At a council meeting last night, Labour blocked a Liberal Democrat attempt to restore litter bins recently removed in York.

The Liberal Democrat Group on City of York Council proposed a motion at the Full Council meeting, asking for the 349 litter and dog bins recently cut by the authority to be returned. The motion suggested that the £40,000 cost be funded by reducing the Labour Cabinet from 8 members to 6 members. All opposition Lib Dem, Conservative, Green and Independent councillors voted in favour, but it was voted down by Labour councillors.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services who moved the motion, commented:

“It is disappointing that Labour prioritised their own pay packets over frontline services. Across the city people have been annoyed and concerned by the removal of 349 litter and dog bins without any consultation. Our motion simply asked Labour to recognise this and put back all bins where there was demand to do so.

“It was astonishing that Labour did not even try to defend or justify their decision. These cuts are not about government funding reductions; they are about the spending decisions that Labour are making on the ground here in York and their attempt to blame the government is just not correct. It is not a matter of enforced cuts just Labour’s spending priorities. Frontline services have been axed in favour of pay increases for councillors.

“Removing bins will lead to more litter and a general deterioration in the look and feel of our streets. We believe these cuts are wrong and unnecessary and we have now launched a city-wide petition to try to get Labour to listen to residents and get the bins back.”

The Liberal Democrat petition on litter bin cuts can be found at: http://yorklibdems.org.uk

The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Keith Hyman will take part in the parade and ceremony when 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment exercise their Freedom of Entry to the city on Friday 13 July

The Lord Mayor will welcome the regiment and grant them permission to exercise their right of freedom of entry to the city. He will review the parade with The Sheriff, Councillor Paul Firth.

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Keith Hyman said: “I am looking forward to taking part in this parade, and joining residents and tourists in celebrating the service that they provide.”

The regiment will be formed up on Duncombe Place from 11.30am, for the arrival of the civic party, before marching through the city centre on Blake Street, Davygate, Parliament Street, High Ousegate, and Coney Street. The Lord Mayor will then take the salute from the steps of The Mansion House.

Freedom of entry to the city, gives the regiment the right, privilege, honour and distinction to march through the streets on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, swords drawn and bayonets fixed, drums beating, bugles sounding and bands playing.

Join Harry’s Game author and former TV journalist Gerald Seymour as he chats about his extraordinary life and work at 7pm on Wednesday 18 July at York Explore Library Learning Centre.

Gerald Seymour was a reporter at ITN for fifteen years where his first assignment was covering the Great Train Robbery in 1963. He later moved on to reporting international events in Vietnam, Borneo, Aden, the Munich Olympics, Israel and Northern Ireland.

A full-time writer since 1978, Seymour’s first novel was the acclaimed thriller Harry’s Game, set in Belfast and which became an instant bestseller and later a television series. Six of his thrillers have now been adapted and filmed for television in the UK and United States.

On 18 July, he will be in conversation with Gillian Holmes about his life, his work and his latest novel, The Outsiders, a pacy thriller set in the Costa Del Sol.

Tickets are priced £5 and can be collected from York Explore or ordered on (01904) 552828.

Sat 14th July 10:30 – 11:30 Cornlands Road near shops Cornlands
Sat 14th July 08:30 – 10:30 Sanderson House Bramham Road Chapelfields
Sat 14th July 08:30 – 09:30 Oldman Court Foxwood
Sat 14th July 10:30 – 11:30 Spurr Court Foxwood
Sat 14th July 12:30 – 13:30 Bellhouse Way Foxwood
Sat 21st July 08:30 – 09:30 Opp 70 Kingsway West Kingsway
Sat 21st July 10:30 – 11:30 Opp 65 Stuart Road Kingsway
Sat 21st July 12:30 – 13:30 Beverley Court/Kempton Close Kingsway
Sat 21st July 08:30 – 10:30 Grange Lane Chapelfields
Sat 11th Aug 08:30 – 09:30 Morrell Court Foxwood
Sat 11th Aug 10:30 – 11:30 Corlett Court Foxwood
Sat 11th Aug 12:30 – 13:30 Vincent Way Foxwood
Sat 18th Aug 08:30 – 09:30 Rogers Court Foxwood
Sat 18th Aug 12:30 – 13:30 Tithe Close Cornlands
Sat 18th Aug 08:30 – 10:30 Grange Lane Chapelfields
Sat 18th Aug 08:30 – 10:30 Sanderson House Bramham Road Chapelfields
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City of York Council is calling all children to sign up to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which launches at Rowntree Park on 14 July at 2pm.

The library service will be at the park’s 91st birthday party, signing people up to the annual challenge, which this year has the Storylab theme.

The Storylab theme aims to be a celebration of story and the imagination, with all books, including joke books and poetry books, counting as part of the challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge sets out to challenge children to read up to six books over the summer holidays. For each book read they will receive prizes and incentives, and those who complete the challenge will receive a medal and certificate.

The challenge coincides with the launch of York’s first ever Children’s Book Awards, where children under the age of 14 are being invited to vote for their favourite book of all time, with both ending on 16 September. For ideas on books to read, children can look at the shortlist for the awards.

Children can sign up at any of York’s 14 libraries and Explore Centres or at the launch at Rowntree Park. For more information visit: www.york.gov.uk/leisure/Libraries/