Adopting an ethical care charter in York

Councillors will be asked to adopt the ‘ethical care charter’ for home care workers across the city when they meet next week.

On Thursday 15 March, the council’s Executive will discuss the option to adopt the charter which seeks to establish a minimum baseline for the safety, quality and dignity of care.

The charter was developed and published by UNISON after they conducted a national survey of homecare workers in 2012 and has three stages. In July 2017 a motion was approved at full council asking officers to look at the implications and take a report to Executive.

At the meeting councillors will be asked to agree to adopt stages one and two of the charter which will include:

  • The time allocated to visits will match the needs of clients
  • Visits being scheduled so that homecare workers are not forced to rush their time with clients
  • Clients being allocated the same homecare workers wherever possible
  • Zero hours contracts not being used as the only option. Providers offering a range of contract options to staff to ensure flexible employment options for care workers.
  • Homecare workers being regularly trained and given the chance to regularly share best practice with co-workers and limit their isolation.

Councillors will also be asked to agree for further work to be undertaken to assess the financial implications of adopting stage three which is for all staff to be paid at Foundation living wage and providers adopting occupational sickness pay schemes, with a report to be taken back at a later date.

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive Member for adult social care and health said: “We recognise the vital job that homecare workers across the city to support our residents. These changes look to help them and support the recruitment and retention of care staff.

“We’ve been working with providers closely on these plans. We know in York that our residents receive a standard of homecare that is well above the national average, these proposals look to promote high quality care services and further increase the standard of care in York.”

It’s a #crime not to care, new campaign tells York residents

A new campaign to help curb fly-tipping is reminding residents and businesses that by law, their waste is their responsibility and must be disposed of safely and legally, otherwise they face a significant fine.

Launched with Richard McIlwain, deputy chief executive for Keep Britain Tidy, the #Crime Not to Care campaign aims to raise awareness and tackle unlicensed waste carriers responsible for a growth in fly-tipping.

All waste carriers must be licensed and only they should be used. Licensed carriers properly document the waste’s journey to its legal end, and so reduce the risk of fly-tipping.

In 2016/17 we dealt with 1,518 incidents of fly tipping at a cost of £65,087, after a year-on-year increase since 2012/13 when we dealt with 1,518 instances of fly-tipping which cost £53,295 to clear.

To ensure waste is legally disposed of, ask the carrier for their name and address. Check their license at https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers or by calling the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506. If they’re on the database, they can be used. If they’re not, please report them to neo@york.gov.uk so we can investigate. When the licensed carrier collects the waste, ask for a receipt with their name, address and vehicle registration number on it. The waste’s originator can be prosecuted if it is fly-tipped.

A waste carrier’s license is valid for three years, costs £154 and can be applied for at www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration.

The campaign is also reminding residents of other ways to safely dispose of waste which can’t be taken along with kerbside collections. These include arranging for collections of bulky item by the council by calling on 01904 551551. While there is a charge for this service, up to ten items can be taken, so it’s worth contacting a local residents’ association or neighbours to share the cost and the collection.

Waste can also be taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) at Hazel Court or Towthorpe and booklets of free permits for larger vehicles to carry it can be ordered via www.york.gov.uk/HWRCPermits. Or, recycling banks around the city can be used – see www.recycle-more.co.uk/bank-locator or call 01904 551551 to find where they are located.

The campaign is also promoting recycling reusable household goods with charities including British Heart Foundation, St Leonard’s Hospice, York Community Furniture Store Ltd, Besom in York, many of which will collect for free.
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Enhanced homeless scheme secures £2.4m grant

Two extra new apartments and replacement windows are among the enhancements to what is now a 57-unit temporary accommodation building in central York, for which the council has secured an additional £2.4m funding.The updated plans have factored in conditions attached to a £2.365m grant from Homes England (HE). This funding adds to a £10.5m budget already agreed by the council for the purchase and redevelopment of James House on James Street, as well as costs associated with closing and relocating existing temporary accommodation for homeless households.

This extra funding means a saving of £500,000 to the council. Senior councillors are being asked to approve the revised budget for James House of £12.4m, financed by £2.451m from Homes England and £9.949m from the Housing Revenue Account.

The specification of the conversion has increased. Two additional flats will be created, making a total of 57, and some others will be increased in size to meet national requirements and the criteria of the HE grant. In addition, an access road will be built and windows on the scheme will be renewed with double glazing and improved sound insulation.

Following approval by senior councillors on 16 March 2017, James House on James Street was bought and planning permission was submitted in early November 2017.

The self-contained flats will be owned and managed by City of York Council. James Street consolidates into one building much of the temporary accommodation for homeless people currently scattered across the city. It will also replace the accommodation at Ordnance Lane.

York Central access road decision next week

Construction of the access road to unlock the potential of York Central – one of Europe’s largest brownfield sites – could start next year if senior councillors approve plans next week.

2015 plan

The council’s executive could give the green light to find a contractor to build the bridge and spine road into the site from Water End.

A new access road has long been established as crucial to opening up the 72 hectare York Central site, which can drive the city’s economy and create vital jobs, housing and quality public spaces.

The positioning of the road was decided following extensive public consultation by the York Central Partnership, which is delivering the regeneration of the site, last year.

The Council will take the lead on the design and construction of the access road before 2021, in order to take advantage of available funding from the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.

Councillor Andrew Waller, acting leader of City of York Council, said:
“Regenerating this site is vital to grow our economy and provide housing.

“Thanks to the efforts of the York Central Partnership, we are overcoming the barriers to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to unlock York Central’s potential as an exemplar sustainable development.

“I welcome the news that the partnership is improving the community engagement on the project. This will help to make sure York Central is a place in which we all want to live, work and spend time.”

The construction partner would deliver key infrastructure, including the access bridge and spine road, while the contract could potentially be extended to deliver public open space (parkland, urban drainage and public
realm) and the rail link to the national rail museum.

The York Central Partnership has announced a special consultation which will help to develop the masterplan, which will be considered by the council’s Executive in June. The ‘Festival of York Central’ will begin on Monday 19 March, and will go beyond conventional community consultation.  It will use social media, ‘Pechakucha’ conversation evenings, walk’n’workshop site tours, web and blog content and speaking events. There will also be opportunities to meet with the four partners, the consultant team behind the evolving masterplan and local councillors.

The executive will also be asked to:

  •  dispose of the freehold of the 5% of council land holding on York Central to Homes England at market value to simplify land ownership on the site and to use this capital receipt to fund the York Central project costs. This land includes the Fermatol trading estate off Leeman Rd and the private car park near to Carlisle St.
  •  to commit £907k further funding from the £10m allocated budget to take the project through to planning determination.

 

 

£1.4 million Lincoln Court upgrade announced

The Council will spend £1.4 million upgrading the Lincoln Court sheltered housing scheme on Ascot Way next year.

Lincoln Court

A report be considered next week recommends modernising the existing 26 flats while building an extension which will provide an additional 8 units designed for dementia sufferers.

The extension will also provide a base for mobile care workers.This new build feature had not previously been revealed in the Councils plans.

The 4 existing “bedsits” will be converted into flats.

There is currently a shortfall, against demand, of over 1000 units of sheltered accommodation in the City.

The major upgrade will provide:

  1. 8 new, one bed apartments which will be dementia friendly.
  2. Conversion of 4 existing bedsits into 4 one bed apartments.
  3. A new and improved entrance lobby, communal facilities including a community lounge, WC, assisted bathing, hairdressing/therapy room, buggy store, office/s for care and other staff, gardens and improved car parking.

Planned investment and maintenance plans already included:

  • the installation of a new communal boiler and plant room;
  • the modernisation of individual flats to include new kitchen, bathroom, heating and wiring;
  • new front doors and windows;
  • a new door entry system
  • roof works;
  • external & internal decoration;
  • some high level external works to rainwater goods and asbestos soffits.

It is expected that, as soon as the budget for the scheme is agreed, existing tenants will be fully consulted on the implications of the building plans. With the adjacent Windsor House set to be demolished at the same time, some inconvenience is inevitable.

Residents are likely to question whether the inclusion of an office base on the site – together with the changes brought by the erection of the disability centre next door – might have a significant impact on traffic and parking issues in the area.