Council to lose influence on Community Stadium management?

In another “behind closed doors” decision, the Council has decided to transfer all aspects of the design, building, management and maintenance of the new Community Stadium (Monks Cross) to a private contractor.

It is unclear who will undertake this contract although, in the past, the operators of the existing facility have expressed an interest in managing any new stadium.

The Council has now said that “a number of options have been considered and the preferred procurement option of Design Build Operate and Maintain (DBOM) provides the best opportunities for; (i) cost effective delivery of the overall project, (ii) achieving effective risk transfer and (iii) maximising commercial innovation”.

No consultation on the proposal took place before the meeting and it remains very unclear whether lumping all aspects of the community stadium project into one contract will optimise value for money for taxpayers.

This is now a big issue as Labour plan to contribute an additional £4 million of taxpayers money into the project – in addition to the value of the site. The latest decision could mean that there will be a reduced chance of that funding being recovered from rental income as was the original intention.

The Council will have to write up a very detailed – and financially watertight – tender specification before procurement starts. Taxpayers will expect this documentation to be published before the project goes to tender.

There is also mystery surrounding the Councils intentions for the management of its other leisure facilities such as the Yearsley Swimming pool and the “Energise” sports centre on Cornlands Road.

Labour have threatened to outsource the management of these facilities in one large contract in the past but now seem reluctant to confirm what they expect to happen and when.

Media censorship and the gifts register

The furore in the media about the relatively large amounts of “hospitality” received by the current Council Leader and one of his Cabinet colleagues, needs to be viewed in context.

Anyone undertaking this role will need to be out and about meeting residents, businesses and investors.

Most meetings will take place at the Council offices where a discrete and professional approach can be maintained. On other occasions the Leader may wish to extend hospitality to those who are planning to invest in the City. The Leaders substantial salary allows him to do that.

On other occasions the City’s civic head – the Lord Mayor – may take on that role when welcoming “personalities” to the City.

On occasions these days it will be necessary to travel to other parts of the Leeds City Region to participate in events which could aid the economic development of York.

Trips to other parts of the country, either at taxpayers or the host’s expense, need to be justified publicly. The question to be answered is, “what is the City of York getting out of this event?”
The present Council Leader has a good historic record of refusing to be drawn into the local party scene http://tinyurl.com/bsreqey

The dangers lie in accepting hospitality from vested interests who are seeking to promote a particular commercial “opportunity”. It is rarely, if ever, wise to do so. That would include any organisation that receives, or hopes to receive, a grant from the Council. Particular circumspection is required when dealing with organisations which might be supporting – or opposing –a pending planning application.

It is to be hoped that lessons have been learned.

There are more serious issues with the present Council Leadership. Lack of candour and a reluctance to open up the decision taking process to residents and the media is a more fundamental flaw.

Again the Leader has been publicly criticised for trying to manipulate or silence the Press with some pointing to his track record as a student Leader.
That should be behind him now.

Our advice?
Take a holiday. Arrange for an honest review of what has happened recently, then return to the days of open decision making, genuine consultation before decisions are taken and embrace at least some of the non partisan advice which is on offer.

Council back track on Grange Lane parking restrictions

Original proposals March 2012 click to enlarge

New proposals September 2012 click to enlarge

Some 2 years after residents petitioned for permanent no parking restrictions to be implemented outside their properties; the Council has agreed to advertise proposals that would lead to the introduction of double yellow lines between numbers 12 – 32.

The delay occurred when the Labour Councillor who made the decision wanted to implement restrictions on only the school side of the lane.

The other proposals including parking restrictions opposite 4 – 10 Grange Lane have been agreed for implementation

The change came about following representations made by Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Cllr Ann Reid.http://tinyurl.com/LibDem-TRO-representations The 3 Westfield ward Councillors did not respond to the consultation.

It is likely to be several months before the legal processes required for the changes are completed.

Book signing coup


Ben Fogle is a presenter, writer and adventurer. His achievements include racing 160 miles across the Sahara desert in the notorious Marathon Des Sables.

He has rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossed Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole.

He has presented numerous programmes including BBC’s Animal Park, Wild In Africa, Countryfile, Crufts, One Man and His Dog and Extreme Dreams

However he was no match for a local stalker who quickly discovered his hiding place in the bushes next to the York Library earlier today.

Clifton Green left turn lane back


Another of Labours populist policies – reintroducing the left turn lane at Clifton Green – has been implemented at a cost of around £12,000. The general vehicle lane was replaced by a cycle lane about 2 years ago when the change received all party support. It formed a small part of a much larger improvement which saw lighting columns replaced, maintenance work completed on the bridge and roads resurfaced.

There have been no serious accidents at the junction since the changes were made.

The Council’s professional officers recommended against any further changes pointing to the potentially increased hazard now cyclists are propelled onto a section of carriageway where some vehicles are trying to accelerate into the new left turn lane. Weaving between traffic lanes can be particularly dangerous for cyclists if there are HGVs in one of the lanes. This is likely to be less of a hazard at peak times (am & pm) when traffic speeds will be low.

For most of the day, the Clifton Green junction has free flow conditions. The left turn lane will make little difference at those times (lunchtime 4th Sept http://youtu.be/uYasYMMMgIk). The easing of the congestion at the junction is partly due to the success of the remodeled roundabout on the A1237 at Rawcliffe.

However even at off peak periods, access to the left turn lane – which can accommodate up to 6 vehicles – is likely to be blocked on occasions by right turning traffic queuing back from the lights. (http://youtu.be/vkdsHhuQyo0)

At peak times the junction will continue to be – as it has been for over a decade – “over capacity”. This means that the length of queues will remain much the same.

What everyone will be watching is the accident record at the junction.

NB. The annual Festival of Cycling is taking place this weekend on the Knavesmire. For more details see http://dringhousesandwoodthorpeward.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/09/05/yorks-third-festival-of-cycling-this-weekend/

North Yorkshire Police mobile safety (speed) camera routes 5 – 11 September 2012

The Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 5 and Tuesday 11 September 2012.

•A64, east-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A64, west-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•Millfield Lane, Poppleton, York
•Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York
•Green Lane, Acomb, York
•A64, east-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•A64, west-bound Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•Temple Lane, Copmanthorpe, York
•A1036, Tadcaster Road, Acomb, York
•A64, between Whitwell Hill and Barton Hill
•A64, between Barton-le-Willows and Jinnah
•A64, between Barton Hill and Whitwell Hill
(more…)

Trades Unions costing York taxpayers more

click to enlarge

The York Council has admitted that it is now funding the equivalent of 7 full time trades union officials.

The figures mean that taxpayers are stumping up over £150,000 a year to fund Union representatives.

The admissions come after Labour increased trades union funding last summer in the wake of its election victory. Their local election campaign had been funded in part by UNISON.

The revelation that funding is increasing comes at a time when the Council is implementing cuts to public service standards in the City and is poised to withdraw care services from 184 vulnerable pensioners and charge residents for emptying green waste bins.

York Council spending spree continues

Kings Square

The York Council’s Labour “Cabinet” is set to agree an additional £3.3 million increase in spending today. All of the money is to be spent in the City centre. http://tinyurl.com/3-million-York-plan
The programme is part of the Council’s so called “Reinvigorate York” programme which will eventually see the City’s debt increase by an estimated £20 million. Interest and repayments on this loan will leave residents with an extra £1.6 million a year to find. Much of it is expected to come from further cuts to front line services.

The decision comes at a time when the Council is facing a £6 million overspend on this years budget together with heavy criticism over its decision to cut home care support of 184 elderly residents. Ironically the Council will have to find £300,000 to pay for consultants to design the planned improvements. That is similar to the sum that is needed to continue the social care services which are set to be axed.

For a number of years the Council has (rightly) invested in a rolling programme of works aimed at improving the streetscape of the City. The last project to be completed was the paving of Library Square in 2011 and this was to be followed by improvements to Deangate, as part of the Minster Revealed project. The latter is running a little behind schedule but the next street to be pedestrianised and paved was due to be Fossgate.

Graffiti display for tourist on river cruise

Under the new plans Fossgate is pushed back and changes to Kings Square have been substituted. The 6 areas to be addressed over the next 2/3 years are:
1) Parliament Street (including Piccadilly/ Coppergate junction)
2) King’s Square
3) Exhibition Square/ St. Leonard’s Place/ Bootham Bar
4) Fossgate/ Pavement
5) Duncombe Place/ Blake Street
6) Micklegate

No figures have been provided for the costs of individual schemes. Officials acknowledge that work at the Parliament Street junction will be complex and no decision has yet been made on what will replace the old public toilet block (although the quality of street entertainment here has taken an upward step recently – http://youtu.be/s-_Ip_VJrLc)

The additional borrowing results from what should be a 4 or 5 year programme being compressed into just 30 months. An officer’s report on the project fails to produce a convincing business case for the investment. All that are quoted are case studies from wildly dissimilar towns and City’s which sought regeneration from a much lower base (and in most cases – because of unemployment levels – with the benefit of Regional and/or European funding).

With no measurable economic development targets identified, no one will ever know whether the investment was justified.

No money to repair verges in sub-urban York

What is clear is that sub-urban areas are being starved of resources with street level services in decline. Even the City centre environment is under pressure with graffiti on the increase – just the kind of image that will deter people from visiting the City.

So what should the Council do?

The improvement programme in the City centre should continue but at a pace that can be funded without recklessly increasing the City’s debt burden. Borrowing should be restricted to projects which generate a clear additional income stream for the Council and which can then be used to service debt charges.

The sub-urban areas should also receive investment with the aim being to generate pride in the whole of the City not just the area within the Bar Walls.