Wereporteda few weeks ago that we hoped to persuade the York Council to get to grips with outstanding maintenance issues on Foss Islands Road. The main problem related to lack of care for the cultivated areas lying between the public highway and the private shops boundary.
We said at the time that we were confident that it was a Council responsibility to cut back and maintain the area between the public footpath and the carriageway.
The Council have now confirmed that this is the case.
Officials have suggested that this area is either wild flowered or reseeded and cut as with other roadside verges 10 times a year. Any remedial work will take place in the spring. The Council will however be giving it a general cut back early in the new year.
Unfortunately no one is admitting liability for maintaining the area outside the public footpath although it seems likely that the frontagers will have some responsibilities.
This busy part of the City is seen by hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The houses are being built on a playing field without any accessible alternative facility being made available by the York Council.
It has also been revealed that Yorspace has still not completed the purchase of the “communal housing” development site which is located near little Tudor Road.
The purchase from the Council was due to take place in September according to an EIR/FOI response (ref. IGF/16163) published by the York Council in August. There had been some controversy over the sale, as the purchase price agreed by the Council (£300,000) was pitched at a level well below the amount being asked for other building land in the same area.
Despite this, officials say that the sale is still “with solicitors”.
NB. The Council owned access to the site from little Tudor Road is currently blocked by what appears to be an abandoned mini bus.
Gale Lane carriageway breaking up. The section is only a few metres away from the area that was resurfaced a few months ago. The Council really should have resurfaced as far as the junctionWidespread damage to verges and speed humps in the Kingsway area blamed on heavy building plant. The Newbury Avenue bungalows should be finished at the end of the year so hopefully some repairs will then take place. Dumped fridge in hedgerow at Chesney FieldMore dumping in back Foxwood Lane& again in the little Green Lane garage areaGraffiti in Howe Street area. This will prove to be a test of the Councils new graffiti removal processes which were implemented a few weeks ago. Still a lot of leaf fall in some streets. This is Windsor Garth. Streets now need mechanical sweeping before mulch becomes embedded.Litter in hedgerows near Doherty Walk. The Councils street cleansing systems still aren’t working with problems on several estates and at some shopping centres.More litter!
A huge pay rise for Councillors was agreed at a meeting last night.
On average it is worth an extra 18% although some will get more. It will also be backdated. The cost to taxpayers will be around £770,000 a year.
The increases were justified by a series of, largely bogus, claims that work volumes had increased since the previous review. In reality the time commitment for Councillors is broadly in line with levels experienced since local government reorganisation in the late 1990’s. Councillors also now benefit from new technology and casework support facilities.
While Independent Councillor Mark Warters has consistently criticised the increases, two Tory Councillors – who had both attended “behind close doors” consultation meetings with the review panel during the Autumn – got cold feet at the last minute and opposed the hike.
The notes from the autumn meetings, at which Councillors made their case for an inflation busting increase, are being circulated on social media. They are quite a revelation.
Councillors don’t of course have to accept the increase. They can choose to draw down less that the maximum allowed.
We will publish the actual amounts claimed by each individual next year
Other York Council news
Cllr Chris Culwick from Huntington will be next year’s Lord Mayor. His Sheriff will be Cllr Ashley Mason from Dringhouses & Woodthorpe
The Autism motion was supported by the Council yesterday as were pleas for more trees to be planted in the City.
The Council will look again at the Labour plan toban cars from within the City Walls.
Without apparently any sense of irony, in the wake of a decision yesterday to hike Councillors pay levels by an average of 18%, the City of York Council is now asking residents, partners and businesses for their help in balancing the council’s budget for 2020/2021.
The consultation is now open and asks which areas the council should invest in and prioritise and where people feel savings could be made.
This year, there are a number of different ways to get involved with the council consulting sooner and holding special budget decision sessions which the public can attend or watch online. People can have their say by:
Completing the straw poll in Our City (the council newsletter for residents), distributed to York houses throughout December or available at West Offices or libraries and return it freepost by Sunday 12 January
Coming along to one of the following decision sessions in the new year at West Offices to tell us your thoughts:
Housing and safer neighbourhoods 13 January 2020 at 2pm
Economy and strategic planning, Environment and climate change and transport 13 January 2020 at 5.30pm
Children and young people and Culture, leisure and communities 14 January 2020 at 4pm
Health and Adult Social Care 15 January 2020 at 12noon
Leader and finance and performance 15 January 2020 at 5.30pm
Papers for these sessions will be published from Friday 3 January. The decision sessions will ensure that residents can view the budget proposals significantly in advance of previous years to ensure higher quality consultation.
The online consultation closes on 31 December 2019 and all printed questionnaire responses from Our City will need to be received by Sunday 12 January.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said:
“We have recently agreed an ambitious council plan that promises to support and invest in our communities despite the financial challenges we face.
“Demand for our services is increasing and in the last decade our funding from government grants reduced by £52m, equating to a 44% real terms reduction. Next year we need to save a further £4m with further savings needed in the coming years.
“We are committed to continuing vital services and making sure the right support is there for those who need it most. Whilst we have set out an ambitious strategy for our city over the next four years; we want to ensure that York continues to make history and build communities. It is really important that we hear from residents, businesses and communities to make sure we invest in the right areas.”
Councillor Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader of City of York Council: “York is in a sound financial position which allows us some flexibility to invest in all our futures. However, growing demand for adult social care as our population grows older is a continued challenge and as more and more savings are needed the decisions get tougher.
“We want to make sure our spending reflects our priorities to protect the most vulnerable and respond to the climate emergency.
“Your feedback in the council plan consultation helped us shape our priorities and we are looking forward to hearing where residents think we should focus our spending against each priority.”
City of York Council are hosting a Local Supplier Event in partnership with VINCI Construction UK to invite the city’s local supply chain to take part in the ongoing work to restore the Guildhall.
The £20 million Guildhall project will see a “business club” established in the building. The viability of the project has been strongly criticised by some taxpayers
The Guildhall is one of the city’s most prestigious and historically significant buildings. The complex contains a collection of Grade I, II* and II listed buildings built around the 15th century hall and riverside meeting room. The site is undergoing a full restoration and redevelopment to secure its long-term future, offering high quality office space, community use, a cafe, a new riverside restaurant and better access for local residents.
The event will take place on Wednesday 8 January 2020 at West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA.
At this event York’s local businesses will be provided with information on the work packages VINCI Construction UK have available at the Guildhall. This invitation extends to businesses in York who may or may not have worked with the council before.
Chris Winspear, Regional Director at VINCI Construction UK, said:
“One of the key contributing factors in the success of our business is securing the support and services of a high-quality, skilled supply chain of businesses and specialist trades within the local areas in which we work. We look forward to meeting as many local suppliers as possible at this dedicated event, to learn how the tradespeople of York can support the regeneration of the Guildhall.”
VINCI Construction UK were awarded the contract to restore and renovate of the city’s Guildhall which began in September 2019. As part of their procurement submission, VINCI outlined their ambition to engage with the local supply chain in York to advertise packages of work.
This work may include:
• Painting and Decorating
• Carpentry
• Joinery
• Cosmetic Repairs
• Timber flooring/doors and other repairs
• Stone Mason
• Pavement Lighting
• Roofing (single ply, slate tiling, zinc, glazed and lead)
• Windows and Doors (Aluminium)
This event will allow City of York and VINCI to inform and engage local businesses in the work that has been completed so far at the Guildhall and what work is required moving forward. Details of packages, values and timescales will be provide at the event on Wednesday 8th January 2020.
To register attendance or find out more please contact Chloe Wilcox chloe.wilcox@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551307. Capacity is limited and therefore, attendance is restricted to one person per organisation.
