News

£150 council tax rebate for eligible households

£150

GOVERNMENT
COUNCIL TAX
REBATE

Government has announced a package of support for residents known as the Energy Bills Rebate.

As part of this support, council taxpayers who live in a band A to D property (or in band E and receives a disabled band reduction) will receive a one-off payment of £150 to help with rising energy costs. 

The quickest way to receive your payment is to set up a direct debit to pay your council tax as you will receive the payment automatically. 

If you do not pay your council tax by direct debit you will need to complete an application form on the HBC website in due course. 

Please note, HBC will not contact you by telephone regarding this energy bills rebate.

HBC give the following message to all:

In the meantime, you should continue to pay your council tax bill as normal. If you are struggling to pay, please get in touch with us. 

For more information visit our council tax energy rebate page.

The Government announced last week around 500 locally led projects to benefit from the Community Renewal Fund that will help ‘breathe new life into towns, villages and coastal communities across the UK as the government delivers on its mission to level up the nation and commitment to net zero’

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said:

“We are levelling up in every corner of the United Kingdom, backing locally-led projects that will make a real difference to communities and help to deliver our net zero commitments.
There is incredible talent spread right across our great country and this investment will unlock the opportunities to match.”

Almost £50 million of this funding tranche has been allocated to local authorities that are members of the Rural Services Network.

Of those successful bids, predominantly rural authorities have been awarded £3.77 per head compared to £2.14 per head for predominantly urban authorities.

The Rural Services Network has been making representations to Government about our concerns for the distribution of the Governments range of ‘Levelling Up’ Funds asking Government to ‘Keep It Simple’, ensuring that Levelling Up Funds were allocated fairly, transparently and based on need.

Whilst the allocation of Community Renewal Funding is welcome, there remains large inequalities in the way that rural Local Government is funded with the Local Government Finance Settlement in 2021-2022 resulting in urban areas receiving 61% more per head in Settlement Funding Assessment when compared with rural authorities. Rural residents will pay, on average 19 5 (£96) more per head in Council Tax than their urban counterparts due to receiving less government grant.

It is vital that the Government resolves the underlying unfair distribution of funds to rural areas, in addition to ensuring that rural areas can receive a fair share of funding pots on offer.

Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee.

https://staveleyandcopgrovepc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Harrogate-and-Knaresborough-ACC-17th-March-22.pdf

An article on behalf of IDAS… Safe Havens is an innovative project to help victims and survivors of domestic abuse access safe accommodation quickly that is provided by trained, volunteer hosts and supported by a dedicated IDAS* worker. Incidences of domestic abuse have increased during Covid-19 and as a result, IDAS is looking for emergency accommodation hosts to support victims. Being a Safe Havens host is an opportunity to guide and support a person through challenging times. It can also be incredibly rewarding. If you are interested in becoming a Safe Havens host please email: mel.milner@idas.org.uk *IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting anyone experiencing or affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence. Their services include refuge accommodation, community-based support, peer mentoring, group work and access to a free, confidential out-of-hours helpline.

Co Wheels – a pay-as-you-go community car hire scheme – has just announced its latest offer for new members. If you join before the end of March there is no joining (normally £25) and you’ll also receive a £25 driving credit*. Co Wheels provides a fleet of hybrid cars for pay-as-you-go hire around Harrogate town centre for short or long-term bookings. Each car has its own designated zone and comes with a parking permit which allows parking anywhere in this area thanks to support from North Yorkshire County Council. Insurance, cleaning, servicing and refuelling are all included in the cost too. A van is also available for hire as part of the club. You can join online using the promotion code HARROGATE109. For more information visit the Co Wheels website.*Terms and conditions apply

Fancy a game?

Do you want to get active and have fun with all the family at affordable prices? With spring right around the corner, Harrogate parks are getting ready to open up their games and activities for when the weather gets a little warmer. Valley Gardens is now open for a variety of activities including crazy golf to tennis. You can book these in person at the games pavilion, online or by phone. Light refreshments and snacks are also available. Games and activities at Knaresborough Castle and Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and Ripon Spa Gardens will also be available in the coming weeks. For more information visit our games in parks website page .

This amazing event – which showcases the city of Ripon – returns on Saturday 12 March from 11am to 2pm. Now in its tenth year, Sights and Sounds of Ripon involves organisations from the public and voluntary sector coming together to give people a chance to connect with the city and enjoy everything Ripon has to offer. And, best of all, it’s completely free. Each year the event has had a different focus, this year voluntary and community groups are keen to show residents that they are not alone and that there is lots of help and support right on their doorstep. Ripon Cathedral, the city’s museums and the library are all hosting events and entertainment will be provided by local choirs, a ukulele band as well as Ripon City Morris Dancers and Betty Lupton’s Ladle Lakers. You can find out more about what’s on offer by checking out the event flyer (pdf document). Photo courtesy of Ripon Cathedral

Later in the year (date to be confirmed) Harrogate Borough Council will be launching a trial scheme to replace black recycling boxes with wheelie bins. For some time HBC has been considering how to improve the kerbside scheme as they are increasingly conscious of the environment and have been recycling more year on year. But before a roll out of wheelie bins across the Harrogate district, HBC will be trialling the wheelie bins in certain areas (to be confirmed) with different types of properties, areas of high recycling rates, etc. Following the trial data collected will be used to influence an approach later in the year. Wheelie bins will replace black recycling boxes, however the plan is to continue to use blue bags for paper and card, albeit these will be replaced with heavy-duty bags for those properties that don’t have them.

A variety of spring bedding plants are now blooming and ready to buy from Harrogate Borough Council horticultural nursery.

Primroses, pansies, polyanthus and soon to be violas are available individually or as a tray of six.

There are some wonderful pots and plant gifts that make the perfect present for someone special. There are also do-it-yourself container kits, hanging baskets and fruit trees on sale.

The shop is open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

You can find the nursery on Nursery Lane East, off Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate (please use the postcode HG2 0FH in your sat nav).

For more information please visit the nursery website page.