York crime update

Click heading for link to full information

High-value mountain bike stolen in York:

£500 reward on offer for information that leads to arrests and charges.
Police in York are investigating the theft of a mountain bike valued in excess of £6,500.
The grey Cielo bike with orange lettering on the frame, custom built in the USA by Chris King, was taken from outside a property on Gladstone Street, off Huntington Road, at about 3pm on Friday 27 September 2013.
—————————————

Help beat doorstep crime on Older People’s Day (TODAY)

North Yorkshire Police are urging people to support UK Older People’s Day by helping to raise awareness of doorstep crime amongst their elderly relatives and neighbours.
Elderly people are particular vulnerable to the risk of doorstep crime. This can be people tricking their way into their homes by posing as officials such as police officers, council workers or gas meter readers with the intention of stealing their possessions.
——————————————

Witnesses sought after two women assaulted in York

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after two women were assaulted in York.
The women aged 18 and 19-years-old, were walking home along Percy Lane at around 11pm on Monday 23 September 2013, when they were attacked by a man near the bridge over the River Foss.
————————————–

Students urged to follow basic crime prevention advice following sneak-in campus burglaries

North Yorkshire Police is investigating two burglaries at student accommodation at York St John University.
The incidents at the campus, which is in the Hungate area of the city, occurred between 10pm on Sunday and 12.45am on Monday (29-30 September 2013).
In one room, which was left unlocked, a Apple MacBook laptop was stolen.
——————————————-

Chance to quiz top police officer about what matters most to you TODAY

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy will host a live webchat on Tuesday 1 October to mark his first month in the job.
The webchat will take place between 5pm and 6pm To join the live webchat and to ask Mr Kennedy a question, please visit our website www.northyorkshire.police.uk

Twitter @snayorkwest

• There have been 2 damage to vehicles reported in the Woodthorpe area on Sat night (28th). Have you seen/heard anything? Please ring 101.

• There has also been a stolen moped taken from the Dringhouses area. Any sightings of YJ11FZN white Piaggio Zip then please ring 101

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

Reference 13/03175/FUL Alternative Reference PP-02908982

Address 57 Middlethorpe Grove York YO24 1LE

Proposal Two storey side and single storey rear extension

Application Received Tue 24 Sep 2013 Status Pending Consideration

——————–

Reference 13/03176/TCA

Address National Trust Regional Office Goddards 27 Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York YO24 1QG

Proposal Fell Robinia (T2), Crown reduce Black Poplars x 3, and Pollard White Willow (T3), Trees in the Conservation Area

Application Received Tue 24 Sep 2013 Status Pending Consideration
—————————-

Reference 13/03180/FUL

Address 4 The Horseshoe York YO24 1LX

Proposal First and second floor rear extension

Application Received Mon 23 Sep 2013 Status Pending Consideration
——————————–

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Dringhouses misses out on waste bin emptying again

Today (Monday) the Council is reporting that both grey and green bins haven’t been emptied in parts of York.

Some of the roads listed on the Councils web site as “Micklegate Ward ” are actually in the Dringhouses Ward.

The web site is also a little vague about when the grey bins will actually be collected, although it seems that the green bins in Bishopthorpe will be emptied tomorrow (Tuesday)

Monday 30th September some properties in the following area(s ) did not have their waste collected as scheduled:

Grey Bin: (Micklegate Ward)

◦ Chalfonts

◦ Pulleyn Drive

◦ White House Gardens

◦ White House Rise

◦ White House Drive

◦ White House Dale

◦ St Georges Place

◦ Newington Court

◦ Mount Vale Drive

◦ Towton Avenue

◦ Moorgarth Avenue

Green Bin: (Bishopthorpe)

◦ Copmanthorpe Lane

◦ The Coppice
◦ Kirkwell
◦ New Lane
◦ Temple Road

“Green waste will be collected on Tuesday 1st October, please remember to present your garden waste bins by 7am”.

shop4support York website questioned

Residents accessing a new York web site have questioned the York Councils role in the initiative.

Although available since May, the shop4support site has had little publicity and there is no explanation on the site of the Councils role or the standing of the site.

click to access site

click to access site

It appears to advertise services for disadvantaged people in the City but representatives of some voluntary organisations say they have only just found out about its existence.

It appears that the site is aimed at personal budget holders – residents who have opted to manage their own social care needs from a budget allocated by the local authority. This is a growing number of people in York where the number of direct payment holders has increased from 99 in 2008 to around 300 today. In addition many elderly people also chose now to arrange their own care.

The web page is clearly marked as being a City of York Council supported initiative, but there is no record of the Council having formally discussed its involvement. No Council contact telephone number is advertised on the site. There is no link to the site from the Council’s own web page.

Many of the services offered involve a payment. Although some of the advertisers are voluntary groups, there are others which appear to have a more commercial background.

Elsewhere on the web site, Councils are being offered the chance to get join the network in return for a payment of “from £45,000”.

Questions about the Councils involvement with the web site are likely to be asked at the next Council meeting which is taking place on 10th October.

Social care costs in York click to enlarge

Social care costs in York click to enlarge

Only 53 new “affordable rent” properties in pipeline for York

The Council have admitted that only 53 new properties with “affordable rents” are likely to be constructed in the City during the next 3 years.

Of these, 35 are currently under construction

YMCA building site

YMCA building site

They are located at
• YWCA site, currently under construction: 23
• Elvington rural exception site, currently under construction: 12
• White Swan, to be started 2013-4, 18.

These will be the first affordable rent homes constructed since 2010.

This compares to the (cheaper) “social housing” rent programme which has seen 297 properties completed since 2010.

This total includes the additional Council houses which were given the go ahead by the last LibDem Council administration.

NB. The Council have been criticised for not publishing its Annual Monitor Report. Some data on the Council web site is now nearly 2 years out of date. Particular interest focuses around the progress being made by the Council in providing “affordable” homes against its targets. The lack of progress is likely to be raised at the Council meeting which is taking place on 10th October

Jobs fair at Barbican tomorrow

Jobseekers and residents wanting to improve their skills and qualifications are being encouraged to visit a jobs fair at the Barbican, Paragon St, York on 1 October from 10am to 3pm.

The event, which has been organised through partnerships between the council, Learning City York, Job Centre Plus and York Learning aims to bring together local employers and will offer advice as well as employment opportunities.

There will be several employers present along with learning providers and other agencies offering free help and advice for people to improve their skills and help them in their search for employment.

The council and its partners have lined up over 50 businesses, with many currently recruiting, including Royal York Hotel, Wilf Ward and Marks and Spencer. The 300-400 opportunities that will soon be available at the new John Lewis store at Monks Cross will also be featured at the event.

The fair will have a designated quiet area to enable residents to fill in application forms with the help of some excellent local skills and training providers.