Only 17% of goods and services used by the York Council are locally sourced

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With businesses and residents in York eagerly awaiting news of today’s budget, it has been revealed that only a small proportion of the York Council’s budget is spent in the City.

Asked what percentage of the local authority’s total procurement budget was spent on goods and services from suppliers and providers in the local authority area the Council responded?

Figures for the 2011/12 financial year indicate that of the Council’s third party expenditure, 17% was spent with local suppliers i.e.those with a York postcode.

NHS changes in York

The people now in charge of local NHS services (the rather grandly titled NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group – which we will call NHS York for short) have moved into the West Offices where they will be co-located with the City of York Council.

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Hopefully this will improve communications between the two organisations.

NHS York have their own web site. Click here to access it.

So far communications with residents have been patchy with an invitation to a public meeting today, about shaping local health services, going largely unpublicised.

They do however publish their board meeting agendas in advance and allow a 20 minute session for members of the public to ask questions. Click here for details

Labour cut road maintenance by 32% in York

Since taking office Labour Councillors have reduced investment in road and footpath maintenance in the City by 32%.

Newly released figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show the amount invested in each of the last 3 years.

2010 – £6,510,000 (LibDem leadership budget)

2011 – £6,388,000 (LibDem budget)

2012 – £4,428,000 (Labour budget).

The Council has listed the streets affected by road works in each of the 3 years (click to access individual years)

2010

2011

2012

In their 2011 local election manifest Labour promised to spend more on road repairs!

Labour road repair promise

Young people stage triple bill reflecting military life

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The young people of Riding Lights Junior Youth Theatre and Strensall Barracks have joined forces in a collaborative term, in order to produce two nights of new theatre.

Each piece is inspired by testimonies from members of the Armed Forces, and their families, resulting in an evening of gripping and emotive theatre, presented by our talented young people.

Oceans by Matt Midgley
looks at the painful issue of a female solder as she prepared to leave her family behind before deployment.

Warground by Paul Birch
explores the concerns that children of serving families have when integrating into secondary school.

For Fierce Confusion, Peace by Morven Hamilton
addresses the difficult issue of PTSD, through the eyes of a family adjusting to the return of a troubled soldier.

19th March: Friargate Theatre – 7:30pm
21th March: Hurst Hall Community Centre -7:30pm

FREE ENTRY – call 01904 613000 to reserve your ticket

£56,000 Unclaimed Lottery Prize in York

An Lotto prize of £56,083 has yet to be claimed in the City of York. National Lottery players are being urged to check and double-check their tickets for the chance to claim this life-enhancing prize.

The search is now on to find the owner of the winning ticket, bought in the City of York, who matched five numbers and the bonus ball in the Lotto draw on Saturday 2 March 2013.

The winning Lotto numbers on that date were 6, 9, 23, 31, 35, 48 and the bonus ball was 11.

The lucky ticket-holder has until Thursday 29 August 2013 to claim their prize1.

New planning application in Westfield Ward

Only one local planning application was received by the Council last week in the Westfield Ward. Full details can be found by clicking the reference below or by quoting the application reference on the “planning portal” web site.

Representations can be made in favour or in opposition to any application via the above web site.

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

Ref No: 13/00519/FUL Location: 34 Huntsmans Walk York YO24 3LE Proposal: Single storey extension to side and hardstanding to front Applicant: Mr Stephen Mountain Contact M T S Architectural Services Consultation Expiry Date 8 April 2013 Case Officer: Heather Fairy (Mon – Wed) Expected Decision DEL

Indecision grips York Council on Voluntary Sector and Manor School

One of the revealing things about the York Councils list of upcoming decisions relates to the number of issues which keep getting “put off”.

Current record goes to Manor school who have been seeking to lease an additional area of playing field from the Council.

The decision has now been delayed on 6 occasions!

Only slightly less worrying is a plan for developing a “thriving voluntary sector”.

The origins of this item are lost in the mists of time but it was due to be discussed last November then slipped to December and then March.

It is unlikely now to see the light of day before June.

Small wonder then that the Council for Voluntary Service chief in York has recently quit.

Police seek witnesses following football related violence

York police are asking for witnesses after five people were arrested following a large disturbance involving football supporters in Gillygate on Saturday afternoon.

Police were called to reports of glasses and bottles being thrown in the street outside the Pink Pony pub at around 2.15pm on Saturday 16 March 2013.

No-one was injured during incident which involved a group of people from York and Stoke-on-Trent.

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Duncombe Place taxi rank to be 24/7?

The controversial taxi rank in Duncombe Place could be confirmed as a 24 hour rank at a meeting taking place on 18th April.

Duncombe Place

Duncombe Place

The rank is currently available between 7:30am and 10:00pm.

The hours of the rank were extended for late night use despite objections from nearby businesses and residents who pointed out that waiting passengers – sometimes the worse for wear – cause a disturbance for those trying to sleep.

The hope of many, was that Duncombe Pace would be paved and pedestrianised making it an attractive feature of central York and enhancing the setting of the Minster.

Now that plan looks to be in jeopardy.

Labour Councillors are due to consider extending the hours of the rank on a permanent basis at a meeting being held in April.

NB. There are alternative late night taxi ranks available nearby at the Theatre and in St Sampson’s Square