Fewer unemployed in York

LibDem government policies working

The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in York has fallen further below pre recession levels (1.5 per cent).

Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics have shown that there are 1,577 claimants in York, a decrease of 213 from last month. The figures also showed that the city has seen a reduction of 974 since June 2013, meaning that number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has decreased by 38.2 per cent.

The claimant count represents 1.2 per cent of the working population and contrasts to the regional average which stands at 3.2 per cent. The figures are also much lower than the national average which stands at 2.4 per cent.
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Chapelfields pre school activities

Who is best for Front Street and Acomb Village – Labour or LibDems?

The two strongest parties in the west of York have thrown down the policy gauntlet to each other – 9 months before the crucial Council election poll which is scheduled to take place next May.

A motion about Front Street will be debated at tomorrow (Thursdays) Council meeting.

Acomb branch office closed by Labour in 2012

Absentee Labour Councillor S Burton kicked off the contest by tabling a motion which calls for the Cabinet to “receive options to consider extending business rates relief for all empty properties on Front Street being brought back into use.”

Liberal Democrat Councillors responded by calling for a much more comprehensive “regeneration” strategy.

At tomorrows meeting Cllr Lynn Jeffries will ask Councillors to vote for an alternative approach:

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Acomb play equipment labelled “dangerous”

Weeds overwhelming play equipment

Aerial wire broken

Play equipment in Grange Lane, Acomb has been labelled as “dangerous” by parents due a lack of maintenance.

Earlier today two pieces of play equipment were unusable with one – a wire ride – potentially hazardous for users.

Weeds and nettles were growing up through another piece of equipment making use impractical.

Litter

The area was badly littered.

The council has been heavily criticised in the past for failing to secure the playground against dogs.

Fouling continues to be an issue.

Crunch vote tomorrow on future of two Labour Councillors

The Labour councillors responsible for the botched Lendal Bridge trial will formally face calls to resign at tomorrow night’s meeting of York’s Full Council.

Council Leader James Alexander and Cllr Dave Merrett, the Cabinet Member responsible for the trial, will both face a vote to decide whether they keep their jobs.

The move is part of a Liberal Democrat motion which also calls for the 60,000 motorists fined for crossing Lendal Bridge to be repaid automatically without having to apply for a refund.

So far Labour has only said York Council will reimburse people who apply for a repayment.

The motion follows the embarrassing U-Turn last week when Labour announced that it would drop its appeal against a Government Traffic Adjudicator ruling which said the Lendal Bridge closure was unlawful.

In April Cllr Merrett said that if the trial was proved to be unlawful he would resign, telling BBC Radio York: “Yes, I accept that at the end of the day that if we’ve got it wrong to that extent that I’d have to resign”.

In April Cllr Merrett lost responsibility for Transport, but kept his Cabinet post taking control of Environmental Services.

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