Labour cut number of staff working on highways repairs by 39%

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The number of Council staff working on repairing York’s footpaths and roads has dropped from 59 in 2011 to 35 today. Some of the work is, of course, undertaken by contractors.

The cuts reflect a 25% reduction in the investment being made in resurfacing the City’s highways.

During 2012 and 2013 the Labour administration cut highways repairs expenditure by around 50%. It is still not back to the level that they inherited from the last LibDem administration in 2011.

The highways repairs budget is down from £5.1 million in 2011 to only £3.8 million for 2015.

There have, however, been increases in the amounts being spent on street lighting and drainage.Potholes

Expenditure of £1.2 million on new street lights in 2012, however, did not produce the savings in running costs – or reliability – that were expected.

The day to day running costs of lighting actually increased in 2013, while fault reports also remain high.

A copy of the spreadsheet, which also details the mileage of road that has been resurfaced each year, can be found by clicking here.

York Council publishes list of discipline cases

In response to a Freedom of Information request the York Council has published a list of over 60 offences that their staff have been disciplined for.

The offences include fraud, theft, maladministration, drug misuse as well as abusive and threatening behavior.

Many of the cases resulted in dismissals.

Click here for full list 

click for full list

click for full list