Tributes paid to ‘larger than life’ former Ripon and Harrogate mayor

Tributes have been paid to former Ripon councillor and mayor Bernard Bateman, who died last week.

Mr Bateman represented Ripon North for the Conservatives on North Yorkshire County Council until 2017 after first being elected in 1999 as a Liberal Democrat.

He stood for the Liberal Democrats in Skipton and Ripon in the 2001 general election, coming second to the Conservative David Curry.

He was also the Conservative member for Wathvale ward on Harrogate Borough Council until last year and is a former mayor of both Harrogate and Ripon.

Councillors observed a minute’s silence at a meeting in Harrogate yesterday evening.

Mr Bateman served as chairman of the county council in 2013/14 and was granted honorary alderman status.

Director of Wolseley Hughes

Before entering local politics in North Yorkshire, Mr Bateman had a career in business and was a director of Wolseley Hughes Plc in Ripon.

He also helped create the World Plumbing Council, which has worked with the World Health Organisation to install safe water supplies and drainage systems in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Mr Bateman was awarded an MBE in 1989 for services to industry.

Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s executive member for housing, said:

“It is with deepest sadness to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague Bernard Bateman MBE.

“I have known Bernard for many years, serving together as both Harrogate borough and county councillors.

“Bernard was such as wonderful, larger-than-life, character and his passing is so very, very sad.

“On behalf of the borough council, and my colleagues, I would like to extend our most sincere condolences to Bernard’s wife, Linda, and family at this time.”

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Conservative councillor Sam Green won the Wathvale seat on Harrogate Borough Council in a by-election last year after Mr Bateman stepped down.

Cllr Bernard Bateman and Sam Green

Mr Bateman with Cllr Sam Green. Pic credit: Cllr Sam Green

Cllr Green paid tribute to his “friend and political mentor.”

“Bernard wasn’t your typical politician, he was a genuine and sincere man and a people’s person who would go out of his way to help anyone.

“He immediately looked out for me and took me under his wing when I first became involved with the Skipton & Ripon Conservatives association some years ago.

“Looking back now, I can see he consciously but subtly did so much to encourage and help me grow as a person and to support my political ambitions, introducing me to so many people during his mayoral year and even asking me to do a reading at his mayoral concert in front of hundreds of people – something I had never done before and undoubtedly furthered my confidence with public speaking.

“I have so many fond memories of my time with Bernard, not least our trip to Wrexham in the mayoral car to support Harrogate Town away. I was then ultimately honoured to have been elected to Bernard’s Wathvale seat following his resignation and would not be where I am today without his help and friendship.”

New Conservative Wathvale councillor puts young people at top of agenda

Amid the frenzy of Friday’s election results for the new North Yorkshire Council, a new Harrogate borough councillor was voted in.

Conservative Sam Green was elected to represent the Wathvale ward for the final year of Harrogate Borough Council before the authority is abolished in April 2023.

He beat his closest rival Liberal Democrat Chris Knight by 365 votes, while the Green Party’s Hannah Corlett came in third place.

Speaking after his by-election win, Cllr Green, who is 26-years-old and a former Harrogate Grammar School student, pledged to put young people at the top of his agenda.

He said:

“This is my first time standing for election, so I’m of course delighted to have been elected to represent the people of Wathvale.

“I’ll strive unceasingly to try to fulfil the trust and confidence that the people of Wathvale have placed in me and the things in which I believe.

“It is my ambition to encourage greater engagement by younger voters and to try and address the fundamental issues affecting our future generations, including a need for more genuinely affordable homes.”

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative councillor Bernard Bateman who held the Wathvale seat since 2016.

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Cllr Green, who owns a financial and real estate company in the town, is now the youngest of the borough council’s 39 members.

He added: 

“I know first hand from my peers that many young people simply cannot afford to remain in the rural villages and locations in which they have grown up in, in many instances due to the cost of housing or lack of suitable supply.

“This is a critical issue not only for these people and their families, but also for the future of the settlements themselves.

“Without fresh blood and ideas, villages and settlements slowly become less and less sustainable, with the resulting loss of services and facilities.

“Moreover, if our young people are then forced to move out of the borough to meet their housing needs in lower value areas, this creates a needless brain drain and will have several knock on effects across the borough.

“The answer is not simple, but this is something I feel very passionately has to be looked at properly and every viable avenue explored to try and address the issue.”

The turnout for the by-election vote was 38%.

Meanwhile, Conservative Nick Brown was voted in to represent the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on the new North Yorkshire Council in last Thursday’s local elections.

His victory was one of a few reasons to celebrate for the Tories, which loosened their grip on Harrogate by winning nine seats on the new unitary authority compared to 10 for the Liberal Democrats.

One Green Party candidate and one Independent were also elected in the district.

Election 2022: Wathvale and Bishop Monkton candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Nick Brown, Conservative

Nick Brown will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on May 5.

Mr Brown is currently the Bishop Monkton and Newby ward councillor on Harrogate Borough Council, which he has served for the past 14 years.

He said his priorities for the North Yorkshire Council would be to help oversee the transition to the new council and help further “democracy, openness, cost savings and efficiency”.

Mr Brown said:

“I have served the community in this role for the past 14 years, working hard for all residents, regardless of their political persuasion, and with every ward parish council in the area. 

“I have often spoken out on behalf of residents and their local issues, representing them vigorously regarding matters of interest to his electorate.”

Mr Brown added that he wanted to campaign for a “better deal” for rural areas from the new unitary council.

Hannah Corlett, Green Party

Hannah Corlett will be standing for the Green Party in the division on polling day.

Ms Corlett has lived in the village of Melmerby for the last five years and is a communications officer at Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust.

She joined the Green Party two years ago, which she has described as a “turning point” in her life.

Ms Corlett said she wants to see a “change in direction that people lead”, which she believes can be achieved from “the ground up”.

She said:

“When I joined the Green Party in 2020, it was part of a turning point in my life. I got involved with their activism straight away, fighting Harrogate Spring Waters expansion into Rotary Wood, public woodland. 

“Opening my eyes to the damage that is happening to our planet and the part we play in it, in the UK, driven by poor ideological policies. I want to see a change in direction that people lead, and I believe we can do this from the ground up with grassroots activism.”

Christopher Knight, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division will be Christopher Knight.

Mr Knight moved to the Yorkshire Dales in 2013 and is a semi-retired business consultant.

He said he is a believer in strong representation and “collaborative politics”.

Mr Knight said:

“I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016 and I became active in the General Election campaign of 2019, supporting our Parliamentary Candidate Andrew Murday.

“I am a semi-retired business consultant who has lived and worked in several countries, and I speak French, German and some Italian. I am a passionate believer in strong local representation as well as collaborative politics at a regional, national and international level.”

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A separate by-election for the Wathvale ward on Harrogate Borough Council will also be held on May 5.

The election will see a new councillor elected to represent the ward on the borough council.

You can read more on the candidates here.

Wathvale by-election: Candidates set out pledges

People in the Wathvale ward near Ripon are set to head to the polls on 5 May to elect a new Harrogate borough councillor.

The vote follows the resignation of Conservative councillor Bernard Bateman who held the seat since 2016.

The by-election to the borough council is separate from the elections to the new North Yorkshire Council.

These are the three candidates, listed alphabetically, who are standing to replace him:

Hannah Corlett, Green Party

Hannah Corlett lives in the village of Melmebry and works as a communications officer for the Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust.

She joined the Green Party in 2020 in what she described as a “turning point” in her life.

She said: 

“I got involved with their activism straight away, fighting Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion into Rotary Wood. It opened my eyes to the damage to our planet and the part we play in it, driven by poor ideological policies in the UK and globally.

“I want to see a change in direction that people lead, and I believe we can do this from the ground up with grassroots activism.

“If chosen as an elected representative on Harrogate District Council, even for one year, I will push to make sure funding and support goes to where it’s needed.

“I will also ensure decisions consider the environmental impact and the lives of those who live in this area.

“I am passionate about making positive shifts to protect the natural environment and supporting others in this fight. I desire to see changes, and I hope those who want the same will choose Green.”

Sam Green, Conservatives 

Sam Green is a former Harrogate Grammar School student who owns a financial and real estate company in the town.

He said: 

“My ambition to be a councillor is not for money, status, or benefits. It simply stems from my desire to help people in whatever way I can to achieve their ambitions, be successful and to hopefully make the world a better place.

“While still a young man (26) and recently married to my wife Maya, I feel that I bring a fresh perspective and energy, balanced by the traditional values I was raised and instilled with, together with proven entrepreneurial skills and people experience.

“As an industrious individual with a proven track record of success in the private sector, my promise to the electorate in Wathvale is simple.

“Local elections are about local issues and if elected, I will serve to the best of my ability to achieve the best possible services and value for money from our council.

“Whilst I will proudly serve as a councillor for all, it will also be my mission to encourage engagement by younger voters and to help address fundamental issues affecting our future generations, such as affordable housing.”

Chris Knight, Liberal Democrats

Chris Knight is a semi-retired business consultant. He joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016 and supported the party’s Skipton and Ripon parliamentary candidate, Andrew Murday, during the 2019 General Election.

Mr Knight said he is a “passionate believer in strong local representation, as well as collaborative politics at a regional, national and international level.”

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He also said the sale of Ripon Spa Baths and the troubled construction of the city’s new swimming pool are two examples of why change is needed in local government.

He said: 

“Ripon’s new swimming pool finally opened last month after repeated delays and some £4 million over budget.

“The council has been warned repeatedly that the area has active ground instability, but went ahead with the development anyway.

“But the whole story gets worse. Harrogate Borough Council have announced that the listed building containing the old pool is going up for sale.

“After getting the old pool onto the community asset register, the independents on Ripon City Council then sat on their hands for the next six months whilst there was a moratorium on the sale.

“Despite their bluster, they failed to come up with a plan which could have retained the building for the benefit of Ripon residents.

“So, thanks to a combination of Ripon Independents and Conservative councillors, a golden opportunity to enhance our lives has been wasted.”

The Wathvale ward vote will take place on the same day as elections to the new North Yorkshire Council on 5 May.

The successful by-election candidate will serve one year on Harrogate Borough Council before the authority – along with North Yorkshire County Council and the other six district councils – are scrapped and replaced by the new council in April 2023.

Green Party’s Hannah Corlett and Liberal Democrat Chris Knight are also standing for the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on the new council.

The deadline to register to vote has passed and those on the electoral register should have received a polling card or letter during the last two weeks in March.

Polling stations will open from 7am to 10pm on election day.

Those who are unable to vote in person can apply to vote by post or proxy.

Candidates revealed for Harrogate council by-election

Three candidates have been revealed for a by-election on Harrogate Borough Council.

Green Party’s Hannah Katherine Gargett Corlett, Conservative Sam Green and Liberal Democrat Chris Knight will compete for the Wathvale ward seat, which is vacant following the resignation of Conservative councillor Bernard Bateman.

Voting will take place on Thursday, May 5 – the same day as elections to the new North Yorkshire Council.

The successful candidate will sit on Harrogate Borough Council for just under a year before the authority is scrapped and replaced by the new North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.

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As well as competing in the borough council by-election, the Green Party’s Hannah Corlett and Liberal Democrat Chris Knight are also standing for the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on the new council.

They were named in a list of 77 candidates competing for 21 seats which will represent the Harrogate district on the new council.

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour Party, Green Party and Yorkshire Party have all fielded candidates for the election. There are also 10 independents in the mix.

The deadline to register to vote for both elections is April 14 – and those who are already on the electoral register should have received a polling card or letter during the last two weeks in March.

Polling stations will open from 7am to 10pm on election day.

Those who are unable to vote in person can apply to vote by post or proxy.

Dispute over Harrogate council by-election raised in House of Lords

A dispute over the decision not to hold a by-election in the Harrogate district has reached the House of Lords.

Following the death of Conservative Cllr Normal Waller at the end of January, Harrogate Borough Council has announced a by-election will not be held in Marston Moor.

The ward includes the villages Tockwith, Cattal and Bilton-in-Ainsty.

The council said a routine election was due to take place within six months of Cllr Waller’s death, meaning a by-election would not be needed.

Norman Waller

However, that election has since been cancelled, as all existing HBC councillors have had their terms extended by a year while the new North Yorkshire Council is set up.

Confirming the decision, the council said:

“As a matter of law when a casual vacancy arises within six months of the date for the ‘ordinary election’, then the casual vacancy is to be filled at the next ‘ordinary election’. For this reason, a notice of vacancy stating the election for Marston Moor would be on May 5 was published.

“However, local government reorganisation and the Structural Changes Order has changed this by cancelling the Harrogate Borough Council ordinary elections on May 5 and extending all serving Harrogate Borough Council members’ term of office until April 1, 2023 at which point Harrogate Borough Council will be dissolved as part of unitary re-organisation.

“Having taken legal advice and consulted with the Association of Electoral Administrators we cannot see any way forward for the election to fill the vacancy at Marston Moor ward.”

However, the decision has been criticised by former councillor Arnold Warneken, who was intending to stand for the Green Party in the by-election.

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Mr Warneken highlighted the inconsistency with Wathvale ward, where a by-election is set to be held on May 5 following the retirement of Cllr Bernard Bateman. He said:

“I’m not at all happy with the situation that Harrogate council have allowed the residents of Marston Moor ward to end up with, which is that as a result of the death of my friend and colleague, former district councillor Norman Waller, we would all expect there to be a by-election but for reasons beyond me this is not the case, and we will be without an elected representative for the next 13 months.”

House of Lords

Now, the issue has been raised by Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle in the House of Lords.

Baroness Bennett, a former leader of the Green Party, submitted a question to the government on Wednesday about its correspondence with HBC about holding a by-election in Marston Moor after the planned local elections were cancelled. The government has two weeks to provide a response.

Harrogate Borough Council yesterday reiterated that its decision about Marston Moor was made before the planned elections for the district were cancelled. The decision to hold a by-election in Wathvale was made after this date.

The by-election for Wathvale takes place on Thursday, May 5. It is the same day that voters across North Yorkshire will go to the polls to elect their representatives for the new county-wide unitary authority.

Over the next year, work will take place to set up North Yorkshire Council ready to take over from the existing county council and seven district councils, including Harrogate, next spring.