Apparently it cost about £16 per voter to run the elections for Police Commissioner last year. See media report http://t.co/2KAFCyMneE
— Steve Galloway (@SteveGallowayYk) August 16, 2013
Small mercies
The Council has announced supplementary funding for wards judged to be “deprived”. The amounts are tiny compared to the levels allocated to Ward Committees when the Liberal Democrats were in power.
Until 2011 a ward like Westfield could expect to receive around £60,000 a year. It was spent following a ballot of local residents priorities.
The amounts allocated are:
Westfield – £3,326
Clifton – £3,311
Heworth – £3,354
Hull Road – £2,609
Guildhall – £2,200
No indication has been given as to how the money will be spent athough an injection into dealing with weed growth, potholes and litter won’t be amiss.
The decision was taken at a “behind closed doors” meeting.
Huntsman’s Walk footpath petition
Petition being considered on Tuesday
A petition collected last year, which asks for the footpaths in Huntsman’s Walk to be resurfaced, will be considered by the York Council on Tuesday
The petition was organised – by Westfield Liberal Democrats – following a rapid deterioration in the condition of the footpath
The officer report confirms that the path between Tedder Road and Foxwood Lane is in poor condition. It was, however, ranked as only the 96th priority for resurfacing this year.
The petition has now raised the priority of the path to 61st on the waiting list.
The cost of resurfacing the footpath is put at £48,750.
It is likely that the Labour Councillor, who will decide whether to approve the resurfacing, will decide not to give the path a higher priority. It therefore may, or may not, be done next year.
NB. The budget for highway maintenance works was halved when Labour took office at the Guildhall in 2011.
A massive backlog of highways maintenance work is building up.
However Labour have found £600,000 to pay for the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in west York!
Number 24 bus service saved.
We understand that the Council have let a new contract which will see Arriva run the number 24 bus service.
Existing service 24 click to enlarge
The new service will use the existing route.
Clockwise Ascot Way, St Stephens Road, Askham Lane, Front Street, then Carr Lane, Lindsey Avenue to Railway Station.
The reverse route uses Green Lane. The service is hourly and is scheduled to reach (from Windsor Garth) Acomb, Front Street in 12 minutes and the station in 36 minutes
There has been some criticism of the 24 service in the past because of delays.
Local Liberal Democrats collected a petition asking for the number 24 service – which is subsidised by the Council – to be continued when the existing contract expired in September. The service provides a “lifeline” link for the many elderly residents living in the Windsor Garth/Ascot Way area.
NB. From the end of September, the number 4 will change its route to take in the low numbered end of Gale Lane before turning right into Front Street. It will then loop through Green Lane and Tudor Road to Cornlands Road.