Large parts of Harrogate, including Bilton, Starbeck and Jennyfields as well as central areas, look set to be hit by a new council tax charge.

North Yorkshire County Council said last week it would press ahead with plans to create a Harrogate town council after the results of an initial consultation revealed 75% in favour of the idea.

Areas covered by the new council, which will have 19 councillors, will face an additional charge on their council tax bills to pay for its services.

The sum is not yet known but Ripon City Council and Knaresborough Town Council currently charge £70.77 and £24.27 respectively for a band D property.

The areas facing new charges are:

• Bilton and Nidd Gorge
• Bilton Grange and New Park
• Coppice Valley and Duchy
• Fairfax and Starbeck
• Harlow and St Georges
• High Harrogate and Kingsley
• Oatlands (including the unparished parts of Pannal)
• Saltergate (including the unparished parts of Killinghall and Hampsthwaite)
• Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone
• Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate

A report on the consultation gave short shrift to calls by three respondents for Starbeck to get its own parish council. It said:

“No justification or detail was provided.

“It is considered that due to the small size of the area considered to be Starbeck, less than 6,000 electors, any parish council would not be in a position to provide services or amenities on the scale that could be provided by a much larger neighbouring Harrogate town council, potentially leading the the residents of Starbeck missing out on the opportunities to be provided by a larger town council.”

Read more:

• Harrogate set to get town council after 75% back the idea
• Harrogate district town councils to be invited to take on more powers

How is council tax calculated?

Council tax bills in the Harrogate district are calculated by adding the sums charged for services by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, plus any parish precepts.

Harrogate residents do not currently pay a parish precept because it does not have a town council.

This year’s Harrogate district Band D bill, minus any parish precept charges, rose by £72 to £2,079.59. This is how it was broken down.

• North Yorkshire County Council – £1,467
• Harrogate Borough Council – £255.92
• North Yorkshire Police – £281.06
• North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue – £75.61

The abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council on April 1 means the charge for their services will no longer exist.

However, the new North Yorkshire Council, which will replace them, has indicated it will charge Harrogate district households £23.47 less than the amount currently paid to the two councils.

The new Harrogate town council charge could mean devolution, hailed as a cost-saving exercise, could actually result in higher council tax bills.

However, a Harrogate town council is unlikely to be formed until May 2024 so any precept it charges will not feature in the calculations for council tax bills in 2022/23, which will be finalised in the new year.

Harrogate town residents have been spared a parish precept because they do not have their own town council, unlike other towns in the Harrogate district and the city of Ripon.

So the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and likely creation of a Harrogate town council will affect them more than residents in places such as Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, which already pay a parish precept.

In a report to the Conservative-controlled North Yorkshire County Council’s executive, Barry Khan, assistant chief executive (legal and democratic services) has recommended opening a second, eight-week consultation on creating a Harrogate town council on February 20.

The executive will meet on January 10 to decide whether to accept the recommendation.

Police have urged people to be vigilant for sightings of a Ripon man who has been missing for two weeks.

Gavin Dhont, 45, was last seen in the city on Tuesday, December 6 and officers said they are extremely worried for his welfare.

Gavin enjoys walks in areas including the Hell Wath, Studley Roger, Studley Royal Park and along the River Ure. He also enjoys visiting Ripon Wetlands.

North Yorkshire Police has urged people to keep an eye out for him over Christmas.

Inspector Ed Rogerson said: 

“We’re doing everything we can to try and locate Gavin but you, the public, are vital extra eyes and ears to help look for him.

“We know many people will be out and about enjoying the countryside over the festive period and we’d really urge you to be vigilant for any sightings of Gavin.

“We’d also ask everyone in the areas near Gavin’s home and where he is known to walk, to please check any doorbell footage which may give information as to the direction he travelled in.

“If you have any information which could help please call 101 or 999 for an immediate sighting. Your support is invaluable, thank you.”

Read more:

• Police ‘extremely worried’ for Ripon man missing for nine days
• Ripon angler among 57 fined in illegal fishing clampdown

Police are asking residents and business owners in these areas, and along Princess Road and Lead Lane, to check any video doorbells which may hold footage of Gavin.

The force has also issued posters and leaflets in the area to encourage people to keep looking for him.

Gavin Dhont, who has been reported missing for two weeks.

In an appeal last week, Luc, Gavin’s dad, said:

“Gavin if you see or hear this appeal please contact someone. 

“Either call myself or another family member or friend or call the police. 

“We all want to know you are OK and bring you home safely. We are all very worried about you.”

Gavin is described as of thin build with short dark brown hair.

Anyone who has seen him since he went missing or who believes they know his whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter of urgency on 101, or call 999 in an emergency and quote either his name or reference 12220219012.

Rescuers came to the aid of an 11-year-old boy who got stuck at Brimham Rocks yesterday.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was called to the National Trust-owned site near Pateley Bridge by North Yorkshire Police.

The boy had reached the top of Castle Rocks but then felt unable to get down safely.

Nine members of the volunteer-run association attended the incident.

Its website said:

“A small team was deployed, rigging a rope and lowering him safely and uninjured to ground level, whereupon he was reunited with his grandmother.”

The association has attended several similar incidents at Brimham Rocks this year.

Read more:

• Boy, 13, rescued at Brimham Rocks
• Photo of the Week: Tree breaks through the mist at Brimham Rocks
• Brimham Rocks activity farm closes

Police and North Yorkshire crime commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe, are facing mounting pressure over claims that 20mph zones in the county are never enforced.

Councillors from across the political spectrum in North Yorkshire have said residents deserve answers from both the force and Ms Metcalfe after they declined to answer questions over why 20mph zones are not even enforced in areas such as outside schools.

Recent meetings of North Yorkshire County Council’s constituency committees have heard that although many residents want the number of 20mph zones increased or introduced across all built-up areas, zones which have been in place for 15 years had never been policed.

Councillors have said while the force’s safety camera vans enforce 30mph restrictions, irresponsible motorists appear to be able to drive with impunity in the 20mph zones.

In responses to questions over why North Yorkshire Police did not enforce 20mph zones, neither the force nor the commissioner denied 20mph zones were not policed, and the police appeared to suggest it would largely be up to trained volunteer residents to do so.

A police spokesperson said: 

“When concerns are raised by a local community about a 20mph zone, this may result in a Community Speed Watch outcome via our speed management protocol process. This process is speed and collision data-led and determines the most appropriate outcome for each complaint received.

“Anyone exceeding the speed limit whilst CSW are on deployment can be dealt with. Our roads policing officers may also be requested to conduct speed enforcement as part of their daily duties wherever it is determined necessary – again based on data.”

Read more:

• 20mph speed limits to be investigated in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Ripon county councillors reject calls to pilot 20 mph zones

When asked why 20mph zones were not being enforced, Ms Metcalfe said operational policing, such as deciding where and when to enforce the law, was the chief constable’s responsibility.

She said: 

“I am hearing that road safety is becoming more of an issue for some communities and next year I will be holding a public accountability meeting to look, in depth, at how North Yorkshire Police are keeping our roads and communities safe.

“Speeding motorists and anti-social behaviour on our roads has always been a major concern with communities and I will continue to raise this with the chief constable to ensure that the force are taking the most appropriate action necessary.”

Speed review

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive county councillor for highways, said the authority was reviewing the most effective approach to speed limits following a request by elected community representatives for a default 20mph zone throughout their area.

He said: 

“We must ensure that all of our efforts, particularly when resources are tight, are focussed on saving lives and avoiding injuries.

“As part of this review, we will be formally asking the police about their approach to speed enforcement inside 20mph limits so that councillors can consider this.”

Richmond Independent councillor Stuart Parsons said when a large 20mph zone was introduced in the town police stated there would be no enforcement, which made the zone “totally pointless”.

He said: 

“The police should be explaining why they are not enforcing the law in its entirety. 

“If they’re not there enforcing the 20mph, then they’re not going to be out there enforcing it when the cars are driving at 40mph, 60mph or 80mph. The boy racers know they risk nothing.”

While Cllr Parsons described the Community Speed Watch scheme as a farce as residents faced indefinite waits to be trained,  Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said volunteers had to give motorists advanced warning of speed radar guns, which undermined the deterrent.

Cllr Marsh said she had double checked the force did not enforce 20mph zones, adding: 

“They do monitor 30mph areas, but they don’t even do that very often, they want this Community Speed Watch, which isn’t accurate and what surprises everybody is there is an allowance for people to drive at up to 37mph without incurring a fine.

“If the police and the commissioner know how people are feeling why aren’t they addressing that?”

North Yorkshire Police carried out strip searches on 90 children over the last three years, figures show.

Figures obtained by the Stray Ferret through a Freedom of Information request show 34 children were searched in custody in 2019 alone. Twenty-seven were searched in 2020 and 29 last year.

The force said the searches involved removing jacket, overcoat and gloves and carrying out a procedure known as a “more thorough search”.

None of them involved an “exposing intimate parts” search, which the force said has not been conducted on a child under 18 in the last three years.

While the figures show the number of individuals who have been strip searched by officers following an arrest, they do not reflect whether the child had been searched on multiple occasions. 

North Yorkshire Police also revealed it had conducted a total of 43 strip searches as a result of stop and search on children since 2019.

Table showing strip searches carried out by North Yorkshire Police. Data: NYP.

Officers have the power to order an individual to remove clothing as part of stop search, if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have a dangerous or prohibited item.

The figures come as the Children’s Commissioner for England criticised the Metropolitan Police in August this year after it was revealed the force strip searched 650 children over two years – the majority of which were found to be innocent of the suspicions against them.

Iryna Pona, policy manager at The Children’s Society, said the Home Office and police forces should investigate the practice.

She said:

“Strip searches are intrusive and traumatic for children, and we are urging the Home Office and police leaders to investigate the concerning scale of this practice.

“Guidance and training for officers needs to be reviewed to ensure strip searches only happen when absolutely necessary, and that children and young people are treated with dignity and respect. Nationally, we’ve heard examples where safeguards like an appropriate adult being present, are not followed, and we see an over-representation of black children in strip search figures.

“When police officers arrest or stop and search children this should be a golden opportunity to identify risks like exploitation to courier drugs and work with other services to offer protection and help.”

Police response

In response to the figures, a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“Alongside our partners, we work hard to engage with and educate children and young people about the consequences of crime.

“Our dedicated anti-knife crime operation, Operation Divan looks to reduce the number of young people carrying weapons by challenging misconceptions and educating them on the consequences of doing so. Working in partnership with education, social care and youth justice any young person identified as potentially carrying a weapon or being involved in county lines, drug or child exploitation is invited to take part in the scheme, which has recently been recognised by the Howard League for Penal Reform in their community awards.

“Thanks to our preventative approach and our close partnership working, the number of children arrested has also fallen year-on-year since 2018, as reported by the Howard League – The Howard League | Child arrests in England and Wales reduced by 74 per cent in a decade

“Sadly though there are some children who do become involved in criminal activity and in order to safeguard them and keep the public safe, at times it is necessary to conduct searches. Stop and search is a valuable tool in preventing and detecting crime and we recognise it is essential that its use is legitimate and proportionate, in order to maintain public trust.

“We follow guidance from the College of Policing regarding the use of stop and search and we have a number of measures in place to ensure that decisions around its use are recorded and scrutinised. We believe transparency is important to maintaining public trust, so our stop and search figures are published to our website on a monthly basis. Stop and search | North Yorkshire Police”

Read more:

• Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
• Impartiality concerns over crime commissioner’s plan to share office with Harrogate police

A spokesperson for the children’s charity the NSPCC said:

“Like all forces, North Yorkshire Police must fully acknowledge that safeguarding should be at the heart of their policies and procedures when it comes to searching children.

“National guidance on the use of these searches would provide clarity and help to ensure young people’s rights and needs are paramount in these situations.”

The Harrogate district has had more drink and drug driving arrests in the last week than anywhere else in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police said today 32 people had been arrested in the last seven days of the campaign — a big increase on 18 in the first week.

Of the 32, 10 were from the Harrogate district. The next highest is York with seven, followed by Scarborough with six, Hambleton with four, Ryedale with three and Craven and Richmondshire with one each.

The campaign started on December 1 and has now seen 50 arrests in total at the halfway stage. Of the 50 arrests, 38 were men and 12 were women.

The highest reading was from a 46-year-old woman in Northallerton who was four time over the legal limit.

Superintendent Emma Aldred, head of specialist operations at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“It’s alarming to see that we have arrested 50 people in just over two weeks for drink or drug driving in North Yorkshire.

“The message is clear; we will not tolerate drink and drug drivers on North Yorkshire’s roads”.

Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle, launched this year’s campaign when he participated in a mock road traffic collision.

Read more:

• Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
• Amazon driver on Snapchat jailed for causing death of Ripon biker

North Yorkshire Police has urged Christmas revellers to “know your limits” as they prepare for one of their busiest nights of the year.

Today is known as Mad Friday because it is the last working Friday before Christmas and many people go out.

It is also one of the busiest nights for the emergency services as a result of alcohol-fuelled disruption.

The county’s police force said in a statement it will be deploying extra officers in towns and city centres. The statement added more staff will be working to handle 999 and 101 calls:

“It’s expected that our force control room will receive a 30% increase in 999 and 101 calls compared with demand on an average Friday night.

Superintendent Fiona Willey, the silver commander for Friday’s policing operation, said:

“We understand that people want to let their hair down and we’re not here to spoil anyone’s fun. However, we have a job to do and that’s to keep people safe as well as maintain law and order.

“We’re well-rehearsed at dealing with what’s known as Mad Friday and have additional officers and staff in place to provide resilience.

“My plea to people who are heading out on Friday is to plan your night, think about your own safety and know your limits.”

North Yorkshire Police has tonight renewed its appeal for information following the disappearance of a man from Ripon.

Gavin Dhont, 45, was last seen in the city on Tuesday, December 6, and officers said they are extremely worried for his welfare.

Gavin enjoys walks in areas including the Hell Wath, Studley Roger, Studley Royal Park and along the river Ure. He also enjoys visiting Ripon Wetlands.

Police are asking residents and business owners in these areas, and along Princess Road and Lead Lane, to check any video doorbells which may hold footage of Gavin.

Gavin also has connections to Scarborough and may have travelled there.

Another photo of Gavin

A number of enquiries have been carried out since Gavin was last seen and officers are currently working to establish if a potential sighting of him on Tuesday can be confirmed.

Gavin’s Dad, Luc, said:

“Gavin — if you see or hear this appeal please contact someone. Either call myself or another family member or friend or call the police. We all want to know you are OK and bring you home safely. We are all very worried about you.”

Read more:

• Ripon teacher died after accidental fall in Italian Dolomites, coroner rules
• Police urge drivers to ‘put their phones away’ after Ripon Snapchat death

Inspector Julie Earnshaw, said:

‘We are extremely worried for Gavin’s welfare, especially as the weather has been so cold over recent days.

“We have released another photograph of Gavin in the hope it will help people remember whether they have seen him and if you have, please contact police with information.”

Gavin is described as of thin build with short dark brown hair.

Anyone who has seen him since he went missing or who believes they know his whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter of urgency on 101, or call 999 in an emergency and quote either his name or reference 12220219012.

Police said Gavin’s family has thanked everyone who has assisted with the search, including those who have shared the appeal on social media.

North Yorkshire Police has said the “entirely avoidable” death of a Ripon man caused by an Amazon delivery driver on Snapchat shouold serve as a warning to motorists not to use their phones.

Daniaal Iqbal, 23, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at York Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was running out of fuel and texting on Snapchat when he killed biker Peter Rushforth, 56, on on Kirkby Road near Ripon in September 2019.

Iqbal, of Toller Lane, Bradford, was on the second day of his new Amazon delivery job,

Speaking about the sentence handed to Iqbal, Detective Sergeant Kirsten Aldridge of North Yorkshire Police’s major collision investigation team, said;

“From the seconds after the collision which killed Mr Rushforth, Iqbal denied any responsibility for the collision – categorically stating he was not using his phone. However, our experienced digital forensic investigators found unquestionable evidence to challenge Daniaal Iqbal’s claims.

“This is yet another fatal collision caused by a driver who refused to listen to the warnings about the risk of using a mobile while driving and chose to blatantly disregard the law. Very sadly it’s Peter Rushforth who has paid the price for Daniaal Iqbal’s poor decision-making. To lose someone in a traffic collision is devastating. But to know that it was entirely avoidable and was caused by someone who believed sending a message was more important than their safety is galling.

“I hope the sentence handed to Daniaal Iqbal makes those drivers who may take that chance and use their mobile behind the wheel just stop and think for a moment. When you’re driving, please put your phone away – another person’s life could depend on it.”

Read more:

• Amazon driver on Snapchat jailed for causing death of Ripon biker
• Man jailed for setting fire to historic Knaresborough pub

The group on Langcliffe Avenue

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“The first step in the Community Speed Watch process is to identify areas for the group to stand. Once approved, the group will receive training, and at that point they can either share equipment with other nearby groups or purchase their own equipment.

“Once fully trained, the group can deploy as often as they wish, although most groups deploy for an hour at a time, once or twice a week.

“Any vehicles found to be speeding will have their details taken down and sent to the North Yorkshire Police traffic bureau. Once verified, the registered keepers of those vehicles will receive warning letters. A police officer will attend the address of the registered keeper if they are ‘caught’ three times.

“We currently have about 88 groups taking part in the scheme across North Yorkshire. Since its inception in 2016, around 96% of all offences have been first offences – indicating that people who receive their first warning letter do take the advice on board and adjust their driving behaviour.”