It looks like the crunch Council meeting, which will determine the future of the Beckfield Lane recycling centre, will take place on Monday 16th April starting at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at the Guildhall. Members of the public are able to register to speak at the meeting.

The number of residents “signing” the Epetition on the Councils web site has grown to 274. This is the largest number ever – by a large margin – recorded on a Council web petition.

See http://tinyurl.com/Save-the-recycling-centre to add your support. The petition will be available until 11th April.

The paper petition now has now reached 2736 signatures.

York garages to offer free catalytic converter marking

On Wednesday 11 April, Safer York Partnership is launching Operation Bonafide to tackle increases in catalytic converter theft in the city.

Developed through the Partnership’s vehicle crime task group this is a joint initiative involving City of York Council Trading Standards and North Yorkshire Police. Following a successful pilot event in February, the partnership are now working with a number of local businesses to offer free catalytic converter security marking for York residents and businesses.

Members of the public can now contact any of the participating garages below to arrange a suitable time for them to take their vehicle along. In addition to security marking they will be given a distinctive window sticker indicating that the catalytic converter on their vehicle has been security marked. Participating garages marked with a * will also provide a free ‘health check’ of the vehicle.

Participating garages:
•North Eastern Tyres & Autocare* Centurian Park, Clifton Moor. Tel. 692500 (CARS ONLY)
•Glen Garage*, 12 Hawthorne Grove, Heworth, York. Telephone 425000 (CARS AND VANS)
•A.G. Motors*, Wheldrake Lane, Crockey Hill, York, YO19 4SN. Tel. 625890 (CARS AND VANS)
•Barker’s Garage*, Keswick Way, Huntington, York, YO32 9QP, Tel. 760020 (CARS AND VANS)
•Huntington Garage*, 67 North Moor Road, Huntington, York, YO32 9QN. Tel. 768808 (CARS ONLY)
•Halford’s*, Foss Islands Road, York (CARS ONLY)
•Drydals Garage, Hospital Fields Road, York YO10 4DZ, Tel. 633809 (CARS ONLY)

The garages will join local scrap dealers in working to disrupt catalytic converter theft by ensuring that any stolen catalytic converters attempted to be sold can be clearly identified through distinctive the distinctive security markings.

Between the 1 November 2011 and 9 March 2012, 40 catalytic converters were stolen in York forming part of a general increase in scrap metal theft. The most commonly targeted vehicles are Mercedes Sprinter vans. Owners of these vehicles are particularly encouraged to take this opportunity to get their catalytic converter marked. This project contributes to police activity under Operation Tornado, a national initiative to reduce metal theft.

Any garages interested in joining this initiative are asked to contact Dawn Clarkson, City of York Council Trading Standards on 01904 551827

Companies with multiple vehicles should first contact PCSO Kathryn Bean, Business Adviser, via e-mail: kathryn.bean@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk to arrange a venue and time for their fleet to be marked.

For more information please see www.saferyork.org.uk

1. Tax changes
Starting tomorrow, Friday April 6, the Liberal Democrat-delivered increase in the Personal Allowance of £630 will benefit 25m ordinary working people. And it will lift an extra 250,000 people out of income tax altogether.

Since joining the coalition Liberal Democrats have:
• Removed more than 1m low-paid from paying any income tax altogether
• Given every ordinary worker an annual income tax cut of up to £330
• Paid the largest ever cash rise in the basic state pension – £275 a year from this week for the full basic state pension (+£500 since we joined the coalition)
And thanks to Liberal Democrats most working age benefits are also increasing by 5.2 per cent to help those who’ve fallen on tough times.

And thanks to the budget delivered in March this year, by 2014, Liberal Democrats will have also ensured that those people working full time on the minimum wage will have seen their income tax bill halved.

2. Tax Credits
Labour oversaw a massive expansion in the cost of the tax credit system, where 9 out of ten families were in receipt of means-tested benefits. Labour’s bill rose from £18bn to £31bn.

It is difficult, but it is fair to ask couples to work 24 hours a week to receive tax credits, given that a single person has to work 16 hours. When you ask a single parent, for example, to work two days a week before they get a tax credit, asking a couple to work three days a week between them is reasonable.

Taking account of the up-rating measures to tax credits announced in the Autumn Statement, around 80 per cent of households with children will see their tax credits awards increase, at least in line with earnings this year.

When you look at the overall impact of the tax changes, the burden of that falls most heavily on the top 20% of the population.

And we have stopped the wealthiest in society receiving child tax credit to ensure the money goes to the people who need it. Under Labour, people earning more than £60k, which includes all MPs, were receiving this benefit.

Today’s Royal visit has clearly been a huge success with the highlight for many being a being a meticulously organised service at York Minster. Some Maundy money recipients were visibly moved to tears at the end of the ceremony.

On the streets, excellent weather brought out more than the expected 15,000 onlookers with public transport systems at full stretch in the morning period.

Many streets were choked with visitors by noon.

A memorable day for many and one that should help to boost the City’s tourist economy.

More at

http://tinyurl.com/Queen-in-York