DN3/YNYCA/M/2025 – Refurbishment Ripon Police Fire Station

DN3/YNYCA/M/2025 

Date 07/03/2025

Background

In 2015 the then Commissioner approved the re-location and co-location of officers and staff from Ripon and Boroughbridge police stations into a new purpose-built facility on the existing Fire Service site at Stonebridgegate, Ripon and the subsequent disposal of the Boroughbridge police station. 

Following the co-location of Police and Fire at the Fire Station in Ripon in 2018, a project to improve the arrangements at the existing Fire Station and ensure they were fit for purpose for both services was approved in 2021, by a Former Commissioner. A capital budget of £1,162,000 was agreed to fund a modular build on the current site, which was deemed to be the best value for money solution to address the issues with the accommodation. 

Following further investigations aligned to the commencement of work, it was identified that issues with the ground conditions at the site raised significant concerns with the viability of further construction work. Combined with escalating construction costs, this led to an increase in projected costs for the work so that it no longer represented value for money. As a result, the project was paused, and alternative options explored linked to the contingency options developed for use in the instance that the ground conditions prevented building work. 

A revised proposal was developed. This involved the refurbishment of the existing Fire Station building to address key challenges with the existing estate, including availability of space, accessibility and public access considerations. It also included the creation of additional space and facilities for some Police resources at another partner site in the Town Hall in Ripon  

The new police and fire station in Ripon is the result of £926,000 investment, so far, and all policing services are fully provided for at the new joint police and fire station.  

Therefore, the space in the Town Hall is no longer needed and the Police are exiting from the temporary arrangement with North Yorkshire Council to utilise space in Ripon Town Hall, 700 yards from the new station.  

It is my responsibility to ensure that public money is spent effectively and that wherever possible we prioritise resources into neighbourhood policing, and this decision reflects those responsibilities 

Decision Record 

 The Mayor has decided to exit from the arrangement with North Yorkshire Council to utilise space in Ripon Town Hall, therefore mitigating the need to spend an estimated £33,000 per year to occupy and use the Town Hall space. 

David Skaith 

Mayor 

Statutory Officer Advice 

Legal, Management and Equality Implications 

 The head of legal and Monitoring Officer for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has advised that all legal and management issues have been addressed; there are no equality implications arising from these plans 

Financial and Commercial 

The Deputy s73 Officer for Police, Fire and Crime Functions has advised that the original business case to occupy Ripon Town Hall was estimated to have cost £33k resulting from lease costs and on-going IT connectivity costs. The decision not to continue with this arrangement will result in these costs not being incurred.