Green bin emptying next week
last year for an additional November collection. The then Labour-run Council Group refused this request.
After Labour lost their majority on the Council last October, the Lib Dem Council Leader sent a joint letter from Opposition Councillors repeating the request for an extra green bin collection. While it was too late to organise this for November, all households with garden waste collections will get one additional collection in January 2015.
The collections will be in the weeks starting 19 and 26 January 2015.
Collections are on your usual recycling collection day.
If you still have Christmas trees to dispose of these can be chopped up and put in your green bin.
Thank you for continuing to use the recycling facilities we set up when we ran the Council. Liberal Democrats are committed to getting back to the recycling rates we achieved then.
Sadly these rates have declined in the last 3 years.
Drug possession, public order and theft offences up in York
Overall crime numbers stable in year to the end of September 2014.
The latest crime figures produced by ONS show an increase in some types of crime in York. (See table left)
Crime numbers in York
The biggest concerns will probably be over public order and “theft from a person” offences both of which have risen for the fifth consecutive quarter.
Drug related crime is also on the increase as are (reported) sexual offenses and shoplifting.
The violence figures remain high.
The Police are right to point out that North Yorkshire is a safe place to live and enjoys the second lowest crime rate in the country.
But there is work to do in York and the figures are likely to reopen the debate about whether the County’s Deputy Chief Constable should be relocated and headquartered in the City.
The York Council may also need to review its policies.
It has a role to play in reducing crime in general and public order problems in particular.
A statement from North Yorkshire Police is reproduced below
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Council staff encouraged to volunteer
Staff at City of York Council are being inspired to give their time and volunteer for organisations across the city, through a Staff Volunteering Fair featuring some 30 charities and community groups.
70 per cent of the council’s 6,000 employees are York residents and all are being encouraged to take up the corporate offer of one day of volunteering leave, matched with one day of leave from their annual allocation.
The Fair, which is being held tomorrow (22 January 2015) gives a chance to explore the huge range of volunteering opportunities available from charitable and community-based organisations across the city.
Staff can donate their skills and energy towards a range of projects from protecting local wildlife and preserving historic locations, to giving their time to the libraries and a range of charities
Statistics show number of York jobseekers has fallen by over 50 per cent in the last year
Jobless number slightly down as York claimant count falls for the tenth consecutive month.
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics have shown that the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has fallen by 54 per cent in the last year.
The statistics show there to be 1,619 claimants in York, a fall of 63 from last month. The claimant count represents 0.9 per cent of the working population contrasts to the regional average which stands at 2.7 per cent. The figures are also much lower than the national average which is currently 1.9 per cent. Today’s figures mean there are 958 less claimants than in December 2013.
The ONS figures also showed youth unemployment levels decrease by 49.6 per cent since December 2013, falling from 465 claimants in December 2013 to 235 in December 2014, a reduction of 230 in the past year.
The latest news comes of the back of the Centre for Cities annual report which showed York to be the fourth best performing city in the country with regards to the Jobseekers Allowance claimant count. The report also highlighted York as being the third best performing city with regards to the youth claimant count.
Local Plan Working Group: Feedback on draft documents that will define special character for villages in York
Residents and organisations have had their say on draft planning documents which went out to a seven-week consultation period last year.
If approved, the documents could now apply guidelines for Wheldrake and Strensall with Towthorpe to ensure the special characters of the villages are preserved in the determination of future planning applications.
Produced by local steering groups, in conjunction with City of York Council and compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the draft Village Design Statements (VDS) defines the special characters of Wheldrake and Strensall with Towthorpe. They also identify guidelines that could be applied to future developments, as a basis for ensuring that new development fits its surroundings.
Village Design Statements are supported by City of York Council as a means of fostering good design, appropriate to its local context and have so far been completed in Heslington, Copmanthorpe, Rufforth, Skelton, Holtby, Murton, Dunnington, Poppleton, Askham Bryan, Askham Richard and Knapton.
The proposals for each village will now go before the cross-party Local Plan Working Group on 29 January and subsequently require approval by the Local Planning Authority (City of York Council).
The Village Design Statements are a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to the emerging Local Plan. If approved, the plan will become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.
For more information about the plan, visit: www.york.gov.uk/VDSconsultation
To read the responses and find out more about the report click
Marygate car park to be closed during February
Rail passengers, York residents and visitors to the city are being reminded to plan ahead this half term as the old bridge deck of Scarborough Rail Bridge will be lifted out and a new one installed.
The work to refurbish the bridge means that no trains can run over it between 14 and 23 February, with coaches replacing First Trans-Pennine Express trains between York and Seamer.
The worksite in York will also affect local residents and visitors. Marygate car park will be closed from 2 to 27 February to safely accommodate the crane and other construction equipment. The footbridge alongside Scarborough railway bridge which also carries National Cycle Network route 65 across the river will be closed from 9 February to 2 March and the shared use paths on either side of the river under Scarborough railway bridge will close between 14 and 22 February.
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Free childcare places available in York
Parents of toddlers in York are being reminded to check out whether they’re eligible for free childcare.
From 1 January over 585 two-year-olds in York are eligible for up to 15 hours of free childcare a week at a playgroup, day nursery or with a childminder as part of a national initiative.
Parents, who earn no more than £16,190 a year and receive Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credit or Income Support, could be eligible for a free childcare place. Two-year-olds, who are looked after by the council automatically qualify for a place.
Since September 2014, children with special educational needs, those who have been adopted or with a residency/special guardianship order also qualify for a place.
The free places are available to children who are two years of age and whose parents fulfil the criteria. The places can be taken up the term after the child’s second birthday.
Parents can apply on line at www.yor-ok.org.uk/childcare or to find out more call the Family Information Service on 01904 554444 or text ‘’free place’ to 07624 802244.
Builder for new York Community stadium announced
Completion date slips to “Autumn 2016”
An article in “Construction Enquirier” has claimed that the new Community Stadium will be built by ISG.
ISG is a Yorkshire based company.
The article claims that the stadium will be completed in “Autumn 2016”.
That conflicts with the July 2016 occupation date previously publicised by the York Council and means that the football club may not be able to move home until the 2017/18 season.
The delays will come as no surprise to the many commentators who have queried the 15 month construction timetable.
The scheme has yet to get planning permission while the future of the Knights Rugby team is under question following a very public disagreement between a senior Council official and the Knights chairman.
The Enquirer article reads;
ISG has been confirmed as the preferred construction partner for the £41m York Community Stadium and Leisure Complex scheme.
ISG will be part of the successful consortium bid by Greenwich Leisure Ltd to build a new home stadium for York’s professional football and rugby teams including leisure, retail, office and community facilities.
The new 8,000 all-seater stadium will include hospitality and conferencing facilities, a new 25m six-lane swimming pool, fitness and active play facilities and a community hub.
Work is expected to start on site this summer with completion scheduled for autumn 2016.
ISG is believed to have beaten rivals Carillion and Barr to the deal.
Danny Murray, ISG’s Northern regional managing director, said: “Our involvement in the York Community Stadium project extends back to 2012 and we have worked closely with GLL and our consortium partners to bring the vision for this keynote regional leisure scheme to reality.
“ISG has exceptionally strong leisure sector credentials, delivering iconic sporting venues like the Olympic Velodrome and the National Football Development Centre in Newport, and we are looking forward to working with our consortium partners to create superb new facilities for York.”
Latest Planning applications Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the application reference
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Location: The Cottage Eastfield Farm Moor Lane Acomb York
Proposal: Change of use of outbuildings to form additional residential accommodation for The Cottage with associated alterations
Ref No: 14/02966/FUL (Rural West Ward)
Applicant: Messrs Dodgson Contact: Miss Jane Wildblood Consultation Expiry Date: 9 February 2015 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level: DEL
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Location: The Coach House Eastfield Farm Moor Lane Acomb York
Proposal: Change of use of outbuildings to form additional residential accommodation for The Coach House with associated external alterations
Ref No: 14/02967/FUL & 14/02968/FUL (Rural West Ward)
Applicant: Messrs Dodgson Contact Miss Jane Wildblood Consultation Expiry Date 9 February 2015 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level DEL
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Location: 8 Don Avenue York YO24 2PX
Proposal: Two storey side extension
Ref No: 14/02919/FUL
Applicant: Mr Graham Plunton Contact Mr John Funnell Consultation Expiry Date 9 February 2015Case Officer: Sharon Jackson Expected Decision Level DEL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
- The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.