Harrogate's coronavirus economic recovery plan set to be unveiled within weeks

Coun Graham Swift, deputy leader of the council, said a "task force" has been set up as part of the plan to help businesses emerge from what experts are predicting to be the worst economic downturn in 300 years.

Officers will set out steps to help businesses back on their feet and make the district more environmentally friendly in mid-July when hard-hit retailers will reopen after almost three months of closures.

Coun Swift said signs of positivity have already been shown by businesses in the borough which have received their share of £50million in government grants distributed by the council.

And he has hailed "game changing" plans to regenerate key parts of Harrogate town centre with improved cycling and walking routes as a boost for traders.

He said: "Officers have distributed over £44.5million of grants to 4,000 businesses in the district at remarkable pace and I must say we have received very positive response from the many businesses that received these funds.

"This support is targeted to ensure businesses survive and has played an essential role in achieving this goal.

"Survival is one goal, but our next priority will be help businesses recover and subsequently thrive in our district.

"Work has kicked off on this and an Economic Recovery Task Force has been initiated which will work on establishing deliverable support to companies.

"Some of this work is already underway in accelerating our core strategy – we have received national funding under the Transforming Cities agenda and have big, game changing projects around Station Parade and Harrogate Convention Centre."

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Cash from the government's Transforming Cities fund will be used to create an eco-friendly 'gateway' to the Station Parade area with better links to shopping streets.

The project is expected to be completed by spring 2023 and will also see some on-street parking spaces removed to make way for wider pavements.

Harrogate Borough Council has also been given more than £140,000 to get the district's high streets safely back to business when the lockdown restrictions are eased.

The government said the cash could be used for measures such as signs, street markings and temporary barriers - but no plans have yet to be announced for the Harrogate district.

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Coun Swift said officers will lay out the first steps of the economy recovery plan at a meeting of the council's cabinet next month.

"The task force is expected to bring reports to cabinet in subsequent meetings which will flesh out the detail of some of these opportunities," he said.

"The impact of covid-19 on businesses in Harrogate will be far reaching but individual businesses will be impacted in distinct ways. We are in communication with many businesses and their feedback will play an important role in our own plans.

"In the immediate, urgent time-scale Harrogate Borough Council has provided instant relief for businesses in executing the many forms of government aid that has been provided in the form of business rate relief to specific sectors and financial grants to businesses meeting rateable value criteria.

"But there is a lot that we can do around supporting specific key areas such as land and buildings for growth, skills in the economy, skills transfer and change through education.

"There is no doubt that coronavirus is making everybody think about how things may change – potentially accelerating the pace at which town centres need to adapt and Harrogate Borough Council is already thinking of how to respond to these changes and ensure we thrive having played a major role in providing immediate support to ensure businesses survive."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter