Hello from Harrogate Borough Council. Here's some news from us.

You’ll already know from previous editions of Residents’ News that you must self-isolate and book a test if you are experiencing at least one of three coronavirus symptoms.

They are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it has changed from normal.

If you cannot get to your local mobile or walk-in testing site, you can now order a home test.

If you do not have access to the internet call 119.  Lines are open 7am to 11pm daily.

The test involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud before returning the test kit in the post.  Full instructions are provided.

We have more good news for you this month as infection rates in the district continue to fall closer to where they were last September.

The latest data available when we sent this newsletter to you shows the number of cases per 100,000 of the population in our district was 48.5.

This is a positive, and we’d like to say ‘thanks’ for everything you’ve been doing to follow the lockdown restrictions.  You’ve helped minimise the spread of the virus, keep pressure off the NHS and ultimately save lives.

Tuesday marked one year since the beginning of the first lockdown and a national day of reflection events were held in memory of those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.

Over 1,100 people have died in North Yorkshire alone.  Of course, the effect of the pandemic is much greater. 

There is the suffering of the bereaved, the people who are still struggling after Covid-19, people with mental health issues and those who have lost jobs or businesses.

The number of people in North Yorkshire who’ve received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine has passed the 370,000 mark.

Our colleagues in the health service are expecting to have administered jabs to everyone in the county aged 50 and over by 15 April and all adults by the end of July.

The message remains that you will be contacted when it is your time to come forward for the vaccination either via the national booking service or your local GP surgery.

Second doses are now being administered.  Invites for the follow-up jab, where an appointment hasn’t already been arranged, will arrive 10 or 11 weeks after the first.

There has been plenty of coverage in the news in the last week or so about some European countries temporarily suspending the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.  It was because of safety concerns.

In response, UK health officials have reiterated that the safety of the national vaccination programme is the number one priority.

The number of blood clots reported after having the vaccine is not greater than the number which would have occurred naturally in that proportion of the population. 

Evidence shows the vaccine does not put us at greater risk of blood clots.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the UK and the World Health Organisation have previously said the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe.  The EU’s medicines regulator, the European Medicines Agency, agrees.

After conducting its own review, the agency has found the vaccine to be safe and effective and said the benefits outweigh the risks.

We therefore strongly encourage you to accept the vaccination when it is offered and have confidence in it.  It is the best way to prevent serious illness and death from the virus.

If you or someone you know has turned it down and changed their mind, it’s still possible to make a booking.  Call 119 and speak to our NHS colleagues to make the arrangements.

The schools break up for the Easter holidays tomorrow (26 March).

The Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays means there will be changes to bin collection days for the two weeks starting on Monday.

Next week’s (commencing 29 March) collections of garden waste, recycling and refuse will take place earlier than usual.

Usual date / revised collection date

Monday 29 March / Saturday 27 March
Tuesday 30 March / Monday 29 March
Wednesday 31 March / Tuesday 30 March
Thursday 1 April / Wednesday 31 March
Friday 2 April / Thursday 1 April

Collections in the week commencing Monday 5 April will take place a day later than usual.  We've updated the In My Area section of our website with the changes.

The usual collection pattern will resume on 12 April.

Spring has officially sprung and we suspect that you might be deciding when to cut the lawn or carry out some initial seasonal gardening, if you haven’t already!

That’s all well and good, but you may be wondering what to do with the grass clippings and other prunings.

We can help you avoid a pesky trip to the tip with our garden waste service, with collection from the kerbside every fortnight through to mid-November.

It’s not too late to renew or subscribe for the first time.  Sign up via the  garden waste collection page on our website or give our friendly team a call on 01423 500600.

The cost for collections in 2021 is £41 which is for use with one bin or garden waste sacks if you don’t have room at home for a wheelie bin.

There are several household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in the district.  They are perfect if you’re clearing out your shed, loft or garage or you have some rubbish to get rid of.

The HWRCs are owned and operated by North Yorkshire County Council which has plenty of information about them and what they can accept on its website.

You’ll also find dozens of ‘mini’ recycling centres across the district which have limited facilities to accept things like unwanted clothing and bottles.

What they can’t deal with is any kind of furniture or items like large cardboard boxes.

We’re seeing an increasing problem with people dumping their waste at the mini recycling centres (see the picture above) which is tantamount to fly-tipping.

Please use the household waste recycling centres to dispose of anything you can’t put in your kerbside recycling box or bag.

Alternatively, you can book a bulky waste collection from us.  For a small fee, we’ll take away larger items for you. This is ideal of you can’t easily get the items to an HWRC.

We’ve been awarded more than £2.4 million to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions at the Hydro and Harrogate Convention Centre.

The funding has been provided thanks to a successful bid through the government’s public sector decarbonisation scheme.

At the Hydro, the existing gas boilers will be replaced with heat pumps, along with the installation of solar panels as well as metering and energy monitoring and control systems.

Lighting will be converted to LED at Harrogate Convention Centre, along with solar panels and air source heat pumps installed.  This will include variable speed drives to control the fans as well as pipework insulation.

It is anticipated the carbon reduction schemes at the Hydro will reduce emissions by 577 tonnes per year.  Harrogate Convention Centre's emissions will drop by 70 tonnes with its new measures in place.

It will help us meet our vision to have a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

… on climate change.

In February’s Residents’ News we told you about the district’s independent climate change coalition (called ‘HDCCC’) set up in response to the climate emergency facing our planet.

HDCCC is consulting residents and, separately, businesses and their employees to find out what advice and information would be useful to help us all be a bit greener.

Please find the time to take part by completing the survey questionnaire.  The resident survey is open until 28 March and the business/employee one until 4 April.

… and on local government reorganisation

The government is currently consulting on proposals which will affect the way your local council services are provided in future.

Six of the district and borough councils in North Yorkshire have submitted a business case for the creation of two unitary authorities, one in the east of the county and one in the west, split roughly either side of the A1(M).

You can read why the six councils think east and west is best on their dedicated website.

To take part in the consultation please visit the government’s citizens portal.  The closing date is 19 April.

Don’t miss out on the chance to shape the future of your local council services.

Our horticultural nursery in Harrogate offers you the chance to buy high-quality plants, grown by our resident experts, at great prices.

Right now, spring bedding plants – in a selection of stunning colours and varieties - are available to buy.

The nursery shop is currently closed to visitors because of the lockdown restrictions, but you can order online for local delivery or choose ‘click and collect’.

We also have a selection of gifts and gardening accessories, such as planters, containers and compost.

Everyone registered to vote in the district will be able to have their say in the election for the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on Thursday 6 May.

If you are not currently registered to vote, or you have moved to a new house recently and are not registered at your new address, it’s not too late to sort it out.

You simply need to register on the government’s voter registration website by 11.59pm on Monday 19 April.

We are putting in place measures to ensure all polling stations throughout the district are Covid-19 secure so that you feel safe and reassured when going to vote.

Your polling station may be different this election (not all are available because of the need for social distancing) but your poll card will tell you where to go.  You can also check using the In My Area section of our fabulous website.

If you feel uncomfortable visiting your local polling station, we encourage you to apply for a postal vote instead.

You can download a postal vote application form or you can call our friendly customer services team on 01423 500600 and they will arrange to post one to you.

Our elections team must receive your application form by 5pm on Tuesday 20 April to ensure your postal vote can be registered in time for the election.

The deadline to arrange a proxy vote is 5pm on 27 April.

Instead of buying chocolate eggs this Easter, why not buy a LOCAL LOTTO ticket and give some Eggsxtra (see what we did there? 😆) support to a local good cause?

By playing the LOCAL LOTTO you give something back to the community at a time when it has never been needed more.

For the price of a chocolate egg, you could support one of the district’s charities which are working hard to provide a wide range of activities and services or those organisations which are hoping to be back open soon.

In return, you could win prizes of £25,000, £2,000, £250, £25 or three free tickets.

Tickets* cost £1 with 60p from every purchase going to one of 105 good causes. 

Alternatively, you can also support THE LOCAL FUND for the Harrogate district.  It offers a financial lifeline to numerous community groups and charities through its annual small grant scheme.

*To play THE LOCAL LOTTO you need to be aged 16 or over.

Bev* had been street homeless for several years before starting the process to overcome her difficulties, including addiction and mental health, to provide a safe and stable home for herself and her unborn child.

Harrogate Street Aid has provided Bev with a grant of £408 towards furniture from Essential Needs for what she describes as her “dream home” in private rented accommodation.

Bev now has a place she will be proud of and her choice of furniture will be a constant reminder of the progress she has made.

Bev used to beg near the Street Aid tap terminal in Harrogate town centre. 

She says she used to get annoyed at people tapping their cards on the machine instead of giving change to her but now realises “the grant money is much better put to use this way”.

You can donate to Harrogate Street Aid by tapping your debit or credit card on the ‘tap’ terminal in the M&S food hall window in Harrogate or on the Street Aid website.

*Bev is not her real name.

We’re publishing this story on behalf of our friends at the Office of National Statistics

Last Sunday (21 March) was national census day.

You need to complete the census survey to record who was in your home on that day.  If you don’t, you’re breaking the law and could be fined £1,000.

Letters explaining what you need to do will have arrived at your home at the end of last month or the beginning of this one.

The process is quick and simple and will take around 15 minutes to complete.  Using the unique 16-character household access code in the letter, and going online, is the easiest way to provide the information the census requires.

The data is used to help plan vital services such as transport, education and healthcare.

If you, a loved one or someone you know doesn’t have easy access to a computer, a paper copy of the questions can be requested.  Help is also available by calling 0800 141 2021.

We think Harrogate Borough Council is a fantastic place to work, but then we’re slightly biased!

As well as amazing colleagues, we offer competitive salaries and a range of other benefits.

We're always looking for new people to join the team and regularly advertise the roles available at the council.  

Right now, we’re recruiting:

• An environmental health officer
• A principal landscape officer
• A senior building control officer

Please visit our jobs page for all our latest opportunities.

We look forward to receiving your application.