The York Council Leader has rather proudly announced the launch of an “app” for smart phones.

In a media release he urges residents to go to the web site www.smarteryork.com.

Fat chance. That web address doesn’t even exist!

In a spirit of helpfulness we can tell residents that the actual web site address is http://www.smarteryork.org.uk

Whether the cost of developing this new reporting tool can be justified is another matter. The top priority for the Council should be to stop environmental vandalism (Graffiti, fly-tipping etc) in the first place. A quick and efficient clean up is also necessary, but there is little evidence to suggest that York residents are failing to do this using “old fashioned” communications methods such as the telephone, Email or via the Councils web site.

Still, Iphone at the ready, we’ll be trying the new system out over the next few weeks.

NB. This hiccup comes a few days after residents started receiving their Council Tax bills. The explanatory leaflet issued with the demand assured residents that the Councils gross expenditure for the forthcoming year would be a world record beating “£354,937,000,000”.
The equivalent expenditure agreed by the LIbDem Council for 11/12 was, a quite parsimonious, £341,644,000!

The Queen will be visiting York on Thursday 5th April. Extreme delays are forecast, in the City centre and near Micklegate, from 10:00am onwards. Early journeys are advised.

First buses will be operating a revised service level over the Easter Period:

Good Friday, 6th April – A Sunday service will operate on main network services. Park and Ride services 2, 3, 7, 8 & 9 will operate a Monday-Friday timetable.

Easter Saturday, 7th April – Normal Saturday service

Easter Sunday, 8th April – Normal Sunday service

Easter Monday, 9th April – A Sunday service will operate on main network services. Park and Ride services 2, 3, 7, 8 & 9 will operate a Monday-Friday timetable.

Tuesday 10th April – Normal service resumes

It looks like Labour Councillors – with the backing of Lord Mayor and Acomb Ward Councillor David Horton -will try to block any move for a vote on the future of the Beckfield Lane recyling centre at the Council meeting on Thursday.

They may argue that they need more time – and revised financial figures – before they can consider keeping the center open.

It seems likely that the Liberal Democrat motion to keep the centre open will be referred to the Councils “Cabinet” in the first instance. The most likely date for the Cabinet meeting is 15th May.

However, as this is after the Council’s provisional date for closing the centre (16th April), residents will want to be assurred that the centre will remain in operation until the Council has had the opportunity to properly debate its future.

Over 210 people have now signed the “on line” petition which has until 14th April to run.

http://tinyurl.com/Save-the-recycling-centre