North Yorkshire Council Archives - Page 143 of 164

600-home Harrogate housing scheme to get shop and community centre

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to build a shop and community centre at the 600-home King Edwin Park scheme on Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate.

The development by Persimmon Homes is one of the largest housing projects to be built in Harrogate for many years.

It’s being constructed in stages with outline plans first given the go-ahead by Harrogate Borough Council in 2015.

As part of the original approval, the developer agreed to build retail and community facilities that residents can use.

Planning documents state the shop will be 201 square metres, which is a similar size to a small convenience store run by national supermarket chains. The community centre will connect to the shop and have a floorspace of 121 square metres.

They will be built to the east of the site where homes have already been put up.

A new footpath link will be created to connect residents living at King Edwin Park.

The developer says it will plant flowers, trees and hedges amongst wildflowers and grassland around the new building.

It will also include 12 car parking bays and 12 cycle spaces. This is higher than what the guidance suggests but it the developer says it wants to avoid shoppers parking on pavements and inconveniencing residents.

Solar panels will be placed on the roof to generate renewable energy.

Planning documents state:

“The single storey design ensures that the retail unit and community centre is accessible to everyone including wheelchair users.

“The proposal would contribute to providing an accessible new community facility and retail unit for existing and future residents of the area including the housing estates located near to but outside of the wider development boundary.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Persimmon Homes if it has a tenant for the retail unit but we did not receive a response by the time of publication.

‘We want our learner swimming pool’, say Ripon councillors

Councillors in Ripon have called on the new North Yorkshire Council to build a learner pool so children aged under four can learn to swim in the city.

Last year, Harrogate Borough Council opened the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre on Dallamires Lane to replace the city’s 116-year-old Spa Baths.

However, the project has been dogged by controversy due to spiralling costs related to concerns about sinkholes.

The current cost of the project is estimated to be £18m — which is £8m over-budget.

The now-abolished council was also criticised for not building a smaller pool alongside the main pool.

It does offer swimming lessons through arms-length council leisure company Brimhams Active but they take place in the six-lane, 25-metre pool that is designed for adults and older children.

This means families have to take young children to Knaresborough, Harrogate or even further afield for swimming lessons.

At a meeting of Ripon City Council on Monday night, council leader Andrew Williams, who also sits on North Yorkshire Council as an independent, said the city council would be writing to the new authority asking it to commit to building a learner pool in Ripon.

He said:

”It’s a very sad fact that Harrogate Borough Council when considering building a new pool couldn’t find the £630,000 that was needed to provide Ripon with a learner pool, the same as children in Knaresborough and Harrogate have.

”Instead, we were told that this was unaffordable but they could find £8m to fund incompetence and overspend. I find that incredible. It’s just a sad record of Harrogate council’s inability to deliver anything properly.”

Parents who formed Ripon Pool Action Group have campaigned for a learner pool in the city for several years and last year published a survey that found there are over 1,000 children of pre-school age living in the Ripon area.

The survey suggested there was a demand for a learner pool with 63% of parents saying they would swim with their children once a week if Ripon had one.

Cllr Pauline McHardy, who on Harrogate Borough Council was an outspoken critic of the leisure centre project in Ripon, said she backed the bid to build a learner pool.

She said:

”I raised this at Harrogate council and said it was disgusting they couldn’t find money for the learner pool.”

North Yorkshire Council has been approached for comment.

Dutch-style roundabout ditched from £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway

Plans to create Harrogate’s first Dutch-style roundabout have been dropped from the town’s proposed £11.2 million Station Gateway.

The roundabouts, inspired by road layouts in the Netherlands, have been in the news this week for their questionable safety record.

Only one currently exists in England — in Cambridge. Data yesterday showed there had been 10 collisions, including three serious ones, in the three years after it was first used in 2019 compared to six minor incidents in the three years before.

However, the number of cyclists using the roundabout has increased by almost 50% since 2017.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed plans in October 2021 to adopt a Dutch-style roundabout outside the Odeon as part of the gateway scheme, which aims to encourage active travel.

The roundabouts contain an outer ring for cyclists and zebra crossings for pedestrians. Motorists have to give way to both.

North Yorkshire County Council, which led on the gateway project before it was abolished and replaced by North Yorkshire Council this month, said at the time the style of roundabout “balances the need for increased protection and priority for pedestrians and cyclists with maintaining capacity for vehicles”.

Junction changes were put forward for the existing East Parade, Station Bridge, Station Avenue and North Park Road roundabout in front of the Odeon cinema.

The Odeon roundabout

The Stray Ferret received numerous emails this week asking whether Harrogate’s Dutch-style roundabout was still due to go ahead in light of the concerns about the one in Cambridge.

We asked North Yorkshire Council whether it still planned to proceed with a Dutch-style roundabout. A spokeswoman replied:

“We took the decision not to install a full Dutch-style roundabout.”

The council later added the decision was made last year.

The fate of the gateway scheme could be decided next week.

North Yorkshire Council’s Liberal Democrat-controlled Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee is due to make a recommendation on the gateway scheme next week.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at the council, has said he will abide by the decision of local councillors.

About 500 Harrogate firms set for ballot on whether to keep BID

Businesses in Harrogate will begin voting on June 1 on whether to continue to fund services such as street cleaning and Christmas lights.

Currently 462 town centre businesses with a rateable value above £19,000 pay a levy to Harrogate Business Improvement District.

The BID spends the money on additional services to those provided by local authorities to attract footfall into the town centre.

But its first five-year term is ending and it will cease operating if a majority of businesses vote ‘no’ to another five-year term.

BID chief executive Matthew Chapman at last night’s event.

Last night Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, launched the organisation’s term two business plan at the Doubletree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

The plan reveals the BID is forecast to have £510,000 income a year — down on current £554,000 a year — because of a recent re-evaluation of rateable values on town centre businesses.

Mr Chapman said the BID, like many businesses, would have to “do more with less” but he maintained the organisation provided a valuable service through activities such as its street ranger Chris Ashby, street deep cleaning, Christmas lights, match-funded grants, street entertainment, targeted free parking and floral baskets and planters.

Street ranger Chris Ashby

Locally, Ripon, York, Leeds, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Bradford and Northallerton have bids although Knaresborough rejected one.

The business plan says:

“Harrogate BID is needed more than ever before and we ask you to please use your ballot paper to vote ‘yes’.”

Council to abstain in vote

However, the BID won’t be able to call on the local authority to support its bid — unlike five years ago.

Harrogate Borough Council previously used its block vote for businesses it ran to vote in favour of the BID.

But North Yorkshire Council, which replaced it this month, has said it will abstain.

Asked last night how he felt about this, Mr Chapman said:

“It’s a little disappointing but it could also be positive because it will be a true business vote.”

Mr Chapman added he wasn’t aware of any other councils that abstained in BID votes.

The ballot will run from June 1 to 28 and the result will be announced on June 29.

‘Undemocratic’ to ask Harrogate residents to pay for town council without stating its powers

A consultation about a potential Harrogate town council has been called “undemocratic” because it says residents would have to pay up to £60 a year extra without stating what powers it might have.

North Yorkshire Council is running a second consultation on whether a town council for Harrogate should be created.

Consultation documents say how much residents in band D properties are likely to pay through their council tax to cover services provided by the new town council.

North Yorkshire Council said the town council’s council tax precept would allow for an annual budget in the range of £1m to £1.6m.

Knaresborough and Ripon both currently have their own councils that charge a precept to provide services such as allotments, public events and small parks.

However, it is unclear at this stage what services a potential Harrogate town council would deliver.

There would be 19 councillors elected to the town council with elections taking place on May 2, 2024.

‘Unfair and undemocratic’

Speaking at a residents’ meeting last week, Michael Schofield, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Harlow and St Georges, criticised the consultation process and said people were not sure what they would be voting for if the town council was created.

He said:

“It’s alright talking about flower beds but we still don’t know what North Yorkshire Council’s executive are going to let a town council have control of.

“It’s unfair and undemocratic not to be told what we going being asked to pay for and voting for. They need to let us know.”

His view is shared by the final mayor of the Harrogate borough, Victoria Oldham, who was the Conservative councillor for Washburn on Harrogate Borough Council until March 31.

Ms Oldham is backing the creation of a town council but said people interested in becoming councillors should be getting around the table with North Yorkshire Council now to discuss what powers it might have.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“There’s no point in saying you’ll have a town council if you don’t say what you’re supposed to be running so those people interested in being on the town council need to be coming together now and putting a plan forward. There needs to be some sort of mediation.

“Saying suddenly you have a town council and not knowing what you’ll be responsible for is going to be awkward.”

In response, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Conservative Cllr David Chance, said:

“A town council for Harrogate is aimed at ensuring that the views of residents are represented at the most local level and helping to provide the services that are so important to the public.

“We are undertaking a consultation to get people’s opinions on the detailed
recommendations for the town council.

“Harrogate and Scarborough are the only parts of the county not to have a parish or town council. When North Yorkshire Council launched on April 1 after the previous eight local authorities in the county merged, a central pledge of this change was to enable town and parish councils to take on greater responsibility if they want and are able to.

“Residents of unparished parts of Scarborough and Harrogate were invited last summer to say whether they wanted to create new town councils. More than two-thirds of residents who responded in the two towns were in favour of the idea.

“We believe that the chance for town councils for both Harrogate and Scarborough will be fundamental in making sure local democracy can be as effective as possible, and I would urge the public to have their say during the latest consultation, which is running until Friday, May 5.“

Residents can take part in the consultation by visiting www.northyorks.gov.uk/CGR. Paper copies are available by calling 01609 536400 or emailing cgr@northyorks.gov.uk.

North Yorkshire Council set for £513,700 redundancy payout to three senior managers

North Yorkshire Council looks set to make three former district council managers redundant at a cost of £513,700.

The council, which replaced Harrogate Borough Council and seven other district and county councils at the start of the month, is restructuring its workforce.

According to a report due before the authority’s executive, senior managers who were transferred to the council under TUPE regulations can be offered “substitute duties” which fit their job descriptions.

Some senior staff left for other jobs before the authority was formed, while others took up roles on the new council.

However, three of the senior managers are due to be made redundant after the roles they were allocated were “time-limited”.

The report said:

“There are three senior managers where the substitute duties allocated are time-limited, and on conclusion they will be in a redundancy position.

“Legal advice has been sought and confirms this position.”

As a result, the council looks set to pay an estimated £513,700 in exit packages to those being made redundant.

None of the officers are former employees of Harrogate Borough Council.

The payments will be split by £107,000, £108,000 and £298,000.

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, said the move to one council has helped to save £3.7 million in senior officers’ pay.

He said:

“A huge amount of work has been undertaken to bring together the previous eight councils into one and ensure that there is value for money for North Yorkshire’s taxpayers.

“The move to one single management team for North Yorkshire Council has saved about £3.7 million in pay for senior officers every year. The fact that there are only three senior managers in this situation is significantly less than other councils in this position.

“To have these managers still involved for a defined period has been of significant benefit to the new council, making full use of their skills and experience for work that would otherwise have needed extra resources in terms of appointments, interim managers or consultants.”

A meeting of the council’s executive is set to discuss the matter on Tuesday, May 2. Senior councillors have been recommended to refer the matter to full council.

In December, Unison wrote to the authority warning it not to offer senior managers more favourable redundancy terms than other staff.

The letter came as Hambleton District Council agreed to pay £767,065 to four senior officers who decided they do not wish to work for the unitary North Yorkshire Council after April 1.

The payments were agreed even though the four directors had been assured they would be offered “suitable roles” at no financial loss to themselves when they transferred to North Yorkshire Council.

Former Harrogate Borough Council chief executive Wallace Sampson negotiated a £101,274 redundancy pay-out before his departure at the end of March.

Daleside Garage in Pateley Bridge reopens in new location

A Pateley Bridge garage has reopened its doors after relocating within the town.

Daleside Garage, which was based on Bridgehouse Gate, has moved to brand new premises at Corn Close Farm on Low Wath Road.

The garage reopened its doors today.

The move comes after developer Chartwell Barns Ltd submitted plans to build a three-storey block of flats on its former premises.

Karley Haley, who owns Daleside Garage with her husband Glenn, said the move will help to retain the MOT testing station, as well as servicing and repairs, in the town.

She added the garage had also invested in new equipment at its new base.

Ms Haley said:

“Huge investment into brand new ramps means a broader range of vehicles can be tested including larger class 7 commercial vehicles, camper vans and heavier electric vehicles allowing the garage to cater for the vehicles of the future.”

She added the garage hoped to install electric vehicle charging points on the new site in future.

The proposals for 15 homes on the former Daleside Garage site on Bridgehouse Gate have yet to be decided.

The plan was submitted in April last year to Harrogate Borough Council, which has since been abolished.

North Yorkshire Council, which replaced the borough council this month, is expected to make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Harrogate district firm allowed to relocate building put up without planning permission

Councillors have approved the relocation of a pallet store at a business near Boroughbridge that was built without planning permission.

North Yorkshire Council‘s first Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee took place yesterday at the Civic Centre in Harrogate.

Councillors considered an application from Abacus, a manufacturer and distributor of bathroom products to companies including Villeroy and Boch and Wickes.

The firm employs 85 people and is based at Jubilee Court on the outskirts of Copgrove alongside 10 other businesses.

In 2019, Abacus won permission from Harrogate Borough Council to build an extension for a steel warehouse to support the growing business. However, the company ended up building a bigger structure than what was approved after it won two large commercial deals.

Due to the construction of the extension, a pallet store was relocated elsewhere on the site without planning permission.

Retrospective permission was sought for the extension and pallet store but was refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in December.

Nigel Simms, the former Conservative councillor for Masham and Kirkby Malzeard, described the building as standing out like a “pimple on a pig’s backside” due to a lack of tree cover.

The council eventually retrospectively approved the larger extension last month but its decision did not take into account the pallet store.

Yesterday, Abacus proposed relocating the pallet store next to a warehouse and away from nearby fields. This satisfied councillors who voted unanimously in favour of the plans.

During the meeting, councillors also approved the building of more car parking spaces for Abacus.

The proposal included additional trees being planted that a council officer said in a report would “help screen and soften the most prominent views” of the business park following concerns from residents.

Alex Green, an agent speaking on behalf of Abacus, told councillors:

“The design will provide adequate screening. It’s obviously an improvement on the current arrangements.”

Staff from former district councils now working at Harrogate’s Civic Centre

Staff who previously worked for some of the county’s abolished district councils are now working at Harrogate’s Civic Centre.

The building on St Luke’s Avenue was the headquarters of Harrogate Borough Council until March 31 when it was abolished to make way for the unitary authority North Yorkshire Council.

Councils for Hambleton, Craven, Scarborough, Richmond, Selby, Ryedale, plus North Yorkshire County Council, were also abolished.

One of the big questions about local government reorganisation was what would happen to the Civic Centre which only opened in 2017.

To help pay for the build, the council’s old offices at Crescent Gardens were eventually sold to developer Impala Estates for £4m.

Reorganisation had been mooted for many years and when the council decided to make the move, critics said the project could become a white elephant in the event of Harrogate Borough Council no longer existing.

However, North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative leader Carl Les has reaffirmed his commitment to using the building and said it would not be sold as the authority looks to save money.

When asked how many staff are currently working at the Civic Centre, Cllr Les said:

“The number of staff using the Civic Centre on a day-by-day basis does vary, so it is difficult to provide an exact figure. However, staff who were previously employed by other councils in North Yorkshire before the new authority launched have been regularly working from the Civic Centre.

“We will be looking to rationalise the property estate which the new council has inherited.

“However, we will retain the Civic Centre and look to focus more staff on using it as a base as the property rationalisation rolls out.”

Cllr Les said each former district area will retain one main office, which will be supported by around 30 “customer access points” in places like libraries.

He added:

“The main office enables you to continue to access all the support, advice and services you always have, but now all from one council. More than 80% of our staff live in North Yorkshire and take pride in delivering good services for their communities, families and friends.”

Highest-paid staff at former Harrogate council take up new roles

The most senior officers at Harrogate Borough Council have started new roles at North Yorkshire Council this month.

Trevor Watson, Paula Lorimer, Paul Foster, Rachel Joyce and Jennifer Norton have all taken up positions in the senior management structure of the new unitary authority and will be paid between £79,000 and £111,500.

Former chief executive Wallace Sampson was the only senior member of staff not to automatically transfer over to North Yorkshire Council on April 1 after he agreed a redundancy package worth £101,274.

Mr Watson had a high-profile role at Harrogate Borough Council as director of economy, environment and housing and is now assistant director of planning at NYC. He is paid a salary of £101,500.

Rachel Joyce has gone from director of corporate affairs at the borough council to assistant chief executive – local engagement at North Yorkshire Council and is now paid £111,500 a year.

Paula Lorimer remains the Harrogate Convention Centre director and the person in charge of the town’s conference and exhibitions facility. She is paid £107,995.

Former head of finance Paul Foster has begun his new role as assistant director of resources on a salary of between £99,000 and £101,500.

Harrogate Borough Council offices at Knapping Mount.

The Civic Centre has been rebranded following this month’s changes.

Jennifer Norton, who was head of legal and governance at Harrogate Borough Council, is now assistant director of legal at North Yorkshire Council and is paid between £79,000 and £86,000.

Last week the TaxPayers’ Alliance, a pressure group that campaigns against ‘wasteful spending’ in the public sector published its annual Town Hall Rich List. It included a list of council officers who are paid a salary above £100,000.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“Taxpayers facing record council tax rises want to be sure they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

“Many authorities continue with extremely generous pay and perks, including bonuses and golden goodbyes, while local people are facing a financial squeeze.”

North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, said:

“The new North Yorkshire Council has the third largest population of any council nationally and covers the largest area in the country.

“Our senior managers oversee about 10,500 staff, excluding schools, and are responsible for managing an annual revenue budget of £1.4 billion.

“When it was being drawn up, the management pay structure analysed senior managers’ salaries against comparable authorities to ensure that they were in-line with expectations for roles at this level.

“It is also important to remember that the council is saving about £3.7 million in senior management pay every year by moving from eight councils to one authority, reducing the number of chief executives and senior officers.

“We want to ensure the council can retain and attract talented individuals to deliver essential services for our 615,000 residents and 33,000 businesses, and we believe our pay structure allows us to do that whilst also providing value for money for taxpayers.”

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Council to abstain in vote

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‘Unfair and undemocratic’

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