The Council confirmed 2 weeks ago that there will be no supplementary charge for emptying the first green bin at each home.

However, at tonights (Thursdays) Council meeting Labour rejected calls from LibDem and Tory Councillors to abolish the proposed £35 a year charge for second and subsequent additional green bins.

The reduced hours of operation at the Towthorpe recycling centre were also confirmed.

Garden waste collection may be scrapped

Liberal Democrats Councillors will make a final bid to have the changes overturned when the Councils Cabinet meets on Tuesday of next week.

A petition containing around 2000 signatures opposing Labours plans has been collected by the LibDems.

Meanwhile, Monday 1 April will see the council resume the schedule of fortnightly garden waste collections.

When residents check their waste collections calendars next week they will probably be surprised to find that it runs out at the end of March and no updated one has been delivered.

Residents can find their collection day by clicking here and are advised to refer to their calendar to find out what the arrangements are over the Spring months.

For more information about garden waste collections over the Spring period click here

Residents who would like a paper copy of the collection calendar are asked to contact 01904 551551or email ycc@york.gov.uk

A copy of the new timetables for the much changed 24 service and which will operate from 15th April can be accessed by clicking here

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The number 26/27 services are also changing on the same date click here

NB Transdev services over Easter will run as follows:
• Friday 29th March (Good Friday) | Saturday service
• Saturday 30th March | Saturday service
• Sunday 31st March (Easter Sunday) | Sunday service
• Monday 1st April (Easter Monday) | Sunday service

The Government has now put comparative road safety stats on line. Click here.

The results show that the City had 27.8 casualties per 1000 population (pk) by 2011 – down from 39.8 pk in 2005.

Ironically the City which has gone furthest in introducing wide area 20 mph speed limits (Portsmouth), was still recording 39.8 casualties in 2011.

Proliferation of unnecessary speed limit signs is annoying drivers

The most dangerous place to travel in the Yorkshire area was Doncaster (46.02 pk).

The number of collisions (per 100 million vehicle miles) in York was 85.9. The comparative figures for North Yorkshire were 54.83 and Leeds 86.13.

York was spending £5.57 per 1000 residents in repairing roads by 2011. This compared to £7.13 being spent in the North Yorkshire area (which has a much larger length of roads).

Capital spend on road safety was £2587 per 1000 population. This compared to only £30.18 being spent in North Yorkshire. (capital expediture varies substantially from year to year)

Since 2011, of course, the York Council has cut its road maintenance budget by 1/3 while large amounts are being diverted into introducing a 20 mph speed limit.

At the budget Council meeting in February the Council announced further cuts including a £75,000 reduction in expenditure on road safety. The cut takes effect in 2014.

Pothole on Foxwood Lane (now fixed following a report via “Fix my Street” see below)

Residents will be looking anxiously at the 2012 figures when they are published on the government web site for any sign that the reduction in accidents, achieved in the previous few years, has stalled.

Meanwhile the number of potholes on roads in the City continues to grow. The AA have recently published an independent survey of road conditions which reveals that Yorkshire has the worst road surfaces in the country.

The Council are obliged to repair unsafe roads. Defect reports can be made by clicking on one of the following web links.

My Council

Fix my Street

“The York Minster Stoneyard is one of the largest in the country, and a centre of excellence for many traditional crafts including masonry, carving and carpentry.

A rare opportunity has arisen to train as apprentice on a four-year contract, reviewed annually, working with and learning from some of the most skilled craftsmen in the country.

The Apprenticeship includes a programme of part-time study at York College.

We are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic individual with a passion for developing masonry skills and the ability to contribute to the work of one of the great cathedrals of the world.

Click here for further details

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 30 April and interviews are scheduled for week commencing 13 May”.

Over the Easter period the following arrangements will apply:

Good Friday, 29th March
Park & Ride services 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 – Normal Friday service
Main network services 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13 & 14 – Sunday service
Main network services 11, 15 & 16 – No service

Easter Saturday, 30th March
Normal Saturday service

Easter Sunday, 31st March
Normal Sunday service

Easter Monday, 1st April
Park & Ride services 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 – Normal Monday service
Main network services 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13 & 14 – Sunday service
Main network services 11, 15 & 16 – No service

Tuesday 2nd April
Normal service resumes

It looks like the popular Toy Bus service – at which parents can borrow a variety of toys for use by their children – may end sooner than was planned.

An ambiguous notice has been placed on the Toy Bus web site (click here)

Labour had originally planned to axe the service in 2014 but now it seems that the bus may be scrapped much earlier.

The service could stop as soon as the end of this week.

46 residents have signed a “Save the Toy Bus” petition on the Council’s web site. It runs until 5th April. Click here to access it

Now Liberal Democrat Councillors will call on Labour to reverse plans to scrap the Toy Library Bus at tomorrow’s (28th March) Full Council meeting.

It was originally thought that the cut, which was forced through by Labour at last month’s Budget Council, would see the toy-lending service end in 2014/15; however, subsequently – still secret – plans have apparently been put in place to stop the service at the end of this week.

It is unclear who has taken this decision which has not appeared on the Council’s Forward Plan.
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A new web site aimed at 11-18 year olds has been launched.

Click here to access it.

Yor-zone.org.uk will provide for the first time a place where young people in the city can find support and advice on a variety of issues such as jobs, money, health, drugs, alcohol and disabilities.

Yor-Zone web page

The website also provides a one-stop shop for information about activities and events around the city from scouts and sea cadets to stamp collecting and skating- there is something for everyone. There are also over 70 opportunities for young people to volunteer and help others.

The site was designed in conjunction with young people across the city. “Yor-zone aims to be responsive to young people, providing opportunities to contribute content in terms of articles about things they have been doing, as well as opportunities to have their say through a poll on the front page, and the involvement pages”.

Adam Chapman (12, York High student) who worked on the creation of the website says: ‘Creating the website has been worthwhile, it will work in a way that will be handy to kids in York. It pulls all the information together in one easy place for young people. I think young people in York will benefit from this website. I will definitely.’

The website will be launched this week with presentations by the young web designers (Nathan Bargate, Fred Garside, Adam Chapman and Richard Blair- all young people from York).

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There was a time when mentioning play facilities for children in York would be guaranteed to provoke a lively discussion. Groups like playspace were proactive in their dealings with the Council.

These days decisions on play facilities – like other public services – are taken behind closed doors.

A report on play provision in the City was nodded through at a private meeting yesterday. The only hope of an open debate would be if 3 Councillors decided to “call in” the report within the next 24 hours.

Acomb Green Play area improved with the help of the Friends group in 2011

The report highlights the success of a 5 lottery funded projects which saw £328,000 invested in 5 play areas while the Coalition Governments £1 million improvements programme has seen 22 play areas improved.

But question marks exist over future plans.

It is extraordinary that the report fails to detail any consultations undertaken with the voluntary sector and local residents about play.

It seems that funding decisions for voluntary sector and “community” groups involved with play provision will be handed over to a QUANGO with the inevitable acronym of “Community York”.

It is a cynical ploy by Labour to shift blame for the consequences of inadequate resourcing onto others.

If mistakes are made then politicians will claim others are responsible.

The strategy itself holds few surprises and is largely derivative.

It markedly fails though to address the main concern of parents – the maintenance quality standards at existing playgrounds and the need for regular modernisation programmes as equipment wears out.

Another ommision is any reference to known cuts which Labour have in the pipeline. They have said, for example, that they intend to scrap the “toy bus” next year.

The report would have been worthy of more consultation and a public debate.