Far East call for help

York Politburo secretary Ker Sten Eng is to visit the Far East again. She will attend an international heritage conference in Zhouzhuang, China next month.

Last year the top City bureaucrat was in Korea for talks on how to improve York’s image, but the timely death of Dictator Kim Jong-il has prompted attempts to establish new cultural links elsewhere in the region.

Fu Dagorn, Director, Department of Village and Township Construction, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development at the Green party will also attend the conference, a move condemned by Cllr “Red” Sonya Sogi who compared the trip unfavourably to her weekly commute to Blackpool.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, it has been announced that the York Council is to get increased grant funding.

In a statement the Council Great Leader said,
“ I wrote to HM Government some weeks ago demanding an increased grant for the City. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error, the word “government” was omitted.

However, I received a reply from Buckingham Palace indicating that HM Queen would indeed be distributing money in the City on Maundy Thursday.

I have therefore arranged that I, and the Deputy Great Leader Tra Si Leng, will join with 86 other residents to receive the grant. Unfortunately this does mean that Her Majesty will now be a further year older than expected, but I have indicated – bearing in mind her advancing years – that the feet washing bit can be dispensed with quickly”

The Council has already allocated the additional grant to the Great Leaders Regurgitation Fund.

It is expected to be spent on a hi speed WiFi enabled fibre optic link between the bar of the Crystal Palace in Holgate and the Great Leaders new summer palace in Toft Green*.

*it’s only 85p so maybe a bulked up carrier pigeon would be better? – Ed

Lock it – don’t lose it warning from Police

Lock it – don’t lose it warning as insecure properties are targeted

North Yorkshire Police have re-issued a warning to residents to lock their doors, windows and cars.

Police Jacket close up

The warning comes following a spate of overnight house burglaries and thefts from cars including four from insecure property and outbuildings.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith of North Yorkshire Police, said: “As the spring weather approaches and more people are out and about, please remember to take basic security measures such as locking your doors, windows and outbuildings – even while you are at home. Thieves are opportunist and will be on the look out for insecure doors and windows and will take the first opportunity your give them.

“Don’t hand your belongings to thieves on a plate, remember not to leave your keys, bags and other valuables on display and in easy to reach places. Hide them where they can’t be seen by prying eyes.

“Also remember to remove all your valuables and tools from your vehicles.”

“The effects of burglary should not be underestimated,” added DCI Smith: “The targeting of your home, followed closely by the theft or damage of personal possessions, often has devastating and lasting effect on the homeowners, their family, and the local community.”

Incidents over the last 24 hours include:

  • Insecure outbuilding entered in the Tockwith where thieves stole a portable generator and tools.
  • An insecure rear door was used to enter a house in King Edwards Drive, Harrogate, where burglars took the keys and stole the owner’s car parked outside.
  • As unlocked BMW was entered in Hookstone Close, Harrogate and a Blackberry phone and loose change were taken.
  • Tools were stolen from a house in York when thieves used a ladder to gain access through a landing window, which was believed to have been left open while the house was under renovation.
  • Two burglaries were reported in Scarborough, during one, thieves forced open a window and stole a TV, in the other, they smashed a window and stole a TV and games console.

DCI Smith added: “Use the following check list to ensure you take the most basic security measures.”

· Lock doors, windows garages, sheds and gates – even when you are at home

· Hide your keys away at night where thieves cannot see them or easily find them

· Don’t tempt thieves by leaving valuables on view through windows, letterboxes or cat-flaps.

· Always lock your car and remove valuables

· Keep your car in the garage if you have one. If thieves can’t see your car – they can’t steal it.

· Fit a car alarm or tracking device if finances allow and remember to use them

· Don’t leave garden implements or tools outside as thieves can use these to gain entry to your property

· Leave a light and radio on when you go out at night

More detailed advice can be found on the North Yorkshire Police website www.northyorkshire.police.uk/crimeprevention

Since the beginning of 2012, North Yorkshire Police have made more than 140 arrests in connection with burglaries.

Budget

We are just one week
from Budget day, and I need your help.

As you may have seen in Nick Clegg’s excellent PMQs today, Liberal Democrats in
Government are fighting to make sure this Budget will deliver major changes to
our tax system; putting money back in your pocket and making the richest pay
more.

And we need to spread the word. Letus know what you’d do with an extra £60 in your wages every month, share it
with your friends and also see how many people in your area will benefit.
 
Let’s deliver real tax cuts for the hard working people in Britain who are
playing by the rules, and call time on Gordon Brown’s tax-dodger charter.
 
Did you know hundreds of people with seven-figure incomes are using armies of
accountants to avoid billions of pounds in taxes? Tycoons should no longer be
allowed to get away with it.
 
It’s time for a Budget for the millions, not millionaires. And one that will repair
the damage caused to our economy by Labour.
 
Remember, Liberal Democrats have already made sure 900,000 pensioners and low
paid workers have been lifted out of income tax all together, and 23million
people have been given a tax cut. But it is time to go further and faster.
 
Tell us what you’d do with your tax cut and see how many people in your area it
would help:
 
www.60pounds.org

New petition on York Council web site

Local resident Ashley Mason who is helping to organise the petition to save the refuse sack distribution

Residents living in the South Bank and Clifton parts of the City have launched a campaign aimed at persuading the Council to continue issuing refuse sacks to those living in terraced houses and flats. Labour Councillors are currently planning to discontinue the service at the end of the month.

The petition reads:
“We request the York Council to continue to issue refuse bags free of charge to those households in the City who are unable to accommodate other types of waste container”.

In support of the petition residents say; “For many years the Council has issued a supply of biodegradable refuse sacks to properties such as terraced houses and flats where the provision and storage of wheeled bins – which are provided free of charge to other households in the City – is impractical. The sacks ensure that refuse is stored and presented for collection in a tidy and sanitary way. The Council has announced – without any consultation with residents – that it will cease the distribution of the sacks shortly. This means that residents will have to buy their own. There is a concern that refuse will be presented in unsuitable containers increasing the risk of spillage and vulnerability to attacks by rodents and other animals. The new policy would discriminate against those residents living in areas of terraced housing. The petition seeks a review of the Councils policy”.

The petition can be “signed” on the Councils web site at http://www.york.gov.uk/ “Have your say” ePetitions.

Meanwhile volunteers have collected a further 200 signatures on the “Save the Beckfield Lane recycling centre” petition. They had a stall on Front Street on Wednesday. This petition can also be “signed” on the Councils web site where it has already secured the support of 128 visitors.

New service from York Register Office

York Register Office 56 Bootham, York YO30 7DA

City of York Council’s Register Office will be offering a new ‘all in one’ service next month to make it easier for new parents to register the birth of their baby.

There are lots of things that need to be done when a baby is born, so from the beginning of April (Monday 2) the first phase of “Tell Us Once” will be launched, which will save parents time and money notifying departments of the birth.

Previously, parents have been required to contact various government departments and local council services individually about the birth.

The new service does this for parents – for free – and from April the new service will notify the following automatically:
• Department of Work and Pensions
• Jobcentre Plus
• Housing Benefit Office
• Council Tax Benefits Office
• Library Services
• Children’s Services (Family Information Services)
• HM Revenue and Customs
• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

The second phase will launch in late spring and will provide a similar service for bereaved relatives when registering a death.

Further details contact:
York Register Office
56 Bootham, York YO30 7DA
tel: 01904 654477
fax: 01904 638090
email: registrar
@york.gov.uk
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm. Emergency contact: 07786 747859 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays (not Christmas Day) 10am to 11am

Government backed scheme offers 95% mortgages on new homes in Tadcaster Road, York

click to enlarge

A local house builder (Taylor Wimpey) has announced that the Coalition Governments “new buy” mortgage guarantee scheme will be available on it’s Tadcaster Road “Revival” housing development.

The development has properties ranging from flats at £108,000 to 5 bedroomed homes costing nearly £400,000.

The key features of the government scheme include:
 Up to a 95% mortgage
 You will only need a minimum 5% deposit to buy a new home
 The scheme is available across all Taylor Wimpey developments in England
 NewBuy is open to first time buyers and existing home owners

See Taylor Wimpey’s web site for more details http://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/newhomes