York’s off-road cyclists can gear up for City of York Council’s new mountain biking area opening at Rawcliffe Country Park on Friday 17 February.

A series of exciting and challenging jumps, banks and turns will challenge all levels of mountain bikers, and the 70 metre inner circuit and the easier 140 metre outer track are linked to each other and the rest of the park.

The scheme is part of the Big Lottery play programme that also funded the climbing boulders at Rawcliffe Country Park.

During the big launch day people can wheel or walk along for:

• Riding skills courses for 8 – 14 year olds from 10am-3pm (must be booked in advance with Grit Track and Trail at info@grittrackandtrail.co.uk)
• Local shops offering bike servicing and freebies
• Top local riders giving advice and showing their skills
• Activities for bikes from sustainable transport charity Sustrans and the council.

The opening will form part of Sustrans’ Big Pedal warm-up week, and is part of a programme of activities and events held at York Explore throughout half term. For a leaflet contact Sustrans’ Info and Ride Booking line: 07824 998745 or email naomi.wellssmith@sustrans.org.uk

The Council is intending to submit the LDF Core Strategy to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination on Tuesday 14th February 2012.

Following Submission on the 14th all of the Core Strategy Submission documents sent to the Secretary of State will be available to view online via the Council’s website at:
http://www.york.gov.uk/environment/Planning/ldf/corestrategy/

In addition, paper copies of the Submission documents will be placed at the following locations:
• Guildhall Reception (Mon to Fri – 8.30am-5pm)
• CYC 9 St Leonard’s Place (Mon to Fri – 8.30am-5pm)

City of York Council’s Library Square Reception will hold a reference copy of CD1 Core Strategy Submission-Publication (Sept 2011) (Mon to Fri – 8.30am-5pm).

double click to enlarge

More information
Minster http://www.yorkminster.org/calendar/ tel. 0844 939 0015
York Theatre Royal info@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk tel (01904) 623568
York Barbican http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk tel. 0844 854 2757
Grand Opera House www.grandoperahouseyork.org.uk tel. 0844 847 2322
Visit York http://www.visityork.org/ tel. 01904 550099
Yortime www.yortime.org.uk

As part of National Nest Box week come and make a home for the birds to nest in this spring – all for FREE!

Friday 17 Feb, 10.30am to 12noon at Little Hob Moor, Acomb

Open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please book your place contact Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832 or Jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk

Come down to Acomb Woods on Tues 14 Feb, 10.30am to 12noon and meet new friends and join in with the many activities for FREE.

No need to bring anything, just come prepared to get muddy!

Open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please book your space by contacting Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832 or Jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk.

Local organisations getting DRR last year. Double click to enlarge

Over 100 local organisations receive rate relief on premises that they occupy in the City. An 80% discount is available under national legislation but the local Council can increase this to 100% if they choose to.

This 20% is known as “discretionary rate relief”.

Organisations must be non-profit making. The level of their revenue reserves must not be in excess of:
– 10 times the amount of the gross rates payable, or
– £10,000
(whichever is the higher).

Organisations must be primarily for the benefit of people who live or work in York.

The Council is proposing to reduce the budget available for this discretionary relief by £54,000 with effect from April 2013.

At the moment 103 organisations qualify for relief, they cover a wide range of organisations many of which are charities. They include sports, leisure, scouting and educational bodies.

In total, in excess of £200,000 was rebated last year.

Amongst the qualifying organisations are the Foxwood Community Centre, the Acomb Bowling Club, the Dringhouses Sports & Social Club, York Indoor Bowls and Social Club and the Acomb Sports Club.

The Council, have not indicated which organisations they intend to target but Labour in the past have hit organisations which are not registered as charities. Sports bodies with clubrooms are thought to be particularly vulnerable to losing the relief.

Garden waste collection may be scrapped

One service that every resident uses one way or another is refuse collection. The Council plans to cut expenditure on this service by £750,000 over the next 12 months with further reductions in later years.

So how will it affect residents?

Here is the top 10 list of implications

1. Charges will be made for replacement recycling boxes and bins & provision of black sacks.

2. Either charging for green bin emptying or scrapping green bin collection altogether.

3. Changes to bin emptying days. Grey bins may be on (say) a Monday and recycling on a Wednesday

4. Privatisation of refuse collection in 2013

5. Closing Beckfield Lane recycling centre after Easter.

6. Plans for a salvage and re-use centre axed

7. Number of litter and “poop scoop” bins being reduced by 20%

8. Fewer “barrowmen” will be picking up litter

9. Reduce waste minimisation advice

10. Charges for use of recycling centres for items like brick rubble

Labour are planning a 2.9% increase in Council Tax levels from April 2012 plus another similar increase from April 2013.

The Coalition government have offered the City a one year £1.8 million subsidy which would delay any rise until 2013 (at which point an increase of up to 5% would be likely).

The 1 year subsidy would mean that residents would be about £36 better off during the next 12 months.

Both options involve some reductions in public service quality standards.

Increases in tax levels above 3.5% pa can only be implemented if approved through a residents referendum.

What should the Council do? (see survey right)

Category 3 roads and footpaths in Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward. Double click to enlarge

Each year professional officers at the Council assess the safety and condition of footpaths and roads in the City.

They categorise each, with poor surfaces which require resurfacing being given a “3” score.

The Council then resurface the roads as far as the available budget allows.

The worst are done first.

The recently announced £2.6 million reduction in the highways maintenance budget (56%) means that these roads are now unlikely to be resurfaced in the foreseeable future.

Not only is the resurfacing budget being cut but also the provision for temporary repairs (basically pothole filling) is also being reduced.

The effect of these decisions on road safety is likely to be extreme with pedestrians, cyclists and other two wheel users particularly vulnerable.

Potholes that are not treated promptly are more vulnerable to frost damage. This means that a cycle of disrepair will quickly reduce the quality and safety of our roads and footpaths.

It is a very short-sighted plan which will cost taxpayers more in the long term.

The Dean and Chapter of York today launched details regarding the public ticket ballot for the Royal Maundy Service on 5th April at York Minster at 11 am.

The Very Reverend Keith Jones, Dean of York said, “We at York Minster are thrilled that The Queen has decided to distribute the Royal Maundy at York Minster in Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Year. It is our hope to enable as many members of the public as possible to be in inside the Minster during the service for this Royal and beautiful ceremony.”

The ballot process is open to all members of the public who reside within the Diocese of York. The tickets are free of charge. The guidelines for residents making a request are:
•One application per household for up to two tickets.
•Applications must be made in writing, stating the name(s) of those to be entered into the ballot.
•Tickets are named and non-transferable.
•Two forms of identification will be required to enter the Service, one of which must be photographic.
•Those attending should come with the minimum of baggage to speed security checks.

Requests should be made in writing to the Very Revd Keith Jones, Dean of York, Church House, Ogleforth, York, YO1 7JN, enclosing a C5 stamped addressed envelope with the word BALLOT written on the reverse. If an SAE is not enclosed the application will not be entered into the draw.

Due to the layout of seats for the service, not all balloted seats can be guaranteed to have a view of the Royal party.

All applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 24th February 2012 for consideration. The draw will take place on Wednesday 29th February and successful applicants will receive their tickets by post. Those attending will be required to be in their allocated places by 10 am.