Completed petition forms are pouring in as York residents give the thumbs down to Labours plans to charge residents an extra £30 a year to empty green waste bins.

The response is one of the highest ever recorded in the City. National politicians are also now backing the campaign (see Press story)

It comes as the Council concludes its own “consultation”. It can be found by clicking here

There has been little pre publicity for the Council survey and it is very difficult to find on the Councils web site.

They are requiring residents to complete an electronic survey. The questions though are loaded, presuming as they do that economies have to be made in waste collection rather than other areas of Council expenditure.

Labour is currently spending £600,000 on the introduction of a city-wide 20 mph speed limit and two of its officials are on a £25,000 marketing jaunt to Cannes.

A petition against the Green Bin Tax can be found on the Councils web site by clicking here.

So far 139 residents have used this method to register their opposition. The petition closes on 3rd April.

The Liberal Democrat petition form can be found by clicking here

Residents responding to a Focus survey mainly carried out in the Westfield Ward have also come out strongly against the Labour plan.

96% are opposed to charging for green bin emptying.

96% also want to see the Beckfield Lane recycling centre reopened while 69% say they were inconvenienced by the lack of a New Years Day refuse collection

A partnership between Age UK York and the Yorkshire Energy Partnership, is offering vulnerable or low income households across the city a free Home Energy Audit

A successful bid to the Warm Homes Healthy People fund is helping tackle fuel poverty through the Warmer Winter project which aims to keep homes warm and dry and to enable older residents, in particular, to remain mobile in their home.

This support includes assessing how the most vulnerable residents can be supported to keep warm and healthy while giving them tailored advice about practical measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation.

Older people or their friends and family can telephone Age UK York’s FIRSTCALL50 service for advice and help on 01904 634061.

Anyone who might benefit from this scheme or could do with some extra help this winter can contact Denise Hall of the Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 545020 or email denise.Hall@energypartnership.org.uk
Continue reading →

New sports facilities are to be provided as part of a £600,000 plan to replace the aging pavilion on the Little Knavesmire, off Knavesmire Road

The existing pavilion will be replaced with a new one which will include four players’s changing rooms; two referees’s changing rooms, storage space, a Clubroom/community café and improved parking for cars and cycles.

The current building was used originally by the Royal Observatory Corp in the 1940’s

Funding support is expected to come from The Football Foundation, Sport England and the local and wider community.

The facility is adjacent to three full-sized, four mini-soccer pitches and two cricket pitches, some of which have recently had major improvements to the drainage system and levelling. It is expected that the new facility will increase community participation from many other local sports and community groups, who would access the facility for sports sessions, meetings and social events.

Construction is expected to commence in August 2013.

With the biking season fast approaching two new videos have been launched to help keep motorcyclists safe this summer. ck here to view

The videos detailing popular biking routes in North Yorkshire are designed to give riders tips on potential black spots before they head out on the county’s roads. The route guide videos can be accessed by clicking here

Continue reading →

Only one local planning application was received by the Council last week. Full details can be found by clicking the reference below or by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” web site. Representations can be made in favour of or in opposition to any application via the Planning on line web site.

Ref No: 13/00558/TCA Location: 290A Tadcaster Road York YO24 1ET Proposal: Fell Tree (T3), in the Conservation Area Applicant: Mr And Mrs Lewis Contact Ms Kate McNeil Consultation Expiry Date 1 April 2013 Case Officer: Esther Priestley Expected Decision Level DEL

York Liberal Democrats have called for a review of the support given to 16-19 year olds in York after recent changes to education funding.

In 2011, the Coalition Government replaced the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) with a new £180 million Bursary system amid concerns that the EMA was too expensive, poorly targeted, and was not being spent by some students on essentials like transport and equipment. The new system offers a guaranteed payment of £1,200 per year for York’s “most vulnerable” young people – more than they would have received under the EMA – plus a further fund discretionary administered by schools and colleges.
Continue reading →

The next chapter in City of York Council’s York Stories 2012 project is about to open with an exhibition of stories gathered from past and present residents of York

The next chapter in City of York Council’s York Stories 2012 project is about to open with an exhibition of stories gathered from past and present residents of York and an opportunity for even more people to get involved and help fill a time capsule.

The exhibition will take place at York Explore on 16 and 17 March and has been led by student volunteers who have taking part in a team project run by York Students in Communities based at the University of York. A number of the library learning centre’s rooms and spaces will be transformed to allow people to explore some of the thousands of captivating stories that were collected through the project in words, video, audio music poems and artwork.

On Saturday 16 March the exhibition will include a large-scale digital artwork and a web of stories will be spun by children and families visiting York Explore’s children’s area. Khaoz Media will be collecting audio stories on 16 and 17 March in the ICT room for use in a live York Stories 2012 radio broadcast.

The exhibition will be open:

Saturday 16 March – 12pm to 5pm

Sunday 17 March – 11am to 4pm

Monday 18-27 March – Normal York Explore opening times.
Continue reading →

Residents have started a petition aimed at persuading the Council to modify the zebra crossing on Haxby Road.

They claim that there have been several “near misses” on the crossing and want to see a speed table introduced and/or the crossing relocated.

The petition can be found by clicking here

Strensall Tannery set for redevelopment?

It looks like redevelopment of the Tannery site at Strensall may shortly get the go ahead.

A plan for the provision of 53 dwellings with associated public open space, access and infrastructure, plus a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Foss is set to be considered at the next meeting of the Planning Committee

NB. The Tannery was built around 1805 The Tannery closed down in 2004 and was supposed to be made into a business park with 350 new jobs. Subsequently it was subject to arson attacks and is arguably one of Yorks’ worst eyesores.

The Council have now published more details of the new charges that it intends to introduce for the warden call service.

As our story yesterday explained, major changes to this lifeline service are planned.

Warden Call provides a 24 hour monitoring and response service to approximately 3,150 customers in York. The Telecare service has over 1,650 customers who have at least one piece of telecare equipment installed.

The report indicates that the charge could more than double from £4-25 to £10 PER WEEK if the Council decides to re-coop the full costs of providing the service. A basic Tier 1 service might be provided at a cheaper rate but this would not cover Telecare options.

An additional £5 would be charged where a couple at the same address both have access to the service.

There would be no change for those 1200 customers who currently do not pay for the service as long as they remain in receipt of Council Tax assistance and/or Housing benefit.

The Council will decide in June the final levels of charges which will apply for the service.

It seems clear though that the increase in charges is aimed at facilitating moving the service into the private sector.

A proposal to that effect will be considered by the Labour Cabinet in April.

The Labour Council have gone much further in privatising the delivery of Council services than had ever been contemplated under the former LibDem Council leadership.