Workers, pupils and residents in York have spent the last three weeks walking enough miles to take them from Land’s End to John O’Groats 19.4 times as part of City of York Council’s i-Travel initiative.
The York Walking Challenge results are in and participants to this popular annual event clocked up an impressive 16,962 miles on foot. This is the equivalent of burning off 2950 muffins and saving 2934 kg of CO2
The City of York Council has issued a media release saying that it “is asking traders, shoppers and visitors for their initial thoughts on plans to secure a flourishing future for the historic Newgate Market and its contribution to the city’s retail offering.
This preliminary consultation will involve all traders, including businesses inside and adjacent to the market, working groups and shoppers both local and visiting. It also links to city-wide projects such as Reinvigorate York and Smarter York which are focussing on the appearance and quality of the city.
Dependent on the outcome of the consultation, a bid could be made to the council’s Economic Infrastructure Fund (EIF) which aims to kick-start critical economic infrastructure projects that may not otherwise receive external funding support. If successful, and subject to further consultation on a more refined vision, the visibility and overall appearance of the market could be enhanced in line with an ambitious improvement plan.
With the Chancellor of the Exchequer having to pay to upgrade his ticket to first class on a crowded train – much to the amusement of the media and Labour opposition MPs – we thought that we’d check on the travel preferences of York’s two local MPs.
As we’ve said before, Parliamentary expenses are now much more transparent and can be accessed by anyone by clicking here: http://www.parliamentary-standards.org.uk/
We can only hope that the shambolic register of interests published by the City of York Council can soon achieve the same standards of accuracy.
The latest figures available for MPs travel claims cover the 2011/12 financial year.
They reveal that Hugh Bayley (Labour York Central) claimed for First class rail travel on 23 of the 34 journeys undertook. In total his rail travel claims came to £4439
By contrast Julian Sturdy (Conservative, York Outer) submitted 22 rail claims none of which were for First class travel. In total taxpayers were asked to refund £2276 for Mr Sturdy’s rail travel.
We don’t think that using First class travel is a capital offence but, at times of austerity, taxpayers will expect all public servants to exercise prudence. The refunds claimed – for the same York to London return journey – varied from £89 to £234
Other types of expense claims revealed on the returns include:
• Petrol: Bayley £ 4029 Sturdy £1059
• Car parking: Bayley £864 Sturdy £880
• Congestion charge: Bayley £113 Sturdy 0
• Bus fares: Bayley £2.40 Sturdy: 0
• Taxi: Bayley £76 Sturdy: £58
• Bicycle: £70 Sturdy: 0
• Total Travel: Bayley £11,216* Sturdy £4862
(*includes £513 for “food and drink”)
Poseur table
Our report on Saturday that the council had ordered 19 “poser” tables for its new offices has prompted an enquiry about whether they mean “poseur”* tables.
We think that they do.
The tables can cost from £40 to over £500.
We are also told that the decision to order 63 coffee tables has nothing to do with the new job one Cabinet member is alleged to have taken selling coffee on the market or indeed the tearful claim by the Council Leader that he is paying more tax than Starbucks!
*English dictionary definition: “Poseur – somebody who tries to impress others by behaving in an affected way”
