York Council urges businesses and charities to apply for Connection Vouchers before it’s too late

City of York Council is warning small businesses and registered charities that time is running out to apply for a £3,000 Connection Voucher to boost their broadband speeds.

Connection Vouchers

Since the scheme launched in April 2014, over 300 York businesses and registered charities have benefitted by upgrading to high-speed broadband, but organisations are being advised to apply for a Connection Voucher as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the scheme offers grants of up to £3,000 for SMEs and registered charities seeking faster and better broadband.

Due to the thriving nationwide demand, the scheme, which has issued 200 Connection Vouchers in York since April 2015, is fast running out. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have warned that with current demand, vouchers are expected to be fully allocated soon so organisations are advised to apply as soon as possible.
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Garden maintenance scheme failure angers York tenants

Path overgrown

Path overgrown

Council tenants entitled to free garden maintenance have been angered by delays in cutting back overgrown vegetation this summer.

The Councils housing department offers  a free gardening service for elderly or disabled council tenants who have no-one else to help, cutting grass five times and hedges twice between April and October (weather permitting).

The scheme has run for many years but periodically it seems to fall behind schedule causing substantial inconvenience for some of its vulnerable clients.

This summer we have seen one example where an elderly tenant, living in the Foxwood area, complained on five occasions that her garden was becoming overgrown and unsafe.

Following an admission to hospital, upon her return home a few weeks later, she found that the access path was overgrown – a potential hazard for the less nimble – while weeds had started to overgrow the windows.

Window engulfed by weeds

Window engulfed by weeds

Local councillors have pledged to follow up individual complaints but it seems that basic contract supervision arrangements – and complaint handling systems – have badly let down several vulnerable residents this summer

NB. The garden maintenance contract was awarded to Oakdale NE Ltd in June 2014.  The two year contract was estimated to be worth £140,000.

Council officials recommend demolition of Reynard’s garage

Reynard’s Garage, 17-21 Piccadilly comprises a substantial early 20th Century masonry and steel portal framed structure lying within the Historic Core Conservation Area to the south west of the River Foss and the City Centre.

17/21 Piccadilly

17/21 Piccadilly

In a report to a planning committee next week, Council officials say, “It is of some townscape importance as part of a group of early 20th Century industrial buildings and of some historical importance through its association with early aircraft manufacture by Airspeed Ltd and the author Neville Shute. It was initially constructed as a Trolley Bus Depot but following on from the withdrawal of the network in the early 1930s was converted to industrial use. The building is referred to in the Central Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal although an attempt to have it Listed as being of Historic or Architectural Interest through Historic England has previously proved unsuccessful due to the lack of survival of its historic detailing and its very poor structural condition. It is in very poor structural repair and has been vacant for approximately 20 years”.

The report also says,

“it is clear that the fabric of the building is beyond repair for reuse, and the building is in the short term highly likely to collapse without major intrusive supporting works”

Officials recommend “any permission be conditioned to require short term development comprising the landscaping of the site including an element of interpretation of its role in the development of the modern City”.

They go on to recommend the demolition of the building.

Any short term use is likely to be restricted to either car parking of use as a coach drop off point. Council officials seem to think it will become a “landscaped area” although the costs and source of funding for such a temporary use are unclear.

The Council recently withdrew from its forward decision programme proposals to create a “Masterplan” covering the whole of the Piccadilly area.

While developers are known to have tabled comprehensive  proposals for the area – including the conversion of Ryedale House into residential accommodation – it seems unlikely that the proposals will be considered in the near future.

In the meantime the derelict site should be made safe and put to a positive use which is neither an eyesore nor a burden on taxpayers..

Adults with learning disabilities invited to help shape services of the future

Adults (aged 18 and over) with Learning Disabilities and their family and carers are being invited to talk about their experiences of living in York as part of plans to improve services.

People are invited to attend one of two engagement sessions on Monday 14 September at Tang Hall Community Centre from 1-3pm or at the Priory Street Centre on Monday 28 September from 11am-1pm.

The sessions, which will be run by Inclusion North – an organisation promoting the inclusion of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers – will focus on a wide range of issues including:

  • Travelling in York.
  • Leisure activities and keeping healthy.
  • Keeping safe and hate crime.
  • Growing old and planning for the future.
  • Getting a job and learning new skills.
  • Young people moving into adulthood.
  • People being placed in services outside the local area.

The sessions have been organised by the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Partnership Board, which is part of York’s Health and Wellbeing Board. (more…)