Yearsley pool saved yet again
But competing pool at Monks Cross still in Council’s plans
Yearsley Pool
The Council has confirmed that the Yearsley swimming pool will continue to operate until at least 2024. Opening hours will reduce to 91 per week although this will impact on very few existing users. Provision has been made for continued use by local swimming clubs.
The pool will be run by the Council’s leisure partners GLL who are also set to run other facilities in York including Energise and any facilities provided at the Community Stadium site in Monks Cross.
The Council will continue to provide a subsidy of £300,000 a year to offset the running costs of the Yearsley Pool. Nestle have agreed that users can continue to use the adjacent car park.
The future of the pool has been at risk since the last Labour administration in the City announced grand plans for a site in Monks Cross which left no funding for Yearsley.
. While the short-term future of Yearsley now seems secure, the Council is going ahead with building another public swimming pool at Monks Cross. This means that – with the huge new pool now in use at the Sports Village, a pool on the east of the City at Energise together with numerous private pools at sports clubs, hotels and schools – the City will exceed the recommended amount of leisure water facilities. supported by Sport England.
The medium term viability of the financial package may therefore be in some doubt.
York Community Stadium
A new report to the Council’s Executive confirms that the builder has pulled out of the GLL led consortium which was to have constructed and run the new Community Stadium.
Contracts for the sale of commercial elements also haven’t been signed.
The report says, “Until legal agreements can be concluded, a risk remains that the Investment Fund could look to alter the terms of the proposed deal. This could include a reappraisal and increase or reduction in the Capital Land Receipt to the Council. Should the Capital Land Receipt reduce from that set out in the March 2016 this would have significant effects to the overall financial position of the Project”
Commenting on the need to appoint a new builder the report says, “Council instructions to GLL have been very clear in that any revised Construction Cost from their Building Contractor re-procurement must meet the existing approved March 2016 budget. However, until GLL have received final revised Building Contractor cost submissions there remains a risk that the Construction Cost could differ from that presented in the March 2016 Executive Report”.
Despite these issues, the Council says, “Stadium and New Leisure Facility built and operational by late 2018”.
The report does not say whether – in the light of the continuing high risk level of the project – a contingency plan has now been developed which might still see some sort of investment in a new stadium undertaken.
Around £12 million, of the original Section 106 developer contributions to the stadium project,are still held by the Council.
All eyes on investment in health budget as York NHS hits crisis
UPDATE – So not much hope for the NHS in todays budget announcement. There will be a scheme to put a supplementary GP workforce into some A & E departments next winter and there is more for social care. But Councils face a further dramatic reduction in government grants with a likely knock on effect on crisis management by either the NHS or emergency services..
EARLIER: Whether the Chancellor will do anything in today’s budget to help York’s cash strapped NHS services remains to be seen.
A report, being considered by the York Council today, reveals the extent of the problems facing local health services.
Currently cuts of around £45 million are expected placing additional pressures on a service which is already facing a crisis.
NHS York started off with the lowest funding per head of population across the whole region. Cuts are now expected to fall on:
- outpatients
- continuing healthcare
- prescribing
- high-cost drugs
- elective orthopaedics (e.g. hip, knee replacement)
- out of hospital facilities
The local LibDem health spokesperson said, “Cuts in services such as continuing healthcare and out of hospital care are not welcome news”.
“Liberal Democrats will continue to call for the Government to acknowledge the growing pressures on health services and give York a fair funding deal.”
Meanwhile the scale of the centralisation of GP surgery facilities has become clearer. Many are set to become localised mini hospitals with several in Acomb – including the now huge Priory Group which has premises on Cornlands Road – now the largest in the City.
In the Westfield Ward a “Local Area Coordinator” is being appointed by the Council to support people who may “feel vulnerable due to age, frailty, disability or mental health needs”
Interviews are currently taking place and the successful applicant is expected to start work later in the Spring.
York Council Tax bills on their way
D4NT09 Council Tax bill 2013/2014 for property dwelling band F with 25% discount for sole adult resident
The Council has started this week to issue its Council Tax demands for 2017/18. In total council tax will rise by 3.7%.
Residents have the option to spread the cost of their bill over 12 months rather than 10 months by request to council.tax@york.gov.uk
To make it simpler for residents to access a range of council services and report changes for council tax and benefits, they can create their own online account at: www.york.gov.uk/myaccount
At a click of a button they can also pay their council tax online, let the council know if they’re moving house, are claiming sole occupancy discount and student discount.
They can also request a copy of their bill, set up a payment plan if they’re in arrears and set up a Direct Debit.
In addition to this, council tax bills can also be sent by email. It’s free, fast, environmentally friendly and secure. Anyone without internet access can continue to call the customer service centre or visit staff at West Offices.
Included in the council tax information are details about financial support from the December 2015 floods. The council has been helping residents whose homes were affected with government payments and council tax exemptions. The deadline for claiming this financial support, if they haven’t already done so, is before 31 May 2017 by request to council.tax@york.gov.uk
The council’s gross expenditure for 2017/18 is £376.006m (380.391m in 2016/17) the amount raised though council tax in 2017/18 will be £81.630m (£77.072m in 2016/17) plus £703k (£667k in 2016/17) from parishes.
For more information about council tax visit www.york.gov.uk/counciltax
Council housing account surplus in York set to balloon to £21.5 million
The York Council’s Council housing account is set to have a surplus of £21.5 million by the end of March. The housing business plan had shown a planned surplus of £16.6 million at March 2016.
The change partly comes from higher rent income following changes to government rules. Some rents increased by 1% this year while the government have kicked into touch plans to make authorities sell off higher value properties when they became empty.
The York Council is still going through the motions of consulting on transferring its housing stock into the management of a third party. The justification for this move was never strong but, in the light of the recent financial performance of the housing revenue account, is now a waste of time and resources.
The main criticism of the housing department is their insensitivity to maintenance issues particularly when dealing with open spaces and garage areas. They have also failed to keep up with the demand for off street parking facilities. Too often garages remain vacant for excessive periods despite high demand levels.
Hopefully some of the unexpected “profit” on the housing account will allow them to address these concerns.
Use of the suplus would also allow for a “quick fix” for some of the 1600 residents on the housing waiting list if properties were bought on the open market and used to supplement existing stocks.