York police are investigating the theft of a valuable diamond ring.

It was stolen at around 3.30pm on Friday 25 May 2012, from a car parked at Heworth Golf Club on Muncastergate in York. (more…)

The shortlist of books for City of York Council’s first ever Children’s Book Awards have been released today (Monday 11 June).

The Children’s Book Awards were launched in March, when children under the age of 14 were invited to nominate their favourite picture and story books. The shortlist of the five favourite books in each category has now been announced. (more…)

With tickets for the Olympic Flame entertainment spectacular on Tuesday 19th June now available from Acomb Explore Library, the City of York Council has announced that over 260 local people have signed up to ensure crowds watching the Olympic Torch on its journey through York stay safe and enjoy the experience.

The council and employee-volunteering charity York Cares have been working together to enlist the help of local people for the Torch’s visit to York. (more…)

City of York Council has launched a new Pilates class, which is one of only a small number of special classes like this held across the country.

The sessions have been organised by the council’s Sport and Active Leisure team in partnership with the York Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group and is the first time this activity has been held in York for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. (more…)

The amount allocated by the, now Labour controlled Ward Committee, for Foxwood residents to spend on local improvement schemes has been cut by 90%.

It is down from £18,100 to just £2250.

It means an end to Community Ranger security patrols, local salt bins won’t be filled while the annual bulky rubbish convoy has also been scrapped.

The only organisation to have escaped the cuts is the Foxwood Friendship Club which will get £500.

Bizarrely a Church Theatre Group which meets at the Community Centre have been allocated £750 to buy “new pantomime costumes”

The full list of grants is reproduced below together with the corresponding allocations for last year (which were agreed by the then Liberal Democrat led Council)

Ward Committee funding allocations. Click to enlarge

3 organisations in York are to benefit from the latest Lottery awards. They are:
• Vale of York Environment Group £9,875: This is a project by a voluntary and community organisation in York. The organisation will use funding to manage a series of family nature walks and events to be delivered by BTCV in York. This will reduce isolation and enable integration among the families through outdoor activities.
• Strensall with Towthorpe Parish Council £6,720: This is a project by a parish council in Strensall, York. The organisation will use funding to erect fencing around the children’s play area. This will enable them to increase the safety of children.
• St Paul’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School £3,690: This is a project by a primary school in York. The organisation will use funding to develop a recently donated allotment plot into a community garden for children at the school and the wider community. This will enable opportunities for them to grow vegetables and learn about nature and the environment.
Some 62 groups in Yorkshire are sharing nearly £500,000 of funding this month from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme, with several of the groups using their awards to provide fun activities for children and young people to enjoy.

With the August opening of the York Sport Village at Grimston Bar getting close, residents are being kept in the dark about casual use charges. The Sports Village website www.york-sport.com is currently touting for members but is silent about the arrangements for “walk up” use.

The need for affordable prices was one of the conditions of the Council’s £2 million grant to the project which replaces the former pool at the Barbican.

Currently the Sports Village is offering a pre opening membership fee of £39.95 per month (concessions £36) which is broadly in line with other gyms in the area although the swimming pool will be by far the largest in the City.

The £9 million facility, which is a joint venture between the Council, York University and Sport England, includes:
• . Eight-lane swimming pool
• . Floodlit outdoor full size 3G football pitch and three five-a-side pitches
• . 120-station fitness suite and three studios for classes
• . Spa facilities

Energise

Meanwhile work is starting on a further expansion of the Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road. The gym area will be doubled providing space for more classes and a 50% increase in the number of machines. Members get access to gym, swim and classes and can have individual exercise plans.

Fitness suite membership is available for £33 a month with casual admission charges (with YorkCard) from £4-80. The swimming pool charge is £3.65.

A 3D “walk round” of the new facilities can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Energise-Upgrade

The store on Beagle Ridge Drive has applied to the Council to vary its trading hours:
i) Sale of alcohol
Mon – Sun 07:00hrs – 23:00hrs (currently 08:00hrs to 23:00hrs)
ii) Opening times
Mon – Sun 07:00hrs to 22:00hrs (currently no restrictions)

Anyone wishing to make representations to the Council on the application has until 05/07/12 to do so.

click to enlarge

2 York Council houses have been valued at over £400,000 according to figures issued by the Local Authority.

More typically though over 90% of homes have been valued at less than £150,000.

York has 7745 Council house and flats with an estimated total value of over £800 million.

The Government recently announced plans to offer council tenants, wishing to purchase their homes, discounts of up to £75,000, arguing that the discount will help encourage “strong families and stable communities”.

Families could receive a 35% discount after five years’ residency, with an extra 1% for each additional year, up to a maximum of £75,000.

Tenants in flats will get 50% off after five years, with 2% added yearly. The money raised from sales will go towards building more social housing.