The Harrogate Informer published responses from Green Party candidates to a set of questions – which are reproduced here (with permission).
Jo Webb – our candidate for Oatlands Ward
What’s your connection to Harrogate?
I’ve lived in the Oatlands ward of Harrogate since 2010. We chose Harrogate because it’s such a great town and it’s so easy to get out into the countryside.
The role of the Harrogate Town Council isn’t fully defined, what would would you like to see a town council do ?
When I asked local people about their priorities they said: Parks and Open Spaces, Homelessness, Anti-Social Behaviour, Markets, Toilets and concerns about roads including speeding and potholes. In responding to those I would work to have the Town Council:
- Take on the management of parks and open spaces to preserve and build on what we have already and give greater access to open spaces particularly for older people and people with a disability for example through the provision of more benches/sitting areas.
- Research and implement best practice on reducing street homelessness. I have already visited the Harrogate Homeless Project to learn more about their work.
- Work more closely with Police and PCSOs to increase civil enforcement powers and also look at how we can increase the positive activities available to young people – for example through youth clubs.
- Explore and pilot options for weekly markets – linked where possible to local farms and food producers –
- Work with cafes and public buildings to improve access to public toilets –
- Advocate for Harrogate with North Yorkshire Highways to reduce potholes and provide better alternatives to travelling by car where possible.
What do you see as the main challenges for the town council ?
Ensuring any development is sustainable and in line with what the community want – this can be best influenced by a strong local plan based on consultation with the local community as North Yorkshire as the planning authority will have to take it into account in planning decisions. Many people have already volunteered their time through the Harrogate Town Planning Forum and it’s great the new Town Council will have that to build on.
Bringing together the people, businesses and public services of the Town to improve the quality of life for everyone.
What do you see as the main gains for the people of Harrogate ?
Having a local, accountable body to deliver services that meet our needs and aspirations,
Giving the community a voice and representation – particularly with North Yorkshire County Council which can feel very remote to us here, and improve the quality of life and increase overall community well-being.
What else do you believe people should know about your or what you believe ?
Through my main career I worked extensively in and with local councils including working for the national Improvement And Development Agency and Local Government Association so I have a good knowledge of sound decision making which I would want to bring to the new Harrogate Town Council.
I have spent a lot of my free-time over the last 8 years volunteering as a Trustee and Chair of a major regional nature charity. My term as a Trustee has come to an end and I would like now to dedicate that time to making Harrogate an even better place to live and work. As you can see in my other answers helping nature to recovery is not my only priority but it is something that the Town Council, through its work with others, could make a helpful contribution to.
Should a town councillor be voted for based on party or personality ?
A blend of both perhaps? You can make judgements about individual candidates – are they working hard to communicate with their ward, are they listening and even actively seeking the views of voters and building those into their proposals for the Town Council, what is their track record more generally? Parties have track records too, and make statements by which you can judge them – and I believe the Green Party’s track record is strong and getting stronger, and it has proved it can win even at the level of getting MPs elected in very diverse wards, plus we have won at our County Council level – and it is even more true at a local level.
Gilly Charters is our candidate for Hookstone Ward
What’s your connection to Harrogate ?
I’ve lived in Harrogate since 1981, my children were both born here and went to the local state schools (until Special Needs provision was necessary for my son). I taught at King James’s School for 20 years, then worked in the local probation service and finished my paid working life supporting parents trying to get the right education provision for their children with special needs. Harrogate is a truly beautiful place to live.
The role of the Harrogate Town Council isn’t fully defined, what would would you like to see a town council do ?
The new Council will able to take on a wide variety of responsibilities from NYC if they allow.
For example, Harrogate needs to take on local responsibility for financing youth clubs to provide purposeful activities and work closely with police and PCSOs to increase civil enforcement powers.
We know that residents want easier and safer bus travel with more bus shelters and improved services and the town council must support NYC schemes for active travel.
What do you see as the main challenges for the town council ?
To be independent of North Yorkshire council, no current NYC councillors should be elected to HTC.
Funding is always an issue but working together with charities and those with local expertise can help the Council develop best practice eg in tackling street homelessness and launching local energy generation schemes.
Traffic on our main roads is spoiling life for many; better public transport and safer walking and cycling routes can begin to tackle this.
Local people want to see the Town Council build up a resilient community in Harrogate so we can work together to address the problems brought about by climate change.
What do you see as the main gains for the people of Harrogate ?
A more robust attitude to our national government’s ‘growth at any price’ mantra – especially when it comes to building houses. A sprawling town makes the provision of services more difficult and increases traffic levels.
Our beautiful public open spaces must remain attractive and safe to use for people of all ages. We want to make it easy for residents to attend council meetings and our councillors will hold regular open surgeries to listen to people.
What else do you believe people should know about your party or what you believe ?
I’d like people to know that the Green Party works for the benefit of everyone, ‘for the common good’.
We’re supported by many small donations from thousands of ordinary people who know that there are ways to improve the health of individuals and of the planet without spending lots of money. It’s really beneficial when we work together.
I believe we all need to be good ancestors so future generations can enjoy a safe and healthy environment.
Should a town councillor be voted for based on party or personality ?
People I’ve met want a strong voice speaking up for them locally.
Green Party members have a clear moral compass which is guided by policies that we trust and which enable us to make a difference.
Reg Tayler is our candidate for High Harrogate Ward
What’s your connection to Harrogate ?
I have lived in the Harrogate area for nearly 30 years having first moved here for family reasons. My wife and I chose to move into the town itself 8 years ago after I retired from work.
The role of the Harrogate Town Council isn’t fully defined, what would would you like to see a town council do ?
I understand that the powers of a Town Council are limited, but I would like to see local services come under local control as far as possible. The Town Council should build on the work of the Harrogate Town Planning Forum to create a local area plan. We should be looking after our parks and open spaces including the Stray, and our wonderful floral displays, for the benefit of residents and to maintain the appearance of the town.
We should act to preserve our Spa cultural heritage. We need to help promote tourism and support local businesses. We need to ensure that the streets and pavements are kept clean and tidy. In High Harrogate there is a need for play areas for children and youth facilities for teenagers – this would help reduce antisocial behaviour. We should work with North Yorkshire Council to promote active travel (walking, cycling) and improve bus services – if we could cut the use of cars for local journeys by 10%, that would alleviate traffic congestion considerably.
What do you see as the main challenges for the town council ?
The main challenges for the Town Council are to preserve as much as possible the special character of the town, to help it prosper, and to promote the town’s interests within North Yorkshire, all on a limited budget. This will require us to work collaboratively with local organisations and North Yorkshire Council. In particular, we will need to emphasise to North Yorkshire Council the importance of the conference centre to the town’s prosperity so that they continue to invest in its future.
What do you see as the main gains for the people of Harrogate ?
The main gain for the people of Harrogate is that they will have a person and an organisation locally to protect and defend their interests, working to solve local problems and to escalate them to North Yorkshire Council or their MP where necessary. A Green Party councillor also has the backing of an experienced group of councillors who share their expertise.
What else do you believe people should know about your party or what you believe ?
People should know that I have extensive experience of managing projects and delivering results. Consequently I understand the importance of working collaboratively with other people as a team to get things done.
Should a town councillor be voted for based on party or personality ?
Personality first – it is the person who is representing you and your ward on the council. Their party allegiance will inform their priorities but not define them.
Roland Strauss is our candidate for Stray Ward
What’s your connection to Harrogate ? (how long have you lived here, family work, why you live here etc)
I have been living in Harrogate for 11 years and working in the local hospital for 16 years.
The role of the Harrogate Town Council isn’t fully defined, what would would you like to see a town council do ?
To grow into an entity for Harrogate’s citizens to be proud of, gathering all the historical achievements and in addition to preserving them, use the wealth of experience to prepare Harrogate for the challenges of the future. This challenge offers an opportunity to use the traditional focus of a spa town on wellbeing to continue promoting healthy living in all its aspects,
What do you see as the main challenges for the town council ?
To establish sufficient independence from North Yorkshire Council enabling it to make decisions that have Harrogate interests at heart and at the same time avoiding incompatibilities in issues such as planning regulations.
What do you see as the main gains for the people of Harrogate ?
People will feel better represented by a Town Council , but more importantly their interests should be better realised if all the Town Council members live in or have a close relationship to the town.
What else do you believe people should know about your or what you believe ?
I believe we live in a changing world in which many of our natural resources are threatened, and with it, our well being. I feel we have a moral duty to do all we can to preserve our nature and ecosystems for the coming generations. I see the challenge to adapt as an opportunity – nationally as well as locally – to develop into a truly sustainable future society
Should a town councillor be voted for based on party or personality?
The connection to a community seems to matter much more to the people in local election, as the many successful independent candidates in local elections demonstrate. If somebody knows and is known and trusted in their community, then that matters more to people than the party affiliation – so personality.