans in Ripon come as have been calling for many years for the sets of paving blocks on Market Place East and Market Place West, which have become damaged and uneven, to be removed and replaced with a tarmac surface.

Cllr Andrew Williams, left, and Cllr Keane Duncan in Ripon’s Market Place.

Cllr Andrew Williams, left, and Cllr Keane Duncan in Ripon Market Place.

Cllr Andrew Williams, who represents the Ripon Minster and Moorside division on North Yorkshire Council, said: 

“While it is disappointing that the initial tests on the sub-structure mean further investigation is required, it is important that we get it right and we have a long-lasting, level road surface around the Market Place.

“I welcome the council’s commitment to Ripon by the inclusion of this scheme in the capital programme for 2024/25 and like all local residents will be delighted when the scheme is completed.”

Details on the council’s highways capital programme will be revealed at a later date.

Council looking to extend Knaresborough Castle lease

North Yorkshire Council is looking to extend the lease of Knaresborough Castle in order to plan celebration events at the landmark.

The authority took control of the castle in April after Harrogate Borough Council was abolished.

Knaresborough Castle, which overlooks the River Nidd, is the only castle in the county controlled by North Yorkshire Council.

However, the medieval fortress, which was seized by Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarian troops in 1644 during the Civil War, is leased from the Duchy of Lancaster.

Knaresborough castle

Knaresborough Castle

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on the council, asked Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for culture, at a full council meeting yesterday whether the authority had an update on the lease extension.

It comes as Knaresborough Castle is set to celebrate its 900th anniversary in 2030.

Cllr Myers said:

“We have begun looking at the terms of the lease before entering into discussions with the Duchy.

“There are elements to the existing lease which perhaps should be altered and we’re looking at that.”

Read more:

Cllr Myers added that the council intended to set up a task force to liaise with community organisations and councillors in Knaresborough over anniversary events and the castle’s future use.

The move comes amid new found optimism over the future of the heritage asset.

A meeting of Knaresborough and District Chamber in February heard that the change of ownership could herald a bright new era for the castle.

Peter Lacey, executive member of the chamber, said an extension of the lease would allow for further use of the site for events.

Party in the Castle, a free event broadcasting the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury, will be held in the castle grounds again next year.

New Dene Park council houses the most energy efficient in North Yorkshire

Five new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient properties ever developed by North Yorkshire Council, the local authority said today.

The three houses and two flats, which have been built on the site of a former car park in Dene Park, in the Woodfield area of Bilton, have air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and insulation.

The homes, which were developed for £1 million as part of a council scheme to turn redundant land into social housing, will be let to local people.

The scheme sees the council in-house development team obtain unused land, dilapidated garages and anti-social behaviour hotspots, then build properties and let them as social housing.

The Harrogate homes are the latest in more than 50 to be built on  in the former Harrogate and Craven district areas over the last eight years.

The largest house will produce 0.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to an average home creating six tonnes.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s Conservative executive member for housing, said:

“This scheme is delivering new social rented affordable homes which make a big difference to the lives and well-being of local families. It is a scheme that has been running in Harrogate and Craven for many years and we hope to expand it across the county.

“Added to that these new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient we have developed, reducing fuel and lighting costs for the tenants, making them truly affordable homes.”

Cllr Simon Myers (centre) outside the new Harrogate homes with the council’s assistant director of housing, Andrew Rowe (left) and corporate director for community development, Nic Harne.

Kirsty Birbeck, manager for provider management at government housing agency Homes England, which contributed a £225,000 grant, said:

“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the affordable homes programme does just that, enabling North Yorkshire Council to build five much needed new homes the people of Harrogate can be proud of.”

Read more:

 

Briggate roadworks likely to last ‘several months’ in Knaresborough

Business owners in Knaresborough have reacted with dismay to the news that roadworks on a main route into town are likely to remain for several months.

Temporary lights were installed on Briggate after a wall collapsed in September.

Two months later, the lights remain. But no repair work has taken place and residents and traders don’t know why it is taking so long or why the rubble cant be removed until work commences so traffic can flow freely again.

Parking in Knaresborough is notoriously tricky, and exasperated traders say this and a spate of recent temporary lights in town, including Briggate, is deterring people from visiting.

North Yorkshire Council has now said lights are likely to remain on Briggate for several months.

The roadworks on Briggate.

Danielle Bartley, who opened The Hungry Caterpillar kids cafe on High Street in September, said just getting in to work from her Calcutt home “takes ages” because of the lights. She said:

“Parking is a massive issue in Knaresborough. A lot of customers pull up outside and say ‘where can I park?’

“I’ve been surprised since we opened how busy Knaresborough is. There’s a lot going on. If you get that much footfall there needs to be something better put in place for parking. It’s also dangerous.”

Rebecca Lombardi, from The Clothing Store of Knaresborough on High Street, has started offering free deliveries to help people who struggle to get into town.

Ms Lombardi said long-term lights near the leisure centre had caused problems during summer and the recent spate of roadworks, especially Briggate, added to the woes. She said:

“We have a really big problem with parking and it puts people off coming into town. People are so busy these days and if they want to nip somewhere they want somewhere to park.

“It’s a challenging time for retailers with the cost of living and every customer counts. It feels like everything is against you as a business.”

Two months after the wall collapsed, the rubble remains.

Hairdresser Kelly Teggin, who has campaigned for better parking Knaresborough, said she didn’t understand why the rubble from the wall couldn’t be removed until work began. She added:

“Most businesses and residents want the road cleared as soon as possible.”

North Yorkshire Council highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“We have temporary lights on Briggate as a result of the wall collapse. Work to repair the wall and ensure the safety of the structure will start in the next few weeks. This work is likely to take until Christmas, after which we will carry out maintenance on further parts of the wall, so signals will be in place for several months.”

Ms Burnham said emergency gas works at Abbey Road and Blands Hill had also caused disruption recently, but this was “unavoidable”.

Ms Burnham added the council had “asked Northern Gas Network to man the lights at peak time to minimise the disruption”.

Read more:

 

Council admits mistake in publicising Knaresborough asylum seeker accommodation address

North Yorkshire Council has admitted making a mistake in publicising the address of authority-owned properties in Knaresborough which would house asylum seekers.

The council published an online decision notice last week to take four homes off the market to be used either for unaccompanied asylum seeking children or as move-on accommodation for homeless people transitioning to independent living.

However, at the time, the notice included addresses of the properties.

At a full council meeting in Northallerton today, Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough East division, asked Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for housing, whether he felt it was appropriate to include the address on its website.

Cllr Gostlow said:

“Given the public decision notice regarding accommodation for unoccupied child refugees in Knaresborough, does the executive member for housing feel it is appropriate to publicise the location of accommodation for vulnerable young people?”

In response, Cllr Myers said:

“The full answer will be published on the council’s website. But, the short answer is yes it was a mistake.

“It has now been rectified on the record. In an attempt to be open, fair and democratic and to meet the needs of the situation that we find ourselves in with regards to housing these vulnerable young people, a decision was taken quickly and perhaps not thought out as well as it might have been.”

When asked how the location was made public, Cllr Myers said the exact location was revealed as the houses were being retained after being put on the market.

He added:

“The exact location was published in the decision notice. In fact, it would not have taken a lot of working out that they were those properties.

“Both children’s social care and housing are aware of the mistake they have made and they will make sure that such a mistake is not made again.”

Read more

Harrogate Borough Council bought the properties in 2019 after they had been unoccupied for several years.

The council, which was abolished in April this year, restored them and said last year it intended to sell the leaseholds for an estimated £879,900 and retain the freehold.

Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader at the time, said the properties “had been a blight on the high street in Knaresborough for several years” and the local authority had recognised their potential to provide homes.