Lendal Bridge – information delays

It’s a shame that it is taking the Council so long to update the Lendal Bridge information that it promised to provide on its web site each month.

Lendal bridge noticeThe November report is long overdue now.

The Labour Leader is apparently  claiming on “twitter” that bus use has increased, but then it always does in the run up to Christmas.  So lets see the numbers!

Also still being withheld are the answers to the  following questions which were tabled to Cllr Merrett at last week’s Council meeting.

Cllr Ann Reid asked, two questions

1. “On the Lendal Bridge/Coppergate restrictions could the Cabinet Member confirm the following figures:

a)   The number of appeals lodged each week since the beginning of August against PCNs issued for contraventions of traffic restrictions on Coppergate and Lendal Bridge

b)   The number of appeals which have been successful each week

c)   The total revenue that the Council has received so far from PCNs following the introduction of the new restrictions on  Coppergate and Lendal Bridge

d)   The weekly changes to journey times (all modes of transport) on each arterial road and on each section of the inner ring road since the introduction of  the new traffic restrictions

e)   The numbers of accidents reported on roads in the City centre comparing the last 3 months with the equivalent period in 2012

f)    The latest air quality monitoring reports for key sites in and close to the City centre, including the Leeman Road area, and comparing these with last year?”

2. “In the first three months of the closure period on Lendal Bridge, what have been the average increases in:

a)   Mileage

b)   Journey time

c)   Cost

for private car drivers who otherwise would have used the bridge?”

All we have had so far from Cllr Merrett is comments in the Press claiming that the closure was the Liberal Democrat’s idea!!!

York Council bus bid 2012

York Council bus bid 2012

He bases this extraordinary departure from reality on the basis that the Transport Plan, that was agreed in April 2011,  said that reducing traffic on Lendal Bridge was a long term objective.

……..and so it should be. But fix the alternative routes first!

Cllr Merrett’s other attempts to duck responsibility are aimed at deflecting criticism onto the government.

It is one of the better  features of current government’s policy that it does not proscribe how grants for improvements to transport systems – and other projects – are spent. That responsibility is delegated to local Councils.

It is in marked contrast to the micro management inflicted on local communities by the last Labour government.

So it is Cllr Merrett who must take personal responsibility for the timing of the new restrictions, the consultation process, as well as the way the restrictions are signed and enforced.

Cronyism alive and well at York Council?

The appointment of the Chair of the York Labour party, to the same role on the York@Large Board, led to a Freedom of Information request last month.

There have been increased concerns raised nationally about party nominees being appointed to run organisations and companies about which they have little knowledge and no personal democratic mandate.

This culminated in the Paul Flowers case which saw a man, with limited abilities and a dubious personal lifestyle, rise to the top of the Co Op Bank simply because he toed the Labour Party line.

In the 90’s, the Nolan Report aimed to bring transparency to the appointment of representatives on QUANGOS. The principles of openness were accepted by all political parties in York.

Those principles included the need to advertise vacancies on Boards. This included the appointment of “independent” Chairs.

York@Large (Y@L) is a Quango which in turn is a subsidiary of the larger Quango known as “York without Walls” (WOW).

The Board of WOW is also now dominated by Labour supporters and is chaired by James Alexander (the Council Leader)

democracy_-cartoon2

Y@L essentially seeks to manage the City’s cultural and leisure programmes. It has an interest in tourism although the interface with “Visit York” is hazy to say the least.

Its meeting minutes can be found on the WOW web site  A note on the web site currently says that the next meeting will be “held on 11th December 2013”! The meeting agendas do not encourage the public to attend.

There is no public record of the costs that Y@L incurs for Council Taxpayers

In the spring of 2013 the last Chair of Y@L came to the end of her maximum 3 year term of office.

A new Chair (Labour Party activist Patrick Kelly) was appointed at its annual meeting. Strangely no copies of the minutes of that meeting can be found on either the WOW web site nor in the Councils electronic library

So how come the Chair of the local Labour party came to be appointed to this prestigious position?

The Freedom of Information response is evasive, but acknowledges the possible conflicts with the Nolan principles.
————

Another little known “Board”, which exercises influencing over York’s schools system, is known as the “York Education Partnership”. It is a more open organisation and does publish the minutes of its meetings on the Councils web site.

It also undertakes a statutory role as the official “schools forum”

It has an “independent” chair; the confusingly named David Cameron who hails from Fife in Scotland and who runs his own education consultancy company. He has a background as an Education Director in Sterling.

The appointment was a matter of interest for taxpayers not least because it attracts a fee of £500 a day – capped at £7500 annually – plus expenses.

If these Boards are really necessary, then the Council should make greater attempts to publicise any vacancies that arise.

Any costs incurred should be reported publicly in the same way as payments to Councillors are now reported routinely on the Councils web site.

—————–

Perhaps the penny has dropped as the Council has today made the following announcement. Whether launching a recruitment process over the festive period is wise is another matter.

Council’s social enterprise seeks Non-Exec Directors

One of City of York Council’s first social enterprise ‘spin-offs’ is looking to recruit two Non-Exec Directors to join its ranks when it is officially formed in the New Year.

The council has given the go-ahead for its Community Equipment Loan Store and Telecare Service to create a mutual from April 2014 that is majority staff-owned, with the authority continuing to have part ownership.

The team already supports over 3000 vulnerable people and is keen to grow and support many more vulnerable people across the city – helping to make York a great place to grow old.

The company will have a Board of Directors comprising of three staff, and three Non-Exec Directors – one of whom will be from the council. The team is looking to fill the two other Non-Exec Director posts.

The Board will meet 12 times a year for a minimum of two hours a session on a voluntary basis, with the first meeting in February.

The organisation is particularly seeking Non-Exec Directors with expertise in:

  • · Commercial Financial expertise and experience
  • · Commercial Business/Entrepreneurial knowledge and experience

· Marketing and Communications experience

· Current  knowledge of health, social care or community needs

To apply email heather.barden@york.gov.uk with a copy of your CV, or ring 07824 475368 for further information.

The closing date for applicants is Friday 3 January.

 

 

Frontline services threatened by membership of Leeds super council

Potholes

Liberal Democrats have raised fresh concerns over York’s membership of a new super council after it was revealed that money could be cut from frontline survices to fund the City’s contribution.

Labour run City of York Council has decided to join with Leeds, Bradford and other West Yorkshire metropolitan authorities in a new super council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, from April 2014. York will be expected to contribute around £4million-a-year to the authority, which will have a range of roles including deciding major local transport schemes and overseeing economic development.

At last week’s Full Council meeting, in response to a question from Lib Dem Councillor Keith Orrell, Labour confirmed that they did not know where the £4million-a-year would come from but they would consider taking it from York’s revenue budget – which funds frontline services.
(more…)