Breaking news – York Council refuses to release Lendal Bridge legal advice to Councillors

Lendal Bridge closure Nov 2013

The Lendal Bridge controversy has taken a darker turn this evening as it has been revealed that the Councils Chief Executive Kersten England has refused to release information about Lendal Bridge to opposition Councillors.

She was asked to provide a copy of the legal advice that she claims to have received and which allegedly supports the Councils use of ANPR camera based prosecutions on Lendal Bridge and Coppergate.

We understand that she has refused to release the information saying to one senior Councillor “It is privileged legal information and will be used for the internal appeal process with the adjudicator”

So clearly the Labour Leadership have decided – without bothering to hold a decision meeting of any sort – to appeal against the traffic adjudicators decision.

This is particularly high handed way for Council officials to behave. They seem to forget who is funding the “legal information” and who ultimately will have to pick up the bill for any subsequent legal action.

Democratically elected Councillors should make decisions like these.

If officials chose do so then they step over the line of what is acceptable behaviour in a democracy.

We would expect the government to step in to address what is now a clear abuse of power.

Lawyers celebrate York Council Lendal bridge decision

It looks like rich pickings are at hand for lawyers as the York Council has decided to continue issuing PCNs on Lendal bridge and Coppergate using ANPR evidence.
Agree to disagree

The latest twist to the pantomime comes as the Council announces that a legal opinion supports their stance.

Now we all know that you will always be able to find a lawyer who will argue the number of celestial beings that will fit onto a pin. That’s how some of them make a living.

But what is now clear is that the Council had privately already decided to make the traffic restrictions on Lendal Bridge permanent and they re now desperately trying to find a way of salvaging their unpopular policy.

The Labour leadership have completely forgotten that they are supposed to speak up for York residents not conduct a war against them.

Kersten England, Chief Executive of City of York Council, said: “Having received independent legal advice from a leading legal expert in this field we are confident we are operating both Lendal Bridge and Coppergate schemes within the law. “We also take assurances from Oxford, who contested with a similar appeal with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and successfully won.” The restrictions will remain in place on Lendal Bridge and Coppergate and drivers are urged to continue to adhere to these.

and as local Liberal Democrat leader Keith Aspden has pointed out this is all costing the City, its visitors and residents huge amounts of money.

“I am asking the Chief Executive to publish a full copy of the legal advice given to the council. We also need to know how much this legal advice is costing taxpayers.

“To continue with a policy which the Government’s Traffic Adjudicator has ruled is unlawful seems like a gamble, which is why residents need to see the advice the decision is based on.

“The closure has been a shambles from the beginning and Labour need to stop dithering and make a final decision on the future of Lendal Bridge.

“We think the enforcement cameras should be turned off immediately and Lendal Bridge reopened. Labour need to stop hiding behind council officers and actually say what they are going to do.”

20 mph speed limits – something else to challenge?

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

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

Despite massive opposition from residents, and most available evidence suggesting that wide area 20 mph speed limits have little positive effect on driver behaviour, the Council are to extend the limit into north York.

Cllr Merrett at the last Council meeting refused to delay the roll out of wide area 20 mph speed limits into East and North York.

This phase of the scheme will cost taxpayers over £300,000.

He had been asked to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the restrictions imposed on west York before wasting any more money.

He did say that he did not agree with Cllr Semlyen’s “zero consultation” approach. Not that Labour pays any attention to the results of consultation anyway.

He also said that, if the wide area 20 mph limits are scrapped after the next local elections, most of the £600,000 cost will go down the drain. “The capital funding has mostly been spent on various unrecoverable items such as labour costs, project management, plant equipment and hire, engineering fees, printing and distribution of materials etc.  The poles and 20mph signs used would have some modest resale value.”

Post 20 mph speed limit Bristol residents views click to enlarge

Post 20 mph speed limit Bristol residents views click to enlarge

If the new Council finds that – as has happened elsewhere – accident levels increase then they will have no option but to withdraw the scheme.

The statutory advertisement of the 20mph Speed Limit Orders for north York will take place this month, with notices being posted on affected streets.

These statutory notices will advise which streets are proposed to have new 20mph Speed Limit Orders made for them.  This is a formal legal process for any change of speed limit and is required prior to implementation and erection of signs.

As with any other Traffic Regulation Order, there is the opportunity during the statutory 28-day notice period for official representations or objections to be made if there are any specific issues which it is considered should amend or stop the Order from being made.

More detailed information can be found at www.york.gov.uk/20mph

The Liberal Democrat view is that the most appropriate speed limit should apply to a road taking into account its characteristics and accident record.

If the party resumes its leadership of the Council following the 2015 local elections, it will give residents the opportunity to give residents the opportunity to decide whether the new ,limits should remain..

Health and social care changes

cartoon_JamesGillray public healthProposals to transform health and social care in York have been given the go-ahead by the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board.

York’s Plan proposes a transformation of the local health and social care system, focusing on three main elements:

– The development of local care hubs of health and social care staff who will rapidly assess and diagnose issues and needs to enable people to remain at home or return there at the earliest opportunity.

– Shared Care Records, so people only have to provide their details and case history once.

– Single Point of Contact– a health or social care-lead who takes responsibility for the individual as the move between services.

 

Children’s show set to premiere as part of York: Be part of it programme

As part of City of York Council’s York: Be part of it programme, acclaimed Leeds-based theatre company tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal are set to delight young theatre goers

 tutti frutti ytr monday s child image by jacky fleming

Monday’s Child tells the simple poetic story of the unique bond between an old lady and a young girl, as the audience share the delights and surprises of the respective stages of their lives.

Monday’s Child is suitable for 3-7 year olds and their families. Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £6 for children and can be obtained by visiting the Box Office or by calling 01904 623568. Tickets are also available online at http://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/

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Plans for Rowntree Park to be shared with residents

Residents, businesses and local groups are invited to find out more about making the most of the build-up to and the Tour de France itself, at the next dedicated information session.

On Thursday 10 April, from 5:30pm at the Rowntree Park Reading Café, local people can drop in to find out about arrangements for routes and traffic management, and about camping and caravanning in the city. There will also be information on how to get involved in the cultural festival – York: Be Part of It – and plans for the exciting spectator hubs where people can enjoy the celebrations.

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Nominations invited for Adult Learners Awards

Nominations are being called for by City of York Council for the city’s annual Adult Learners Awards which, in the year of the Tour de France coming to York, has an extra award to help celebrate learners’ achievements.

The special cycling-inspired award aims to recognise a learning achievement connected with bikes: maybe someone who’s overcome illness or disability and learned to ride, or perhaps a participant who’s gone the extra mile in the Painting Through York project.

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York Mansion House restoration

Mansion House Christmas

City of York Council has named De Matos Ryan as the architects for the next stage of the restoration programme of the Mansion House, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The four main areas of the ‘Opening Doors’ project involve restoring the 18th century kitchens; improving displays, conservation and access to the civic collection of gold and silver ware; developing an integrated environmental and conservation plan for the structure; and preparing an oral history project, involving people past and present with a connection to the building.

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Yor-Zone teenagers web site 1 year old

Yor-zone- the website for young people (aged 11-18) in York – celebrates its first birthday this week.

To visit the site go to http://www.yor-zone.org.uk/, follow us on twitter @yorzone or like our facebook page/YorZone.

City of York Council launched Yor-zone.org.uk last year, providing for the first time a single site where young people in York could access information about local services and opportunities. Whether it’s about things to do in York or information on a variety of issues such as volunteering opportunities and careers, the site provides a one-stop-shop for local young people.

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