The madness of the York Council

Street name plates neglected click to enlarge

Street name plates neglected click to enlarge

Ascot Way in Acomb demonstrates just how mixed up the York Council’s priorities have become.

20 mph sign installed within 5 metres of a sharp right bend.

20 mph sign installed within 5 metres of a sharp right bend.

School sign rusting away

School sign rusting away

Over £600,000 is being spent on installing 20 mph speed limit signs.

These include some in areas which are already protected by speed cushions (which make excessive speeds pretty much impractical).

Others have been installed at locations where it is impossible to exceed 20 mph anyway including short cul de sacs and near a sharp right hand bend (see photo).

Meanwhile other public services are being starved of investment. Street name plates are becoming illegible while other signs are simply rusting away.

Ironically the maintenance of speed cushions has been abandoned making them potential death traps for cyclists and a likely source of tyre and chassis damage for motorists.

Damaged speed humps. Already dangerous for cyclists.

Damaged speed humps. Already dangerous for cyclists.

Policing to cost 2% more?

The Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan is consulting on a plan to increase the bill for crime control by 1.99%.

That is the maximum allowed by the government without support from taxpayers.

Violence

She says that the increase is necessary to retain the present number of police officers (although separately the Chief Constable has claimed that crime levels in the City are continuing to reduce).

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Separately the Commissioner has cancelled attendance at a meeting in York scheduled for 10th February when she was to have attended a “scrutiny” meeting at West Offices.

Concerns remain in York about the high levels of social crime in parts of the City.

Recent media reports have concentrated on late night noise and alcohol fuelled anti social behaviour problems particularly in the City centre.

These are areas where the York Council and Police Commissioner should be working together to effect improvements.

The Crime Commissioner is currently not planning to hold any “surgeries” in York before the end of March.

Tenancy fraud clampdown in York

Council’s and social landlords in the region are encouraging people to report tenancy fraud as part of a regional Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014.

Council’s and social landlords in the region are encouraging people to report tenancy fraud as part of a regional Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014.

Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 2014 runs between Monday 3 and Sunday 9 February, and social housing providers and fraud busting-agencies across the region are encouraging members of the public to report any suspicions of tenancy fraud.

With tenancy fraud now a criminal offence following the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, this latest campaign builds on an anti-Housing Fraud campaign launched in August 2013 by City of York Council and its counter fraud specialist partner Veritau.

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