Author: Liz Leatherbarrow

HARROGATE & KNARESBOROUGH AREA CONSTITUENCY COMMITTEE

A meeting will be held on Thursday 15 September 2022 at 10.00am in the Council Chamber, Harrogate Civic Centre,
St Luke’s Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 2AE

This meeting will be available to view on the County Council’s website once the meeting commences at www.northyorks.gov.uk/livemeetings Recordings of previous live broadcast meetings are also available there.

Issues to be discussed will include:-

•   20mph Speed Limit and Zone Policy
•   Harrogate Transport Improvement Programme Update
•   Cultural Framework for North Yorkshire
•   River Nidd Water Management – Member Discussion
•   Questions and statements from members of the public, subject to valid notice being served

NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

County Hall Northallerton North Yorkshire DL7 8AD

Phone: Ruth Gladstone on 01609 532555

Email: ruth.gladstone@ northyorks.gov.uk

For further information, please contact Ruth Gladstone of Legal and Democratic Services. The full Agenda is available on the County Council’s website.

OFFICIAL

ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND

Staveley and Copgrove Parish Council would like to offer their thanks for the selfless dedication of 70 remarkable years given as our Queen.

Her Majesty has been a source of courage and inspiration as she has led us through both dark and positive times.

On behalf of Staveley and Copgrove, the PC would like to offer deepest condolences and sympathy to the Royal family at this sad time. Thoughts and prayers are extended with our gratitude, for a long life of dedication and commitment to duty.

May she now rest in the peace of God’s love.

Final pop-up parties set to come to local parks

The final two free pop-up parties are set to come to Knaresborough Castle grounds and Ripon Spa Gardens tomorrow and Saturday for the whole family to enjoy. They’re perfect for younger children with a mix of performances and activities including juggling shows, magic shows, circus shows and character mini discos. The parties will be taking place at Knaresborough Castle tomorrow (26 August)  and Ripon Spa Gardens on Saturday (27 August). Each event starts at 11am and finishes at 4pm. Find out more at: www.harrogate.gov.uk/events Enjoy!!!

Have your say on new council tax reduction scheme for North Yorkshire. Currently, we all have slightly different council tax reduction schemes, and by law North Yorkshire Council must introduce a single scheme covering the whole of the North Yorkshire area. Council tax reduction is a discount that helps people on low incomes pay their council tax bill. The proposal is to introduce an income-banded scheme that is more supportive, with the maximum level of reduction for the people most in need. The changes to the council tax reduction scheme will affect working-age households in the North Yorkshire area who will get council tax reduction from 1 April 2023. Pension-age households will not see any change as the scheme to support this group is set out by central government. Most applicants will get the same support as they do now and many will be better off. Although some households will have a little more to pay, the proposals set out plans for a hardship fund so that anyone affected who needs additional help will be supported. You can let Harrogate Borough Council know what you think of the proposals for a new council tax reduction scheme for North Yorkshire Council by taking part in the consultation online. You can have your say up to midnight on 18 September.

The Man Who Captured Sunlight, The Story of Soul, end-of-night anthems and side-splitting comedy

For the first time, the remarkable story of one of Harrogate’s most meteoric figures is brought to dramatic life at the Royal Hall that he was instrumental in building. Written by Doctor Who writer Gavin Collinson, The Man Who Captured Sunlight on 23 September tells the story of Samson Fox, Mayor of Harrogate (1889 to 1892) and ancestor of Britain’s most famous acting dynasty. As an inventor, he helped spearhead the industrial revolution and famously ‘bottled the sun’ as Harrogate’s streets became the first thoroughfares in the world to be lit with his Fox Water-Gas. Or…. Let your hair down for a crazy night of non-stop singalong favourites at Don’t Stop Believin’ on 22 September. Or… follow Britain’s Got Talent’s Mel Day and a talented cast on a journey of sweet soul music in The Story of Soul on 25 September. Or… For those who love a good laugh, the hilarious Sarah Millican is back on tour with a Bobby Dazzler of a new stand-up show on 24 September. For details on more upcoming events at Harrogate Convention Centre and Royal Hall visit the venue’s website.

You are not alone

Harrogate Borough Council know times are hard at the moment as day-to-day costs go up and will continue to do so for some time. There is local support available to you if your financial situation has changed and you need help with household payments, debts or living costs. Harrogate have launched a new website page that lists financial help and support available from HBC and partners. As well as advice on keeping warm and making your home as energy efficient as possible. If you require support for any of our services and wish to speak to someone you can call on 01423 500600. The Energy Savings Trust also has information on how to reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills. So, whether that involves being more energy efficient, generating your own renewable energy, switching to a green tariff or insulating your home to keep the heat in, they’ve got advice and information to help.

The summer bank holiday (29 August) means there are changes to garden waste, refuse and recycling collections next week. All collections will take place a day later than your usual date. Therefore; Monday 29 Aug will be Tuesday 30 Aug Tuesday 30 Aug will be Wednesday 31 Aug Wednesday 31 Aug will be Thursday 1 Sept Thursday 1 Sept will be Friday 2 Sept Friday 2 Sept will be Saturday 3 Sept Normal collections will resume on Monday 5 September.

Community Governance Review for Harrogate On 1 April next year – along with the seven other borough, county and district councils – Harrogate Borough Council will be replaced by North Yorkshire Council that will deliver all local services. Parts of Harrogate, as well as Scarborough, are the only major towns in North Yorkshire not to have a parish or town council. To ensure Harrogate residents have a strong say in decision-making at the most local level, they are being asked their views on the creation of a town council, known as a community governance review. Everyone in the unparished area will receive a letter explaining the consultation and inviting them to take part. People can complete the consultation online or printed copies can be found in: Harrogate Library, Victoria Avenue, HG1 1EG Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, Woodfield Road, HG1 4HZ Civic Centre, St Lukes Avenue, HG1 2AE Please have your say, the survey is open until 30 September.

Commissioner Zoë’s (PFC Commissioner) consultation, to hear the public’s views on proposed changes to fire and rescue services closes on 14 August. All the information set out below comes from the PFC Commissioner’s office. Interestingly at the recent PC meeting Cllr Windass , the County Councillor who supports our PC area, who is also a retired Fire Officer, does not think the proposals for the Harrogate area will not compromise safety. He strongly believes the changes will impact detrimentally on response times at night when most fatalities occur in fires. He urged everyone to respond to the consultation knowing this fact. He was also very sceptical about the claims made that this is not a cost cutting initiative. Please look at the information and respond with your own views. And please remember the Fire Service top tip for safety at night time: always close the doors to each room in your home to limit the spread of a fire if it should happen.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe’s consultation, to listen to the public’s views on proposed changes to fire and rescue services, closes this Sunday 14 August. Before making her final decision Commissioner Zoë wants to hear your views. Have Your SayClick this link to have your say – Risk and Resource Model 2022-25 Consultation (smartsurvey.co.uk) Further information on the proposals and a link to complete the questionnaire can be found on the Commissioner’s website: www.tellcommissionerzoe.co.uk Watch our Myth busting video Click this link to watch the myth busting video: Hosted by Commissioner Zoë , Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson answers questions which have been raised by members of the public during our consultation. More information Commissioner Zoë is considering proposals for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s new Risk and Resource Model 2022-2025, which sets out how the Service would seek to deploy its people, equipment, and resources. These proposals are based on an extensive risk assessment across North Yorkshire and York, which has identified the likelihood and severity of fires, road traffic collisions, water related incidents, and other emergencies. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a balanced budget, so the proposed changes are not a way to cut costs, but instead are an opportunity to invest in vital areas identified by the public as priorities – such as improving the availability of on-call fire engines in our rural areas, and increasing prevention and protection work across the county and city. With fire-related incidents making up a smaller proportion of what the Service responds to overall, the proposals include significantly increasing and improving prevention and protection work relating to fire, road and water safety to stop harm happening in the first place, managing response to low-risk automatic fire alarms, introducing a new specialist water rescue capability in Craven, and introducing emergency response principles that make it clearer what the public can expect when making an emergency call. There are also three proposed changes specifically relating to Harrogate, Scarborough, and the York area. In the Harrogate and Scarborough areas, there is higher demand for services during daytime hours than at night, and the proposed change of fire engine would offer increased ability to respond during daytime hours, as well as boost resilience more widely. In York, there is currently more emergency response resource than the risk or demand requires. Huntington fire station is the least used in the area and so the proposal is to change the crewing at this station from full-time to On-call. This proposal would offer appropriate and safe cover for the community, while retaining capacity to carry out important prevention and protection work. To gather the views of the public, Commissioner Zoë and her team are have been holding events across North Yorkshire and the city to discuss the proposals, including in Huntington, Harrogate, and Scarborough where specific changes are being proposed. An online questionnaire will also be available to complete throughout the consultation period. Commissioner Zoë said: “It’s my job to set the direction of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service and therefore consider these proposals and make a decision. Before I do that, I want to know what the public think and I therefore encourage people to come along to one of my consultation events this summer to speak with myself or a member of my team, and to complete the online questionnaire. “The role of a Fire and Rescue Service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency. We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and protect to stop incidents happening in the first place and prevent harm before it can take place, while also having the capacity to respond to emergencies when they do take place. We are confident these proposals would do that. “Inevitably, there are some areas where the setup of the Service would change but I’m confident the right people, right equipment and the right support would continue to be available to everyone.”Fire and Rescue personnel across North Yorkshire and York have been engaged by the Service on these proposals and have been reassured that whilst some roles may be redeployed, everyone would remain employed and continue to fulfil what is needed to keep their community safe and feeling safe. Jonathan Dyson, Chief Fire Officer said:“The Risk & Resource Model would support the transformation of our Fire and Rescue Service, enabling a greater focus on prevention and protection, underlined by our continuous assessment of community risk and vulnerability. It will also facilitate increased investment in our on-call service.” Implementing these proposals would mean Commissioner Zoë could deliver another of the public’s key priorities from her Fire and Rescue Plan consultation – improving the availability of On-call fire engines. The proposals outlined would allow investment of over £1.5 million per year from 2025 to improve North Yorkshire and York On-call station availability. Full details on our website Risk and Resource Model Proposal and Consultation – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire (northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk)

Are you a parent of a child at school? You could be missing out on £450 worth of free school meals.

The new application process means that all applications are now made electronically. In just a few simple steps and a matter of minutes parents will receive an instant decision on whether their application has been successful.

If your child is in Reception, Years 1 and 2 you are automatically eligible to claim a lunchtime meal for free.

Parents of children in Year 3 onwards can also benefit from free school meals if they are eligible for certain income support and allowances, support under the Immigration and Asylum Act, child tax credit, working tax credit or universal credit.

Many of us are feeling the pinch at the moment due to the cost of living. Don’t miss out on a chance to save some money and give your child a healthy lunchtime meal.

You can find out more on the county council website.