The Council’s Labour administration has been accused of trying to hide a 2% increase in school meal prices, after they failed to take the decision on the increase in public.
The decision was taken last week by Council Officers, rather than by the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services. The fact that the decision was made by Officers means that the decision was taken in private and that news of the decision was only published in the Council’s Officer Decision Log.
Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Carol Runciman said when she had been Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services decisions on school meal prices were usually made in public by Councillors.
She said, “In the past school meal price increases have been brought to Executive Member Decision Sessions, along with a public report. This meant that the meeting was publicised and people could make representations if they wanted to before the decision was taken.”
“It seems that this time the decision was delegated to officers so no report was publicised and it seems that parents weren’t given chance to comment on the changes.”
“To have officers take this decision is a real departure from the usual process and brings into question Labour’s claim that their Cabinet Members will take responsibility for decisions.”
“So far it seems Labour Cabinet Members are all too keen to get publicity when they are announcing what they think is good news, but are not so willing to be held to account for anything they think might be unpopular.”

Britain in Bloom judges have been in the Foxwood area over the last few days, as York aims to win the national title. York won the contest in Yorkshire last year so this year the City represents the region in the national finals.
We understand that the judges were impressed by the communities commitment although whether the recent decline in some public service standards will count against us remains to be seen.
Results will be announced in the Autumn

Residents can now sign a petition against the closure of the Union Terrace car park. It can be found at http://www.york.gov.uk/ “Have your say”. If more than 1000 people support the petition, then it will force the Council to debate the issue at their next meeting (currently scheduled for 6th October). Alternatively a special Council meeting might be called.
The immediate threat to the future of car and coach parking arrangements in the Union Terrace area seems to have receded. The, seemingly impulsive, proposal by the Labour Leadership to sell the car park does not appear in the Council’s Forward plan which covers all key decisions.
St Johns had previously indicated that it understood that the Council would need to conclude its Local Development Framework plan before it could consider any changes to transport provision in and around the City centre. Consultation on a City Centre Action Plan, covering the whole of the City centre area, still seems to be the most likely way forward.
Claims have been made in the media that the last Liberal Democrat administration on the Council commissioned a report on the future of the car park. That is not true.
Council officials are understood – without the knowledge of Councillors – to have begun the process of gathering information on options following a request from St Johns. The report was not completed not has it, or any other appraisal, ever been published. Several Freedom of Information requests have been lodged with the Council in an attempt to find out what happened, when and why.
Essentially though the situation remains the same. The Council must ensure that adequate parking facilities are sustained in the Union Terrace area while seeking also to satisfy St John’s need to have more floor space. That is a solvable problem.

Union Tce coach park