So what information must the Council share with residents?

The Press are today reporting on a decision by some York Council officials not to publish a key Local Plan report.

secrecy

The information was contained in a study undertaken by consultants ARUP.

It was designed to undermine the forecasts of population growth in the City provided by other organisations such as the Office of National Statistics. Those reports confirmed that the City needs to build around 600 additional homes each year to satisfy demand and to accommodate those who work in York’s successful economy.

The Arup report was referenced extensively by the Labour Leadership as they tried to justify their high growth strategy which would lead to the City increasing in size by 25% over the next 15 years.

In turn this meant space for 22,000 additional homes would be required. Most would be occupied by migrants.

Officials have now apparently claimed that the ARUP report, which informed the decision meeting on 22nd April, was a “draft”. It is apparently now being rewritten.

A list of all relevant background documents has been published click here

A sanitised version of the ARUP report will apparently be published on the Council’s web site on 5th June.

As the rules governing Council meetings confirm, the Council has no option but to release the contents of any report which influenced a Cabinet decision.

Earlier papers can be found on the Council’s web site here and here

It is the Council preventing access to the updated figures that is causing controversy

Rubbish skips this weekend Saturday 1st June 2013

Although the Council has cut back on the number of amenity skips it provides, several residents associations continue to run programmes aimed at making it easier for tenants to get rid of unwanted items.

The skips are only in place for a few minutes and residents must ensure that they put any rubbish into the skips and not leave it on the path or highway.

1 Bramham Rd 08:30am till 09:30am (Outside Community House)
2 Ganton Place 10:30am till 11:30am
3 Dringfield Close 12:30am till 13:30pm
4 Bouthwaite Drive 08:30am till 09:30pm
5 Bramham Rd 08:30 till 09:30 (Grange Lane Junction)

Electric buses for York – more details

Local company Optare are to provide the electric buses for York announced by the Coalition Government on Monday.

LibDem Minister Norman Baker (right) at the launch of the 34 seat Optare electric bus

LibDem Minister Norman Baker (right) at the launch of the 34 seat Optare electric bus

The buses are understood to be a larger version of those used in “Poundbury” in Dorset – the inspiration for the new Derwenthorpe village in York.

The 11 metre Versa EVs have a seating capacity of 34, which with standees results in a total carrying capacity of over 50.

De Courcey Travel are using the Versa EVs on the well patronised 400 vehicle Coventry South Park and Ride scheme with journeys into the city centre at 12 minute intervals at peak times.

The buses have a range of up to 100 miles. Fast charging points can recharge the batteries in around 2 hours.

The buses cost over £200,000 each. The government pays up to 50% of the cost of each.

List of Acomb and Westfield Wards planning applications received last week

Below is the latest planning application received by the York Council. Full details can be found by clicking by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Westfield Ref No: 13/01270/FUL Location: 63 Acomb Wood Drive York YO24 3XN Proposal: Single storey rear extension Applicant: Mr Evan Moss Contact Mr G Holland Consultation Expiry Date 18 June 2013 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

Bids invited for “Ward funding” in York

Local voluntary groups are being invited to bid for ward grants to help fund projects that will improve local communities and the lives of York residents. Each Residents’ Forum (previously called Ward Committee) has a budget from which grants can be given to not-for-profit groups who meet certain criteria.

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

The amount of money available to fund neighbourhood initiatives like these has been slashed to only 10% of the figure made available when the Liberal Democrats led the Council.

The Councils approach has been criticised as large parts of the City have no neighbourhood based voluntary Groups operating.

Even those with residents associations struggled to find suitable projects while traditionally popular programmes (such a improved parking facilities and salt bin refilling) were abandoned.
(more…)

North Yorkshire Police mobile safety (speed) camera routes 29 May to 4 June 2013

The mobile safety cameras will be in operation at the following sites at various times during the dates stated. Cameras will not be in use all day, every day. The locations were accurate when this news release was produced.

• A1237 Monks Cross York

• Beckfield Lane Acomb York

• Malton Road York

• Millfield lane Poppleton York

• Murton Way Murton York

• Strensall Road Huntington York

• Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York

• Temple Lane Copmanthorpe York

• The village Stockton-on-the-Forest York

• Towthorpe Road Haxby

• York Road Haxby York

• B1228 Dunnington Lodge Elvington

• A64 east-bound Tadcaster by-pass
• A64 west-bound Tadcaster by-pass
• A64 west-bound Malton by-pass
• A64 east-bound Malton by-pass
• A64 west-bound Whitwell Hill
• A64 east-bound Barton Hill Cross Roads
• A64 Seamer by-pass
• A64 Seamer Road Scarborough
(more…)

20 mph “consultation” leaflets – further criticisms

Council 20 mph letter

All residents in West York should have received a consultation leaflet on plans for a wide area 20 mph speed limit. They came in a plastic envelope with a leaflet about the Local Plan (about which more later this week) and “Local Link”.

Anyone who has propelled the”pack” in the general direction of the recycling bin may get another by telephoning the Council on York 551550.

The leaflet, after a few ritual attempts to blame the government for introducing 20 mph limits (actually it is entirely up to local Councils to decide), tells residents that they have until 21st June to “object” to the new limits.

The implication is that, if you don’t record an objection, then you must favour the new limit. Inertia and barriers to responses (they require written submissions) aren’t the only problems with the councils approach.

The leaflets are singularly short on facts.

• First and most obviously there is no mention of the £600,000 cost of the project.

• Secondly the Council are not making available the results of the speed checks that they have undertaken on many of the roads in the area. (We know most cul de sacs not surprisingly already have very low average speeds)

• And finally there is no information about accident levels (again we know that accident rates on the roads that may get a 20 mph limit are much lower than for other roads in and around the City).

We advise everyone to Email 20mph@york.gov.uk and register a formal objection to “The York Speed Limit (amendment) (No 11/4) Order 2013”.

Below are some reasons that could be quoted in support of an objection.

1. The west of York has generally got a good road safety record and already has 20 mph speed limits at appropriate locations (e.g. outside schools).

2. Average speeds, in most of the roads to be covered by the 20 mph limit, are already below 30 mph and the Council’s claim, that the new signs would reduce speeds by 3 mph, would therefore make little practical difference.

3. Accident rates in York (Killed and Seriously Injured casualties – KSI) have reduced dramatically over the last 6 years. Available resources should be focused on continuing the Councils successful accident prevention programme which is partly responsible for this improvement.

4. The impact of 20 mph speed limits on accident rates is not yet fully understood. In some City’s, such as Portsmouth, the introduction of a wide area 20 mph speed limit has led to an increase in the number of KSI accidents.

5. The Police have said that they do not have the resources to enforce a wide area 20 mph speed limit. The Police and Crime Commissioner has confirmed that mobile safety camera vans will not be used to enforce such a limit. It follows that drivers will continue to drive at a speed that they consider appropriate for the conditions on a particular day.

6. Police speed limit enforcement resources should continue to be focused at accident black spots.