Harrogate Borough Council

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Harrogate man donates one of world's rarest trees
Cash awards for community environmental schemes
Thumbs up for council services
Pupils deliver climate change message
Great Yorkshire Show will go ahead but car parking affected by weather
Community Land Trusts could be answer to affordable housing
If you are not on the Electoral Register you will lose your vote in May election
Harrogate Town AFC sign up Harrogate Hornets
Fall in housing growth
Council tackles benefit fraud
Specialist tree work at Jacob Smith Park
Starbeck Baths to host Splashathon in June
Stubbing out smoking litter
New youth shelter for Starbeck
A step nearer to agreement on district growth
Royal Hall set for TOTAL restoration
New Housing Board looking to bring in £63m investment for the county
Environment Awards for those who have done their bit
Conserving Pateley Bridge Conservation Area
New football sessions for summer holiday programme
Council homes gardening competition 2007
Employee of the Year 2007
Picture Perfect Housing Calendar
Local people say NO to a single unitary council for North Yorkshire
Harrogate opens its latest affordable housing project
Ancient woodland vandalised and youngsters put themselves at risk
Building their way out of homelessness
Mayor hosts reception for 150 sporting enthusiasts
Harrogate Planners say no to tip at Penny Pot
200 children celebrate 20th Anniversary of National Play Day
Accessing council services made easier in Mashamshire
Development of Station Parade, Harrogate - talks underway
Planning performance tops the cash grant league in North Yorkshire
New traffic signals for Stockwell Road, Knaresborough
Harrogate district tops cleanliness league
Family fun at 47th annual allotment show at the Valley Gardens
Let us know what you think about your polling station
Emergency-team member steps down after 20 years
Advice available on how to get an Arts Council grant
Work starts on new footbridge at Hornbeam Park
Grants for under-used properties in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough
Sunday Times and Daily Mail mislead on trees, read the true facts
The Ripon Enterprise Show - exciting business opportunity
People power need for Bilton~Ripley cycle~bridleway
Ripon residents get increased benefits
Residents and visitors highly rate parking services
Trees will be planted to replace those removed
Review of car parking charges
Two new experimental traffic measures for Harrogate and Pannal
Cycleway extends to Harrogate High School Campus
Orienteering gets financial boost in Harrogate
Community Football Challenge bigger than ever
Conserving Knaresborough's Conservation Area - public meeting
Planning Core Strategy out for consultation
More to be done to ease parking problems in Ripon
Harrogate, Starbeck and Knaresborough win Yorkshire in Bloom
Public workshops to review Ripon Conservation Area
Starbeck residents invited to apply for grants
Funding available for community arts and heritage projects
Keep your bike yours - 29 September 2007
Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership tops the league
Harrogate to host 2007 Europe in Bloom awards
Lottery hopes for Bilton~Ripley bridleway
Pioneering housing project finalist in UK housing awards
Cultural services among best in country
Not in My Neighbourhood Week 15-21 October 2007
£760,000 ten-year investment plan saves Starbeck Baths
New wood for Nidd Gorge to celebrate 100 years of scouting
£80,000 pledged to rebuild Horseshoe Bridge in Knaresborough
Harrogate's Victoria Cross holders to be honoured
Community Fund - grants available for small projects
Loan offered to Knaresborough Celtics
Council says no to pay as you throw
Drama used to influence young people's lifestyle
Leisure investment in Ripon
Freedom of the Borough to be conferred upon Mrs Lilian Mina
Winter Club and Coaching Programme launched
Tesco withdraw planning application for Harrogate
Lottery Funding Support for voluntary groups
Car parking improvement in Ripon in time for Christmas
Army Cadets help plant trees at Harrogate's Pinewoods
New Park for Bilton
Funeral of Councillor Elwyn Hinchcliffe
Pannal Primary School installs wind turbine
Homes and Businesses in Harrogate District to 2020
Council dismayed at decision to abolish local highways agency
Council collects £16m external funding
Jacob Smith Park now in council ownership
Do you know your limits - Christmas safety message
Handbag alarms donated by Safer Communities Partnership
Markets meet environmental challenge
County refuses to have highway agency proposals examined
Changes to Business Rate Relief
Big lottery win for Bilton to Ripley bridleway
Proposals for swimming in Ripon
Council first to achieve mercury abatement at crematorium
Jacob Smith Park won't open before Christmas
Council wins £255,464 lottery funding for children's play activities
Harrogate Borough Council to ask questions over highways agency
Pets victims too of domestic violence
£5,000 reward offered to catch cherry tree vandals
HRH The Prince of Wales will formally reopen Harrogate's Royal Hall
Commission to discuss Valley Gardens lottery bid on 22 January
Cash for talented young people living in the Harrogate district
Have your say on the future of Harrogate district
Helping Businesses Go Green - new club launched
Highway agency decision condemned
Public meeting on plans for Spacey Houses Farm, Pannal
Jacob Smith Park opens
Public invited to comment on proposals for new £3.3m swimming pool for Ripon
Better Backs Campaign free seminar for businesses
Beating the cold using underground heat
Young people invited to develop plans for skatepark
Borough council legally challenges termination of highway agency
Hookstone Footbridge four-week delay
Providing for sport in Harrogate
Rare find on ebay adds to Harrogate's historical artefacts
Young football fans funded for trip to Elland Road
Grants available for Knaresborough initiatives
Spring round open for Starbeck Grant applications
Managing under-18s in the night time environment
Recycle your Yellow Pages to raise funds for your local school
Extra free parking in Pannal
Harrogate pentathlete youngest to be selected for senior World Cup Team
Hambleton Grove tree removal
Show of public support needed for new water play in Bebra Gardens
New bridge opens over railway track at Hornbeam Park, Harrogate
Home Office says Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership is strongly performing
Public meeting on proposals for skate park at Stonefall park
Community Grants available
Harrogate district hackney carriages get the thumbs' up in survey
Initial proposals for Ripon Spa Baths site out for public consultation
Chief Constable to attend Harrogate Council's Scrutiny Commission
It's time to make a claim for council tax benefit
Grants available for community groups in Harrogate Town area
Noise nuisance leads to conviction and equipment being seized
No cold calling zone for Manor Road Knaresborough
Bid to become Cycling Demonstration Town
Harrogate Council is looking for more volunteer sport coaches
Skatepark for Harrogate - further action following public meeting
Public examination of Harrogate district local development framework - 22 April
One million pound investment for Knaresborough and Boroughbridge

26 November 2007:  Harrogate Borough Council's influential District Development Committee, made up of 32 of the council's 54 members, will have the opportunity early next month to give its views on the recommended sites for new homes and business locations up to 2020.
 
Three four-hour meetings have been scheduled for 6, 10 and 11 December
when planning officers will present their recommendations for sites to provide land for 390 new homes throughout the district each year for the life of the plan.
 
Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, Don Mackenzie, says this is the biggest challenge the council has ever had in terms of identifying land for development.  He said: "The Government is very serious about identifying specific sites for housing developments.  Our district has a very high environmental quality and that means we have few easy options.
 
"Many councillors would rather not give approval to further growth but we have no choice.  In common with every planning authority in England, Harrogate district is required by the Government to provide for more homes.  The challenge for us is to select the best sites for sustainable growth and to ensure that first-class infrastructure improvements take place at the same time.  We have slowed down the rate of house building and we will continue to protect our open countryside for as long as we possibly can.  However, there is a great need for affordable homes for local people and we need to bear that in mind before we raise objections."
 
Although not a member of the District Development Committee, Councillor Mackenzie will attend the meetings to listen to the views of the Committee, before he puts out the final draft document for public consultation in January 2008.
 
In July this year, the council approved the key document that sets down in broad terms where land for homes should be provided but, at this stage, it is not making a final decision about any specific sites.  It will listen to what people say and then decide which sites could be developed.  The council will be issuing an explanatory newspaper to every household in January and will also be holding a further series of consultation workshops.  The final approved document will then be submitted to the Secretary of State when there will also be another formal opportunity to comment.
 
Cllr Mackenzie said that if the council fails to make provision for sufficient land it is more likely that developers will submit applications, which could be approved on appeal even if the council turned them down.  "We already have developers snapping at our heels.  The best way we have of controlling development is through this district framework.  This district is one of the largest in the country and we are not short of land, but homes need to be located in areas where our studies have shown homes are needed for local people.  They should be near public transport and near to jobs and, preferably, they should be built on previously developed land and not on greenfield sites or in the open countryside.    More ...
 
"The officers have done an excellent job in consulting widely and I believe they are recommending to us the most appropriate sites known to them.  I now look forward to hearing the opinions of the members of the District Development Committee.  I hope that they approach their task as councillors for the whole district.  It will be tempting to reject any recommended site in one's own ward.  I hope that members will look first at the detailed evidence provided by the officers, decide then what is best for the whole district and for the needs of local people, and do not just say no to any possible development in their own ward."   ENDS
 
 
NOTES TO EDITORS:  The percentage of recommended sites includes: Harrogate (48 per cent of the 390 homes), Knaresborough (14 per cent), Ripon (8 per cent), Boroughbridge (3.5 per cent), Pateley Bridge (3 per cent) and Masham (2 per cent). The remaining 21.5 per cent of land would come from villages and countryside. 
 
In addition to the site allocations for homes and jobs, the committee will also be asked for their views on plans for Community Sports' Regeneration and on a review of local landscape designations.
 
FURTHER INFORMATION:  Councillor Don Mackenzie is available for comment on 01423 872211.  Further technical information is available from Tim Richards, Head of Planning Service son 01423 556536.


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