Mayors new clothes

2682C7DE00000578-2988585-Nothing_to_hide_Mayoral_candidate_Yolanda_Morin_stripped_off_in_-a-6_1426016467288The York Council is embarking on a, largely nominal, consultation exercise on the desirability of handing powers to an elected Mayor in Yorkshire.

Unfortunately what powers and resources such an official might have is largely opaque. Hence it is impossible to predict with any accuracy what impact such a post might have on everyday life.

Up and down the country there have been some able Mayor elected. They are balanced by some pretty poor ones in places like Tower Hamlets and, much more close to home, Doncaster who have presided over poor services and questionable practices.

In London, the Mayor spends most of his time on public relations duties. London is, in any case, very much different from Yorkshire.

The latest push for devolution coincides with a plan to give Scotland more powers. Yorkshire has broadly the same population as Scotland so why shouldn’t it be able to determine its own priorities goes the argument?

But would a Mayor under siege in a Doncaster bunker be more sensitive to local needs than someone in an office a further 180 miles away.

We doubt they would.

The Council is right to give people a chance to air their views. Given the lack lustre information pack issued by the Council they would be wise not to expect a big response.

The pack contains some strange claims, not least  that the new system might help to “preserve the green belt”. The contrary might more likely be the case.  A regional baron exercising powers from Bradford might find it much easier to ride roughshod over the views and aspirations of a small City like York

The new Council has inherited a mish mash of regional and sub regional bodies. It is in two enterprise partnership areas and seeks to maintain a foot in both the the Labour dominated West Yorkshire Combined Authority and in Tory dominated North Yorkshire. Added to mix, are four  Police and Crime Commissioners (whose role could be taken over by an elected Mayor). Their demise would, at least, be a welcome relief for taxpayers.

So some rationalisation is needed.where-boris-bikes-go-video-animation-21471977

But change should start with the principle of subsidiarity – that decisions should be taken at the level nearest the people that the decision affects.

Unless that principle is agreed, and electoral systems are used which ensure that all views can be articulated,  then further consideration of elected Mayors, or extending the powers of the currently opaque “combined authority”, is simply not worth spending any time on.

The Council says, “a series of drop-in engagement events will be held across the city from next week to offer residents and businesses more information about what devolution means for York”.

The drop-in events will be held at the following locations where officers, members of the Executive and the Chief Executive will be on-hand to answer any questions on devolution:

York Explore, Marriott Room
• Thursday 13 August 12.30 – 2pm 
• Thursday 20 August 5.30 – 7pm

West Offices, Hudson Board Room
• Monday 10 August, 5.30 – 7pm 
• Tuesday 18 August, 11.30am – 1pm

Alternately, email feedback to: devolution@york.gov.uk or write to: Devolution, Business Intelligence Team, City of York Council, West Offices, York, YO1 6GA.

Residents will note that the Council’s new found interest in devolution doesn’t extend to holding events in the suburbs!

New ONS figures highlight housing issues in York

Figures published today by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) confirm that house price inflation in York is outstripping increases in wage levels.

House price trends to 2014

The ratio of median house prices to salary levels now stands at 9.4, the highest ever recorded.

To some extent this reflects a drop in median earnings in the City over the last few years. Media earnings are now £20,648 compared to the peak of £21,130 which was seen in 2010.

House prices started to rise again about 18 months ago and now stand at a median of £194,000 which compares to the 2007 peak of £179,995.

York is the 140th most expensive place to rent a house out of a total of 326 local authorities in England and Wales. 

The average monthly rent is £675, which is  less than Harrogate where the figure is £695 a month.

Scarborough is the sixth lowest place to rent in England (£433 pm) while Hull is the cheapest at £365 pm

A resident, on a median monthly income of £1721, in York could spend 40% of it on renting private accommodation.

Those in social housing fare better with weekly rent levels being £89.87.

85% of housing stock in York is privately owned.

In terms of house building, York has performed poorly over the last 5 years coming 268th out of 326 local authorities.

As a percentage of the existing stock growth rates have been:

  • 2010 0.70%
  • 2011 0.50%
  • 2012 0.34%
  • 2013 0.28%
  • 2014 0.26%

On social housing York has a relatively low shortfall in provision at 13.9% of existing stock compared to most other areas. The worst area is Medway at 239.1%

The statistics suggest that the York Council and its partners have work to do to increase housing supply in the City while also trying to increase relative salary levels.

Details of Ward Committee funding revealed

£53,445 boost for Westfield area

Details of how much local communities will have to spend through new Ward Committees have been confirmed as part of plans brought forward by the Liberal Democrat-Conservative Executive.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The proposals, which are opposed by the Labour Group, will see Ward Committees given an allocation of a £925,000 budget to fund projects such as street clean-ups and offer grants to local voluntary groups.

The process for allocating highway improvements has been partly localised as part of the plans as has some social care funding.

Work will also be undertaken by council officers to identify further budget areas which could be devolved to communities.

Local Councillors are expected to announce shortly how they intend to consult over the use of the different funding streams

. Re-establishing proper Ward Committees was a key part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto

The proposals begin the process of devolving power and budgets to local residents and community groups.

This enhanced pot of money will give wards the opportunity to tackle local priorities and develop community initiatives.

It increases overall funding to nearly £1 million from the £75,000 in grants available under the previous Labour Council.

Westfield Councillor Andrew Waller commented,

“It is disappointing although perhaps not surprising that the Labour Group is opposing the moves. The previous Labour Council removed ward credits, stripped power and budgets away from local communities, and spent four years ignoring local residents.

The new Executive trusts elected ward councillors to work with their communities and make the right decisions – rather than impose everything from West Offices like the previous Labour administration.”

25% chance of success if you appeal against a planning decision in York

Council reprt August 2015

Council report August 2015 click to enlarge

Figures, to be discussed by a Council planning committee tomorrow, suggest that residents have a 25% chance of successfully appealing against a refusal of planning permission in the City.

The York Councils performance – in getting decisions right first  time – is now better than the national average.

That has not always been the case in the past (see 2012 performance below).

11 appeals were outstanding as at the end of July

An analysis of recent planning appeals can be found here

Performance 2012

Performance 2012 click to enlarge