BOROUGH COUNCIL

Working for you

Corporate Plan 2014/2017

HARROGATE DISTRICT The best place to live, work and visit April 2016 Our three-year Corporate Plan sets out our long-term vision for the Harrogate district, our aim as an organisation, our corporate priorities and the long term outcomes that we want to achieve. The Plan is a strategic document that sits next to our Medium-Term Financial Strategy and our Organisational Development Strategy.

We cannot deliver our long-term vision for the Harrogate district alone and will continue to work with others in partnership to deliver high quality public services and wider outcomes to make our district the best place to live, work and visit.

Hackfall Wood, near Grewelthorpe.

The Cenotaph, Harrogate.

Ripon Cathedral. p.2 Setting our plans in context

the population aged 65 and over is projected to The Place rise by around 15,000 people (a 47% rise from The Harrogate district is part of the county of current levels). The average age in the district North Yorkshire and local government service is 42 years. delivery is split between Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council. Migration: 9% of the district’s population were It is also part of both the Leeds City Region born outside of the UK and 5.3% arrived in the Local Enterprise Partnership and the York, UK between 2001 and 2011, both of these figures North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise are the highest across North Yorkshire districts. Partnership. The district is one of the largest shire Future net migration levels are expected to districts in England at 1305 sq km (505 sq miles) remain fairly balanced. and lies between the cities of Leeds/Bradford in Ethnicity: The district is predominately White the south, the district of Richmondshire in the (96.4%) however this has reduced from 99% in north, the city of York, Hambleton and Selby 2001. 91.7% of the population are White British districts in the east and the Craven district - the lowest proportion of all North Yorkshire in the west. districts. People of Chinese origin account for The district is characterised by being both the largest Black or Minority Ethnic Group (0.6%) urban and rural in nature, having large, sparsely doubling in size from 2001 to 2011. populated areas alongside the major urban Health: Over the last 10 years all-cause settlements. Over 120 smaller settlements are mortality rates have fallen in the district. The scattered across the district including the small early death rate from heart disease and stroke market towns of Boroughbridge, Masham and has also fallen and is better than the England Pateley Bridge which lies in the centre of the average. There are comparatively low levels Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. of people with a disability in 2011, 15.5% of the district’s population stated that their day-to-day activities were limited by a disability - this can be compared to 17.6% nationally.

The most recent Department of Health profile of Harrogate shows that the level of health within the district is generally good though statistics for road injuries/deaths and alcohol specific hospital stays (for under 18s) are above the national average.

Nidderdale - viewed from Middlesmoor. Deprivation: Relative to the national average, the district is a prosperous area ranking 283 out of England’s 326 local authorities (where The People 1 = most deprived and 326 = least deprived). Population: The Harrogate district has the However, there are pockets of deprivation and largest population of all the districts in North one particular area within the ward of Woodfield Yorkshire and it is expected to increase from is ranked within the 20% most deprived in 157,869 in 2011 to 170,300 by 2030. There England. are around 67,000 households. Employment: In 2011, 81,402 of the district’s Population density is low with relatively few residents (52%) were in employment. There are urban wards and a significantly higher proportion high levels of people in professional, technical of villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings. and managerial/leadership occupations. It has three major towns or settlements with a The district also has relatively high levels of population over 15,000; Harrogate town, home employment within the agriculture, forestry and to around 75,000 people, Ripon (17,000 people) fishing sector and in professional, scientific and and Knaresborough (15,500 people). technical activities. People are generally very well qualified with 34% of people holding Age: Compared to the national average, the a qualification above A-Level - the highest figure district has a lower percentage of people aged of all North Yorkshire districts and well above under 29 and a higher proportion aged 45 and the national average. over. 27% of the district’s population is aged 60 and over (22.4% nationally) and by 2030 p.3 Local factors that distinguish us from other shire districts: l We directly operate a major conference and exhibition business at the Harrogate International Centre. l We are one of the largest English shire districts in terms of both geographic area and population. l Our rural and urban populations are roughly equally spread which poses particular challenges for service provision and resource allocation. l We are Britain’s floral district with a reputation for horticultural excellence. High Street, Pateley Bridge.

For more information on the Harrogate district, the council, councillors, our services and our performance, visit the council’s website: www.harrogate.gov.uk

Key Facts - Working for you - did you know: in a typical week we:

l We get to keep only 14p in every £1 of l Assist 5,500 callers in our council tax we collect Customer Services unit

l We have not increased council tax l Process 535 financial transactions to for 6 years make sure our suppliers are paid on time

l We manage and maintain 3,800 l Enable 17,875 people to participate council homes in sporting activities

l We operate 5 swimming pools, l Review and process 39 planning applications 3 gyms and 2 leisure centres l Complete 270 repairs for tenants living in l We look after 391 hectares of parkland council-owned properties and open space, 600 allotments and 58 playgrounds l Prevent 12 people from becoming homeless

l We own and operate the Harrogate l Welcome 3,678 visitors to the district’s International Centre which generates tourist information centres £60 million to the local economy l Process 1,194 benefits claims and changes l We maintain 11 cemeteries and l Collect waste/recycling from 12 closed churchyards 69,000 households l On average we visit 1,200 houses l Attract £961,000 of income to the to treat wasps or bees each year local economy through the l We cut 38 million sqm of grass each year Harrogate International Centre l Inspect 19 food premises, investigate 10 noise complaints and catch 4 stray dogs

l Survey 500 trees p.4 Key issues and challenges

Harrogate is a beautiful district offering a superb has been reducing year on year (by 69% since quality of life for its residents. Boasting a strong 2010/11). local economy, low unemployment, unrivalled natural and built heritage, low levels of crime and We are committed to meeting these challenges excellent sporting and cultural opportunities. and ensuring that the Harrogate district remains the best place to live, work and visit. To do Nevertheless, Harrogate faces some significant this, with less money and fewer resources we challenges over the next few years. Both the must think and act differently. Look beyond our district and its residents have been adversely organisational and district boundaries and work in affected by the economic downturn, particularly partnership with other private, public and voluntary in the rural areas. Transport connectivity and sector bodies to deliver both our ambitions for traffic congestion remain an issue, along with the district and the continued delivery of excellent affordable housing, broadband provision, quality services for our residents. access to services and reducing waste to landfill. Local demographic pressures relating We reviewed our vision, values and priorities in to an increasingly elderly population as well as 2013 to ensure we remain focused on the things the impact of welfare reforms are likely to put that matter and that are valued by you. pressure on our services. These challenges are set against a backdrop of austerity. The grant that we receive from central government

Our vision, aims and values Our ambition for the Harrogate district: To build on our heritage and be a progressive and vibrant place to live, work and visit Flowers in Masham. Our aim as a council we will be the best by: l Listening to our customers and being willing to change l Knowing our district and our communities

l Being clear about our strategic direction Cambridge Street, Harrogate. and priorities Our values l Putting customers first l Working better together l Providing great value services

l Listening, learning, responding, improving Nidd Viaduct, Knaresborough.

p.5 Our priorities and outcomes

Priority 1: Priority 3: a strong local supporting our economy communities

Outcomes: Outcomes: Harrogate district - a place with: Harrogate district - a place l A resilient, diverse and expanding where: economy l People’s housing needs are l A vibrant tourism offer addressed l Excellent travel, transport and l People are as healthy and active broadband connectivity as possible l A world class conference centre l Services and support are targeted to those who need them the most l There is a strong and sustainable voluntary and community sector Priority 2: a sustainable Priority 4: environment excellent public services Outcomes: Harrogate district - a place that: Outcomes: l Protects our high quality environment Harrogate Borough Council whilst meeting development needs - a council that: l Reduces waste and increases l Is customer focused recycling l Provides value for money and is l Has clean, well maintained and safe financially sound streets, parks and open spaces l Works with partners to reduce l Works to reduce our impact on the council costs natural environment by reducing carbon emissions and adapting to l Minimises the impact of the changes climate change to Local Government Funding on frontline services

Our delivery plan Each year we will publish, alongside this plan, All of our plans and strategies and performance our delivery plan. This will detail what we will do, information including the Medium Term Financial what our targets are and how we will measure Strategy and Organisational Development these. It will, in essence be our ‘Corporate Plan Strategy can be found on our website on a Page’. We will monitor our progress against www.harrogate.gov.uk. this plan quarterly through our performance management system and will publish the quarterly results on our website. p.6 Contact details Alternative Formats The Corporate Plan is available in large print, audio-tape, Braille or other languages. If you wish to contact the council for an alternative format, or additional copies, please write, telephone or email us as follows: Knaresborough Castle. Customer Services Unit Council Offices Crescent Gardens HARROGATE HG1 2SG

Telephone: 01423 500600 Station Parade, Harrogate. Email: [email protected]

Alternatively, use the Customer Feedback Form on the council’s website at www.harrogate.gov.uk

Market Place, Ripon.

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