Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Planning Application – 15th February

Full details can be found by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” website. Click here.

Ref No:      15/02726/FULM

Location:   26 Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York YO24 1LQ

Proposal:   Erection of 11no. dwellings

Applicant:  William Cloughton

Contact      Mark Newby       Contact Tel:        01904 641289

Consultation Expiry Date     16 March 2016

Case Officer:      Heather Fairy     Expected Decision Level     COMM

Ref No:      15/02777/FUL

Location:   37 Moor Lane Acomb York YO24 2QX

Proposal:   Dormer window to rear

Applicant:  Mr Simon Wright

Consultation Expiry Date     8 March 2016

Case Officer:      Carolyn Howarth          Expected Decision Level     DEL

Ref No:      16/00258/FUL

Location:   43 West Thorpe York YO24 2PP

Proposal:   Single storey side extension

Applicant:  Mr John McGarry

Contact      Mr Malcolm Scott

Consultation Expiry Date     8 March 2016

Case Officer:      Carolyn Howarth          Expected Decision Level     DEL

Ref No:      16/00256/FUL

Location:   Tadcaster Road Off License 78 Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York YO24 1LR

Proposal:   Change of use from shop (use class A1) to cafe (use class A3) (retrospective)

Applicant:  Mr Hasam Komur

Contact      Mrs Jacqui Thickett

Consultation Expiry Date     8 March 2016

Case Officer:      Heather Fairy     Expected Decision Level     DEL

Budget: Protecting Frontline Services in York

City of York Council’s Liberal Democrat-Conservative Executive have unveiled proposals for the authority’s 2016-2017 budget focused on protecting frontline services, vulnerable and young people.

2016The council has confirmed it will need to make savings of £6.5million in 2016/17 which is equivalent to 5.5% of its net budget (£117.9m). However, the council continues to spend one of the lowest amounts per head per population amongst UK local authorities. York has the 13th lowest band D council tax, the 2nd lowest spend per head of population of any unitary council in England.

York continues to face increased pressures including the costs of adult social care. In 2015/16 the gross spend on this service was £70.7m. It is expected that by 2019/20 adult social care costs will account for around 50 per cent of the council’s net budget. It is therefore proposed that the council takes advantage of the Government’s two per cent social care precept, which will be used exclusively to fund adult social care cost pressures. Added to this will be a further one per cent increase in Council Tax.

The Executive noted that feedback from the recent budget consultation indicated the majority of those who responded to the options provided (56% or 224 people) would prefer that there was an increase in Council Tax levels, rather than increased charges or the council providing fewer services.

The council will invest a further £1.9m in children’s social care for 2016/17 to ensure continuation of proper safeguarding arrangements and adequate provision for children looked after. A further £100k investment is outlined for mental health services as well as £234k to fund street based services work including fly-tipping and graffiti and £60k to fund a strategic flood risk assessment.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of City of York Council, said:

“We are focusing resources on frontline services such as road repairs, street lighting, tackling fly-tipping and graffiti as well as plans to make York the Greenest City in the North. We are also investing in community mental health facilities and supporting local businesses after the floods by freezing car park charges across the city.

“Continued funding cuts and the increased costs of elderly care have left the council with some stark choices. However, we have listened to residents and whilst making significant savings we are ensuring the funding is in place for vulnerable children, adult social care and crucial street-level services.”

Key budget proposals include:

Whilst legally, the council can only set a budget for one year, the authority is also setting out plans for the next four years, which will enable a more joined up approach.

Further information can be found in our budget briefing here: http://yorklibdems.org.uk/en/document/budget-briefing.pdf

The full budget report, which presents a budget that is fully balanced, will be taken to Executive for consideration on 11 February from 5.30pm and Full Council for approval on 25February 2016 from 6pm: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=8846

York Lib Dems launch local manifesto

Lib Dems Stephen Fenton (Candidate Dringhouse & Woodthorpe), Cllr Ann Reid, Lord Willis and Cllr Keith Aspden at Moor Lane

Lib Dems Stephen Fenton (Candidate Dringhouse & Woodthorpe), Cllr Ann Reid, Lord Willis and Cllr Keith Aspden at Moor Lane

York Liberal Democrats have launched their local election manifesto promising to “put residents first”.

You can download the full manifesto here.

Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden and Deputy Leader Cllr Ann Reid were joined by Lib Dem Peer Lord Phil Willis on a campaign visit to Woodthorpe on Friday. The visit highlights the Lib Dem manifesto commitment to safeguard York’s Green Belt and protect sites such as Moor Lane from development under the Local Plan.

Lord Willis will also be the special guest at an event tonight, when the manifesto is officially launched with local members and supporters in York.

The full manifesto builds on the six key policy themes unveiled by the Lib Dems last month. These are:

– Protect Frontline Services, including plans to invest more in road repairs, rule out further cuts and charges for waste collections and keep Yearsley Pool open.

– Fight for York’s Green Belt, with a revised Local Plan which focuses much-needed house building on brownfield sites across the city such as York Central.

– Put Communities First by devolving power and budgets to local residents and opening-up decision making at the council through a return to a cross-party committee system.

– Make York the Greenest City in the North by increasing recycling, cutting carbon emissions and supporting sustainable transport, renewable energy schemes and green jobs.

– Support Jobs and Apprenticeships by increasing help to small businesses and working with regional partners to secure increased investment in York.

– Invest in Young People by boosting support for school children from disadvantaged backgrounds, keeping all Children’s Centres open and protecting the services offered at Castlegate.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden commented:

“We are pleased to be promoting our manifesto here in Woodthorpe, one of a number of areas where we are fighting to protect the Green Belt, a key manifesto pledge for the Liberal Democrats.

“This is one of our six key priorities, all of which reflect what residents have been telling us on the doorstep over the last four years. Local people feel let down by the Labour Council and want change.

“Our manifesto focuses on frontline services such as road repairs and facilities like Yearsley Pool, protecting York’s Green Belt, and devolving power to give local communities a greater say over how money is spent.

“It also outlines our vision to make York the Greenest City in the North, increase support for local jobs and apprenticeships, and prioritise investment in young people and the services offered at Castlegate and Children’s Centres.

“This manifesto puts residents first and includes a set of ambitious but deliverable policies which would ensure York remains a thriving, sustainable and attractive place to live and work.”

Letter to the Press: Consult on Bins

Green BinAs Labour prepare to introduce charges for green recycling bins, I outline why proper public consultation on the issue  is vital:

Dear Editor, 

Labour appear to have confirmed their plans to introduce charging for green bins (Press 17/01) . No details have emerged, but the intention is clear with their much-delayed report finally going to Cabinet next month. 

I just hope they have learnt from other parts of the country. In Newcastle, 40,000 residents boycotted plans to introduce a new £20 fee and returned their recycling bins. This and similar examples elsewhere tell us that where residents have received a ‘free’ service (albeit funded by council tax), charging risks being unpopular and detrimental to recycling rates. 

Already, after the closure of Beckfield Lane HWRC, the council is missing its recycling targets and is on track to pay £3.3 million in landfill tax this year. At a time when we should be tackling this by encouraging residents to recycle and exploring options such as food recycling, introducing new charges is risky. 

This is why proper consultation is so important. Whatever the final plans involve, it is crucial residents are consulted, listened to, and the council is prepared to change its policy as a result. On issues such as litter bin cuts and library sell-offs, Labour didn’t listen. I just hope on this one they do.  

Councillor Ann Reid

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services

Stadium and shops plan given green light

York Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the decision to approve a new Community Stadium at Monks Cross will not be called-in by central government.

The 6,000-seat stadium for York City FC and York City Knights, as well as new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores, will now be built after Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles ruled that City of York Council’s decision to approve the scheme should stand. The stadium is expected to be ready for the 2014/15 football and rugby league seasons.

Carol Runciman, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on City of York Council, commented:

“The Liberal Democrat Group is very pleased that the scheme has not been called in and the decision of local representatives will stand. The development will significantly contribute to the economic development of York. It will bring much-needed jobs to the City and offer local residents and sport clubs improved facilities and choice We now need to move forward with the application and ensure that developers work closely with local residents to make certain that the new development works for everyone and concerns such as traffic are properly resolved.”

Launch of York 800

This year, the City of York will be 800 years old.  In 1212, King John gave York its first Charter so that it could have a council led by a mayor and be able to raise local taxes and trade without restrictions.  The day the charter was given was July 9th but the celebration was launched by the present Lord Mayor at a special Breakfast in the Mansion House recently.  

He was able to announce that Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York Minster on April 5th , Maundy Thursday,  and will present 85 deserving pensioners with specially minted Maundy Money  –  one person for each year of her age. As celebration in 2012 will include the Mystery Plays, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics; it looks as if it will be year to remember.

Free cavity wall and loft insulation

The York Council has teamed up with the Yorkshire Energy Partnership to offer free home insulation to York residents through the ‘Warmer Warmer’ scheme.

Subject to a free, no obligation home survey, householders can get free loft and cavity wall insulation in their homes, on a first-come first-served basis. The scheme is open to all private homeowners in the City of York Council area, including landlords. The deal expires on 31 January 2012.

For more information or to claim your FREE insulation, call Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06 quoting ‘Warmer Winter’.
The £100,000 scheme aims to to tackle fuel poverty and keep the cold at bay during the freezing winter months and is being funded by national energy providers and City of York Council.