Today’s Press (20th September) is reporting that Hull Road Labour Councillor Neil Barnes had no adverse comments about proposed access arrangements for the Derwenthorpe development.

A row broke out following a public meeting held on 13th September which was to have discussed the plans which affected Temple Avenue, Ingleborough Avenue, and Lang Avenue.

The meeting was told that Labour Councillor Dave Merrett had taken a decision on changes to the road layout 2 days previously, despite over a dozen objections from residents to the Councils plans.

He was supported by local Councillor Barnes who, in closing ranks, claimed “had received no objections to the traffic proposals and they would “improve the safety of residents in the area” and be “considerate to the environment”.

Strange that as when the decision was taken a week earlier officials reported that no representations had been made by Cllr Barnes either in favour or against the plans.

This has emerged now that the minutes of the behind closed doors meeting have been published on the Councils web site http://tinyurl.com/Derwenthorpe-access.

Additional flood prevention works in the Leeman Road area are recommended for approval at today’s Planning Committee meeting.

The Flood Alleviation Scheme will improve the level of flood protection to 393 residential and commercial properties in the vicinity of Water End.

The works include:

(a) Installing a 15m-wide and up to 1.2m-high demountable flood barrier across Landing Lane at the junction with Water End;

(b) Constructing a 300m-long and up to 1m-high flood wall on the riverward side of Water End road embankment;

(c) Raising a 150m-long section of the existing Leeman Road embankment by 1.1m. A ramp and timber steps would be provided to enable the public to cross the embankment from Lincoln Street to the river.

d) Constructing a new 400m-long flood embankment around St Barnabas’ School to connect with the raised Leeman Road embankment. The embankment would be 2m above ground level where it joins the existing embankment and 1.2m above ground level where it meets Cinder Lane;

(e) Raising ground levels (by up to 0.5m) and flood walls along the western-most section of Cinder Lane at its junction with Jubilee Terrace to tie-in with the new embankment;

(f) Provision of a kick-about pitch in the area of open space to the north of the raised section of Leeman Road embankment.

(g) Temporary use of the former bowling green off Salisbury Road as a construction compound and reinstatement after construction.

Some additional minor works would be carried out under the Environment Agency’s permitted development rights, in particular the provision of three storage cabinets within the Holgate Beck Pumping Station compound at Landing Lane.

Nationally, there has been an increase of over 30% in the number of over 85’s between the 2001 and 2011 census data.

With life expectancy continuing to grow there has rightly been a new focus on ways of meeting the escalating bill for the care of the elderly.

As a result the York Council recently decided controversially to remove care facilities from 184 elderly local residents who were judged only to have “moderate” needs http://stevegalloway.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/08/10/bid-to-save-care-services-for-184-elderly-people-in-york/ .

Residential care costs

Now the fees paid to private sector care homes are set to be increased for the second time in a year.

A recent report examining the UK market for long term care of the elderly stated that despite an increasingly ageing population and a growing demand for care services, the residential care and nursing home sector had been significantly affected by the economic downturn. Between 2006 and 2010, the long term care market for elderly and physically disabled people grew by 14.9% to nearly £14bn. The sector continues to be dominated by private providers which accounted for 84.6% of the total provision in 2010.

Over the same period the number of long term care places provided by the public sector declined from 58,700 to 46,200.

Following a 1% increase in fees in April the amounts paid by the York Council to providers each week are:
• EMI Nursing £540.44
• Nursing Care £524.92
• EMI Residential Care £391.02
• Residential Care £375.50

An additional 1% increase would add £122,000 a year to the taxpayer’s bill. A more fundamental review of fee levels is proposed for next year.

The Council is right to undertake (in conjunction with the North Yorkshire council) such a review. Residents of all ages need to understand the true costs of elderly care.

Homecare – the unanswered questions (more…)