As expected the Boundary Commission have confirmed that York will continue to have 47 Councillors.

The Commission is now asking residents and interested parties to tell them what ward boundaries should apply.

Details can be found here http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/yorkshire-and-humberside/north-yorkshire/city-of-york-fer

Representations have to be made by 14th January 2013.

York Central constituency Liberal Democrats have indicated that they will be putting forward proposals which would see the introduction of:

• Single member wards:- This will improve accountability as one member will be closely identified with a ward which would contain about 3500 electors (2000 homes). Currently some wards have over 6000 homes and are represented by 3 Councillors who – in some cases – have little contract with the area that they are supposed to represent.

• Annual Elections with 25% of the Council retiring each year: Again it is argued that this will improve accountability and that electors will be able to giving a rolling verdict on the performance of their representatives. It is likely to counter the tendency for Councils to be insensitive to resident’s views in the early part of a 4 year “all out” term of office. Annual elections were used in York in the period up to 1995.

Young craft-cyclers are being tasked with designing and building either: a hotrod racing car, a plane or an out-of-this-world spaceship, with a twist, in an exciting competition to promote reuse of recycled materials amongst children.

Zero Waste York, in partnership with local publisher, Junkcraft Books, is running the competition for Key Stage 2 children where all entries must be made from recycled items found around the home.

Get building, as the best creations will be in with a chance of winning great construction set prizes by Meccano, plus a Super Construction Set prize for their school.

Children have until February 8th 2013 to submit their entries. To enter upload a digital photograph of the finished creation with a short description to the competition page at www.junkcraft.com.

Full competition details and entry requirements can be found on www.junkcraft.com/york-schools-competition/