north yorkshire county council Archives - Page 95 of 96

Nidderdale school fully reopens – as council vows to support all pupils

Education leaders in North Yorkshire have vowed no child will be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

A national package of £1bn of support has been promised by the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, of which £650m will go to state primary and secondary schools, and the rest to help disadvantaged children to access high quality tuition.

Supported by North Yorkshire County Council, headteachers across the Harrogate district are now looking at the best ways to help students catch up on missed learning over the last three months. Stuart Carlton, corporate director of children and young people’s services at NYCC, said:

“School leaders and staff will be looking at how best to use the government’s funding for catch-up education.

“There will be a no one-size-fits-all approach to this; schools will be making their decisions based on the needs of their pupils, the availability of teaching staff and other considerations. It may be they run intervention programmes, bring in extra teaching capacity or “bolt-on” lessons at the end of the traditional school day.

“But the county council and North Yorkshire’s schools are all completely committed to making sure no child’s education loses out as a result of the pandemic and will be working very hard to make sure we get every pupil to where they need to be in their academic progress.”

Mr Carlton thanked pupils, parents and teachers for their hard work in challenging circumstances this year.

At present, Years 10 and 12 are being prioritised in secondary schools, with a quarter of these year groups in school at a time. The education secretary has announced he expects all pupils in both primary and secondary schools to return to full-time lessons in September, with more guidance to be published in the coming weeks.

Mr Carlton said NYCC and schools are keen to have that guidance soon in order to allow them to plan for a safe return. Independent holiday clubs and activities should also be resuming this summer, allowing children to be cared for while parents work.

Meanwhile, an independent school near Harrogate has reopened to all pupils this morning, following changes in government guidance.

Belmont Grosvenor, a prep school based on the edge of Birstwith, has welcomed pupils from reception up to Year 6 thanks to small class sizes and extensive grounds.

Belmont Grosvenor School headmistress Sophia Ashworth Jones

Sophia Ashworth Jones, headmistress of Belmont Grosvenor, with school dog Zola

The school had previously opened its Magic Tree Nursery, as well as Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 classes from June 1, in line with government advice. When that changed to allow schools to make their own decisions about which pupils could safely return, it welcomed back Year 5 from June 15, before opening to the rest of its year groups today.

Headmistress Sophia Ashworth Jones said:

“We are fortunate to be set in 20 acres of beautiful grounds, our average class size is 15 pupils, and we have plenty of both indoor and outdoor space to manage the social-distancing guidelines well.

“Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, our children, from nursery to Year 6, enjoyed outdoor learning daily, from taking part in Forest School lessons in our woodland, to performing in the school’s outside amphitheatre. Now our children are back in school, the outside space has taken on an even greater importance.”

While many parents have chosen to send their children back, the school is also continuing to offer remote learning for those who are staying at home. As well as daily lessons, the school has been offering online assemblies, show-and-tell meetings, book clubs and well-being sessions for pupils since lockdown began in March.

How has home schooling been for you? Has your children’s school been supportive or do you feel teachers could have done more? Are you ready for lessons to resume? Tell us about your experience by getting in touch.

Councils could pave the way for pop up beer gardens in Harrogate

Councils in the Harrogate district could soon pave the way for pop up beer gardens and outdoor cafes to help boost hospitality businesses.

There are plans to allow pubs, restaurants, and cafes with space outdoors to reopen on July 4 with special safety measures in place.

Many in Harrogate’s hospitality sector do not have those spaces and would, under the current rules, need to stay closed or continue with takeaways.

Harrogate BID has urged both local authorities to help speed up the application process for businesses to open up on pavements.

Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said at the cabinet:

“Even if it’s at a one metre distance but, as it stands, it’s a two-metre distance it is going to be very difficult for those businesses to survive. I believe we should give businesses space where there is currently tarmac. I think that is something absolutely mission critical.”

What Mr Cooper means exactly by “space where there is currently tarmac” will be closely scrutinised – any proposal that would cut on street car parking spaces or lead to permanent changes such as pedestrianisation will be fiercely opposed by retail group Independent Harrogate.

Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for granting the premises licence and North Yorkshire County Council licenses the use of pavements, so they will need to work together.

The BID board is concerned that if the hospitality industry isn’t supported, Harrogate’s economy could be irreparably damaged.

Harrogate Borough Council is now in talks with North Yorkshire County Council.

David Bowe, Corporate Director for Business and Environmental Services, said:

“We are working with the Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and retailers at a local level to create as much space within the public highway as is practicable to support safe social distancing, café culture and safe access. It is important to understand that there are inevitably differing demands on the public highway and these have to be safely balanced.”

Robert Ogden, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said:

“It is extremely important that Harrogate’s businesses are able to thrive in the current crisis, and Independent Harrogate supports measures that will enable smaller cafés or restaurants to open while respecting social distancing guidelines. We know the councils will do their best to balance the commercial imperative with reserving sufficient space for the public to walk on, without resorting to road closures.”

Councils to unveil plans to tackle coronavirus shortfalls

Council officials are expected to reveal recovery plans to tackle a £57 million shortfall facing North Yorkshire amid the coronacvirus pandemic.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council have been hit financially by the outbreak and racked up large deficits from tackling the virus.

The borough council faces an estimated shortfall of around £15 million due to loss of income from car parking and leisure during the lockdown.

It had initially estimated a deficit of £10 million in April, but chief executive Wallace Sampson revealed the figure had increased just two weeks later.

In a report before cabinet last night, the council said it had received £1.65 million from government to support cash flow and had already put a freeze on non-essential spending and recruitment to tackle the deficit.

A financial recovery plan will be brought before senior councillors in July, which will outline how the council will address the shortfall further.

It comes as councils across the country have warned of job losses and cuts to services which will need to be made due to the cost of the pandemic.

In neighbouring Leeds, the city council has said it may need to cut 415 jobs and introduce an emergency budget in August as it faces an overspend of £200 million.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, told senior county councillors that the authority faces a £42 million deficit.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council is expected to face a deficit of £42 million by the end of the year due to fighting the outbreak.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, told senior councillors earlier this month that the authority will have to take measures to address its finances.

Mr Flinton said, while the county council had been given £26 million in government support and will recover around £7.7 million in clinical commissioning group costs, it will still have to do more to tackle the deficit. He said:

“We are hopeful that the government will recognise the need for further funding.

“We will need to take measures ourselves to protect our financial position and we are calling on the government to help on some of those future income streams, particularly around council tax.”

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council and finance spokesperson for the County Council Network, said he had told Chancellor Rishi Sunak about the financial state of local government and called for the same support as has been given to businesses.

North Yorkshire County Council sets up highways company

North Yorkshire County Council has set up a limited company that will begin running its highways operations in June next year.

NY Highways Ltd will take over the current £40 million a year contract that the council currently has with Ringway to maintain North Yorkshire’s roads.

The council says that this new arrangement will give them greater flexibility and control and will also remove “contractual constraints”.

Not only will NY Highways Ltd repair and build roads for North Yorkshire but it also plans to expand to other local authorities and the private sector.

The council says that NY Highways has a revenue budget of £20 million and a capital budget of £35 million with an expected turnover of £60 million.

New managing director for NY Highways Ltd

NY Highways Ltd has today announced it has appointed Ross Bullerwell as managing director. The council advertised the post for around £100,000 a year with flexible benefits.

Mr Bullerwell is currently the managing director of Rennicks Ltd, which supplies road traffic signs and technology. He will start work at NY Highways Ltd in September next year.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access, welcomed the news of his appointment and said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements. Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.”

Councils across the country have set up limited companies to look after different sectors. Harrogate Borough Council will this week decide on plans to create a company to look after its leisure portfolio.

Unison spoke out about that decision and said it feared that jobs would be under threat in the leisure sector as the council looked to save around £400,000 a year.

Domestic abuse service says risk could increase as lockdown continues

There is real concern that as lockdown continues they’ll be an increased risk to those isolating at home with an abusive or controlling partner.

North Yorkshire County Council is urging anyone who needs help to contact the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS). The service aims to provide anyone in need and also encourages friends and families of those needing support to contact the organisation.

IDAS is the largest domestic abuse service in Yorkshire and over lockdown has adapted to the change in circumstances to provide video calls and emailing. The organisation is also planning to set up a virtual support group over the coming weeks.

Sarah Hill, Chief Executive of IDAS, has warned that the risks to those isolating with an abusive partner could increase as lockdown continues. She said:

“We are really worried about the risks of people being isolated with abusive people whose behaviour may escalate due to increasing uncertainty, pressure on finances and cramped conditions. Many people who face controlling, violent or abusive behaviour from a partner or family member are likely to be feeling very scared about being isolated with them for long periods of time. We want them to know that there is support available. Over the next few months, we will work creatively and flexibly to provide vital services in very difficult circumstances.

Amongst the safety advice IDAS has offered, they say:

Get a spare phone and store emergency contact numbers in it and hide it in a safe place or with a trusted person
Keep your ID documents, emergency funds, bank cards and children’s birth certificates to hand
Speak to your neighbours and ask them to ring the police if they hear or see anything
Set up safe words with friends so they know to call for help on your behalf
Plan to check in with people regularly so that they can raise the alarm if they don’t hear from you

IDAS aim to continue supporting as many people in the region as it can, including using online platforms.

Harrogate women’s refuge is concerned that whilst stuck at home abuse victims are too scared to call them.

Charlotte, whose name has been changed, is a Domestic Abuse Practitioner she said:.

“During the coronavirus outbreak, the challenges have been to continue to deliver a safe and productive support service. We have adapted by using various platforms including WhatsApp and Zoom and have introduced ‘coffee morning chats’ with a couple of clients. The sessions have enabled them to discuss general ‘lockdown’ issues including how to keep the children pro-active, and issues with court proceedings. We are also planning to begin a new virtual support group based on the ‘Moving On from Domestic Abuse’ (MODA) group in the next couple of weeks.”

Independent Harrogate ‘very disappointed’ as parking charges restart

A group representing independent businesses in Harrogate has voiced its disappointment over the restarting of parking charges.

William Woods, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said he had previously told the council to help retailers by delaying the reintroduction of charges.

He said that free parking would make a “huge difference” to businesses in Harrogate. Many of which are reopening for the first time on June 15, the same time charges come back into force.

“We wanted a grace period to help businesses to get back on their feet. We need to do all we can to get visitors back into the town centre. I thought that free parking would send a strong message.”

Since the start of the lockdown enforcement officers have only targeted dangerous and obtrusive parking but that will change on June 15.

The measures will come into force for both on-street and off-street parking. North Yorkshire County Council is urging people to exercise social distancing when parking and paying to park.

Harrogate BID response to parking charges

Harrogate BID has been more welcoming to the reintroduction of parking charges but said that the change needed to be communicated well.

Sara Ferguson, acting chair, said: “I can see why the County Council is doing this, as it will ensure there is turnover in spaces when shops reopen, but it needs to be communicated loud and clear, so no one is caught unaware. We need to ensure that at the same time traffic wardens are back patrolling the streets, the town’s car parks are re-opened and properly signposted.”

County council reveals £1.3m plans to encourage walking and cycling

North Yorkshire County Council has revealed some of the plans it is considering to encourage more cycling and walking.

The government has allocated the council £1.3 million from its £225 million emergency active travel fund. The council can then bid for the full amount in two stages.

Initially, the council is bidding for £266,000 to spend on temporary measures such as coning off some on-street parking bays to widen footpaths.

Any projects funded in the first stage must be started within four weeks of the money being made available and completed within eight. It means that the council cannot tackle any major projects with that first pot of money.

Will recent events make a difference?

Earlier this month the Department of Transport announced millions of pounds of extra cash to develop the region’s permanent cycling infrastructure. On Saturday it announced the Yorkshire and Humber region would be allocated a £24.5m emergency active travel grant for new cycling and walking lanes.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said laws had been amended to “reduce red tape and halve the time” it takes for councils to get schemes up and running – “helping local authorities accommodate for the step-change in behaviour as more people turn to cycling and walking”

Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:

“We’re living in a time where many people are cycling and walking more than they did before, and we must build on this opportunity to bring about longer-term change – where active travel is viewed as the default for shorter journeys, long after this crisis has finished.

“This funding for Yorkshire and the Humber will help councils provide more space for walking and cycling and make it easier for people to get out and about and reduce the pressure on public transport.”

Where the extra money will be spent will now be decided. Will the amended laws make a difference? Councillor Mackenzie, who faces the challenge of delivering such projects, will no doubt be hoping so.

Harrogate district schools left to decide if it is safe to reopen

Individual schools in the Harrogate district will be left to decide whether it is safe for them to reopen next month.

North Yorkshire County Council said it will give schools their full support and bespoke advice. Each school will need to take a risk assessment.

It comes after the Government set out its road map which involved schools welcoming back some classes from June 1.

Some schools in the Harrogate district may be ready to reopen by then but the council thinks that many will stagger their openings.

There will not be any punishments for parents who decide against sending their children to schools.

More than 200 schools across North Yorkshire have stayed open to vulnerable children and the children of key workers during the coronavirus lockdown.

Stuart Carlton is the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Service at North Yorkshire County Council.

He said: “We are advising schools to prepare to be open from June 1 at the earliest, awaiting Government confirmation that they will.

“We are here supporting schools and headteachers as best we can to make the correct and safest decisions in line with Government advice.”

Some councils have taken a different view. Calderdale, Bury, Liverpool, and Hartlepool have all advised against a wider school reopening.

If you are a parent, teacher, or headteacher and have concerns about the schools reopening then please get in touch with the Stray Ferret by sending us an email.

Stop playing poker with Harrogate town centre, traders warn

Independent traders in Harrogate have warned council chiefs to “stop playing poker” with the town centre and put the local economy first as it faces a crisis.

In a mission statement posted to local politicians and business chiefs, Independent Harrogate set out its stall and called for cheaper car parking, cleaner streets and better public transport.

It also called for a park and ride system, better rail links and for the town to be marketed to prestigious retailers in order to thrive again.

Among the issues the trade group said the town faced was a drop in footfall, a loss of independent shops, high cost of trading and lack of people coming into the town centre.

Independent Harrogate said the High Street had already seen national retailers such as H&M leave and now independents were following due to high rates and rents above the national average.

It warned that the town is in a “very delicate” state and any ill-conceived plans would “risk terminal damage” to the economy.

In order to address these problems, it said the town needed better access, an increase in appeal and regeneration in order to bring back the footfall.

The statement said:

“HBC and NYCC officially adopted the Harrogate District Local Plan in March 2020.This plan was first drafted in 2014, in a time before Harrogate felt the full effects of the national damage to the High Street, and before COVID-19.The plan proposes far-reaching changes to Harrogate including increased pedestrianisation, the reduction of car traffic and an increase in cycle access

“Independent Harrogate is broadly in favour of many of these initiatives in the longer term. Who could not fail to be enthused by the images of al fresco dining, tree-lined streets and grand gateways? Our 200 members also worry about climate change and increasing pollution and would in due course like to see substantial changes, but they do so against the hard reality of running profitable businesses which are the lifeblood of the community where we all live and work. Everyone needs to understand that Harrogate has no guaranteed right to survive, let alone reclaim its place as a jewel in Yorkshire’s crown; any reduction of access to the town centre in the short term is suicidal.

“As Independent Harrogate has long warned, there is a crisis in Harrogate town centre. We urge both HBC and NYCC to stop playing poker with their precious asset, to listen to their business rate payers and to address the damaged fundamentals of Harrogate before proceeding with their long-term vision; and then do so in consultation with Independent Harrogate’s members and all businesses who trade there.”

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