Residents have until 12th December to “sign” a petition on the Councils web site. See http://tinyurl.com/Social-care-cuts-petition

The petition reads;

We the undersigned petition the council to not cut funding for those classed as having moderate needs. It was made clear during the last budget consultation that the citizens of York do not want funding cuts to social care. We believe that those who require this support, such as older residents, those with physical and learning disabilities, victims of domestic violence and people with other health needs should not be further disadvantaged. Voluntary alternatives to professional and paid support will lead to lower standards and potential job losses.

35 residents have so far signed the petition

The York Council – already a legend in its own time for trying to conceal information from residents – has hit a new high.

They are now publishing their plans in French.

No, not a translation, just in French.

We are told on their web site that the Cabinet will make a decision on 4th December about “Le marché International des Professionnels de l’immobilier (MIPIM) 2013”

Precisely what decision they will make about – rough translation – “The International Market for real estate professionals” remains to be seen, but his organisation does meet every year in Cannes.

They dole out prizes to building projects.

Surely not another foreign trip on the agenda?

Residents should be told!

The Council is set tomorrow to agree to half the number of taxi spaces provided at the rank in Piccadilly.

They plan to install cycle parking facilities in the space that is freed up.

The Council claims that the 4 taxi bays are little used and “not popular with the public”.

No consultation on the proposal has taken place.

In the past the taxi trade has pointed to inadequate City centre taxi ranks as one of their reasons for opposing any increase in the number of taxi licenses issued in the City.

We understand that a Council report on the future of bus services in the City is to be considered on Monday at a “behind closed doors” meeting. This seems to be an unusual approach as the Councillor, with responsibility for transport issues in the City, is also holding a public “decision session” on the same day.

There are few topics which engage public interest more than bus services. Passengers are likely to be angry if they think that decisions are being taken behind their backs.

The report – titled a “bus improvement study” in the Council’s forward plan – has already been delayed for 3 months. It was to have been published in the summer.

Labour has budgeted over £200,000 for studies which they hope could lead to the introduction of a “statutory bus contract” arrangement in the City. Effectively this would mean the Council setting standards (frequencies, routes, fare levels etc) for bus routes in the City with operators tendering to provide the service.

The need for (and practicality of) such an arrangement has been called into question given that – unlike other parts of the country – bus use in the City is stable. The Councils weak financial position means that it is unlikely to be able to subsidise any new arrangements.

Regrettably the delay in publishing the report has also been used as an excuse by the Authority to avoid publishing the data that it holds on bus service reliability. These at least should become public on Monday.

The Council is still refusing to say how many of the “All York” tickets, that they launched in the summer, have been sold. There is a growing concern that, despite £20,000 of taxpayers money being used to subsidise the launch of the ticket, sales have been very poor.

The First Day of Christmas event will run from 6-7pm on Thursday 22 November in St Helen’s Square.

The festive season officially begins in York next week with the ‘First Day of Christmas’, a spectacular event in St Helen’s Square involving special guests Father Christmas and York’s favourite pantomime dame, Berwick Kaler of York Theatre Royal, with a few surprises along the way.

To get them in the Christmas spirit, residents will be treated to joyful carols from the Railway Institute Golden Rail Band while they await the arrival of Father Christmas and Berwick Kaler, who will roll up in style in a vintage car to be greeted by the Lord Mayor. Berwick will be starring in Robin Hood and his Merry Mam! from 13 December until 2 February.

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There was a success for the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Council by election held in Ryedales Norton Ward yesterday.
The result was
Tory Paul Farndale 181
L/D Di Keal 381
Lab. Karl Reveley 75

LibDem gain from Conservative

‎Christmas at the Mansion House

A selection of short lectures, offered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning in collaboration with York Mansion House. “Join us in December 2012 as we explore the Christmas story and learn more about the roots of traditional music, decorations and food – all lectures cost £6 per person”.

• Saturday 15 December – 3.30-4.30pm ‘Deck the Halls with …?’ The changing face of Victorian Christmas decorations: Louise Hampson

• Saturday 15 December – 6-7pm The Annunciation to Mary and the Birth of Christ in the Qur’an: Roderic Vassie

• Sunday 16 December – 11am-12noon Guaudete! Music for a Medieval Yuletide’: Rachel Davies (harp and voice)

• Sunday 16 December – 2-3pm Sprouts and Stuffing – an edible history of Christmas: Alice Bennett

Full details can be found at http://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/xmas/

2013 highways repair list in Ward order, click to enlarge

The provisional carriageway and footpath resurfacing programme for the next financial year has been agreed by the Council.

It continues the 60% cut in maintenance expenditure introduced by Labour when they took over the running of the Council.

The draft programme is agreed at this time of year to allow officials to plan a work programme. It follows inspections undertaken in the summer which tabulate the condition of each road. Ward Councillors have the opportunity to put forward roads for consideration for repair.

The list reveals that some wards like Derwent (Dunnington) and Heslington will not get ANY repairs next year while the largest ward (Westfield) will see only a small part of the Foxwood Lane footpath resurfaced. It means that roads that are breaking up (such as Vesper Drive) will continue to deteriorate.

Residents will hope that more money will be found for road maintenance when the Council meets in February to agree its final budget. If it doesn’t then the backlog of works will grow to the point where it becomes impossible to maintain safe surfaces catering for the needs of all road users.

Cyclists in particular are vulnerable to potholes and this may be a factor contributing to accident numbers which are beginning to creep up again in York.

Local people are being invited to pull on their boots, pick up a spade and help plant a new copse of 2,000 trees as part of the Treemendous York project, celebrating its first anniversary this week and of which City of York Council is a founder member.

The Conservation Volunteers (formerly BTCV) on behalf of Treemendous York has secured a £25,000 grant for tree planting in York and one of the sites is a council-owned riverside plot south east of the Millennium Bridge sometimes referred to as Fulford Ings.

The community tree planting event which is open to all will happen on Saturday 24 November from 10.30am – 3pm, to which everyone is welcome.

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Fresh questions have been raised over this month’s ‘Gunpowder Plod’ fireworks event after it was revealed that the Council did not receive any rental payment from the company behind the event.

City of York Council gave organisers ‘Rat Race Adventures’ use of the Knavesmire venue for no charge. This subsidy was offered in the expectation that profit in future years, though crucially not this year, would be shared. However, it is unclear what will happen to this arrangement after the event received widespread criticism and reportedly left many visitors unhappy.

Visitors complained of two hour long queues at food stalls, a delay of an hour for the start of the fireworks display, a delayed start for the 5km race, and a bonfire which had burnt out before people arrived. In response to the criticism ‘Rat Race Adventures’ promised to donate £5,000 to charity.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Leisure & Culture, commented:

“This rental deal means council taxpayers effectively subsidised a private company to run an event which appears to have been a complete shambles. Furthermore, the deal means that despite leaving so many disappointed, the company is likely to have made a healthy profit. A profit which the taxpayers will not see a penny of.

“10,000 ticket sales alone would have brought in over £150,000. Factoring in car park charging and food and drink sales means that even after costs and the charity contribution are taken away, the company is likely to have made a significant profit – all aided by the free venue. It seems a private business has seized on a naive cabinet member’s desperation, taken the Council’s freebie, put on a reportedly second-rate event, and still made a nice profit while any future ‘shared profit’ seems unlikely as it is doubtful they will return next year. No wonder taxpayers are unhappy.

“Just like last year’s ‘Winter Wonderland’, an event the Council is still waiting to receive rent for, the lack of financial acumen and sheer naivety of the Council is astonishing. Coming just days after the disappointment of the Illuminating York festival serious questions have to be asked of the Labour Cabinet Member in charge, Sonja Crisp. Given that the Council promoted and subsidised the event she should have ensured it was properly scrutinized and she can’t now just wash her hands of all responsibility”.