Budget headlines

Labour are announcing today their Council budget for the next 2 years.

• Council Tax up by 2.9% in April 2012 and at least 2.0% more from April 2013 (£54 pa)

• Council House rents up by 7.4%

• Business rates up by 5.8%

• Water and sewage up by 6.1%

• Car parking charges up

• 8% cut in grants for voluntary sector

• 200 jobs to go over next 2 years

• Council to borrow £20 million more

• £2.8 million in public service standard cuts over 24 months.

• £5.4M a year in “efficiency” improvements

• Libraries to be outsourced

• More to pay for increased numbers requiring elderly care and for looked after children
.
• £100k for consultants to prepare a “bus contract”

Bad news for children and elderly as Labour cut ward budgets

As the Council budget crisis deepens, Councillors are set to scrap a series of Ward Committee funded repair and renewal schemes across the City. As much as 32% of this years (11/12) ward committee budget could be slashed with further cuts expected during the next 12 months.

We understand that in Westfield the provision made for the repair and improvement of children’s play facilities has been scrapped, together with funding for older persons activities and the renewal of street signs. This comes on top of the previous decision to stop community ranger security patrols.

In total £11,500 is being cut from the £40,000 budget.

Across the City nearly £168,000 is being axed, with one ward apparently facing an 80% reduction.

The panic move comes after newly elected Labour Councillors failed in the summer to get to grips with escalating wage costs particularly in the care services. Over £20,000 is now being spent each year on a newly created “community safety” cabinet post allocated to a Labour Councillor. £38,000 extra is being spent funding Trades Union shop steward posts.

Hopes for playground improvements dashed

Ward Committee ballot results – Westfield Foxwood

  1. GRANT to Foxwood Friendship Club – This is a weekly club for the elderly to come along and make friends and enjoy a range of activities
  2. Improvements to street lighting at identified areas throughout the ward
  3. GRANT to Age Concern to help with the costs of Room Hire to be able to offer increase services to the Elderly
  4. GRANT to Active York to support young people in developing their opportunities in their chosen sport,
  5. Ward Fund to make repairs and improve security at play areas
  6. Ward Fund to increase Leisure facilities & opportunities for teenagers throughout the ward
  7. Ward fund for improving and cleaning cycle tracks (eg removal of broken glass and detritus
  8. Ward Fund to increase play facilities and play sessions for 8 – 13 year olds throughout the ward.
  9. Ward fund the replacement and new dog bins and litter bins as identified by residents.
  10. Ward Fund to increase facilities and opportunities for older people throughout the Ward
  11. Ward Fund for tree management throughout the ward at identified areas.
  12. GRANT to Street Sport York to provide 10 x 2 hour sports sessions throughout the ward for young people.
  13. Ward Fund for reducing waste and have a quarterly recycle and refuse lorry for street pick ups throughout the ward.
  14. Ward Fund for installing cycle barriers at appropriate locations around the ward to prevent cycling on the footpaths
  15. CCTV overlooking the Tedder Road park (subject to quotations)

    16. Each list to be worked down until Ward budget is exhausted.

Liberal Democrat Budget 2010/11

On Tuesday the Liberal Democrat Council Executive agreed its budget proposals for 2010/11. The budget is designed to help prepare York for the economic recovery, while ensuring investment in vital services such as adult and children’s social care.

In preparing our budget we were also very keen to ensure we responded to the city wide budget consultation which went out in December.

Some of the budget highlights include:

Transport: To help boost the city centre economy, car parking charges will be frozen as will Park and Ride charges. Everyone except the owners of the most polluting vehicles will see ResPark charges frozen while charges for visitors to ResPark areas will be cut from £1.10 to 90p.

There will be more congestion busting improvements to the outer ring road. Following the completion of improvements to the Hopgrove roundabout there will be improvements to the A19 and A59 roundabouts.

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