Strong partnership working ensures North Yorkshire remains the safest place in England

A relentless pursuit of criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, supporting victims in the fight for justice and delivering a high quality of service.

This is North Yorkshire Police’s pledge to residents across the county and the City of York.

This effort by the force, together with our partner agencies, is reflected in the national figures released by the Home Office today (Thursday 19 July 2012) which showed that overall crime had reduced by 9% in the 12 months up to March 2012 with a total of 38,716 crimes

To put it in real terms, this equates to 3,750 fewer people and their families in North Yorkshire and the City of York having to face the misery of being a victim of crime.

More up-to-date recorded figures for the period April to July 2012 – the first quarter of the current financial year – show a 13% reduction in overall crime or 1,311 fewer victims in comparison to the same period in 2011.

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With bins being removed, and the recycling facilities in Morrisons car park now often full to overflowing following the closure of the Beckfield Lane tip, not surprisingly litter in the area is an increasing problem.

The weather has also caused a lot of tree detritus to fall onto footpaths.

We urge residents to ring the Council to report problems like this (not least because weekly routine checks of service standards are no longer carried out by the local Councillors).

Telephone York 551551, up to 7pm any weekday.

Labour officials have admitted that they did not consult anyone regarding which litter bins to remove before they implemented their reduction plans a month ago. Now litter is on the increase and the remaining bins are often full to overflowing.

At the Council meeting last week the “Cabinet” member with responsibility for the shambles claimed – in reply to a tabled question – that litter “audits” were being carried out.
He said;
Since the removal of approximately 350 bins during June approximately some 60 enquiries from residents and Elected Members have been received. These enquiries relate to approximately 34 bins locations and 6 general enquiries.
Currently Officers are in the process of undertaking litter audits of locations where bins were removed, as part of the normal NI195 audits. Results of these audits to date are:
74 locations audited
• 23 = B+
• 37 = B
• 13 = B-
• 1 = C
with, on a scale of A-D, A-B being acceptable and below B being unacceptable i.e. only 14 locations were found to be of an unacceptable standard.
Discussions and audits have so far resulted in the re-siting of 5 bins of those remaining and the re-instatement of 5 bins, which had been removed.

You can sign a petition asking for the litter bins to be reinstated here.
http://yorklibdems.org.uk/en/petition/sign-our-petition-against-bin-cuts-in-york

The funds for reinstating the litter bins would come from cutting down on the number of “Cabinet” posts carried by the Council.

http://liberalengland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/york-in-early-1960s.html

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Labour have agreed to an increase in school meals prices. There is continuing concern that not enough is being done to encourage parents and children to opt for school meals.

Ironically Labour Councillors in 2009 – while they were in opposition – tried to reduce school meal prices to £1-05, claiming that the move would make a major contribution to improved health and reduced poverty.

Now that policy has been quietly forgotten

Currently there are 46 schools benefiting from a joint contract with ISS to provide school meals. A further 19 schools make their own arrangements to provide meals.

Around 31% of Primary school children take a school dinner.

At Secondary level that figure falls to 24%.

About 75% of users are entitled to a free school meal because of low income levels.

The council is reporting a huge surplus on its housing account.

A report considered this week says,

“The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) opened with a general balance of 10,398k and the year end position identifies an underspend of £1,491k resulting in an increase in the overall HRA balance of £413k.
There are a number of underspends across the HRA within repairs and maintenance, general management and sheltered housing.

There were further underspends due to slippage within the capital programme and higher than assumed interest on cash balances “

Tenants will be wondering why the programmes to increase car parking provision – like the new off road space at St Stephens Square – have stalled. Clearly money isn’t the issue.

The Council is due to take full control of local housing shortly when the government transfers outstanding (national) debts on Council house building to local authorities.

In return the Council will be able to set its own rent levels and – critically – retain any surplus for investment in existing and new social housing.

It replaces the system run by the last Labour government which saw £5 million a year creamed off the York housing account and transferred to repay debt incurred in other parts of the country.