Inconsistent ward funding decisions revealed

Local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has expressed concern about inconsistencies in how wards are being permitted to spend limited ward funding, after he was refused permission to have repairs made to a damaged community noticeboard.

The perspex cover of the community noticeboard on Moorcroft Road has been smashed

Shortly after coming into power, York’s new Labour administration froze the ward funding that had been allocated in the 2023/24 budget by the then Lib Dem / Green administration. Three-member wards such as Dringhouses & Woodthorpe were permitted to spend £2,393 but it was made clear that this could only be spent on items such as summer holiday activities for children or schemes to support residents suffering from social isolation. Dringhouses & Woodthorpe councillors therefore invested the limited funds available on the popular free kickabout sessions run by York City FC Foundation.

It has become apparent however that the rules around how this funding can be spent have not been consistently applied. Labour-held Micklegate ward, for example, was allowed to spend £175 on repairing a damaged community noticeboard on Scarcroft Green.

When Cllr Fenton sought permission for similar repairs to be made to the damaged community noticeboard in Woodthorpe, the request was turned down by council officers.

Cllr Fenton has called on the Labour administration to reverse the ban on ward spending so that it can be invested in local priorities. He said “It is deeply ironic that the poster advertising the free summer holiday activities will soon be illegible due to the rain pouring in through the shattered perspex which the council refuses to repair.

“Labour say that they are going to make some more ward funding available, but we have no idea how much or when. It’s a complete shambles. If we had known that we could have kept back some of the £2,393 for emergency repairs, we would have done so.

“Given the continued ban on ward spending, I’ll fund the repairs to the Moorcroft Road noticeboard out of my own pocket.”

Concern for future of ward-funded activities

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern that a ‘ban’ on allocating ward funding could lead to planned summer holiday activities for young people being axed.

Cllr Stephen Fenton at the York Knights session held at York Acorn ARLFC on 30th May

In recent years, Lib Dem councillors in wards across the city have jointly commissioned York Knights Foundation and York City Football Club Foundation to deliver free activity sessions for young people, which also included the provision of drinks and snacks. These sessions are open to all. When the council budget for 2023/24 was passed in February, Lib Dem councillors protected ward funding so that schemes such as these could continue.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Lib Dem councillors have now been told by council officers that they cannot allocate some of the 2023/24 ward budget to fund activities for young people in the July / August summer holiday period. It is understood that this ‘ban’ has been imposed as the incoming Labour administration plans to propose an ‘emergency’ budget in July, meaning that ward funding is in limbo.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe councillor Stephen Fenton has called on the new administration to commit to retain the full ward funding allocations agreed in February, so that ward schemes and projects can go ahead.

He said “The summer holiday sessions run by the Knights and York City have been very popular, and at a time when family budgets are stretched, the ability to offer free-of-charge activities is more important than ever. It would be such a shame if we had to axe the planned summer programme because of a ban on allocating the ward funding that was agreed back in February.

“At this time of year, ward councillors would ordinarily be inviting local voluntary and charitable organisations to apply for ward funding to support local projects that benefit the community. It now looks as though we won’t be able to do this, unless there is a commitment from the new administration to protect ward funding.”

Ward schemes update

A number of ward schemes are belatedly coming to fruition around the ward.

The state of the verges on Bracken Road (particularly at the entrance to Knavesmire Wood) has been a concern for residents for many years, with cars parking on or driving over the verge leading to it being churned up and the road covered in mud.

Bracken Road (underneath the mud!)

Local councillors consulted residents about potential solutions such as bollards, planting or verge reinforcement, of which the latter proved to be most popular. So during the week commencing 23rd February some reinforcement will be installed in the verges either side of the entrance to the wood. If this proves to be successful, this approach could be implemented elsewhere on Bracken Road, funding permitted.

A number of storage units have been installed at the rear of the flats on Wains Road which will enable tenants to safely store bicycles, as there are no communal areas in the blocks of flats on Wains Road that can accommodate bicycles.

And on the steps leading down from Moor Lane railway bridge a metal ramp has been installed to make it easier for cyclists to get their bikes up and down the steps.

Ward funding decisions published

In September, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward invited bids for a second round of 2020/21 ward funding. Applicants were asked to demonstrate how their projects would meet the ward priorities.

The applications were discussed at a Zoom meeting of members of the Ward Team, which helped to inform the decisions made by the ward councillors. Details of the grants awarded have now been published by City of York Council HERE.

  • St Edward the Confessor Church : £450 for wall-mounted hand sanitiser dispensers
  • Friends of Dringhouses Library: £450 for a water heater to provide hot water to the sink in the toilet
  • Friends of Chapmans Pond: £3,600 for tree work around pond, improvements to angling pegs for disabled users, improvements to path, re-establishment of damaged banksides
  • Dringhouses Scout Group: £176 for first aid kits
  • Woodthorpe York Community Group: £1,628 for three benches to be installed around Woodthorpe
  • New Visuality: £1,670 for a ‘Past, Present & Future’ creativity project involving pupils from Dringhouses and Woodthorpe primary schools
  • York City Knights Foundation: £500 for community outreach work designed to help tackle loneliness and isolation
  • Dementia Yorkshire: £250 for activity parcels for specific local residents, including individuals living with dementia and residents who are feeling lonely and isolated.

In addition, £1,740 is being invested in the establishment of a Cold Calling Controlled Zone covering 105 properties on Ainsty Grove, Ainsty Avenue, North Eastern Terrace and Mayfield Grove. This is in response to recent doorstep incidents.

New bench for Woodthorpe Green

In response to requests from residents, local councillors have arranged for a bench to be installed outside the Woodthorpe Green playground, funded through the ward budget.

Since lockdown began, walking around Woodthorpe has become a more popular pastime, and for some residents the opportunity to take a rest is much appreciated. This led to calls for more benches to be installed, and the Woodthorpe Community Group is now consulting residents on other possible locations.

The bench outside the playground will also be a benefit for parents or carers whose children use the playground but who have had to stand outside if they have a dog. The bench will enable the parent or carer to have a sit down and keep an eye on the kids in the playgrounds.

The next local improvement being funded by the ward budget is the resurfacing of the uneven and badly potholed path across the Green between Summerfield Road and Glenridding.

FREE course for aspiring young sports coaches

Young people in the Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe wards aged 12 years or older are invited to sign up for a free four-day course which can lead to a Level 1 Sports Leadership qualification.

The course, which for local young people is being funded from ward budgets, will be run by York City FC Foundation from Monday 17th to Thursday 20th February at Foxwood Community Centre.

To find out more or to book a place, call 01904 559508 or e-mail inclusion@yorkcityfcfoundation.co.uk

Applications for ward funding invited

Local voluntary and community groups are being invited to apply for funding from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee.

In recent years funding has been awarded to a range of groups who are working to make Dringhouses & Woodthorpe a better place to live. For 2019/20 the ward budget has been set at £19,585. There is a separate ward highways fund of £13,991.

Further information is available on the ward page on the council website at https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20155/wards/127/dringhouses_and_woodthorpe_ward