Talking to Harrogate’s dynamic and personable new Mayor about what makes her 'tick'
If earnings were calculated on enthusiasm Harrogate’s new Mayor would have a good chance of making The Sunday Times Rich List.
“I’m like a dog with a bone once I get into something,” Viv Poskitt tells the Harrogate Advertiser just a few days after becoming only the second mayor of Harrogate since the formation of Harrogate Town Council in April 2025.
She’s just cycled all the way from Starbeck through the traffic to get to the newspaper’s office after fulfilling one of her first engagements in her new civic role.
A popular GP in Harrogate for 25 years, her professional background includes working with North Yorkshire Police as a forensic medical examiner and with North Yorkshire Social Services assessing mental health and dementia care needs.
That’s not to forget her community involvement spanning many years, including supporting Harrogate Grammar School as an active PTA fundraiser.
Viv – or Councillor Poskitt - may only have been in local politics for a short time but being in constant demand or acting in the ceremonial limelight is unlikely to pose a problem.
Neither is dealing with a myriad of new situations and unfamiliar faces as she attempts to champion Harrogate and all its good works.
"I’ve always had four jobs,” she tells me with no trace of tiredness from the journey.
"I want to be visible and approachable.
“I want to find out about things I don’t about know about and meet new groups and help raise their profile.”
Among the many interests this Lib Dem councillor in a Lib Dem dominated town council brings up most of all is mental wellbeing and young people.
"I feel for young people in the modern world,” said Councillor Poskitt.
"They are under so many pressures that we didn’t have when I was young.
"I want to help them without patronising them.
"I’ve already had meetings with the heads of Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett High School and Rossett Acre Primary School to see how I can help.”
Earlier this year, Harrogate Town Council approved a 105% increase in the precept paid by council tax payers locally, so this newish parish council would have some money to play with.
That still only equates to approximately £26 per year for a Band D property, one of the lowest precepts of any town council in Britain.
For now, there is not much thought of making that any higher.
“We have a good bunch of councillors, all keen to put the town’s interests first but we are only a year old as a town council, " said Councillor Poskitt.
"We feel as if we have a healthy budget.
"We don’t plan to raise the precept.
"Being from Yorkshire, I am a bit frugal.
"I’m very aware that spending tax payers money is a serious business.”
With the new precept generating approximately £740,000 for Harrogate Town Council each year, councillors can now getting on with turning words into deeds after the completion of the process of coming up with strategic objectives and building up a small team of staff.
The list of responsibilties coming the way of Harrogate Town Council from the hands of North Yorkshire Council is small so far but important, nonetheless.
Not the Royal Hall or parking or tourism but allotments and toilets.
With power can come money, however.
"The town council is hoping that funding will follow the responsibilities we inherit from North Yorkshire Council,” she said.
"As our role grows, we are hoping to have the funding passed on to us, too.”
As well as Viv’s passion for hard-working charities and community groups in Harrogate, the new Mayor is keen on partnerships with bodies such as Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and Harrogate International Festivals to support local businesses, the arts world and the visitor economy.
To that end, the new Mayor and Harrogate Town Council are leading the attempt to win The UK Town of Culture 2028 with its prize pot of £3 million.
But it is possible beneath Councillor Poskitt’s realism, to detect a bigger vision of filling the gaping hole in local representation left by the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council three years ago as part of local government reorganisation.
As well as being Mayor, Councillor Poskitt is also Chair of Harrogate Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Group, which has taken over the reins from the Harrogate Town Plan Forum of shaping the town’s development and protecting its heritage.
The journey to creating a Neighbourhood Plan which would have a real impact on planning decisions affecting Harrogate will take at least ten years.
But the appetite and aspiration to speak up for Harrogate’s interests in the shadow of the new unitary authority in Northallerton is there below the new Harrogate Mayor’s cheery pragmatism.
Ambition amid the town’s sense of heritage.
"I know people say about some parish councils that the mayor is powerless and penniless but I am keen to make being Mayor of Harrogate a meaningful role,” said the personable and proactive Viv – or Coun Poskitt.
"But there is going to be no false promises or hot air.
"We do want to do good things, we do want to make Harrogate better.
"But we need to walk before we can run.”