In episode eight of In Conversation With, we speak to the leader of the council, Councillor Steve Siddons about his disappointment as our application for £20 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund is rejected.  Our questions for the leader cover the topics of civic awards, an increase in allowances for councillors and whether Scarborough will still secure its fair share of investment and money when we (the borough council) are abolished and replaced with a single council for North Yorkshire.  On a lighter note, Steve reflects on how his New Year’s fireworks were called off because of a walrus!  If you’d like to ask the council leader a question in the February edition of the podcast, please send an email to podcasts@scarborough.gov.uk and we’ll make sure it is included.

In Conversation With Episode 8

In the January edition of Borough Cast we reflect on our disappointment at missing out on a grant of £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund and we set the record straight on gull proofing measures on Spa Bridge.  With household bills still stubbornly high we speak to the councillor who’s been leading an inquiry into the impact of the cost of living crisis on families on the Yorkshire coast.  Our ‘sounds of the borough’ feature comes from near Whitby and we reflect on the New Year’s Eve arrival of a rather heavyweight visitor to Scarborough!  Borough Cast is presented by Gabrielle and Andy. You can reach them via email: podcasts@scarborough.gov.uk

These are the various links we mention in this episode:

The January edition of our sister podcast, In Conversation With can be streamed or downloaded from here (or via your favourite podcast provider):
https://soundcloud.com/scarboroughbc/in-conversation-with-episode-8?in=scarboroughbc/sets/in-conversation-with

North Yorkshire County Council’s statement about Spa Bridge can be read here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/article/statement-about-spa-footbridge-scarborough

Here are the various links to cost of living information, support and advice:

The North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) (www.northyorks.gov.uk/local-assistance-fund) provides emergency 
financial support if you – or someone you know – is unable to meet essential living costs, such as energy bills or food. NYLAF can also make awards in kind, such as supplying basic necessities or household goods such as a fridge.

Warm and Well North Yorkshire (www.warmandwell.org.uk/) can help with minor repairs to make homes warmer.

Our local council tax reduction and support scheme (www.scarborough.gov.uk/home/council-…t-council-tax) can help if you are on a low income or if you are claiming benefits

The government has published full details of the help and support available on its website (www.gov.uk/cost-of-living) and an online tool can help you find out what financial assistance you may be eligible for (www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support).

The North Yorkshire Home Efficiency Fund (www.northyorks.gov.uk/north-yorkshir…fficiency-fund) offers a range of fully funded energy-saving home improvements to eligible homeowners in our borough.  Properties could receive improvements including insulation, solar panels, air source heat pumps and high heat retention electric storage heaters. Your eligibility depends on the suitability of the property you live in and your financial circumstances.

You can also check if you are eligible for a Warm Homes Discount of £150 (www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme) on the government website and Yorkshire Energy Doctor (yorkshireenergydoctor.org.uk/) works with households to try and reduce energy costs and to ensure people can afford to live in a warm home.

The main foodbanks in the borough are at the Rainbow Centre in Scarborough (therainbowcentre.org/food/) and Whitby 4 Food (www.foodbank4whitby.org.uk/). There are also many locally based community fridges (Filey, Eastfield and Hunmanby) and local groups and organisations are providing food, advice and other support.

Citizens Advice for North Yorkshire’s website is www.cany.org.uk 

Here is the Warm Spaces link: www.warmwelcome.info  

You can sign up to our garden waste collection service here: https://www.scarborough.gov.uk/gardenwaste

World Wildlife Fund’s ‘Walrus from Space’ webpage is here: https://www.wwf.org.uk/node/42731

Borough Cast Episode 10 January 2023

In episode nine of In Conversation With, we speak to the leader of the council, Councillor Steve Siddons about criticism of our plans for West Pier in Scarborough, the success of a scheme to improve the quality of homes in our borough and why we want to extend it, the future of independent accommodation providers for visitors, why enforcing speed limits is better than a blanket 20 miles an hour in towns and villages and a reflection on a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. If you’d like to ask the council leader a question in the March edition of the podcast (the last in this series), please send an email to podcasts@scarborough.gov.uk.  Here's a link to the West Pier regeneration scheme: https://www.scarborough.gov.uk/node/9157

In Conversation With Episode 9

In the February edition of Borough Cast we preview a Vision for Filey which will come before our senior councillors next month and we ask why our transformative plans for West Pier in Scarborough means bullying and intimidation for some people.  We speak to the man in charge of the scheme to improve rented homes in the borough to find out why he wants to extend it, our Mayor dishes out £20,000 to good causes and we have an update on a certain walrus! Borough Cast is presented by Gabrielle and Andy. You can reach them via email: podcasts@scarborough.gov.uk

These are the various links we mention in this episode:

The February edition of our sister podcast, In Conversation With can be streamed or downloaded from here (or via your favourite podcast provider):
https://soundcloud.com/scarboroughbc/in-conversation-with-episode-9

Here's a link to the West Pier regeneration scheme: www.scarborough.gov.uk/node/9157

Here’s the link to the Whitby schools merger consultation:
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/proposal-amalgamate-caedmon-college-whitby-and-eskdale-school-1-september-2024

Here’s the link to the cost of living information:
https://www.scarborough.gov.uk/home/community-and-living/cost-living-crisis-help-offer

Here’s the link to our garden waste collection service page:
https://www.scarborough.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Here’s the link to the North Yorkshire Council corporate plan:
https://edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk/documents/s16234/Council%20Plan%20-%20Report%20to%20Executive%2024.01.23.pdf

Borough Cast Episode 11 February 2023

In episode 10 of In Conversation With – the final one - we speak to the leader of the council, Councillor Steve Siddons about his thoughts as 49 years of the borough council comes to an end and what he hopes his administration’s legacy will be.  We also reflect on honours presented to England footballer Beth Mead and England rugby player Zoe Aldcroft who were awarded Freedom of the Borough at the final, special, meeting of the full council.  Here's the link to the annual report video Steve refers to: https://youtu.be/Q0iectodmQ8.  As this series of podcasts come to an end, we’d like to say thank you for being a listener.

In Conversation With Episode 10

In the March edition of Borough Cast (our last one!) we report on the final meeting of our cabinet when councillors agreed our Vision for Filey and the 2022 annual report of achievements in the last 12 months.  Our focus on our regeneration and transformative Towns Deal projects continues.  David Kerfoot speaks to us about Scarborough’s station gateway scheme and we learn about plans for a maritime training hub in Whitby. And, as a near half-century of Scarborough Borough Council comes to an end, we speak to someone who was here 49 years ago when the last chapter of local government in the borough was just beginning.  Borough Cast is presented by Gabrielle and Andy.

Borough Cast Episode 12 March 2023

We’re Scarborough Borough Council and we provide local services to residents, visitors and business across the borough of Scarborough.  This includes the beautiful towns of Filey, Whitby and Scarborough, stunning coastal villages and beautiful countryside communities.  If you have any feedback about the content on this page, please email: podcasts@scarborough.gov.uk