The Council is conducting one of its periodic surveys to discover whether there is any unmet demand for taxis in the City.

The City currently has 183 taxis and 576 private hire vehicles.

Although the Council points to poor air quality standards as being partly the result of the use of diesel engines in the City Centre, most of these emissions can be traced to commercial vehicles and buses rather than taxis.

However there is a growing demand from some residents who want to have the option of using a low emission Prius + type hire vehicle.

Prius taxi

They are an increasingly common sight on the streets of New York

In York, getting a taxi at peak times can be difficult. However, taxi owners point to periods of the day when they are lucky to get a fare of any sort.

You can take part in the survey by clicking here

The Council has provided the following background information
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The election of a LibDem led Council in 2003 seemed finally to have removed the threat that meant that large areas of York’s (draft) Green Belt would be built on.

Labour Councillors had previously advocated large scale expansion of the City meaning that most land lying between the ring road and the present urban boundary could have been developed.

in 2009 Liberal Democrats successfully campaigned against plans to build on land between Woodthorpe and the ring road.

The supply of development land was adequate to meet the historic building profile in the City (around 650 new homes per year).

Campaigns – led by Liberal Democrat Councillors – to protect Green Belt land had been successful in 2009 (see left).

So by 2011 a Local Development Framework (LDF) had been agreed which protected the draft Green Belt.

Development was concentrated on sites such as York Central (land behind the station), Germany Beck in Fulford and Derwenthorpe in Osbaldwick.

Most house building would be on previously developed commercial sites such as British Sugar, Terry’s and Nestle south.

In 2011 planning permissions for nearly 4000 new homes were outstanding. Enough to satisfy demand for over 7 years.

When Labour regained control of the Council in May 2011 they first tinkered with the LDF and then abandoned it altogether.

Building rates fell to an all time low in 2012 with onerous planning conditions and poor mortgage availability blamed.

The vacant land with planning permission was still there. But development was, and remains, very slow.

The Labour Council has spent the last 12 months asking landowners whether their green field plots should be built on.

Farmland which gains planning permission can increase in value by a factor of 100x so not surprisingly there has been a rush of willing sellers.

Labours plans are due to be published on Friday (12th April).

We have little doubt that many controversial green field sites will be identified for potential development.

We will publish details here when we have them and will vigorously oppose any attempt to destroy the City’s green belt setting.

A council official has now admitted that they took down the safety barriers next to the Spar shop on Acomb Road.

Council consultation map Poppleton Road Holgate Road area. click to enlarge

He claims that it is part of the improvements being made to the route linking the new A59 park and ride site with the City centre.

However residents were consulted about proposals for The Fox junction several months ago. The plans can still be found on the council’s web site.

They give no indication that it was proposed to remove the safety railings.

The official also claims that the removal forms part of the Councils “de-cluttering” policy. This was the policy to remove railings, street signs and other street furniture in the City centre conservation area.

That the strategy now seems to be spreading across the whole City will come as news to many and – where children’s safety is concerned – will be a source of anxiety.

Councils consultation plan for Acomb Road junction

Nor have any local residents been consulted about the removal plans. They were given no notice of the work starting.

Even now they have no idea when the scheme will be completed.

The railings were provided about 25 years ago following complaints about children leaving the local shop and stepping straight out onto the busy highway junction.

A decision to remove this safety feature is most definitely one that local residents should have the final say in.

The consultation meeting, which was to have taken place on 4th March and which was cancelled by the Council at short notice, will now take place at Heslington Church on Wednesday 10th April between 7:00pm and 8:30pm

Local people are concerned about proposals to change the layout of University Road and Field Lane.

Despite protests from local residents asking for the scheme to be dropped altogether, we understand the council is planning to press ahead.

The consultation meeting will ask for residents views on two alternative versions of the plans.

In both versions, University Road is reduced to one lane in the area with Field Lane either reduced to one way or kept as it is with an off road cycle path.

Following a Ward Committee meeting the Council has held additional meetings with local groups in Heslington.

Although these meetings produced a third option unfortunately the Council is apparently not willing to consider it.

Commenting, Lib Dem councillor Keith Aspden said: “It’s disappointing that the council has ignored local wishes and pressed ahead with the plan. “Although they have listened to some local concerns it’s important that the consultation is thorough and that they listen to residents views this time.”

A Freedom of Information request has shed some light on the Councils future intentions regarding the management of Extra Care elderly persons homes.

As we previously reported, the 2014 budget agreed by Labour included provision for “market testing” the management of the service.

A cut of over £300,000 in provision of the service was agreed.

The FOI request specifically – in its final question – asks the Council to specifically rule out letting a contract for the management of the service in future. The Councils response specifically fails to do so.

Email from Labour Councillor

Meanwhile residents tell us that a bizarre message – from Labour Cllr Laing who is responsible for the privatisation initiatives in Social Services – has been pinned to the notice board in Gale Farm Court.

Her claims that no changes are planned looks increasingly disingenuous now that the Warden Call service is being outsourced and some charges doubled.

Cllr Laing’s email could get her into hot water as Councillors are not supposed to use Council facilities for political campaigning.

Detectives in York are investigating following a serious assault in the city.

It occurred shortly before 9pm an Friday 5 April 2013, in a house in the Upper Poppleton area.

As a result of the incident an 81-year-old man suffered serious head and chest injuries and was taken to York District Hospital were he remains in a serious condition.

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The York Council admitted that only about 10% of its 8000 plus tenants will be affected by changes to Housing benefit.

From 1st April benefit has not been payable on spare bedrooms.

The changes do not affect those paying full rent or pensioners while special arrangements apply for forces personnel, people with disabilities and foster carers.

Private tenants are not affected by the change.

658 Council tenants have been affected by the removal of the empty room subsidy together with another 378 living in housing association properties

Of these, 156 Council tenants have 2 or more empty bedrooms. The equivalent figure for housing associations is 68.

A tenant with 1 unused bedroom could lose around £10 a week (14%) in rent subsidy.

It remains unclear whether the Council have fulfilled their promise to visit all affected tenants and offer advice on the options available to them.

Tenants have a right of appeal against the Councils assessment (for example, if a room is unsuitable to be classified as a “bedroom”)

More information is available on the Councils web site.

It includes a rather bureaucratic explanation of the discretionary housing payments scheme which is intended to help those who find themselves in hardship.

An application form can be obtained by clicking here

NB. There are over 4000 residents on the waiting list for homes in York. The vast majority of these are living in overcrowded conditions.

Although nothing new, it is sad to see the amount of fly-posting increasing in the City.

More so, when it seems to be tolerated on Council owned street furniture including even ward notice boards.

In some areas the latter seem to have fallen into disuse – but that is no excuse for their tatty appearance nor allowing them to be hijacked for free advertising space for commercial organisations.

One of the events being promoted is taking place on Council owned land.

The last Council introduced a system where organisers of similar events were required to pay a deposit which was forfeit if events were promoted through fly-posting.

The deposit was then used to remove the offending posters.

It remains to be seen that will happen with the fun fair posters.

In the meantime the Council might consider making any unused space on its notice boards available for voluntary organisations or – on payment of a small fee – local traders.

The York Council is seeking volunteers to join its Citizens “Talkabout” Panel

They say;

“Talkabout – York’s Citizens’ Panel has been inviting residents to give their views since 1996. Most panelists are randomly selected from the electoral register. We now want to give more people the opportunity to take part in discussion groups, online surveys and postal questionnaires.

A Citizens’ Panel is just one of the ways we find out what people think and need. It is a large group of residents that give a small amount of time to take part in surveys and discussions about local services and issues that affect where they live. You can decide whether or not you want to take part in any opportunity we offer you, usually two or three per year.

Who can join and how?

If you are at least 18 years old and live in the City of York Council area, we’re interested in hearing from you. You can leave the panel at any time and would not normally remain on the panel for more than three years”.

For more information please click here and if you would like to take part please fill in the recruitment questionnaire click here and return to business.intelligence@york.gov.uk by 8th April 2013 “.

City of York Council and local bus operators say that they are encouraging commuters, residents and visitors to join a new bus user group to become involved improving travel in York

Certainly York needs a group which would allow operators to more fully understand the views of passengers. Some of the current routes ignore passengers needs.

We hope though that it will not just be another attempt by the Council to blame others for their ineffectiveness.They have still to confirm whether they have successfully submityted a bid for “Green Bus Fund” support. Applications had to submitted last week.

The organisers say, “the new Bus User Group is looking for new members who either have an interest in bus travel or use services across the city, to help to shape future investment for the bus network in York”.

It will be know by the slightly uncomfortable anagram BUSUG!

“Meetings will be held at different times throughout the year to accommodate work commitments, and members of the group will also be asked to provide feedback online, on the phone or by completing questionnaires.

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