Letter to the Press: Consult on Bins

Green BinAs Labour prepare to introduce charges for green recycling bins, I outline why proper public consultation on the issue  is vital:

Dear Editor, 

Labour appear to have confirmed their plans to introduce charging for green bins (Press 17/01) . No details have emerged, but the intention is clear with their much-delayed report finally going to Cabinet next month. 

I just hope they have learnt from other parts of the country. In Newcastle, 40,000 residents boycotted plans to introduce a new £20 fee and returned their recycling bins. This and similar examples elsewhere tell us that where residents have received a ‘free’ service (albeit funded by council tax), charging risks being unpopular and detrimental to recycling rates. 

Already, after the closure of Beckfield Lane HWRC, the council is missing its recycling targets and is on track to pay £3.3 million in landfill tax this year. At a time when we should be tackling this by encouraging residents to recycle and exploring options such as food recycling, introducing new charges is risky. 

This is why proper consultation is so important. Whatever the final plans involve, it is crucial residents are consulted, listened to, and the council is prepared to change its policy as a result. On issues such as litter bin cuts and library sell-offs, Labour didn’t listen. I just hope on this one they do.  

Councillor Ann Reid

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services

Restricted access during council supported York Minster South Piazza works

City of York Council is advising pedestrians and cyclists that there will be restricted access alongside York Minster from Monday, as part of the South Piazza works.

In partnership with City of York Council, the works are part of the York Minster Revealed restoration and conservation project. Restricted access will be in place in the vicinity of the South Transept/Minster Gates from 28 January 2013 for approximately 10-weeks.

Working on behalf of York Minster, contractors William Anelay Ltd will be constructing the new carriageway as part of the new Piazza in natural stone setts and continuing the works around the South Transept and the associated paved areas.

The council is supporting the South Piazza restoration works, which is part of the York Minster Revealed project, the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in the UK. The project will transform York Minster as a visitor attraction whilst conserving its world-class stonework and stained glass for generations to come.

York Minster Revealed is a five-year project generously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and is scheduled for completion in 2016. The City of York Council agreed in 2009 to provide a £500,000 investment for the works to the South Piazza area.

For more information click here

Crime down in York

Government figures released on Thursday show that crime in North Yorkshire and the City of York has been reduced by 9% during the past year.

This confirms the area as having the joint lowest crime rate in England, with 46 crimes per thousand population.

Public confidence in North Yorkshire Police and local authorities’ ability to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour has also increased.

The Office of National Statistics report, “Crime in England and Wales, year ending September 2012”, includes the following results for the North Yorkshire Police area:
Overall crime reduced by 9% with a total of 36,791 crimes – this equates to 3,500 fewer victims of crime in comparison to the same period last year.

Violence against the person reduced by 8% – total 7,109

Sexual offences reduced by 7% – total 555

Robbery reduced by 32% – total 134

Burglary reduced by 11% – total 4,615

• Offences against vehicles reduced by 2% – total 3,182

• Other theft offences reduced by 10% – total 11,138

Criminal damage reduced by 11% – total 6,355

Drug offences reduced by 11% – total 1,980

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First chance to visit West Offices at Residents Festival 2013

This weekend, residents have their first opportunity to step inside City of York Council’s new offices and customer centre, created from York’s first railway station. When it opens to the public in March this year, the sympathetically and creatively restored Grade II* listed building will provide a modern and welcoming new customer centre and offices for the council and partner organisations.

On Saturday 26 January, residents can call in from 10am – 4pm and on Sunday 27 January, it’s open for viewing from 11am – 3pm.

They can also view the surviving section of glass and steel canopy which once stretched out from the hotel building and has now been carefully restored and relocated. Besides being able to visit the ground floor, there will be information on the rainwater harvesting, solar panels, bio fuels for heating and natural daylight and ventilation.

Moving to West Offices will enable the council to reduce its office accommodation from 17 buildings to just two (West Offices and Hazel Court) and save around £17 million over the next 25 years, while giving residents and visitors a much-improved customer experience. No pre-booking required.

The customer centre at West Offices will open in March 2013.

The Mansion House doors are also being thrown open to residents for free as well on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January from 11am – 4pm. From the simplicity of the kitchens to the largest collection of civic silver outside London, to memories of former Mayors and staff, this home of the Lord Mayor is a living treasure trove. No pre-booking required.

What’s on in York: February – April 2013

York Residents Festival 26th/27th Jan Various A chance for York citizens to enjoy free and discounted entry into some of York’s world class attractions

Rugby League Knights v Hull 27th Jan Sun Huntington Stadium

York Dance Works 27th Jan Sun 3:00pm Barbican

Get stuck in Mon 28th Jan 1:00pm West Bank Park This task is to check the condition of the nest boxes in West Bank Park and to repair those that can be repaired. We will also be able to make some new ones and install them in time for nesting season.contact Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832

• Stand Up York 31st Jan Thurs 6:30pm Barbican

• Paloma Faith 1st Feb Barbican (sold out)

• Images of Auschwitz 1st Feb – 15th Feb York Explore Library

Football City v Morecambe 2nd Feb sat Bootham Cres

20th Century Choral Masters 2nd Feb 7:30pm St Michael le Belfrey

Moscow Ballet The Nutcracker 2nd/3rd Feb Barbican

* • York Bayer Tapestry 2nd Feb Sat 10:00am `Art Gallery

* • Upholstery master class 2nd & 3rd Feb 9;00am Rogues Atelier

Dolly Parton Musical 4th/9th Feb Grand Opera House

Home-Start schools concert 7th Feb Minster

• Little Mix 8th Feb 7:00pm Barbican (sold out)

*• Ales N Tales 8th – 15th Feb Various pubs

• Anton & Erin go to Hollywood 9th Feb 3:00pm/7:30pm Barbican

• Rugby League Knights v Swinton 10th Feb Sun 3:00pm Huntington Stadium

* • Wellies and waders 11th Feb 1:00pm Rawcliffe Country park

* • Harry Hill 11th 12th Feb Grand Opera House

• Rita Ora 12th Feb Tues 6:30pm Barbican

• Ladies 5 a side football 12th Feb Tues & weekly York Sport Village

• Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 13th Feb Grand Opera House

• Russell Kane 14th Feb Grand Opera House

• Steve Knightly 15th Feb Early Music Centre

• Guinness World Records 15th Feb Fri 7:00pm Barbican

• Billy Fury Story 15th Feb Fri Grand Opera House

*• Could you be a Viking warrior? 16th Feb Sat 11:30am York Explore Library

• Football City v Barnet 16th Feb Sat Bootham Cres

• JORVIK Viking Festival 16th 24th Feb Various

• The Rat Pack 16th Feb Sat Grand Opera House

*• York: Capital of the North 16th Feb onwards Yorkshire Museum

• Toy Story: come and play 16th Feb onwards Castle Museum

• The Nolans 16th Feb Sat 7:30pm Barbican

• The Ratcracker 17th Feb Sun Grand Opera House

• American Wrestling 18th Feb Mon Grand Opera House

• Ex Dubliners 18th Feb Mon 7:30pm Barbican

• Fit @ 50 18th Feb Mon 9:30am Energise Cornlands Road

• Moscow State Circus 20th/21st Feb Grand Opera House

• Viking Family activities 20th Feb Minster

• Heimkoma 20th Feb Minster

• Minster of Mystery 22nd Feb Minster (visit to undercroft works)

• Miss Saigon 22nd Feb 2nd Mar Jo Ro Theatre

• ELO Experience 22nd Feb Fri Grand Opera House

• Milton Jones 22nd Feb Fri 8:00pm Barbican

• Comedy Night 22nd Feb Fri Racecourse

* • Viking incursion 23rd Feb Sat 2:00pm York Explore Library

• Music from the Movies 23rd Feb Sat Racecourse

• York Guildhall Orchestra 23rd Feb Sat 7:30pm Barbican

• Roy Orbison & friends 23rd Feb Sat Grand Opera House

*• On your bike 18th Feb Fri 9:30am Huntington school • Dance on Yorkshire 24th Feb Sun 7:00pm Barbican

• Rugby League Knights v Halifax 24th Feb Sun 3:00pm Huntington Stadium

• The Soldiers 24th Feb Sun Grand Opera House

• Yiddish Twist Orchestra 26th Feb Tues 7:30pm Early Music Centre

• The Woman in Black 25th/2nd Mar Theatre Royal

*• Silver sparkles 25th Feb 25th Mar 7:00pm Huntington School

• Make do and mend 25th Feb 7:00pm York High School

• Goodnight Mister Tom 26th/2nd Mar Grand Opera House

• Paving the way 26th Feb Tues Rowntree park

• Shout it out 26th Feb 7:00pm Fulford School

• VentureFest 28th Feb Racecourse

• Symbols and legends 28th Feb Thurs 5:30pm York Explore Library

• Beuno lingo Italia 28th Feb 7:00pm Fulford school

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More questions than answers on new transport fund

York and West Yorkshire has been delegated money to invest in improving local transport systems.

The DfT published indicative funding levels for the Local Transport Bodies taking these decisions and confirmed the geographical areas that these bodies will cover, of which West Yorkshire and York will receive £60 million in the period up to 2018/19. In addition, as part of the City Deal, the West Yorkshire and York area will receive a further £123m over the next 10 years up to 2024/25.

From 2015, each Local Transport Body will be allocated funding according to the number of people living within its boundaries. This is a change from previous arrangements, where local areas bid for a share of a central funding pot, putting forward specific schemes for consideration

The York Council says, “In developing the detailed arrangements for a West Yorkshire and York LTB it is proposed that this is done on the basis that York’s major scheme funding is spent either on schemes with a mutual benefit to West Yorkshire and York (and potentially other LTB’s) or on schemes of benefit to York and its vicinity.

This may be applicable to schemes such as improving surface access to Leeds Bradford International Airport, upgrading the York Northern Outer Ring Road and Harrogate rail line, and developing a York rail station bus interchange and other bus and Park & Ride priorities”.

However there is no guarantee that any of this investment will be spent in York. Decisions continue to be taken in private and residents are not consulted on priorities.
When it decided to go in with the much larger West Yorkshire area, The York Council should have negotiated a “minimum spend” guarantee for the City. Otherwise the chances are that York’s unique needs will be swamped by the demands from other parts of the region.

York Libraries postpone archives tours

The Council have issued the following statement, “Regretfully we have had to cancel the Behind the Scenes tours of the City Archives planned for Saturday 26 January because of staff illness.

We are looking to re-schedule these tours to take place in the February half-term holiday next month, and will publicise the new date on this website.

We are very sorry to have let down everybody who has already booked on these tours and we hope that they will be able to come along when we re-arrange them in February”.

Secondary school “performance tables” published for York schools

Click here to view the performance tables for York schools as published by the Department for Education.

As always, caution needs to be exercised in interpreting data of this sort

York schools are continuing to excel at Key Stage 4.

The Key Stage 4 School Performance Tables show that many York schools achieved excellent results and are well above national averages. And within this overall picture, there has been real individual pupil success.

The tables show that in the academic year 2011/12, 88% of young people in York achieved five or more A* to C grades, an improvement of 4 percentage points from last year. The percentage of pupils gaining five or more A*–C grades, including English and Maths GCSE, is 63%, which is also an improvement of 1 percentage point from 2011. Both these results place York in the top 20 per cent of Local Authorities in England.

Whilst the overall results have improved, results for those pupils eligible for free school meals have increased significantly for the 3rd successive year in a row, demonstrating the positive impact of governmetn initiatives such as the “pupil premium” to narrow the gap.