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”.

Increased use of the Danesgate Community school in Fulford has been blamed for an increase in school transport costs for the York Council.

Currently around 150 children attend the school which was set up as a “referral unit” for those with behavioral problems. The reasons for the increase have not been revealed by the Council, although there is a move to get all schools to bear the pooled costs of transport to specialist units like these.

The overspend forms part of a £1 million potential end of year deficit on the Council’s Children and Young Peoples budget.

The issue will be debated at a “scrutiny” meeting which is taking place on 21st November.

Other significant budget pressures include the increasing number of children being put with foster parents.

On a more positive note, York has the lowest level of children in workless households in the region, which the Council claims is “an illustration of our comparatively strong economy creating good conditions and prospects for young people”.

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following routes between Wednesday 7 November and Tuesday 13 November 2012.

•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•B1228 Main Street, Elvington, York
•B1228 Dunnington Lodge, Elvington, York
•A1237 Monks Cross, York
•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A19 Selby Road, Whitley
•Millfield Road, Chapel Haddlesey
•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•Brayton Lane, Brayton, Selby
•Barff Lane, Brayton, Selby
•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A64 Between Whitwell Hill and Barton Hill
•A64 Between Barton-le-Willows and Jinnah
•A64 Between Barton Hill and Whitwell Hill

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A Freedom of Information request has revealed that the York Council is owed £3.7 million in Council Tax debt (accumulated prior to the current year).

Debts by property value. click to enlarge

This has been accrued by 8598 residents.

Of these, 181 owe more than £3000 and 61 owe more than £5000.

4134 residents have been claiming Council Tax benefits for more than 1 year.

15,105 residents in the City currently qualify for reduced Council Tax payments.

Of these 3239 are in paid work while 3964 also receive employment or income support. 1899 are receiving job seekers allowances.

Pupils in York have the chance to display their public speaking skills in a competition organised by the York Civic Trust and supported by City of York Council. The event, which will be held in the Guildhall on 21 November at 6.30pm, is open to young people in Years 7 and 8 from participating schools.
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Students from a secondary school in York are among the first to take part in this year’s cycle training course, offered by City of York Council.

Youngsters from Millthorpe School are taking part in the Bikeability training session, to showcase their new cycling achievements.

For a small fee all York students aged between 12 and14 years of age can now train and qualify for the Bikeability Level three cycle training, which is the only government approved cycle training scheme.

The course targets children’s daily commute to school and helps develop their overall awareness and cycle safely skills on all types of roads, which is particularly important as the evenings get darker in the winter months.

John Bullock, Cycle trainer, said: “By teaching children how to cycle safely now, we are giving them the choice of a low cost, healthy, sustainable transport option for the rest of their lives”

Sessions are two-hours long, with a fully qualified cycle trainer.

Bikeability is delivered by the council’s Road Safety team, who visit York’s schools on a regular basis to guide pupils through the programme.

For more information please visit www.itravelyork.info or follow@itravelyork on Twitter.

Vandalism suspect

York police are appealing for information after a car was damaged outside a supermarket at Monks Cross.

Officers have released a CCTV image of man suspected of causing the damage which occurred in Sainsburys car park at around 6.35pm on 29 August 2012.

The man is seen on CCTV using a key to scratch the side of a grey BMW 5 Series before going shopping in the store.

Officers are appealing to anyone who recognises the man to contact them with information.

Anyone who can help officers with their enquiries is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 2 – and ask for PC Rob Milliner or York police.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote reference number 12120175544 when passing information about this incident.

The Council has announced that it plans to make changes to the central area access arrangements.

These include:
• Standardising and extending the footstreet hours of operation to 10.30am to 5pm, 7 days a week ,

• Controlling vehicle use of Davygate (prohibiting all vehicles from using Davygate during the footstreet hours of operation including those with blue and green parking badges).

• amending the existing one way operation around St Sampson’s Square

• Further limiting the access in to the central area via the Nessgate / Spurriergate junction (24 hour vehicle ban)

Details of the proposals can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/York-centre-access-plan-Nov-12

Details of residents responses to a survey on the future of the City Centre are shown in the report. They indicate a very low response rate.

Decisions on the proposals will be taken by a Labour Councillor at a meeting next Monday.

The Council have discontinued the annual survey which allowed residents to decide how Ward Committee budgets should be allocated.

There is a survey being conducted, into what the Council claims to be “local priorities”, but it is so well hidden on the their web site that few, if any, will find it.

Click here to participate http://tinyurl.com/York-ward-Nov-12

There is only one question to answer!

Funding proposals for cycle path click to enlarge

As previously reported, the Council are proposing to construct a bridleway linking Rufforth to Knapton. It is likely to be used by some cyclists to avoid the B1224.

The Council has been conducting a low profile consultation exercise on its web site on the plans. http://www.york.gov.uk/transport/cycling/Rufforth-Knapton/

The consultation is due to finish on 16th November 2012.

The cost of the scheme is now put at £165,000.

However this does not include improvements to the arrangements for crossing the A1237 near Knapton.

It is this section of the route which is causing the most safety concerns.

The project is due to be discussed at a meeting taking place next Monday (19th Nov.)