North Yorkshire Council News

North Yorkshire Council News about Us: We are the dedicated provider of essential public services for the vibrant communities of North Yorkshire. Our institution comprises a representative body of 90 councillors, elected by the populace, with elections typically occurring every four years.

Our councillors serve as the democratic voice of North Yorkshire, actively engaging with local communities. They attentively listen to concerns and address public needs, tackling issues of significance to residents’ daily lives. Furthermore, we serve as staunch advocates for North Yorkshire and its populace. We actively represent and advance the interests of our county within the broader North East region, across the entirety of the United Kingdom, and on the international stage.

Inclusive: Act with kindness, integrity, and respect for all. Embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. Foster a culture of compassion and understanding, valuing each individual’s input.

Ambitious: Center our efforts on the needs of citizens and communities. Foster adaptability to ensure excellent service delivery. Encourage innovation and collaboration to achieve collective success.Creative: Embrace connectivity and innovation in service provision. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Encourage open-mindedness and proactive problem-solving.

Together: we cultivate strong relationships with colleagues and partners. Prioritize teamwork and collaboration to meet shared objectives. Promote accessibility and visibility to foster mutual support and goal attainment.

Behaviours: Demonstrate kindness, compassion, and respect in all interactions. Actively seek diverse perspectives and respond constructively to differences. Recognize and celebrate the unique contributions of each individual.

Ambitious: Set high standards for service delivery, driven by community needs  Promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration with partners. Tailor approaches to prioritize local needs and aspirations. Embrace change and adaptability, drawing on collective insights. Encourage innovation and experimentation to enhance service quality. View feedback and diverse viewpoints as opportunities for growth.

Together: We cultivate strong bonds and effective communication within teams and with partners. Deliver exceptional customer service through collaborative efforts. Maintain visibility and accessibility to foster a cohesive working environment.North Yorkshire Council News

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Council News for Harrogate and surrounding districts

North Yorkshire Council News

New Specialist School for Pupils with Autism Underway in Harrogate

Construction has begun on a £2 million redevelopment to transform the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate into a specialist secondary school and sixth form for pupils with autism. The project aims to provide state-of-the-art educational facilities for students aged 11 to 19 and is expected to be completed by September 2025.

Addressing Growing Demand for Specialist Education

Approved in August 2023, the initiative will accommodate up to 80 pupils, addressing the increasing need for specialist education in North Yorkshire. The county has experienced a 110% increase in children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and education, health, and care plans (EHCP) since 2016.

Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, executive member for education, emphasized the importance of the project:

“Supporting families and children with special educational needs and giving them the opportunity to achieve their full potential in a safe, inspiring learning environment close to home is a huge priority for us.”

Modern Facilities to Support Learning and Development

The redevelopment will feature:

  • Modern classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology.
  • A sensory room and dedicated breakout spaces to support students’ emotional and sensory needs.
  • Outdoor learning areas designed to promote physical activity and exploration.

A Boost for the Local Community

Cllr Paul Haslam, representing Bilton and Nidd Gorge, expressed enthusiasm for the project:

“This specialist school is essential for Harrogate and will ensure children receive first-class education tailored to their complex needs without long travel distances. It’s wonderful to see the former school revitalized and filled with learning, laughter, and aspirations once again.”

The school will primarily support students with autism, communication, and interaction challenges, providing local families with more accessible options for specialized education.

Amanda Newbold, assistant director for inclusion, highlighted the regional impact:

“Currently, 432 children with autism are enrolled in North Yorkshire’s special schools. This new facility will provide a much-needed local option, reducing the need for significant travel.”

With the rising demand for SEND education, the council anticipates the development of an additional 350 places across the county in the next three to five years, ensuring that more families have access to the specialized support their children need.

 

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North Yorkshire Communities Face Disruption as Council Division Boundaries Reviewed

A senior councillor has acknowledged that a review of council division boundaries in North Yorkshire will result in communities being divided. The proposed changes, aimed at achieving electoral equality, have sparked concerns over their potential impact on local identities.

Boundary Review Overview

North Yorkshire Council is proposing adjustments to the 90 existing council divisions, leaving only four untouched. The changes are part of a plan to create 89 single-member divisions for the May 2027 elections, following the council’s decision to reduce the total number of councillors by one. The Boundary Commission will finalize the proposals after consultations.

The review stems from a need to balance the population across divisions. Councillor John Weighell, chair of the cross-party working group tasked with redrawing the boundaries, described the process as a “massive exercise,” given the county’s population of 517,344.

Key Proposals

Richmond Area: Richmond town, deemed too large, will be split into two divisions: Richmond and Gilling West, and Richmond East and Scotch Corner. Surrounding rural areas will absorb some polling districts from the town.

Ripon and Harrogate Adjustments: Some divisions in Ripon and Harrogate town were found to be too large. Polling districts from these areas will be aligned with nearby divisions. Boroughbridge will also be moved to a new division.

Malton and Norton: Population imbalances in these areas have led to a proposal to divide the towns north-to-south, creating two equally balanced divisions.

Minimal Disruption Elsewhere: Only four divisions—Northstead, Osgoldcross, Spofforth, and Thirsk—will remain unchanged.

Challenges and Concerns

The changes aim to address population discrepancies while maintaining community identities, yet the process has been described as “disruptive.” Weighell expressed disappointment that more divisions could not remain untouched, noting the complex balance between population equality and preserving local connections.

Next Steps

The executive committee has approved the working group’s recommendations. The proposals will now be submitted to the Boundary Commission, which will hold another consultation before Parliament ratifies the changes. The new boundaries will come into effect ahead of the 2027 elections.

Impact on Communities

While the review strives for electoral fairness, splitting communities may lead to challenges in representation. Further consultations will determine how well the changes address these concerns without undermining the identities of affected areas.

Council News

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An internationally recognised sporting event has a new host town Masham
Community leaders and business owners have welcomed the announcement that a sporting event expected to bring up to £2 million into the North Yorkshire economy has a new host town.
The internationally recognised Long Course Weekend will now take place in Masham in September this year – and for the following two years.
Initial plans were to see it based in Pateley Bridge but difficulties over using the Nidderdale Showground have led to the move to the neighbouring town. However, events are still expected to go through Pateley Bridge and around Nidderdale.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, whose portfolio includes the visitor economy, said: “I am delighted that the community of Masham has taken the opportunity to be the new host town for this prestigious event, and that Pateley Bridge will still benefit from events coming through the town and the visitors they will bring with them.
“It will take place in Masham for all three years and we expect it to extend the local tourism season both there and the surrounding areas as it brings in extra income to local businesses and tourist providers.
“To be hosting such a well-respected and internationally-renowned sporting event is a real coup. It will give us the chance to showcase to a global audience what we can offer here in what is one of the most beautiful and diverse parts of the country.”
Competitors from across the country are expected to descend on the county for the event, which is based on the principles of the triathlon but is tailored to open up the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running to as wide an audience as possible. It is expected to attract thousands of competitors and visitors.
The chief executive officer of the Global Long Course Weekend, Matthew Evans, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the latest Long Course Weekend in Masham. The town’s enthusiasm for hosting events is clearly evident and the passion and support the local community has shown us is second to none.
“We also look forward to developing the legacy programme and working with the parish council to support local causes. The Long Course Weekend is built on local community partnerships to market a real Yorkshire experience to a global audience. We look forward to putting on a very special show in September and one the community can be proud of.”
The event was established in Wales in 2010, and now has annual competitions taking place across the globe including in Holland, Belgium, Mallorca, Australia and New Zealand.
Competitors have the choice to participate in one of the individual disciplines or choose all three to take part in the competition. The swim distances range from 1.2 miles to 2.4 miles, cycling routes will be from 56 miles to 112 miles and the run will start at five kilometres to a full marathon. There will also be a children’s running event to encourage all members of the family to get involved.
The exact course has yet to be finalised, but the event will be staged from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 8.
Masham Parish Council’s vice-chair, Ian Johnson, said: “Masham Parish Council is delighted that we have been selected as the host town for the Long Course Weekend. This is a big boost to our local economy.
“We have always been keen to support big sporting events such as the Tour de France’s Grand Départ and the Tour de Yorkshire when many thousands of visitors came to Masham. We have a reputation for volunteer-led events with the annual steam rally and sheep fair raising thousands for charity. The town always likes to celebrate and will embrace this weekend with gusto.”
The owner of the Old Station Caravan Park in Masham, Flo Grainger, said: “The benefit to tourism businesses in the area will be great, and will provide a much-needed lift over the winter months, which can be very lean in these rural areas.
“It will showcase what is on offer and will boost trade and assist employment for years to come, bringing fresh hope to many in a time of ever rising overheads, for a fragile rural economy, largely based on tourism.”
The visitor economy brings in more than £1.5 billion a year from domestic visits alone to North Yorkshire. Tourism in North Yorkshire accounts for 10 per cent of the county’s overall economy, and 41,200 workers are employed in the sector.

 

in tickets to see Sir Tom Jones and Jess GlynneView in browserMale chef crouches down in crop fieldA taste of North Yorkshire from our famous chefsWe hear how some of North Yorkshire’s leading chefs believe our restaurants and cuisine can help boost tourism, and reveal which area of the county has been called “the most exciting food destination of 2024”. We also meet volunteers helping in emergency situations, we turn the page back in a literary-themed archives feature and offer the chance to see global music superstars in Scarborough.Schools
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Making a difference – Advice to reduce food waste and how to buy a garden waste licence this spring.Read the tipsA male runner wearing a red vest, shorts, and sunglasses sprints in front of a crowd of peopleSporting success – A market town has been named as the host for a leading sporting event.Read more

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What’s on – Read our round-up of listings for events across the county taking place this spring.
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second homes in North Yorkshire is due to help bring in millions of pounds of additional funding.Read the latestA woman walks carrying books near a mobile library in the North Yorkshire countrysideReading through the ages – a look back at the literary history of North YorkshireWorld Book Day is celebrated in March and we share historic photographs on literature and original texts of stories through the decades.Explore the archive A montage of images of singer Jess Glynne, Sir Tom Jones and the Scarborough Open Air theatreWIN two tickets to see Sir Tom Jones or Jess GlynneEnter the competition hereMy accountOpen an account with usWith an account, you can track progress of your reports, applications, bookings, payments and requests. You won’t need to contact us for progress updates as they will be sent by email and can be viewed in your account.

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