The date for the Parish Council meeting scheduled to take place in Monday 18th September has had to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances. This has been re-scheduled for Monday 25th September. The venue and time remains the same.
I recently received a visit from North Yorkshire police as a follow up to my report about criminal damage to one of our commemorative benches. We also discussed car theft. PC Pierre Olesqui is our Community Policeman and is keen to help. He asked me to pass on his contact details on chatterbox and our PC website. Any suspicious activity, registration numbers for cars etc should be emailed to him.
The parish council welcomes this more proactive approach from North Yorkshire police which we hope will be productive.
The damaged seat is now reinstalled with hopefully stronger fixings.
Contact details:
Janet Hanson
Scammers know how to impersonate legitimate organisations. These can include your phone network, bank, or delivery company (or even one of your close friends or relatives). Scammers can skilfully nudge you towards clicking links, sharing personal information or transferring money.
Losing money is the last thing anyone needs right now. The criminal gangs behind scams are constantly developing more sophisticated methods – which means we need to be more sophisticated in our responses, too. Here’s what you need to know about keeping yourself safe from smishing.
Watch out for signs
It’s a red flag if you are asked for a one-time code, password or other security information. If you receive a text that looks like it’s from a known supplier and requests any of these details, it’s malicious and should be reported (scroll down to learn how).
Other tell-tale signs of smishing messages include spelling errors and an urgent tone telling you to act or call immediately.
Watch out for web links, contact names or email addresses that are incorrect, look strange or use substitute characters. For example, a text using the number zero, rather than the letter O. Remember: scammers are trying to exploit people’s desire to save money at the moment. If a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is.
Do your checks
Not sure whether a mobile phone message is authentic? Don’t click any links or follow the instructions in the text. Instead, see if you can independently verify the information in the message. Look up phone numbers or email addresses to see whether they’re legitimate. Confirm the message’s contents by checking with the organisation directly.
For example, if you’re expecting a parcel, you could be vulnerable to delivery scam texts containing links to “track your order”. But you should be able to check your package’s status on the verified company’s website rather than clicking links in a text.
Report immediately
Forward suspicious texts to 7726 immediately, including the message’s contents and the number it came from. The 7726 number is linked to all the UK’s phone networks. It means the scam number can be blocked and investigated.
You can report attempted HMRC scams via the dedicated government website.
Reach out for help
No one is immune from falling victim to smishing scams. Worried that you’ve clicked a suspicious link or shared information with someone you shouldn’t have? Don’t panic but act quickly.
Contact your bank, change all relevant passwords, and monitor related accounts to check for fraudulent activity.
Received from:
Andy Fox
North Yorkshire Police, Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer, Economic Crime Unit
The attached information is from my colleagues at Nat West bank who ask I circulate it which gives practical advice about impersonation scams, namely criminals pretending to be the police or your bank.
I think it is also worth a reminder about the type of scams we are seeing in North Yorkshire. Please be aware of scam calls about energy refunds/assistance. The reduction in your energy bills comes direct from the supplier and you do not have to apply for it.
Remember, the police or bank will NEVER ask you to move money to a ‘safe’ account and if you are ever told to lie to the bank/police/family etc as to why you are sending/moving money, it is a scam.
You can download this leaflet from the link below.
Update: 17th March 2023 – BBC reports that the 412 Service has been secured through to 2025. You can read more on the BBC article here.
Update: March 2023 – York City Council have issued a tender for this service. We await the outcome.
Your Parish Council has been co-ordinating efforts with other Parish Councils along the route of the 412 bus service in order to create a stronger voice in efforts to retain this Service.
You may be aware that the service was due to end on 10th December 2022.
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The following letter has been received from North Yorkshire County Council.
“We have been advised that Connexions Buses are wishing to withdraw their journeys on service 412 from 22 October owing to staff shortages. Service 412 is operated commercially and the decision to withdraw or change the service is that of the operator, not the County Council.
To give some context, we spend £1.6 million across the whole of the County to support local transport services. Throughout the pandemic we have provided significant support to services, and many would been lost, including this one if not for financial support from NYCC and Department for Transport.
We are aware of the challenges being faced by operators due to reduced passenger numbers, increasing costs and staff shortages, however this is one route of over 70 that have been identified as at risk across the County. As I am sure you appreciate it is impossible to support and retain all of them without significant additional funding.
We have only been advised of the intention to withdraw the service earlier this week and are working with our neighbouring authorities City of York Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to explore what options are available to maintain some level of service for passengers. We hope to be able to update customers on the outcome of these discussions in the near future.”
THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE 2022 UPDATES
Buckingham Palace has announced the plans for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the four day weekend, Thursday 2 June through to Sunday 5 June 2022.
Please find attached a Platinum Jubilee Bulletin with all the links to information you may need to pass on to your community. Also attached is information from Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons. A link to a detailed guide relating to beacons is included in the bulletin. A poster inviting community choirs to take part in performing ‘A Song for the Commonwealth’ is also attached.
The Parish council have submitted an objection to the reserved matter application for the above, following outline planning permission being granted previously.
A copy of the objections are attached and have been forwarded to HBC. The plans for the site can be viewed on the HBC planning applications portal, using the reference number above .
If you wish to put in an objection, please make sure your comments are about the reserved matters application. Planning permission has already been granted for the development , a judicial review was made to try to overturn the decision and failed. Any objections must be to get the best possible outcome for the village with the proposed development.
Community Recovery Plan consultation
As you are aware we have asked yourselves and partners what they think are the key issues that have arisen from the pandemic to date. We have now looked at this feedback and revised the community recovery plan accordingly.
We are now asking residents what are their main concerns and at the end of the consultation period we will look to see if we have missed anything out of the plan priorities and revise the recovery plan accordingly. This information is being captured through various meetings held with specific groups and through a quick survey.
Please encourage residents to contribute by completing the short survey Click here
COVID Guidance for holiday clubs and out-of-school activities
Now that schools are closed for the summer, the government have issued COVID guidance (on outbreak management and test and trace) for anyone providing out-of-school activities/holiday clubs/groups/education/tuition etc. for children and young people. Please circulate this to any groups that this may apply too.
The guidance can be found here
Updated guidance on coronavirus testing
The Department of Health and Social Care has updated its guidance on who is eligible for a test and how they can be tested including instructions for care homes, volunteers and charities.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
The Two Ridings Community Foundation Coronavirus Community Fund – Phase 3 (Recovery)
This grant fund re-opened for applications on 3 August 2020
More information can be found here
Grants are available of up to £10,000 for individual and group applications. Partnership bids will also be considered.
In phase 3 grant making will support the development of self-sufficient and resilient communities, by helping to support solutions rather than the symptoms of problems. Funds are available for either projects or running costs but the work supported must be aimed at strengthening communities and/or strengthening the organisations that provide vital support to communities.
The priorities for funding are:
Applications from organisations with an annual income of under £500,000 (based on current forecast annual income) will be prioritised. Groups must be based in and/or working in North Yorkshire, York, East Riding of Yorkshire or Hull.
National Public Health Campaign to encourage millions to lose weight
Public Health England has launched a major new adult health campaign to encourage millions of adults to kick start their health and reduce their risk of serious illness, including Covid-19.
The campaign aims to reach millions of people who need to lose weight, encouraging them to make behaviour changes to eat better and move more to prevent or delay the onset of serious diseases. This will be supported by a 12-week weight loss plan app that people who are living with obesity can use to develop healthier eating habits, get more active and lose weight. For more information go to www.nhs.uk/BetterHealth.
More information can also be found here
NYCC Young People’s emotional health survey
North Yorkshire County Council wants to hear from young people about how the Coronavirus lockdown has impacted their mental health.
New grief and loss support service available to Harrogate district residents what
This is a new support and advice service that has been launched to help people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate through grief and loss.
More information can be found here
Ear To Help – a service provided by Just ‘B’
“If lockdown is relaxed, then why don’t I feel relaxed?”
“We may have a new normal, but none of this feels normal to me”
Anyone feeling anxious can talk to specialist support workers who are ready to listen, and share helpful tools and ways to cope.
The Community Helpline is available to all across Hambleton, Harrogate District and Richmondshire. 8am-8pm, 7 days a week on (01423) 856 799. Calls are charged at local rates.
