Young and talented? Know someone who is...?

Lynne Mee

Date press release issued: 10 January 2012 CASH AVAILABLE FOR TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ASPIRING sporting stars and artistes of the future are being invited to apply for a grant from Harrogate Borough Council’s Centenary Grants Project. This project was set up

10:29

Michelle writes: Aspiring sporting stars and artistes of the future are invited to apply for a grant from Harrogate Borough Council’s Centenary Grants Project.

This project was set up to celebrate the council’s centenary in 1984 and since then over 500 talented young people have benefited from the fund.

The council is seeking nominations from sporting or artistic young people who are 18 or under and live in the Harrogate district, who compete or work at a regional level or above. Many of those who have received grants have gone on to national or international level.



Calling all young, talented under 18s...

Last year 32 talented young people received grants totalling £3,500. The disciplines ranged from swimming and violin, ballet and climbing, to taekwondo, cycling and flat green bowls.

The closing date is 29 February 2012. Applications forms and reference forms are available at: http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pages/harrogate-1801.aspx or by contacting Lindsay Spicer, Sports Development Officer, on 01423 556725 or email lindsay.spicer@harrogate.gov.uk  

Police Training College Future Plans

Michelle writes: Jim and I recently met with Ciaran McGuigan, Head of Centre at the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Harrogate on Yew Tree Lane to be briefed on the future of the NPIA and its 145 permanent staff and 31 contracted facilities management staff.



The NPIA on Yew Tree Lane

The NPIA will be phased out and will no longer exist in its current form after December 2012. However, many of the functions currently based at the site are critical to support policing nationally and cannot simply be disbanded. Therefore, many of these functions are likely to transfer into a number of newly created organisations that were announced by the Home Secretary earlier in the year and as recently as December.  These include; the National Crime Agency, a Police Professional Body and an Information and Communications Technology Company. 

As part of the transition into the different bodies, NPIA needs to reduce the spending on their national estate by 50%, so it has accepted the need to move away from its Harrogate site. The agency is now exploring the possibility of disposing of the site. It is also looking into the feasibility of moving the training activities to other NPIA sites and finding alternative locations in the area for the other national police work currently done there.

The main reason for the decision to relocate the existing functions is specific to NPIA needing to rationalise and make savings on its estate rather than the functions and services it provides to policing or the number of staff needed to deliver these. No decisions have been made about staff currently working at Harrogate but as the NPIA is due to be phased out by the end of 2012, it is impossible to give guarantees about the future of any of its staff but they will be doing everything possible to minimise redundancies.

Although no definite decisions have been made about the future of the site, the NPIA have applied to Harrogate Borough Council for a change of use, so it may be that part of the existing developed brownfield site could be used for housing while retaining the green surrounding spaces of the college too.

Councillor Michelle Woolley says, “It’s very good news that redundancies will be kept to a minimum and that a part of the site may be considered for housing, relieving some of the pressure to build on Special Landscape Area beyond Cardale Park. “

Councillor Jim Clark says, “Local residents will be sorry to see the NPIA leave as they have been very good neighbours. Residents must be consulted on how the site will be used next.”

Formerly Pannal Ash College, the NPIA premises were purchased by West Riding County Council in 1945 for use as a training college for police recruits. Staff located at NPIA Harrogate is responsible for providing a range of national products and services, for example: national police recruitment, examinations and promotion processes, design of national learning and development programmes, delivery of training programmes, accreditation and quality assurance services, Police Forensic 21 Programme and the Information Technology Helpdesk team. 

Housing Minister urges rural communities to learn from Harrogate

Policies created by Harrogate Borough Council to provide homes in rural areas have been set as an example to other rural councils by the Communities Minister, Andrew Stunall.

Full statement from Andrew Stunall here

Merry Christmas

Michelle and Jim wish everyone in Rossett and across the Harrogate district a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. We look forward to working hard for you in 2012.

MPs Attack Key Planning Reforms

MPs attack key planning reforms

Rossett Sports Centre Future Concerns

Michelle writes: Yesterday, Jim and I became aware of Harrogate Borough Council's proposals to discontinue the operational management of Rossett Sports Centre in order to generate efficiency savings for 2012. If this were to happen, the running of the sports centre would have to taken over by an other organisation, such as a school, a community group or a private company. At this stage, it is still a proposal, however to all of us in the Rossett Ward and across Harrogate, it's both shocking and inconceivable that these facilities could be in jeopardy.

Jim and I will be fighting to keep funding from HBC for Rossett Sports Centre and we want you to share your views. Please post your thoughts and comments on this. How do you use Rossett Sports Centre? What does it mean for you as a facility? What do you think of the council's proposals to withdraw funding?
We will keep you updated on any new developments.

Read an article abouth this in the Harrogate Advertiser - Vow to keep Rossett Sports Centre open
Read an article on this in the Yorkshire Post - Council set to axe sports hall funding

Arthurs Avenue North/South Divide Parking Update

Jim writes: At a meeting last Thursday, North Yorkshire County Councillors decided to revoke the parking controls on Arthurs Avenue. This means that in the new year the parking bays will be removed. Since the bays were introduced in 2008, the situation has improved for residents at the Otley Road end of the street (North) but has meant major problems and safety concerns for those living further up the avenue (South). Also a large proportion of the bays were not used and there was increased movement of traffic due to the time restrictions.

Myself and Michelle are going to meet Sixth Formers next week at the Grammar School to discuss the new arrangements with students and encourage a more responsible attitude to parking to benefit both residents and students. We will also raise the subject of alternative means of travelling to and from school rather than using individual cars, which is neither good for the environment or the wallet.

These changes will not address the problem of parents of children blocking drives and inconsiderate behaviour when picking up and dropping off children .We will continue to discuss this with the school.

Speeding surveys have been carried out during November and we will have the results shortly. Myself and Michelle are in favour of a 20mph limit for Arthurs Avenue.