Figures released today show City of York Council are one of the quickest councils in the country to pay grant funding to local businesses.
The data shows that City of York Council ranks 37th out of 314 local authorities for the percentage completed.
Click here to see full details for all Councils (more…)
According to consumer website tortoise spending in York is showing a 55% net drop.
Only crumb of comfort for some food shop businesses is that grocery sales remain strong
City of York Council Leaders in a Coronavirus Q&A, Live on Facebook
Residents are invited to watch and interact with a live #AskTheLeaders Coronavirus question and answer session on City of York Council’s Facebook page on Tuesday 28 April, 5-6pm.
Residents can join live on Facebook to hear from:
Residents can interact with the session by either submitting questions in advance by emailing them to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk or commenting on the live video on Facebook where leaders will read out questions and respond.* Questions may be answered by theme rather than individually, so that the conversations covers as many topics as possible.
Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said;
“In these unprecedented times, it’s essential that we try new ways of reaching our residents and enabling them to ask questions and raise concerns about the city’s response to the outbreak of coronavirus.”
“I look forward to hosting the live Coronavirus question time session and hearing from local residents. I hope the live session gives clarity, reassurance and useful information in this ever changing situation.”
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader of City of York Council, said;
“This is a great opportunity for us to get direct feedback from residents about how the lockdown is affecting them, their families and neighbours in York. We can also share some of the amazing work taking place in every community.
“I want to encourage resident to email us your questions and join us next week to have a conversation about our city’s response to Coronavirus and how we are working together to save lives.”
For the latest York updates on service changes, online support and how you can get involved in supporting your community visit www.york.gov.uk/Coronavirus
*Please Note: Resident do not need a Facebook account to watch the live video however, they will need their own Facebook account to comment on the video with their questions if they have not already submitted questions via email.
Cycle couriers
The media are reporting that cycle couriers – delivering food – are being prevented from cycling though the City centre foot-streets.
If correct then we think that is wrong. The footstreets are virtually deserted and the couriers are part of the solution to food supply issues in the City. Clearly they would need to observe a voluntary code restricting their speed but, in principle, getting food to people quickly is a higher priority than enforcing inessential access restrictions.
Greater use of the pedestrian areas by “exercise” cyclists might also help to address the call for a ban on traffic on some residential roads.
We’re not entirely convinced that all courier companies are responding to the needs of people living in sub-urban areas. It’s two weeks since “Deliveroo” said they would extend their service to Acomb but there is no sign of the promised Morrisons/McColls services actually being implemented.
Council information
The Council claims that a letter from the Leader, Deputy Leader and Interim Head of paid Service “was distributed to York homes over the weekend and Monday. This letter also included ward information and information on volunteering and how to get help”. Many homes did not receive this letter but it contained little that was new anyway.
The “Our City” newsletter will be delivered to all homes throughout the week.
It contains two pages of “look at me” photos of Councillors but omits to provide their contact telephone numbers. The space would have been better utilised giving details of food doorstep deliverers, and information about continuing pharmacy, supermarket (pipeline) and takeaway delivery arrangement.
The Council says that a a leaflet sharing the names and contact details of local independent food suppliers who can deliver or arrange collection will be “delivered soon”. The draft list circulated last week was far from comprehensive so hopefully any new list will have been updated. 
Millies Fruit and Veg boxes
There are several small independent shops who are providing outstanding customer service. These include, to our knowledge, Millies Greengrocers (tel. 01904 677035), Heslington Fresh Foods (01904 728905) and Richardson’s Woodthorpe Butchers ((01904 707876). There must be many more in other parts of the City. Any trader undertaking home deliveries, who wants to be added to the Council list, should email: food@york.gov.uk
The Council also says, “We are also finalising a booklet providing more information to support residents’ health and wellbeing over this difficult period”.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now open for applications. Employers can now go online to claim cash grants worth up to 80% of wages, capped at £2,500 a month per worker. 5000 HMRC staff will operate the scheme, which is expected to help thousands of firms across the UK.
Please note the following key guidelines :
The York and North Yorkshire LEP have provided a handy step by step guide for businesses to help them through this process.
On top of this the government has launched a new tool to help people find coronavirus financial support for their business. Businesses may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants; this support finder will help you to see what support is available for you and your business.
Finally, a new billion pound support package for innovative firms hit by Coronavirus has been announced. The package includes a £500 million investment fund for high-growth companies impacted by the crisis, made up of funding from the government and the private sector. SMEs focusing on research and development will also benefit from £750 million of grants and loans.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is expected to continue having a significant impact on the education system, and the country, for months to come. Therefore, exams have been cancelled now to give pupils, parents, and teachers certainty, and enable schools and colleges to focus on supporting vulnerable children and the children of key workers. More information about the cancellations is available: https://www.york.gov.uk/COVIDExamCancellations
Over the weekend the government confirmed an additional £1.6bn of funding for local authorities. This funding has been welcomed.
Supermarkets quiet
Supermarkets are generally quiet in west York today. Only one in queue at Tesco, Tadcaster Road, none at Lidl Thanet Road and four at the Coop on Beagle Ridge Drive
Council “our city” newsletter
The Royal Mail has started to deliver the Council’s Coronavirus “Our City” newsletter today. Includes a list of local Councillors but without giving their contact telephone numbers (Email contact only).!
Bogus window cleaner
York Police are saying that they have been made aware of a bogus window cleaner attending properties in York. The male states that during the Coronavirus lockdown the regular window cleaner can’t attend and that he will be their window cleaner until further notice. The male asks for 3 months payment in advance but does not return to clean the windows.
Helpline
If anyone is struggling financially, or cannot access the internet to order food, please contact the Council on 01904 551550 or email covid19help@york.gov.uk. This telephone line is open daily, including at the weekend when it’s open 8.30am – 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
Explore update re free magazine and newspaper access
Press Reader – the app giving free access to thousands of newspapers and magazines – is now live and free to access for anyone with an Explore library card. Explore was able to buy a subscription to Press Reader with part of the grant awarded last week by City of York council from the Covid-19 general support grant. The latest information is available at https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/digital/e-magazines/
Every Mind Matters
With data showing over 4 in 5 adults are worried about the effect that coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on their life right now, with over half saying it affected their wellbeing and nearly half reporting high levels of anxiety Public Health England are reminding people to take steps to look after their mental health during this challenging period for everyone.
Their Every Mind Matters website includes new NHS expert tips and advice on looking after mental wellbeing and supporting your family and loved ones during this time.
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have narrated a powerful new film in support of campaign and to encourage people to look after their mental and physical wellbeing.
The Every Mind Matters campaign will be supported through social media, digital, national TV and partner support activity, helping to reach the audiences most at-risk of poor mental health link to the video.
Business update
5,500 York businesses have now benefitted from over £100m of grants and relief as City of York Council continues to support businesses during the Coronavirus outbreak. A specialist team have worked round the clock to ensure businesses get the government grants and business rates relief as quickly as possible, whilst carrying out rigorous checks to make sure that fraudsters cannot take advantage of the situation.
The £100m is made up of two main funding sources, business rates relief which accounts for £66m and a further £34m in business grants paid out to over 2500 accounts. We are working through the remaining payments as quickly as possible.
Community support- food update
A city-wide operation encompassing York’s foodbank, the Council’s community hubs, community meal providers and local food businesses are helping ensure people get the food they need.
To service the council’s community hubs with food, the Council has created a central depot with volunteer drivers and vehicles to transport goods to the hubs. There, food boxes are put together and delivered to people identified through the Council’s dedicated support line.
From making phone calls to thousands of residents, the volunteers in the hubs are building a picture of the amount of food needed and how urgently, meeting special dietary needs and adding to the Government-supplied food.
The council’s support line is also helping people who can afford to buy their shopping but can’t get a delivery slot, or who people who can’t order online.
An interim list of businesses offering doorstep deliveries has been published.
It can be downloaded from this link https://www.dropbox.com/s/pjyqazimgft8cbk/Coronavirus%20Food%20Leaflet%2017%20April.pdf?dl=0
NHS services
Colleagues at the Vale of York CCG have issued an important message reminding patients that the NHS is still available for non Covid-19 related illnesses amid concerns patients may be putting off using NHS services for illnesses not related to coronavirus (Covid-19).
GP services, pharmacies, NHS 111, out-of-hours services and emergency departments are all still available to patients should they be needed.
For more information please see their press release https://www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/ccg-reminds-patients-that-the-nhs-is-still-available-for-non-covid-19-related-illnesses/
Leaflets
The Council says that in the coming days and weeks residents will be getting information delivered to them:
Residents will be getting a bit tired now of the bogus assertions being made by some York Council officials about home food deliveries. Its quite likely that the government box scheme, arranged with supermarkets, to address the needs of extremely vulnerable groups is going well. We have heard nothing recently which suggests otherwise
The Council also says that they are satisfying the demand for information about paid for doorstep food delivery.
We don’t think that they are.
They say, “The council’s support line is also helping people who can afford to buy their shopping but can’t get a delivery slot, or who people who can’t order online. With a local news provider (YorkMix), we have compiled a list of businesses which are able to deliver food and other services, and this is shared with all residents”.
In reality the list is selective and far from complete. Lists on other commercial websites have similar limitations. Fair enough if they give priority to their regular advertisers (news channels also have to survive in difficult times) but the Council needs to adopt a more even handed approach.
The Council endorsed list excludes conventional takeaways, about 50% of whom are maintaining at least some sort of delivery service in the City. That’s quite important if you are hungry!
It doesn’t mention the situation at supermarkets which normally account for a large proportion of shopping volumes in the City. Pipelines are long (3 weeks +)
Nor is there any mention of pharmacy delivery arrangements.
Some emerging offers – like the elusive extension of “Deliveroo” and other courier services to the suburbs – also merits Council comment.
Perhaps the most concerning issue, for residents wishing to support neighbourhood “indie” outlets, some of whom are struggling to stay afloat, is that many don’t even get a mention.
In the Westfield area there are at least 10 food outlets offering some sort of delivery service. Only one is listed; the Acomb Greengrocer- and good luck to them.
The list looks like an advertising promotion with the information behind the adverts failing to provide – in some cases – even details of contactless ordering and payment options.
There are some examples of good customer service amongst the list. Several traders have grasped the need for an easy to use, prompt and efficient service. They, in particular, will deserve to prosper when things return to “normal”
But until delivery information takes the form of a comprehensive database which can be interrogated, and which is kept up to date in real time, then there will be those who feel it is unfair to those businesses that are not listed.
Currently it is not as useful as it should be and doesn’t warrant a Council endorsement.
Coronavirus cases up in York
EIGHT more patients with coronavirus have died at York NHS trust hospitals. NHS England said a total of 65 patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 had now died at York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital, which are both run by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Latest figures from Public Health England show there were 160 confirmed coronavirus cases in the City of York Council area today, compared with 153 yesterday.
Over £100m paid out to businesses in response to Coronavirus
A York Council media release claims that “5,500 York businesses have now benefited from over £100m of grants and relief as part of City of York Council’s efforts to support businesses and protect jobs during the Coronavrirus outbreak”.
The media release pointedly doesn’t reveal how many claims are outstanding, how many have been rejected or how long processing is taking.
The Council says that “a specialist team have worked round the clock to ensure businesses get the government grants and business rates relief as quickly as possible, whilst carrying out rigorous checks to make sure that fraudsters cannot take advantage of the situation.
The £100m is made up of two main funding sources, business rates relief which accounts for £66m and a further £34m in business grants, paid out to over 2500 accounts”.
Since opening applications for the grants the council says it has received over 3500 applications and has been working to speed up a process which includes government-defined requirements to:
The council is working through the remaining payments as fast as possible. This includes carrying out anti-fraud checks for companies which have never had a financial relationship with the council before, and those where clarity is required over who is liable for business rates – and therefore the grant – at the property.
The council is reminding businesses that it may contact them by phone, and to follow this advice to speed up the process and guard against fraud.
Any business which believes it is eligible for the government grants but is yet to apply should do so immediately at www.york.gov.uk/COVIDBusinessGrant
Leader of City of York Council, Cllr Keith Aspden, said:
“We have listened to businesses and recognised that processing these payments as quickly as possible was vital to ensuring the long-term resilience of businesses and York’s economy. That is why council officers have been working round the clock to progress these payments, whilst ensuring all the required checks are met.”
“I hope that the support provided by the Council will help local businesses during this difficult period and continue to support York’s vibrant local economy. I would also like to thank officers for their hard work and dedication to get these payments to businesses as quick as they have.”
“For businesses who do not meet the requirements for the Government’s businesses grants, we have created a local emergency fund totaling £1 million to support the city’s small and micro businesses, and I would urge any businesses who hasn’t already done so, to get in touch with the Council and see what support is on offer to them.”
Councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for the Economy and Strategic Planning, said:
“It was clear to us just how important it was to get the grant payments to all these businesses as quick as possible. They form an integral part of York’s economy, bringing in £2bn annually and supporting thousands of jobs.
We’re also providing a range of support, advice and guidance for businesses, including free advertising across our local media for any businesses still operating.”
Shopping
It’s still peak food shopping day for some people so supermarkets may be busy. Generally supermarkets are returning to their “normal” hours to ease queue lengths. Relatively few shortages with maximum purchase limits also being eased.
ASDA are now saying that their hours will be 8:00am – 10:00pm Mon – Sat (Sun 10:00am – 4:00pm)
ALDI now have the same opening hours (8:00am – 10:00pm). Queue priority given to emergency and NHS workers.
Lidl (Hours same).
Waitrose About as much chance of getting a delivery slot as winning the Euro Millions lottery. (Good luck with tonight’s draw)
All stores have now confirmed what the @FoxwoodRA queue monitoring web site had already concluded. They are least busy (normally) after 2:00pm with very few queues in the late evening
A new app has been launched which aims to tell potential shoppers how busy local stores are in “real time”. It seems to depend on users reporting what they find on their shopping trip -so a bit limited in York at the moment. Still it might take off. https://crowdlessapp.co/. Download from the App store (Crowdless)
Community hubs
Sources within the Council say that the support Hubs that they set up are “very quiet”. They have adequate numbers of volunteers to deal with current demand levels.
Officially the Council briefs that, “Almost 3,300 volunteers are signed up to the council’s scheme help the most vulnerable and all are offered safeguarding training and information governance training to protect people’s personal information. Among the volunteers deployed, 50 are working alongside the city’s Local Area Co-ordinators and nearly 140 are working out of the community hubs
Thousands of welfare calls have been made to vulnerable or medically shielded residents by the council’s volunteering network, in addition to the contacts being made by York CVS, Age UK and other partners. As well as checking on their immediate wellbeing, these calls mean vulnerable people have someone to speak to and also can get the latest information about the support available to thm and how they can access it should they need it.
Some volunteers are registered with or assigned to work with partners like Move the Masses, GoodGym or York Neighbours. The volunteers are asked to carry out a wide range of tasks, the majority are for shopping or collecting prescriptions”.
Adult social care
A Council briefing says, “In response to these unprecedented times, and in line with Government guidance, our priorities in adult social care during COVID-19 are to:
Advice for parents
Today’s e-newsletter for families includes an important message:
Coping with a crying baby can be difficult at any time, but particularly challenging at the moment, when stress levels at home may be increased. ICON is a programme which can help you or your partner to cope with infant crying:
I – Infant crying is normal
C – comforting methods can help
O – It’s ok to walk away
N – never, ever shake a baby
Download the ICON leaflet for parents and carers here: http://iconcope.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CS49907-NYY-ICON-LEAFLET-NEW.pdf
Speak to someone if you need support, such as your friends, Midwife, GP or health visitor. For more information visit http://www.iconcope.org/
To get in touch with our Health Visitor Teams please call
01904 555475 (Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00) or email HCS-Secure@york.gov.uk
Death toll increases in York
SEVEN more people with coronavirus have died at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust sites. The deaths – the biggest daily rise since the outbreak started – bring the total number of coronavirus related deaths within the trust to 57 – compared to 50 yesterday. The trust includes York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital.
