York Council admits only about 274 residents of flooded homes have received £500 cash help so far

£1 million Floods Disaster Fund pays out only £18,900 to 46 applicants

The York Council has released details of what it claims are the compensation and recovery payments it has made to the victims of the recent flooding.

The Council fails to say how many claims are in the pipeline or explain why some residents – who are apparently entitled to the £500 emergency payment – have still not received any compensation.

The Council has still not moved to clear the confusion about whether one of the most significant events in the City’s recent history will actually be discussed by senior Councillors at their Executive meeting on Thursday. The issue has not so far been added the meeting agenda

The Councils figures,

Financial support paid:
• £137,000 recovery grant paid to 274 residents (with a one-off payment of £500)
• Council Tax exemptions totalling £118,200 for 351 properties directly affected by flooding
• York’s Disaster Fund has paid out £18,900 to all 46 applicants
• Business Rates exemptions totalling £600,000 for 115 businesses directly affected by flooding
• £78,500 resilience grants paid to 38 eligible businesses.

Financial support still available:
For residents:
• York residents whose homes have been internally flooded are entitled to a £500 one-off payment via City of York Council to help support the clean-up process from Government grants.
• Residents whose homes have been flooded internally are entitled to a Council Tax exemption from 27 December 2015-31 March 2016 as a minimum. Extensions may apply where residents cannot return to their property beyond that time.
• Affected York residents on low incomes and who are not adequately insured may be eligible for help from York Disaster Fund, administered by the Two Ridings Community Foundation (TRCF) charity. TRCF launched the York Flood Appeal to increase donations to the fund.

For businesses:
• The new Business Flood Recovery Fund is expected to be in place this week with grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 available. Call 0113 348 1818 or email businessgrowth@the-lep.com to find out more.
• Up to £2,500 is available for businesses affected by the floods through the Flood Recovery Fund for businesses. Email business@makeityork.com or phone 01904 554455to make a claim.
• Businesses which were flooded can apply for an exemption to their Business Rates. Please contact the business rates team at business.rates@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 551140
• Up to £5,000 in Future Flood Prevention Funds is available for commercial property owners/people responsible for maintaining the fabric of a property that has been flooded to help prevent future flood damage. To apply, email business@makeityork.com or call 01904 554455.

For more information, please go to www.york.gov.uk/flood

NB. The Councils “Goose Management Scrutiny Review Task Group” will however be meeting tomorrow. It is unclear whether any “loss of habitat” claims have been submitted by flood affected geese.

Local tennis club proposes extending lease on York council courts

To ensure that tennis continues as a quality sport in the city and that facilities for York residents are well-maintained at Rowntree Park, City of York Council will consider granting Rowntree Park Tennis Club a lease to manage and run the courts for the next three years. The Decision Session will be on 29 January at 3:30pm.

Rowntree Park is one of three locations with council-owned tennis courts Hull Road Park and Glen Gardens have two courts each and Rowntree Park has six. The courts’ management has been under review for the last few years following changes to park management during which time Glen Gardens tennis courts have been leased to Heworth Tennis Club for 25 years. Rowntree Park Tennis Club has been running since the 1950’s and is open to anyone to join.

In May 2015 an agreement was reached with the club to manage the courts on a trial basis for one year. Since then, club membership has doubled and the Lawn Tennis Association’s on-line booking system is being brought into play to enable occasional tennis players to pay and play rather than join the club.As a result, the club would now like to extend this arrangement.

This would put the asset into community control and support the principle of volunteers assisting with the care of the city’s sports spaces and facilities. It would bring the courts into line with other council sports assets that are managed by the community including fishing ponds, football, rugby and cricket pitches and bowling greens.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “I’m delighted that another of the city’s sports clubs is interested in managing more of the council’s tennis courts which could help develop further interest and levels of skill in the sport.”

The Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism’s Decision Session will take place on Friday 29 January at West Offices from 3:30pm and is open to members of the public or is available to watch later online from: www.york.gov.uk/webcasts

To find out more about the report, or to attend, visit: http://modgov.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=9110&x=1

York successful in Go Ultra Low Cities scheme

York has been awarded ‘Go Ultra Low’ city status by the Office of Low Emission Vehicles, becoming one of eight UK cities chosen as exemplars for the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles.

City of York Council continues to lead the way regionally, following today’s announcement that it’s the only city in Yorkshire to receive Go Ultra Low cities scheme funding. The Council has been awarded £816,000, following a successful bidding process that will fund an ultra low emission programme including a city wide network of rapid charging hubs. These will provide state-of-the-art, ultra fast, reliable and convenient rapid charging for key vehicle groups such as taxis, private motorists and business users.

So far use of electric charging points in York has been very low.
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£1 million Floods Disaster Fund pays out only £18,900 to 46 applicants

NB. The Councils “Goose Management Scrutiny Review Task Group” will however be meeting tomorrow. It is unclear whether any “loss of habitat” claims have been submitted by flood affected geese.

Details of some of the achievements, improvements and continuing challenges in adult social care and support in York over the last year are now available in a single booklet.