North Yorkshire Council

Sherburn and Villages Community Library has been spruced up following a donation from local councillor Bob Packham. He donated £640 from his locality budget to cover the entrance with acoustic panels and an eye-catching map. The paper towel dispenser in the toilet will also be replaced with a hand dryer to improve hygiene, reduce paper waste and save money in the long-term. See, https://lnkd.in/eN7_6WWR

We've been left facing some "very difficult" choices after being hit with a £6.5m shortfall following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget. The local government funding settlements were announced this month and confirmed that we would be losing millions of pounds that would have been spent on vital services for North Yorkshire. The deepening financial deficit comes amid increases in employer’s National Insurance costs and the axing of rural grants worth £14.3m per year in North Yorkshire. Deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said: “We are committed to providing the best value that we possibly can for North Yorkshire’s taxpayers, but we are now faced with some very difficult choices for our budget for the next financial year following the Government’s funding announcement.” Read more at https://lnkd.in/e22-MGxH

We've helped the popular Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway to invest in renovations to make its services more accessible for disabled people. It received £111,800 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which we administer on behalf of the government. The money, combined with the railway’s own funds, is enabling the renovation of two British Rail carriages dating from the 1950s at a total cost of more than £220,000. The coaches which will be fitted out with accessible seating, widened doors and ramp access, along with other restorations befitting of the era when they were made. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/eQ5grPRv

We're investing in support for children with specialist needs to help them thrive in school. The Targeted Mainstream Provision (TMP) Programme, which focuses on tailored support for children without them having to travel miles to another provision. “Exceptional progress” has already been made by pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Alverton Primary School in Northallerton, thanks to the programme See https://lnkd.in/eKK2AkQh

Happy Christmas from all of us at North Yorkshire Council 🎄

A multi-million pound partnership has been secured to upgrade 31 vehicles in North Yorkshire’s gritting fleet. NY Highways, which runs the winter service on our behalf, has entered a seven-year lease with Ripon-based engineering firm Econ. The £5.7 million contract will see 31 new gritters, around half of the fleet, treat the county’s 5,800 miles of roads The gritters have been delivered in batches starting from October, and the final ones will be on the road by January. See https://lnkd.in/ec6qzPjH

A decades-old tradition will once again be taking place this Boxing Day in Scarborough as handmade rafts do battle in the town's harbour. The annual Boxing Day Raft Race sees teams compete in fancy dress and draws hundreds of spectators who come out to watch the carnage unfold, with cheating and underhand tactics very much encouraged. The race, which starts at 12.30pm, is organised by the Scarborough Sub Aqua Club and raises money for charity. One of those taking part is Edmund Ulliott, who has been putting the finishing touches to his raft. He calls the race “sheer madness”. For more information, see https://lnkd.in/ei944F8Q

A group of young people who have lived in foster care across North Yorkshire have come together to help others who find themselves being fostered. The 11 to 25 year olds have formed the “Care Champions” to advocate for those in care and to shape policies in the future. See https://lnkd.in/e8rCwNZW

The amazing community response to flooding caused by Strom Darragh has been praised as we move ahead with a major scheme to protect homes and businesses fro­­­­­­m future flooding. Around 50 properties were flooded in Kirkbymoorside and surrounding villages due to heavy rainfall during the weekend of 7 and 8 December. Hundreds more properties were cut off without power and there were 160 reports of fallen trees blocking the county’s roads. We responded swiftly to the emergency, working closely with the local community and partners to support residents. We are now progressing with a flood prevention scheme for at-risk properties, including several affected by the recent floods, with a bid for additional funding from the Government submitted this month. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/ex-3txQw

There will be changes to some of our opening hours over the festive period. This includes some changes to the scheduled waste and recycling collections - please check your schedule online for full details. Customer service centres will close to routine queries from 5pm on Christnas Eve until 9am on Thursday 2 January. They will be open where emergency response is required, including social care, housing and homelessness, registrars, trading standards and highways. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/eaYXAXbi