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Next ward committee/forum meeting details published
Archaeological team unearths evidence of a medieval church on King’s Square.
City of York Council’s archaeological team has unearthed evidence of the medieval church on King’s Square.
The discovery was made following works, which started last week, to repaved the square.
The Council say, “It is hoped that the important discovery will not cause any delays to the scheme, as the time taken to carry out the archaeological dig will be added to the existing schedule in March, for the second phase of works”.
The investigations will start next week and, if further evidence is found, could determine if there is a need for the team to carry out any more detailed further excavations.
Last week the Daily Mail led a campaign of criticism of the Council forir approach to conservation in the Shambles area.
Oliver House – £30,000 taxpayers bill for property empty for 18 months
It has become clear why the Council’s leadership were so reluctant to answer questions about the future of the former elderly person’s home at Oliver House in Bishophill at the last council meeting.
A Freedom of Information response has revealed that the building is costing taxpayers nearly £2000 a month to keep empty.
The building has been unused since April 2012.
The only “occupants” are a firm called “ad hoc property management” who – in return for access – offer a “free” security service.
No rent or other income has been received for the property.
Discussions with the York CVS, which might have led to the building being sold to them, started in May 2012. They stalled several months ago.
The value of the prime site has been put at over £1 million with offers having apparently already been made, to the Council, by housing developers.
The Council has spent £30,000 over the last 18 months paying rates and on maintaining the empty property.
There are currently over 4500 people on the waiting list for social accommodation in the City. Many of these require single person accommodation
NB. The Guildhall has also now been empty for 8 months and is costing Council taxpayers around £160,000 a year in maintenance, rates and other costs.
York Council footpath investment down by 40%
New figures reveal that investment, in keeping York’s footpaths in a safe condition, has fallen by 41% over he last 5 years
Expenditure on repairs peaked at £1.8 million in 2009 when the Council was under Liberal Democrat Leadership.
Neglected roads and paths in Kingsway West reported on Saturday
This year only £1 million will be spent. The detailed figures – revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request – are:
• 2009/10 – £1,794k
• 2010/11 – £1,784k
• 2011/12 – £1,667k
• 2012/13 – £1,160k
• 2013/14 – £1,050k
The Council received 48 claims for compensation last year from people who had fallen on badly maintained footpaths. £6,750 was paid out in compensation
The number of complaints about pavements doubled in 2012/13 to 554 from a level of 258 two years earlier.
The Council admits that 5% of its footpaths require resurfacing.
Each year the Council resurfaces less than 1% of the total mileage of footpaths in the City.
The most complained about footpaths are Front Street in Acomb and Coney Street.
NB. The Council are currently spending £500,000 relaying flags in Kings Square. despite the area being in a generally good condition
York Council explains telephone answering delays
Time taken to answer telephone calls to the York Council
The number of complaint calls to the Council almost doubled when the ill-fated new refuse collection schedules were introduced on 9th September.
Over 5500 residents tried to raise issues with the Council
Callers faced an average wait of nearly 3 minutes before being answered.
42% gave up waiting and hung up.
Commercial switchboard operators typically have a target “Time to Answer” of less than 20 seconds.
The problems were exacerbated last week by the failure of the Council to update its database to allow its web site to be used to report missed bins.
The Council has promised to take action to align staff resources to more closely match demand levels in the future.
Call for action on betting shop spread
Liberal Democrats are calling for action to stop the increase in betting shops in some parts of York.
Lib Dems have responded to residents’ concerns that some parts of York have reached saturation point with betting shops. Currently York Council has no powers to refuse permission when there are already a large number in one specific location. This is changing the character of high streets and reduces the range of different types of shops in local retail areas.
Now Clifton loses in bin emptying lottery
The Council say that they have been unable to empty green waste bins and collect recycling in parts of the Clifton and Rawcliffe area today. They hope to empty the green bins tomorrow (Saturday)
They have also failed to collect recycling from 10 roads in Rawcliffe. However they now plan to collect them on Monday. How residents are supposed to know this remains a mystery.
The local media continue to pretend that everything is OK.
No point in ringing up the Councils help line (01904 551551) . It is closed until Monday.
Even then you will only have a 50% chance of getting through – see our story tomorrow for the background to the Council communications meltdown.
Waste not collected (according to Council web site)
Green Bin: (Clifton Moor)
Hopes that Council Leader James Alexander will step in to address the bins crisis have been dashed. His involvement here was photographed only a few weeks before the last local Council elections
• Winscar Grove
• Langsett Grove
• Roseberry Grove
• Landalewood Road
• Grimwith Garth
• Gouthwaite Close
• Rivelin Way
• Doe Park
• Roundhill Link
• Stubden Grove
• Thornton Moor Close
• Dale Dyke Grove
• Boltby Road
• Morehall Close
• Oakdale Road
• Bransholme Drive
• Whitley Close
• Hayforth Close
• Handley Close
• Wellesley Close
• Ilton Garth
• Ryburn Close
• Loxley Close
• Rishworth Grove
• Eldwick Close
• Lanshaw Croft
• Ebsay Drive
• Lindley Road
• Barmby Close
• Redmires Close
• Gillingwood Road
• Wharnscliffe Drive
• Harden Close
• Lindley Wood Grove
Green Bin: (Clifton)
• Burton Stone Lane
• Burton Green
• Ashton Avenue
• Ingram Avenue
• Waveney Grove
• Burrill Avenue
• Evelyn Crescent
• Marjorie Waite Court
• Crombie Avenue
• Crichton Avenue
• Wilberforce Avenue
• Bede Avenue
• Intake Avenue
• Lucas Avenue
• Link Avenue
• Rowntree Avenue
• Sutton Way
• Little Avenue
• Kingsway North
Recycling:
1. Beaverdyke
2. Chelkar Way
3. Fewston Drive
4. Angram Close
5. Swinsty Court
6. Leighton Croft
7. Keats Close
8. Reighton Avenue
9. Lawnswood Drive
10. Melton Drive
Changes to Stonebow bus stops
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The Council is implementing changes to bus stop arrangements in the Pavement/Stonebow area.
The park and ride bus stop is being relocated to Stonebow to reduce footpath congestion, while the entrance to Whip-ma-Whop-ma-Gate is being narrowed.
The background report says,
“The proposed alteration of the Whip-ma-Whop- ma-Gate junction will reduce the carriageway width to allow just a single exit lane. Whilst this is considered adequate to deal with traffic flows, and will bring about a number of safety improvements, there is a risk of some criticism over this change”.
No consultation with residents has taken place and he decision was taken “behind closed doors”
First announce new bus fares
From Sunday 29 September the following fares will apply on First buses in York:
• • York FirstWeek reduced to £12.00 (from £16) – a 25% cut and a saving of £4
• • York FirstMonth reduced to £44 (from £53) – a saving of £9 and now monthly (rather than for four weeks)
• • York FirstAnnual reduced to £440 (from £583) – a saving of £143
• • A new minimum single fare of £1 – meaning all York customers have access to a £1 single fare to somewhere in York
• • York FirstDay prices frozen (£3.70)
First say, “In the summer we talked extensively to our customers and partners in York and have listened to what they have said to us. Value for money was one of the major points raised and with this range of lower and more attractive fares we are giving both new and existing customers the chance to save money when they use First buses on a regular basis.
For those customers who plan ahead there are a range of savings to be made on our week, month and annual tickets. We have also looked at our single ticket structure and have offered some new cheaper fares from just £1 and will publish widely for the first time our simplified single fares structure to encourage new bus users to try the bus.
Our key message, and it came out of the public consultation, is that we should be fair. Some singles are going up but the increases are capped at 20p, while some singles are being reduced by as much as 70p. When people do have increases on singles many will still have an opportunity to pay less by buying a different type of ticket”.
Labour Council targets noisy “students”
Ahead of the autumn festivals and to help students settle into the new academic year, City of York Council has said that it will be running additional ‘noise patrols’ this autumn and issuing waste disposal reminders.
The council’s environmental protection unit will be carrying out extra noise patrols at the start of the new academic year, and around Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night at the end of October and early November.
As part of their welcome to the city (!) – which includes advice on waste disposal – noise patrol officers called out to investigate reports of noise will be helping establish acceptable noise levels.
These patrols will run during Fresher’s Weeks: 16-19 September for York St John University and 29 September-3 October for the University of York, plus on Sunday 6 October. On each night the Noise Patrol will operate from 10pm to 1am in addition to its regular hours of 9pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The noise patrols will also operate over these same hours on Halloween on 31 October and on Bonfire Night on 5 November.