Meals service for elderly to be restored at Gale Farm Court

Meals at Gale Farm Court will be restarting in January following pressure from residents and new Westfield Councillor Andrew Waller.

Gale Farm Court Affected by meals decision

Gale Farm Court Affected by meals decision

The new service will be supplied via Age UK (formerly Age Concern) with freshly made meals being prepared daily.

The Council announced in September that it was scrapping the lunchtime meal option at its sheltered establishments. The move was heavily criticised for lack of consultation and it later emerged that the cost saving measure had been prompted by criticism of the quality of food provided by the previous contractor.

The Council hoped to save £50,000 by cutting meals services at its elderly persons establishments

Residents had thought that the Council were negotiating with other supplers and were stunned when the decision to scrap the service was made on 3rd September.

Despite appeals the meals stopped on 1st October – leaving residents too little time to appoint another supplier.

The Labour Cabinet member (Cunningham–Cross) refused to reply to Andrew Waller when he wrote, on behalf of residents, to ask for an extension to allow enough time for a new system to be worked out.

Andrew Waller commented

“The new meals have been chosen by the residents, and they are pleased that the Council no longer manages the contract.

 Instead they are now in control and can take problems up directly with John O’Brien who is running the meals system.

It is sad that the Council treat residents of Gale Farm Court (and the other three sheltered homes run by the Council) so badly, and I hope that lessons have been learned for the future.

The Council has admitted to me that the situation was badly handled.”

The  incident has parallels with the muddle over the future of the  Castlegate centre for young people. There the Council was forced to reverse a closure decision earlier in the week and admitted that it had failed to consult properly on options.

York’s St Nicholas Fair

York’s eagerly awaited St Nicholas Fair launched today (Thursday 27 November) with the award for The Best Dressed Stand going to Paula Snowdon from Millies Designs. St-Nicholas-Fayre

Paula, who can usually be found in Shambles Market on Saturdays and Sundays, is launching a new range of high quality decorations and shabby chic gifts at the Fair.

The Christmas Fair, part of York St Nicolas Christmas Festival, opens on Parliament Street and continues for over 3 weeks until Sunday 21 December. This year over 60 winter-white chalets, selling a huge variety of different produce, crafts, gifts and Christmassy decorations, will open every day from 9am to 6pm. Late night shopping will be available on Thursdays until 8pm.

 
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Free lights scheme to keep York cyclists safe

cycle lightsNorth Yorkshire Police and City of York Council have joined forces to help keep cyclists safe this winter.

During the dark nights, North Yorkshire Police’s Cycle Response Team are handing out free LED cycle lights to people who they stop riding without them while out on patrol.

Officers are giving the lights, which have been supplied by City Of York Council’s Road Safety Team, to people cycling alone to help keep them safe.

Not everyone officers stop will be entitled to the cycle lights. They will be given to youngsters or other vulnerable people who would otherwise have to walk home if they were forced to continue their journey without lights.

Officers are also giving out reflective back pack covers.
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Nearly 80% take up of free school meals in York

Nick Clegg launching the new scheme last year

Nick Clegg launching the new scheme last year

In York the take-up of universal infant free school meals in primary/infant schools, on school census day in October, was 77.9%.

The initiative announced by the coalition government 2 years ago has proved to be popular with many parents.

Now plans have been outlined which would see the scheme extended to other primary school children.

Extra green bin collection dates confirmed

The extra garden waste collections will take place during the weeks commencing 19th and 26th January 2015. 

The collections will be on residents normal recycling collection day.Waste calendar 2015

Christmas trees will also be collected at the same time.

Residents should by now have received a new collection calendar (right).

If not please visit the Council’s Facebook site.

http://www.facebook.com/CYCwaste

Planning permission sought for replacement sports hall at Heslington

The planning committee taking place on 4th December will consider an application to replace the temporary University sports hall which is located on Heslington Lane.

The temporary hall has been in use for over 8 years and is showing signs of wear and tear.

Location of hall

Location of hall

The replacement hall measures approximately 55m x 40m x 13m to the ridge. The building would be insulated and incorporate heating and ventilation. Materials would comprise insulated panels and a fabric membrane roof, all over a galvanised steel frame. Access would remain as existing, from Heslington Lane via James Way.

The application is recommended for approval.

Sport England have asked for  a condition securing the use of the sports hall by the local community.

The hall is additional to the facilities being provided at the sports village on Hull Road.

York’s first low emission taxi company

 

York’s ‘first low emission taxi company’ is gearing up to help people get from ‘a to b’ with its new green fleet.

Prius taxi in New York

Prius taxi in New York

Following support from City of York Council, Streamline Taxis has become the first taxi service in York to operate low emission vehicles with 10 new hybrid taxis and one electric taxi. In addition to this, the taxi company has traded in a number of older diesel cabs which will improve air pollution in York.

This follows a scheme which the council launched in 2013 which offered taxi companies discounts off the purchase price of new and used low emission taxis.

York was the first city in the UK to offer taxi drivers funding towards the price of a low emission taxi to help to reduce air pollution through the Low Emission Taxi incentive, which offers up to £3,000 off the purchase price of a new or used hybrid or electric taxi up to five-years old.

The scheme is funded by the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF or i-Travel York) and has seen an investment of £67k used over the past two financial years.
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