One of the problems with the York Council’s mobile phone reporting “app” is that it only covers a very limited number of service areas. These include graffiti, litter and fly tipping.

However, one of the biggest emerging problems in York is the crumbling state of roads and footpaths.

The so called “Smarter York” app does not allow these to be reported.

Further budget cuts mean that even more potholes are likely to appear over the next few months.

The Council is obliged by law to make highways safe and must respond to any reported defects.

Fortunately there are alternatives to the “Smarter York” system.

Perhaps the best is a “My Council” app. This allows a large range of issues to be raised with the York (and other) Councils. Click here for details. Issues can be reported either “on line” of via a mobile phone app in “real time”

The well established “Fix My Street” web site also promises that they will have an app available shortly. In the meantime you can report issues by clicking here

Both systems seem to be more user friendly than the York Councils labyrinthine internal “report it” system

Hot on the heels of news that Labour intend to outsource the Councils Warden Call service, comes confirmation that the next service in line for privatisation will be Sheltered Housing with Extra Care.

The Council currently runs 4 homes with “extra care” facilities. These are.
Barstow House,
Gale Farm Court,
Glen Lodge and
Marjorie Waite Court.

A team of staff is on duty to provide a range of support services, including help with: getting into and out of bed, dressing and undressing, preparing meals and eating, washing, bathing and use of the toilet.

Labour are looking to cut £310,000 from the cost of providing this service in 2014 and they will start by “market testing” the private sector to find out how much cheaper they can provide the servide for.

No prior consultation had taken place with affected residents, their relatives or staff working in the homes.

The media also failed to publicise the plans which were hidden halfway through a long list of cuts published on the Council web site in February

In 2011 Labour ran a vociferous campaign against the outsourcing of a “reablement” service. The reablement service helps patients discharged from hospital after treatment, to live as independently as possible, and to overcome any disability that they may be left with.

In opposing the outsourcing of this service and other home carers on March 2011 their then spokesperson Cllr Fraser said,

“There is plenty of evidence to suggest that clients value the care services provided by the in-house team of the Council’s Home Carers, more than the private sector, where staff are not paid and trained as well “

On taking office in May 2011 Labour decided that the reablement service would continue to be run by the private sector while the remainder of the home care service was also quietly privatised.

In 2012 Labour ran a “market testing” exercise to determine who should run the new super care homes like the one planned for Lowfields.

Eventually they told local Unions – who had ironically bankrolled their 2011 local election campaign – that the homes would be run by the private sector.

Labour have gone much further with the privatisation of public services than would ever have been contemplated by the last LibDem run Council.

NB. The Council publishes a useful booklet on care choices which can be down loaded here.

Most care services in York are run by the private sector and are subject to regular checks by the Care Quality Commission. Standards are generally high. Copies of CQC reports can be found by clicking here.