Bootham Level crossing (Wigginton Rd) closed 22:00hrs 08/02/14 till 08:00hrs 09/02/14 due to track maintenance.
— York Travel (@york_travel) February 7, 2014
Councillor hits out at lack of consultation over Gale Farm Court charges
Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation
Liberal Democrats have criticised a lack of consultation on price increases for residents in sheltered housing who use the council’s warden call service.
At this week’s Decision Session Labour’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, rubber-stamped proposals to increase the charges for residents using the 24-hour support service.
12 months ago Cllr Laing refused to meet Gale Farm Court residents but tried to blame the LibDems for her plans to increase warden call charges
The report admitted that the price increases could “result in financial hardship for vulnerable elderly tenants”.
Despite these concerns, no consultation was undertaken with sheltered housing tenants on the proposed changes and there are fears that the first residents will know about the plans is when they receive a letter from City of York Council.
Cllr Lynn Jeffries the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities, attended the meeting and criticised the lack of engagement with tenants. She commented:
“This change will affect some of the most vulnerable residents in York and it is unacceptable that neither they nor their families were asked for their views on the price increases.
Monk Stray campsite licence application details published
The Council has now published the application that it has made (to itself) for a premises license for the use of Monk Stray.
There are no restrictions on the duration of the license which would allow plays, films, live music (till midnight), recorded music, performance of dance and “anything similar” together with the supply of alcohol for on and off site sales (until 2300 hours)
The application can be read here
Residents have until 24th February to submit any objections.
The Council have so far failed to explain why the event could not have been accommodated on the Knavesmire.
Larger events, such as Royal Ascot at York and a visit by the Pope, have been accommodated there without major difficulties.
New Chapelfields Focus published
Page 1 click to enlarge
Pages 2 and 3 click to enlarge
Page 4 click to enlarge
Tour de France – York campsite update
The Council has now announced two further campsites on its web site.
They will be at Millennium Bridge and the Designer outlet.
Again no consultation has taken place with affected residents and the information has yet to appear on the official TdF website
Official “all day” car parking is being offered at the “old” Askham Bar Park and Ride site for £8. By June this car park will have closed as the new adjacent site will have been brought into use. People will be expected to walk from there to the Knavesmire.
Mystery also surrounds the costs of repairing highways on the TdF route. No provision has been made in the Councils budget for essential repairs although the whole of the highways network is in increasing need of major investment.
All decisions on the organisation of the TdF locally are being taken behind closed doors.
New books arrive at Acomb Library
It's that time again…. NEW BOOKS!!! They are in! Come grab a great new read! #BigLibraryRead #newbooks
— Acomb Explore (@acombexplore) February 6, 2014
York Council house rents up 5% despite record surplus
Despite having a record high £13 million surplus on the housing account, Labour plan to increase rent levels by 5%.in April.
The Council have stubbornly refused to use the surplus to buy additional homes on the open market.
Meanwhile new figures released by the Council confirm that most of the 2333 people registered on the housing waiting list are single and are seeking one bedroomed accommodation.
856 of these are aged under 30.