DN 14/2020 Pateley Bridge police estate

21 December 2020

Background

The North Yorkshire Police estates strategy sets out a number of principles which drive decision making, one of which is to co-locate with other public and third sector services when opportunities arise, so long as the policing presence within the community is maintained or improved.  This co-location principle is already implemented across North Yorkshire, for example, in Ripon, Thirsk, Selby, Bedale, Masham and elsewhere.

Set against these principles, Pateley Bridge has a number of services in the town already, and it makes sense for policing to co-locate with other public sector partners, maintain the local presence and release money from the sale of the building which can be reinvested in frontline policing.

Pateley Bridge station is a large building and is relatively expensive to run.  Whilst local officers and staff are based there, the building is far too large for the size of team based there.  New mobile working technology means officers are spending less time in the station and more time in the community, which has also affected how often the current station is occupied.  This will decrease further as new applications are added to the technology.

The current station is not open to the public, with the front counter service being provided at the Nidderdale Plus office.  This service will remain unchanged, meaning it is open to the public Mondays 10am – 6pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 10am – 4pm, and at weekends from 10am – 1pm. It is located centrally in the town.

Moving the local policing team from the current building to Harrogate Borough Council offices across the road will save £19,000 per annum, including the cost of the proposed long-term lease, which is £4,400 per annum.  The new offices would require some initial investment of around £58,000, after which the sale of the building could provide a capital receipt of approximately £142,000.  Moving the team to the new building also means avoiding having to invest in the current site, which is in need of significant refurbishment. All proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in policing in North Yorkshire.

Decision Record

The Commissioner has decided to sell Pateley Bridge police station upon agreement with the Chief Constable that the local policing team will co-locate in the Harrogate Borough Council offices also on King Street and with front counter provision remaining at the Nidderdale Plus office.

Julia Mulligan

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire

Statutory Officer Advice

Legal, Management and Equality Implications

The Commissioner’s Assistant Chief Executive and Deputy Monitoring Officer, on behalf of the Commissioner’s Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, having read this report and having considered such information as has been provided at the time of being asked to express this view, is satisfied that this report does not ask the Commissioner to make a decision which would (or would be likely to) give rise to a contravention of the law.

Financial and Commercial

The Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer has advised that the proposals represent good value for money in respect of both reduced revenue costs and the release of a capital receipt also which can then be reinvested within the organisation.