Democratic deficit at York Council as General Election takes its toll?

Council staff face a long day at the polling stations today. Its a 7:00am – 10:00pm shift for many. Later some will be helping to count votes. A declaration of a result may not come until 3:00am or even later.

So it is not surprising that the agenda for the Council meeting taking place on 19th December is, shall we say, a little thin.

There are virtually no reports attached to the agenda. Notices of motion are not published (other than the general topic heading) and executive member reports are missing.

Perhaps most difficult to explain may be a missing report for the remuneration panel. This independent body recommends how much Councillors should be paid. Its recommendations are often controversial. The report must already be available so someone must have taken a decision not to publish it.

There are two possible explanations for the missing papers.

The first is that staff and Councillors have been overwhelmed by the election workload. In which case someone may ask why the Council meeting was not postponed..

The second could be that the Council has decided that publishing the above reports could have been viewed as conflicting with the “Purdah” period. “Purdah” regulations prevent local authorities, and government departments, from publishing anything that might influence an election result.

If the explanation is the latter the the authority would be wise to ensure that the reports are published tomorrow.

It must give taxpayers a reasonable time to assess what is being proposed.

The reason for the absence of the background papers should have been n clearly stated on the agenda

& it really is time for that the Council got round to appointing a new Chief Executive!

York Council meeting agenda

Potholes getting worse in York

The Council was told this week that it needed to investment more in road maintenance. That has been obvious for over 5 years following budget cuts in the early part of this decade.

Frost is now accelerating the deterioration in places such as Foxwood Lane and Bellhouse Way.

It is important that issues are reported to the Council.

If you use the Councils “report it on line” system it will generate a reference number automatically.

This helps to identify the issue if you have to follow it up later.

The system doesn’t produce update reports for highways issues in the same way that litter, graffiti and fly tipping are automatically tracked. Progress on these types of issues can be viewed in the residents personalised issue folder after you log in.

Potholes on Foxwood Lane. Report ref; 191212-000048

Local Plan public hearing

The examination in public of  York’s Draft Local Plan has commenced. It is taking place in the Gimcrack Room at York Racecourse.

There is a large seating space allocated for the general public.

The sessions recommence at 9.00am on Monday when the Green Belt boundaries are likely to be considered at length.

This week the inquiry has mainly considered the position of several land owners and developers all of whom are desperate for their particular track of land to be zoned for house building. Such a designation can raise values by over 100x so not surprisingly those vested interests are well represented by professionals. Millions of pounds are at stake.

Ranged against them is the York Council as its advisors. It will defend the assumptions included in the Local Plan which has taken over a decade to be drawn up.

Actively involved in the debate will be amenity societies, Councillors and ordinary residents. Many will make the case for the conservation of green areas pointing to the importance of the existing Green Belt in preserving York’s unique character.

At times, such inquires can be tedious and repetitive.

Although the proceedings are not being live web cast, the Council is making a recording available on https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofyorkcouncil

This important meeting has been overshadowed by the General Election and the forthcoming Christmas season.

It would be unfortunate, to say the least, if anything slipped through unchallenged which the City as a whole might regret later in the year.  

Further details about the examination can be found here https://www.york.gov.uk/LocalPlanExamination

What’s on in York: “Right Trusty and Well Beloved” Launch of Richard III anthology

York Explore

Saturday December 14th

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 

Free

Book tickets »

Launch event for anthology of short stories and poems inspired by York’s own King Richard III, with a Foreword by Philippa Langley, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Sixteen international authors have collaborated on a second anthology of short stories and poetry inspired by Richard III, the king who called York ‘home’. Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, with a Foreword by Philippa Langley, who found the king’s grave in 2012 after 500 years, is being sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), which aids people with the same spinal condition as King Richard. The book will be officially launched by six of the authors, including one from the USA, promising talks, Q&As, and readings and signings of their work. Everyone is welcome to this free event.

What’s on in York: Santa’s Special Gift

York Explore

Saturday December 14th

@ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm 

Free

Book tickets »

One snowy Christmas eve, there’s a knock at Kitty’s window. Wow, it’s Santa! And he’s here to whisk her away on a truly spectacular adventure! Join in as award-winning TV correspondent and local author Catherine Jacob reads her super fun picture book and gets us to turn into characters in her story. Suitable for age 4-8 and their families. Free, booking required for children over 12 months of age.