Delays in York Council investment programme

A report which is being discussed on Thursday reveals that the Council has fallen behind with several major investment projects.

 It means that funding is being slipped from 19/20 into future financial years.

The biggest embarrassment is the Community Stadium project which is between 8 and 1 year behind schedule depending on when you started counting.

A development for the homeless on James Street has also recently been revealed as lagging 12 months behind its target completion date (although it doesn’t rate a mention in the Council report).

Setting the scene for a major increase in investment (and consequent debt levels), the report makes some strange claims.

Centre of Excellence for Disabled children “opening in May?)

Foremost amongst them is a statement that the Centre of Excellence for the Disabled, currently being constructed on Ascot Way, will open for business in May of this year. Really?

Site for new football pavilion

Lowfields

We are assured that show homes at Lowfields will also be available in “late summer” while the waterlogged Ashfield football site – located off Tadcaster Road – will have a clubhouse open by September!

Perhaps more understandably, cautious officials now say that the Community Stadium will be opening to the public “during the year”. No more hostages to fortune then!

Council to invest in anti flooding measures

The York Council is set to spend more on reducing the impact of flooding in the City.

The plans, revealed just hours before the latest flooding problems hit the City, include the provision of a dedicated pump which will help to keep the A19 near Fulford clear of water.

A council report also promises more work to deal with surface water drainage issues

” £200,000 for improved drainage. To continue funding the restoration of the Council’s drainage infrastructure supporting the findings of the Surface Water Management Plan. This funding reflects the amount of work that can realistically be done using the available resources within the Council where there is extensive local knowledge

£3.5 million will be spent on Gully Repair Engineering Works – A rolling programme of capital funded drainage survey and investigation works has led to significant improvements of the cities highway gullies and has provided detailed information to identify the condition of the assets and their long term maintenance needs.

It is calculated that more than £8m of investment will be needed over 12 years to address all defective assets on a priority/needs based approach.

£200,000 will also be invested in improving real time signage and on rainfall monitoring equipment (see below).