Q: Why might we be witnessing the demise of traditional advent calendars?
A: Because their days are numbered.
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Emma Bridgewater mug
Two different approaches to celebrating Christmas
Vince Cable launches business survey in York
Vince Cable launching York Business survey
York born Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the city on Saturday to officially launch a major new business survey.
The Liberal Democrat survey looks at how local businesses can be supported and what more can be done to encourage employers to take on apprentices. It also asks businesses for their views on the Labour run Council’s decision to close Lendal Bridge and issues such as tax, barriers to taking on new staff and the impact of EU membership. The survey will initially be delivered to over 500 businesses across York in the coming weeks.
Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commented:
“I am delighted to support this effort to engage with local businesses in York. It is crucial that we listen to what employers are saying and ensure that everything is being done to support businesses locally as well as understanding the impact on the ground of national issues.
Speaking on the efforts to encourage employers to take-on apprentices, Vince Cable commented:
“Apprenticeships are one of this Government’s top priorities. Practical, technical and vocational skills should be valued as equals to academic achievement. Since 2010 1.2 million new apprenticeships have helped young people into work including over 4,000 in York. We need to continue this progress by highlighting successful schemes and by understanding what more can be done to encourage local employers to take on apprentices.”
As part of the survey the York Lib Dems will be establishing a new Local Business Forum. This will give employers in York an opportunity to discuss the local economy and the impact of City of York Council policies.
Council gets salt bin calculations wrong
The Council has published the “scores” that it gave when assessing which salt bins should be removed.
The list for Westfield can be viewed by clicking here.
The form used to allocate “marks” can be seen here (same for the whole of the City)
What is immediately obvious from the “scores” is that some potentially very hazardous routes (including St Stephens Mews and the Grove Terrace snicket) fared badly because they were judged to be on the normal precautionary gritting routes.
In reality the gritting Lorries never get near enough to these areas to have any effect on the ice.
Meanwhile our story last month about the poor take up of snow warden posts seems to have shamed some residents into action.
Some Tory Councillors are reported as having volunteered.
This news came soon after a question was tabled at last weeks Council meeting asking whether the responsible Cabinet member (Cllr Levene) would be out and about clearing snow?
Maps showing the general location of snow wardens can be found by clicking here.
Advice on clearing the footpath in front of your own home can be found here
The Council have been out and about replacing some of the grit bins (Linnet Way, Cornlands Road) which they threaten to remove, so the right hand doesn’t seem to know what the left hand is doing.
The Council’s map of salt bin locations can be found here.
All of which may be academic as the long term weather forecast shows mild weather continuing into January!!