In reponse to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, the Council has provided a list of the number of issues raised by Councillors over the last 4 years.
The numbers against my name are inflated by the fact that I take responsibility for emailing to Council officials most of the issues that residents raise on our survey forms and “grumble sheets”.
The figures only cover those issues which enter the system officially (emails and telephone calls to the central issue and complaint handing teams).
There may be others, for example where a Councillor talks direct to an official or raises an issue at a meeting, and which are not formally recorded.
Details of the source spreadsheets can be obtained from the Council by Emailing foi@york.gov.uk

1. Reopening the Barbican Concert Hall on 10th May (with no ongoing subsidy from Council Taxpayers)
2. Providing new athletics, sports and swimming facilities at a Hull Road “sports village”.
3. Reducing the costs of Council office accommodation by £17 million
4. Providing salt bins/bags for use in icy conditions and getting the remaining potholes repaired
5. Improving the outer ring road and reducing traffic congestion by providing 3 more Park and Ride sites.
6. Pioneering a low emission transport system with more pedestrian areas.
7. Providing a Community Stadium in partnership with commercial developers (with no Council subsidy)
8. Further improving recycling rates and opening a “salvage” centre at Harewood Whin to promote the reuse of materials
9. Giving elderly people more choice in their care arrangements, building on the success of “Telecare” and the new homes programme
10. Continuing to provide good quality public services at the lowest “cost per resident” of any unitary Council in the country.

The Council has just launched a new home compost bin offer for 2011-12. The York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership are subsidising 2 types of compost bin during 2011-12 for residents of York and North Yorkshire. The subsidised bins that are available are:
220 litre Compost Converter £10
330 litre Compost Converter £13
Plus £5.49 delivery per order
Multi buy offer – buy 1 get 1 half price
These prices are while funding lasts and limited to 2 units per household. The subsidised prices are only available to residents in York and North Yorkshire.
3 ways to order:
– Online at www.getcomposting.com, quoting reference YNY01L
– Call 0844 5714444, quoting reference YNY01L
– Post leaflet (available at 9SLP and Library Square receptions or by contacting YCC) to: FREEPOST RRSX-TXTE-RCCB, Evengreener, YNY Offer, Leeds, LS1 4BN
Closing date for offer: 31st March 2012
Residents can find out more about how to compost by contacting York Rotters on tel: 01904 412861 or email: rotters@stnicksfields.org.uk.

The West area planning committee decided on Wednesday not to approve an application to provide an additional 21 car parking spaces on land next to Morrisons store in Acomb. Several objections to the plan were made by local residents who were particularly concerned about the impact that the extension would have on neighbouring properties.
Instead the application was deferred with a request that the store look at:
1. Ways of reducing anti social activity in the car park area
2. Restricting (to 8:00am – 6:00pm) use of the new car park & possibly restricting its use to staff.
3. Improvements to the safety of the car park entrance at the Front Street junction
4. The introduction of a “green” travel plan for store employees.

Thanks to close working between all agencies in the ward, crime levels dropped again last year. The Police teams are now headquartered at Acomb Police station – where there is an enquiry desk manned by volunteers – and bringing law enforcement closer to the community. I would put on record my thanks to the Neighbourhood Policing team of Phil Cain, Lindsey Stamp, Mark Antonelli, Colin Park, Chris Simpson, Grace Holohan, Laura Nunnen, Chris Upton, Richard Tempest and Stacey Gibson for their untiring efforts.

There was a small increase in burglary levels. I know that the Police are always willing to offer advice to residents about how to make their properties more secure. In particular. garages and sheds can be a targeted so some sort of alarm system should be fitted if possible.

The Westfield Ward committee have agreed to donate £900 towards the costs of staging a repeat of last years successful Acomb Green summer fair together with other improvements to the area.
The Fair will take place on August 27th.
A bench seat is being provided on The Green

York Young People’s Services currently runs two youth clubs at Sanderson Court. One session is for young people up to age 16 on Monday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This session is open access to any children and young people age 11 to 16 who live in the area. They also provide a “drop in” for young people age 16 and above each Wednesday from 4.00pm to 6.00pm particularly to help with job search and advice about entry into education, employment and training.

Work on erecting 20 mph speed limit signs in the Beaconsfield Street area will recommence after Easter.
The one way system signs for the Gladstone Street/Milner Street loop are also almost ready to be unveiled.

Bus services
Good Friday (22 April) and the Royal wedding day (29 April)
A Saturday service will operate on routes 14, 20, 21, 22 and 36. A bank holiday service will operate on routes 24 and 26. Park & Ride routes will operate to a weekday holiday schedule. A Sunday service will operate on all other local bus routes.
Easter Sunday (24 April)
A Sunday service will operate on all routes including Park & Ride, with the following exceptions:
• A special timetable will be in operation on route 5 (details available from First York)
• No service on routes 10, 11,12 13A, 20 and 22
Easter Monday (25 April) and Early May Bank Holiday (2 May)
A Sunday service will operate on all local bus services and a normal Monday service will operate on Park & Ride routes.
Council offices
Council offices are closed for bank holidays. York Customer centre is open 8am to 7pm as usual on normal working days.
Waste and recycling collections
All of the household waste recycling centres are open as normal and there are no changes to the refuse, recycling and garden waste collection services over the bank holidays.

Skips are being provided for use by local residents as follows during the month of May