Police investigate York tree theft

York police are appealing for information following the theft of bonsai trees.

They were stolen from a garden on Willans Grove between 10.30pm on Monday 21 May and 7.30am on Tuesday 22 May 2012. The 15 trees, of various sizes, are valued at around £1,500. (more…)

City of York Council, North Yorkshire Police and Safer York Partnership are working with local residents to crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the Dringhouses area of York.

The council in conjunction with the police served a closure notice at 36 Sandcroft Road, York (on Sunday 27 May).

The notice has been served as a result of allegations of anti social behaviour (ASB) at the premises and is in accordance with legislation, which made amendments to the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and came into force in December 2008.

The allegations of ASB reported include gangs of numerous youths, shouting, swearing, both in the house and also in the garden area and loud music. (more…)

The annual survey of resident’s opinion, which has been undertaken by the York Council for over a decade, is being scaled back this year.

Instead of circulating a copy to each household, the survey will only be available to most residents through the Councils web site.

Residents can access it here http://tinyurl.com/York-Council-survey

This is really the only opportunity for residents to have their say about the swingeing cuts to street level services that have been implemented by Labour since they took office.

One question specifically asks how residents think that the Council is performing (!)

The survey stops short of asking whether residents would prefer to see free “WiFi” access provided or retain facilities like the Beckfield Lane recycling centre.

It also misses the opportunity to look to the future and assess views about Labour’s plans.

So there is no question about charging for emptying green wheelie bins or whether residents think it prudent to add £20 million to the Councils debt burden although it is seeking to prioritise which part of the City centre this money might be spent on (e.g. Duncombe Place or Parliament Street).

The York Council has awarded contracts of over £1.5 million to modernise the cremators at the York crematorium on Bishopthorpe Road.

Local company William Birch will undertake the installation contract for a sum of £471,370.

The 2 new incinerators are to be supplied by ACI at a cost of £1.095 million.

The new facilities will meet the latest mercury emission standards.

The Crematorium produces a substantial operating surplus each year for the Council. Each cremation is charged at £699 (per adult).

http://tinyurl.com/York-cremation

95 on-the-spot fines were issued by the York Council in the financial year April 2011-March 2012.

The vast majority were issued for littering offences. Despite the continuing problems with graffiti not a single fixed penalty notice (FPN) was issued by Council staff for this offence during the last financial year.

In total the Council received £4,675 in fines for the littering offences plus £250 for dog fouling.

The detailed figures are:
• Litter – 90 FPNs (+ 36 Stopped for Littering Notices & Warnings issued to under 18s)
• Dogs Fouling – 5 FPNs
• Graffiti – 0
• Fly Posting – 0
• Dog Control – 0
• Distribution of Literature – 0
• Waste Receptacles – 0

Fixed penalty notices can be issued by the Council’s 7 Street environment Officers. In addition 4 other officers are authorised to issue notices for dog fouling.

Our Lady's school

We understand that a Developer has now expressd an interest is purchasing the former Our Lady’s school site off Windsor Garth.

Although their detailed intentions and timetable are unclear, we understand that discussions with the owners (the Diocese of Middlesbrough) are continuing.

Residents had expressed concern about the vulnerability of the building to vandalism and the possible theft of building materials and scrap.

We will provide more details as they become available.

City of York Council is adding extra pilates classes for the over 50s, due to popular demand. Sessions run every Tuesday 1pm-2pm at the York RI Sports Ground in Acomb and cost £4.50 a class

The rise in popularity is partly due to the success of the Eng-AGE 50+ Activity day in February. The day allowed people to try a range of sports that are available specifically for the over 50s in York, which include pilates. (more…)

City of York Council is starting work on installing photovoltaic panels on suitable council homes to reduce carbon emissions and provide free daytime electricity for tenants.

Working with Empower Community Solar, the panels will be fitted on homes which have already been identified as potentially suitable in terms of size, orientation and pitch. The work will be carried out over the next six weeks at no cost to the council or to tenants to generate low cost, sustainable energy from daylight and could continue beyond that time, depending on an imminent announcement on Feed-in Tariff rules. (more…)

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 23 and Tuesday 29 May 2012.

•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•Millfield Lane, Poppleton, York
•Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York
•Green Lane, Acomb, York
•Temple Lane, Copmanthorpe, York
•A1036 Tadcaster Road, Acomb, York (more…)

The Planning committee is being recommended today to approve the erection of a new garage and showroom for Audi cars in York.

Audi York comprises a single storey profile steel clad unit dating to the 1980s lying in close proximity to a number of other car dealerships at the eastern edge of the Clifton Moor Business Park.

Planning permission is being sought for the redevelopment of the site to provide expanded sales and office space and to facilitate the relocation of servicing and maintenance functions to the adjacent former DHL site.

Planning permission has already been granted for the relocation of the service functions.