Council staff removing litter bins

The Liberal Democrat Group will formally call for 349 litter and dog bins to be returned to the streets of York at a Council meeting next week. The demand follows the removal in recent weeks of 1 in 3 of the city’s litter bins by the Labour run City of York Council. A move that has sparked anger amongst local residents and opposition councillors.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services who will move the motion, commented:

“Councillors across the city have been contacted by residents annoyed that bins disappeared overnight and demanding that they be put back. Labour took the decision to remove 349 bins without any consultation with residents, councillors or community groups and the backlash has been clear. We are asking Labour to listen to residents and restore the bins in all areas where there is a demand to do so. Residents seem particularly concerned about bins being cut outside shops or near bus stops and it is clear that these should be put back immediately.”

The Liberal Democrat Group will suggest that the move be funded through a reduction in cabinet members. When Labour took control of the Council in May 2011 they controversially added an additional cabinet member to take the overall number to 8.

Cllr Reid commented:

“Last year at a time when the number of directors and assistant directors in the Council was reducing and those remaining were being asked to take on more responsibility, Labour decided to increase the number of the highest paid councillors. It would appear that Labour are prioritising their own pay packets over basic services while trying to blame the government for any cuts. Our motion suggests we remove the extra paid position that Labour added and further reduce by one the number that was previously in place.

“It is quite clear at this time the priority of the Council should be maintaining a clean and attractive city and providing basic frontline services for residents, it should not be underserved pay increases for Labour councillors.” (more…)

Following strong interest from across York, our survey about the popularity of Labours cuts programme is now available “on line”
Click here to take survey

City of York Council has announced today that it will be offering another five apprenticeships.

This comes in addition to the 30 apprenticeships already offered, for which a staggering 200 applications were received, bringing the total number of apprenticeships on offer to 35.

The council is now on the hunt for two road workers and blacksmith (deadlines 8 July), a heating engineer and an electrician (deadlines 15 July) to join their group of apprentices starting in September.

The additional apprenticeships are advertised on the National Apprentice Service (NAS) website, details can be found on www.apprenticeships.org.uk

How much has been spent by your council area on maintaining roads in 2010/11 and 2011/2012 (per financial year)? How much was your budget in 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 for
maintaining roads per financial year?

Answers
I can confirm that the budget and spend for each of the years are similar:
2010/11 £3,334,200 (LibDem Budget)
2011/12 £3,892,350 (LibDem budget)
2012/13 £2,357,650 (Labour budget)
The figures above include programmed and reactive maintenance,anti-skid and road markings.

Whether your budget for maintaining roads is at an emergency level for 2012 (this financial year)?
No – although our budgets have been reduced, we are able to carry out limited programmed works.

How many claims for compensation were lodged by drivers as aresult of damage to their car due to the poor state of the roads in2010/11 and 2011/12?
2010/11 – 111;
2011/12 – 27

The total cost your council area has paid out to drivers in compensation due to the poor state of the roads in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
2010/11 – £11,607.20;
2011/12 – £0.00

Crime rates: Click to enlarge

With anti social behaviour and vandalism in the Westfield area above the average for the City, residents are calling for a re-think on Council priorities.

The scrapping of the Community Ranger security patrols coupled with cuts to Ward Committees, York Pride, litter bins and other “street level” budgets, have been cited as contributors to the decline in standards.

A few days ago it emerged that local Councillors and officials were no longer routinely liaising with neighbourhood policing teams under the “Capable Guardian“ banner.

A modest grant of £50 to the Community (Neighbourhood) Watch scheme to cover the cost of producing crime advice leaflets – although well supported in a ballot of residents – was also turned down by local Labour Councillors.

York remains a Safe City. It has a good Police Force with low crime rates compared to many other parts of the country.

………….But it won’t remain that way without a proactive and coordinated approach from all sections of the community.

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 4 July and Tuesday 10 July 2012.

•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•Brayton Lane, Brayton, Selby
•Barff Lane, Brayton, Selby
•Grange Farm, Wheldrake Lane Elvington

(more…)

Playday – the first Wednesday in August – is 25 years old this year. For a quarter of a century, the UK has marked Playday by a celebration of children’s right to play, as proclaimed by the United Nations.

York has been active for many years in celebrating Playday. In this special year for the city, City of York Council and local organisations will be linking their Playday activities to the York 800 celebrations. Children have been playing in York ever since the city existed – which means the city can now celebrate at least eight centuries of play!

A clutch of exciting events have already been planned in York, but more are needed for Playday to reach families in all parts of the city. Co-ordinators are appealing to all children’s and youth organisations, community groups and even just families and neighbours in York to organise their own local Playday event.

(more…)

The spring has seen some movement in the housing market in west York. Recent sales have included properties in Otterwood Lane, Westfield Place, Foxton and Ullswater. Prices have generally been below £200k.

Chain free properties currently listed include a 2 bedroomed property in St James Croft at £140k, a 3 bed property in Kingsway West for £120k along with a 2 bed semi in Wains Road costing £120K and a 3 bed semi in Leven Road is priced at £160k.

Some properties in the City are still being discounted. A 1 bed flat in Peel Street is now available for £110K while a 2 bed terraced property in Upper Newborough Street is available for £112K
A 2 bedroomed property on Eaton Court is advertised at £122K while a 1 bedroomed property in the same street is priced at £115K

Rental prices are stable. A 3 bed house in Barkston Avenue is advertised at £595 pm while £675 will get you properties in either Kingsway West or Danebury Drive.

Even in the same locality the property market can be quite volatile. A property in Lingfield Crescent recently sold for £250k having appreciated at a rate of around 10% pa over 14 years. On the other hand a seller in Fairfield Court faced an annual loss of nearly 8% over a 5 year period of ownership.

A trend seems to be emerging where shop units in the Front Street area are being converted into residential accommodation. The numbers concerned are not yet significant but may be a reaction to the large number of empty shop units in the street.

During July the planning applications submitted included 45 Front Street York YO24 3BR – Change of use of part ground and first floor from retail to self contained flat & Floral Elegance 49 Front Street York YO24 3BZ Conversion of ground floor rear into a 1 bedroom flat

Elsewhere applications have been submitted for changes to facia signage and the instillation of condenser units at 75 York Road

Which York Car Park?

This was the scene today in one of the car parks frequented by visitors to the City.

With the Beckfield Lane recycling centre closed and 33% of Yorks litter bins already scrapped, it was only a matter of time before waste and rubbish became an eyesore problem.

The Council are also planning a further £550,000 cut in waste collection service budgets over the next 18 months with the green waste collections most at risk while “same day” collections may become a thing of the past (collection of recyclables and residual waste will be on different days of the week).

So things are likely to get worse before they get better.