Reduction in “children in care” numbers in York

The number of children in the care of the local authority has fallen in York.

An annual review shows that there were 243 children in care at the end of March 2013 compared to 258 in 2012.

Of the 248, 67% had been placed with Council appointed foster carers. A further 9% were living with people who had a previous connection to the child (e.g. an aunt)

The City has 113 approved foster carers at the end of the year.

Around 20 families apply to become foster carers each month.

Foster carers are paid a weekly fee of between £149 and £642 depending on the age of the child fostered and the skill level of the fosterer.

Income from fostering is tax free up to a limit of £25,000 a year.

Despite £300,000 taxpayers investment, York traffic camera information still not available on web

County Council weather camera. Click photo to access North Yorkshire cameras

County Council weather camera. Click photo to access North Yorkshire cameras


The York Council was today celebrating opening a new CCTV control centre.

It was immediately criticised for not making the output of traffic/weather cameras – which monitor congestion levels in the City – available on the internet. Anyone currently trying to access the York Live web site will find that all the displayed cameras are marked as “unavailable”

York Live traffic information. Click image to access

York Live traffic information. Click image to access

This contrasts with the policy of the neighbouring North Yorkshire County Council which has, for several years, allowed travellers to check the traffic and weather conditions displayed by 12 “real time” cameras.

The York Council media release says,

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Record LOW number of speeders caught in York last week

The Police speed camera van caught only 32 drivers speeding in the York area last week. This was lower than normal. Most were identified on Greenshaw Drive in Haxby and on the A1237 at Monks Cross.

North Yorkshire Police mobile safety camera routes for the period 26 June to 2 July 2013.

Below are enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 26 June 2013.

• Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York

• Beckfield Lane Acomb York

• Main Street Askham Richard

• Millfield Lane Poppleton York

• Temple Lane Copmanthorpe York

• Malton Road York
• Murton Way Murton York
• Skipwith Road Escrick
• Stillingfleet Mine, Escrick Road
• Strensall Road Huntington York
• The village Stockton-on-the-Forest York
• Towthorpe Road Haxby
• Greenshaw Drive Haxby
• York Road Haxby York
• Grange Farm, Wheldrake Lane, Elvington
• B1228 Dunnington Lodge Elvington

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Latest planning application Dringhouses and Woodthorpe area

Below is the latest planning application received by the York Council last week affecting the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe parts of the City. Full details can be found by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” web site.

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.

Location: 33 Moorcroft Road York YO24 2RQ Ref No: 13/01971/FUL Proposal: Sub-division of dwelling to form 2no. self-contained flats and dormer to front (resubmission) Applicant: Mr Andrew Henderson Contact Mr Andrew Henderson Consultation Expiry Date 16 July 2013 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

Neighbourhood Watch “ringmaster crime alerts” available on line

Recent crime alerts issued by York local policing teams can be found by clicking here:

West – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/west/

Central/East – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/cande/

North – http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/north/

The links can also be accessed form the new Neighbourhood Watch web site http://yorkwatch.org.uk/yorkwatch/

For details of crimes committed in west York click the map below and enter your local post code

click map to go to Police web site

click map to go to Police web site

Resurfacing works will close two key roads in York next week

A1237 Great North Way Roundabout

City of York Council will be carrying out essential carriageway resurfacing works on the A1237 Great North Way roundabout at Poppleton from next week.

The works will take place from Sunday 30 June to Friday 5 July for approximately six nights, between the hours of 7pm to 11pm.

In order to carry out these works safely, a three phased partial closure of the roundabout on Great North Way with temporary traffic signals on the A1237 will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

Essential carriageway reconstruction works on the A19, Selby Road

City of York Council will be carrying out essential carriageway reconstruction works on the A19 Selby Road at Fulford from Sunday 30 June. The works will take place for one week from Sunday to Friday between the hours of 7pm to 11pm. In order to carry out these works safely a temporary road closure of the outbound lane of the A19 from Naburn Lane to the A64 interchange will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

Outside the proposed working hours the road will remain open as usual but there will be minor works carried out through the day starting on Monday 1 July under local traffic management. Bus stops within the area will not be in use during these works, please ring 01904 551400 for bus route information.

Road works and congestion west York 14:30 25th June 2013. click to enlarge

Road works and congestion west York 14:30 25th June 2013. click to enlarge

Click the map for updated information

We strongly recommend use of the road works web site http://roadworks.org/ which shows the lengths of queues in “real time” (red lines) on congested routes

Cycle to work challenge starts next week in York

cycle to work

Workplaces in York are being invited to take part in a free competition to encourage more people to ride bikes as part of the 2013 York Cycle Challenge – and potentially win a bike worth £1,000.

More than 81 businesses and 1,500 people are set to take to the streets over the three week period from 1 to 21 July for the annual event.

The challenge is supported by City of York Council’s i-Travel initiative, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding which the council successfully bid for in 2011.

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Huge increase in “compromise agreements” in York

Top-secret-stamp-006

A Freedom of Information request has revealed a 400% increase in the number confidential payments being made to staff leaving the York Councils employment since Labour took control of the authority.

“Compromise agreements” are entered into when local authorities (and other employers) reach a financial compromise which facilitates an employee leaving its employment. Sometimes the agreements are reached to avoid the costs of an employment tribunal.

Because the details of the deal remain confidential, taxpayers are kept in the dark about the costs involved. They are therefore controversial and are used sparingly by most Councils.

2007 – 2010 The number of compromise agreements made with former or current staff from the start 6

2010 – 2013 (so far).The number of compromise agreements made with former or current staff from the start of 28

All the compromise agreements made in York contain a confidentiality clause.