The latest news from Harrogate Borough Council

Businesses across our district have been working hard to safely welcome everyone back to our high streets to help us enjoy shopping and eating out again.

We’ve been doing our bit to spread the word and have continued to help reassure people just how safe our town centres are with our #ShopLocalShopSafe campaign.

Three films have been made to highlight the amazing work retailers and hospitality businesses have been doing to reopen with Covid-secure measures in place.

The videos feature Ripon, Knaresborough and Harrogate.

Your local shops have missed you and they’re really looking forward to seeing you soon.  So, please remember to shop local, shop safe and enjoy our wonderful high streets again.

The campaign has been supported by the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, with a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund.

You can now swim at Ripon Spa Baths and enjoy general sessions – and rejuvenating treatments – at the Turkish Baths in Harrogate.

We’re delighted that we can welcome you back to both venues.

You’ll need to book your swim at Ripon Spa Baths and visits to the Turkish Baths in advance as social distancing rules mean we have to limit the number of people in both buildings at any one time.

As you’d expect, various measures are in place at all our sites to ensure your visit is safe.

Please wear a face covering while you’re in communal areas, use the hand sanitiser we’ve provided and follow the signs and the one-way routes.

We look forward to seeing you.

There’s another bank holiday weekend on the way, and for a change, the weather forecast is looking good.

When the sun shines we know people like to come to the district and make use of our amazing outdoor spaces like the Stray.

Large crowds often mean more litter and although we have a dedicated team of people who work hard to keep Harrogate clear of rubbish, bank holidays can be their busiest times.

It’s not unusual for the litter bins to fill up as quickly as we can empty them.

So, if you’re out and about this long weekend, please take your litter home with you or use one of the many bins available for use.

If the first one you try is full, see if there’s another one nearby.

Please help us to keep the district as clean and tidy it can be.  Thank you.

We only have the best interests of our amazing district, and the people who live, work and visit here, in mind when we make decisions.

Everything we do is about improving the district and making it better than it is already.

But, like most people, we occasionally make mistakes and get things wrong.

Let’s be honest, our decision to use artificial grass in the planters in the centre of Harrogate was wrong.  It was a bad call and we’re sorry.

Over the years, we’ve planted numerous varieties of plants in the beds beneath the trees in Cambridge Street.

Sadly, nothing has lasted very long due to the tree root structure soaking-up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil.

Inevitably, this leads to the plants looking rather sorry for themselves and the beds becoming nothing more than a magnet for cigarette butts, empty coffee cups and fast-food packaging.

We looked at using stone or bark but ruled this out because we felt it will be most likely end up being used as an ashtray or thrown around.

The artificial grass was a last resort, and the decision to use it was made with the best intentions, but on reflection it was the wrong one.

It has also detracted from some of the other work we have been doing.

We’re planting more than 5,000 wildflowers on the Stray and the upcoming White Rose Forest project that will see thousands of trees being planted.

The ‘grass’ has been removed and we hope to have something installed by the end of June that provides a vibrant display of colour all year round.

This will compliment Harrogate’s award-winning floral displays that we take pride in looking after.

You can now buy summer plants from our horticultural nursery.

We’re open Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm and Saturday, Sunday and on bank holidays from 10am until 4pm.

We currently have geraniums, French marigolds, begonias, fuschia and strawberry hanging baskets, petunias, lobelia and impatiens.

This year we’re growing more plants for pollinators as these will help wild bee and other insect pollinators which are in decline but crucial for maintaining our plant diversity.

We also offer a small selection of herbs and a variety of plant pots, gifts, compost, bark and manure.

You can shop online using our click and collect service which is available from 9 am to 3pm, Monday to Friday or request a delivery* to your home in the Harrogate district.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the horticultural nursery.

You'll find us on Nursery Lane East, off Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.  Use the postcode HG2 0FH in your sat nav.

*delivery is only available for orders over £5.

We are committed to ensuring housing stock in the district meets the needs of our residents so they can live safe and independent lives.

One of the ways we do that is supporting repairs, improvements and adaptations to homes in the private sector.

Landlords are responsible for keeping their properties maintained and in a safe condition.

However, if a tenant requires modification due to a disability we can usually contribute to the cost of aids or adaptations.

That includes repairs associated with energy efficiency and keeping warm or work to prevent accident, illness or injury.

We can even help with the replacement of facilities if they are obsolete or beyond economic recovery.

Our contribution to any work is capped and is dependent on your own financial circumstances.

In the last 12 months we’ve spent more than £71,000 supporting residents across the district. 

Twenty-eight have had heating systems upgraded, several have had new boilers and we’ve provided numerous extended warranties for facilities like stair lifts and specialist wash and dry WCs.

For more information – and to find out how we might be able to help you, a friend, loved one or a tenant – visit our website.

We're offering grant-funded insulation for low-income households across the district through our Home Upgrade Grant (HUG).

HUG funding is available to you whether you own or privately rent* your home.  As you’d expect the grant is subject to terms and conditions.

You can use the HUG for loft insulation, draft proofing or cavity wall insulation.

If you own your home, the entire cost of the works will be covered by the grant and a maximum of £5,000 is available for improvements if you rent your home from a landlord.

We’re offering HUGs in partnership with our colleagues at City of York, Selby and Craven district councils through the Better Homes Yorkshire initiative.

You’ll find more information on its website.

*You’ll need your landlord’s permission to carry out any work if you are in private rented accommodation.

There’s another bank holiday on Monday.  It’s the last one for ages, so you’ll need to make the most of it.

As for previous long weekends, we’ve made changes to refuse, recycling and garden waste collections.

They will take place a day later than usual next week (beginning 31 May).

Don’t forget you can check your bin collection day using the In My Area section of our website.

If you’re involved in – or you manage – a local good cause or charity group in the district, here’s some news which could help you restart your activities or services, post-Covid 19.

THE LOCAL FUND for the Harrogate district is now accepting applications for grants ranging from £200 and £3,000.

The fund has been established to help local community groups and charities across the district.

It is supported by a partnership of Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate and District Community Action and Two Ridings Community Foundation. 

It is designed to support the work of community groups and charities dedicated to improving the lives of local people.

This is the second round of THE LOCAL FUND grant-giving thanks in large part to funds donated from THE LOCAL LOTTO and contributions from Full Circle Funerals.

You can find out more about the grants – and apply – via the Two Ridings website.

An election took place on Thursday 6 May to select a new Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and York.

Philip Allott, the Conservative candidate (pictured right), was elected with 84,737 votes.  Mr Allott officially took up his post on 13 May.

You can find the full result on our website.

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:

• Casual refuse loader in our environmental services team
• A seasonal gardener*
• A motor transport fitter*
• A technical support officer for our safer communities team

Please visit our jobs page for all our latest opportunities.

*The deadline to apply for these two roles is 11.59pm on Monday (31 May) so don’t delay if they are of interest to you.

We look forward to receiving your application.