No change to decision making structures yet
The members of each committee can be seen here
York Council – Lib Dems to participate in new joint Executive
No reduction in grey bin emptying frequencies. Plans for £35 green bin tax also axed.
Liberal Democrat Councillors have reached a tentative agreement to form a joint administration with the Conservative Group to run City of York Council.
Keith Aspden statement click to enlarge
Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Keith Aspden will become Deputy Leader of the Council, with Cllr Chris Steward as Council Leader.
The new Executive will be made up of 4 Conservatives and 4 Lib Dems, with appointments due to be agreed at Thursday’s Annual Council meeting.
The Group has published an initial set of joint policy priorities which include redrawing York’s Local Plan, putting greater investment in frontline services and ending so-called “vanity projects”.
They have also published joint governance proposals which introduce new cross-party working arrangements and include a commitment to improve openness and transparency at the Council.
York Council petitions
The York Council is to consider an update on 10 petitions received from residents at a meeting taking place on 12th January.
They concern:
- Speeding on Peter Hill Drive
- Future of Burton Stone Community Centre (2)
- Installation of speed humps on South Bank Avenue
- Objections to development site H30 (Local Plan)
- Need for 20 mph speed limit on Walmgate/Navigation Road
- Future on York Deaf Society
- Future of Youth Advice Centre in Castlegate
- Winter Green Waste collection
- Future of Groves Chapel
- Objections to plans to build on Earswick Green Belt (Local Plan)
- Request for Residents Only parking in Nunthorpe Grove
- Road safety in Strensall
- Future of Yearsley Pool
- Travellers site fees
For more details click here
Petitioners are able to attend the meeting and speak in support of their petition.
York Council Tax exemption costs published
Student accommodation costs taxpayers £18 million over 5 years.
The York Council has published a table showing the amount of Council Tax not collected over the last 5 years because of approved “exemptions”.
The amount not collected totals £34 million.
By far the largest proportion of this is accounted for by student occupied accommodation. This accounts for around £18 million of the total. Central government claims that this is recognised in the grant distribution formulae which is aimed at equalising resources between different Councils (and is effectively funded from income tax). However the precise make up of individual central government council support grants is largely opaque.
The figure is likely to re-energise the claims of those who feel that student accommodation should attract either Council Tax or Business Rates payments.
Other reasons why properties did not attract Council Tax liability included:
- Empty and unfurnished property (£4.5 million)
- Awaiting probate (£1.9 million)
- Student halls of residence (£1.7 million)
- Occupation by members of the armed forces (£2.9 million)
- Property occupied by people with a mental handicap (£2.3 million)
Council Tax exemptions click to access
York Labour in melt down
Another Labour Councillor has quit meaning that James Alexander’s residual party has now lost overall control of the York Council.
Currently they have 23 of the 47 seats with one vacancy to be filled in the Westfield by election on 16th October.
At least two other Labour Councillors may also resign the party whip, so the Council will be looking for a new way of doing things at least until May 2015 when “all out” elections take place.
It is not surprising that councillors, who have lived in the City for many years, have been alienated by a secretive and authoritarian style of leadership.
Couple this with some rank bad decisions (Lendal Bridge, 20 mph zones, a “Big City” Local Plan, neglect of residential areas, reckless borrowing etc. ) and you had the formulae for failure.
The York Council faces a difficult few months.
It must set a budget for an election year, try to find a consensus on a new Local Plan and deal with endemic failure in service areas such as social care.
It is difficult not to conclude that a new Leader is required.
It needs someone with experience who is untainted by the failures of the present administration but who has the skills to find a consensus.
He or she will need to establish a new structure where decisions are taken after proper consultation, where there is open discussion and where conclusions have as widely based support as possible.
It is probably not practical to return to a “committee” system for the remainder of this Council but a step forward would be for all groups to be represented on the Councils Cabinet and for “scrutiny committees” to have real power and the ability to change decisions.
Interesting days ahead.
Mobile phone use by Council employees
The York Council has revealed that it rents nearly 2000 mobile phones and other mobile devices for use by its workforce.
Mostly these are Nokia 113, Samsung Galaxy Young and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini models.
It has now decided to implement a management system for them called air watch
The Council has fewer than 4000 employees with 3500 registered for IT helpdesk support.
The relatively high ratio of corporate phones to employee numbers has not been the subject of any recent review by the Councils audit committee.
York Council owed £15,000 Business Rates refund.
The Council has published its latest list of Business Rate creditors.
Amongst those that have overpaid their Business Rate liability, is the City of York Council!
It is owed £15,000 for premises at Kings Court that it has vacated.
The full list can be downloaded by clicking here .