60% of York residents say road maintenance is “poor”
With the York Council’s ruling Executive due to discuss it’s first quarter performance later today, a new survey has revealed that many residents are unhappy with public service standards in the City.
West York survey results July/Aug 2016
Road repairs (60% rated “poor”) and footpath repairs (57%) top the list of woes, but there is also criticism of litter bin provision and car parking arrangements in some sub-urban estates.
Best rated service was recycling (92% rated good or satisfactory), with refuse collection also rated positively (89%).
The Council’s investment in new street lighting seems to be impressing people with 87% now rating it as good or satisfactory.
However there is little evidence that the Council’s proclaimed priority – investing in street level service quality – is having a positive effect.
Dissatisfaction with roads and footpaths is at an all time high.
Councillors today will be given a different set of figures to consider. Their “key performance indicators” are not included on the Executive agenda but can be accessed via the”open data” web site.
This is in itself a step forward from previous years when data was often hidden from residents.
Transport KPIs August 2016 click to access
However a closer look at the stats reveals that, not only are most quarter one figures unavailable, but also many of the out-turn figures for 2015/16 haven’t been updated.
No improvement targets are identified.
Quite what “performance” – other than a bland anecdotal commentary – Councillors will therefore be considering later today is a mystery.
The York Council must now put more emphasis on customer satisfaction. Publishing the results of quarterly residents “talkabout” panel views would be a start.
The key message though, as the Council begins to construct its budget priorities for next year, is that residents want to see more invested in repairing our roads and footpaths.
Community seek ownership of Holgate play area & Naburn pub
The Council has received two more applications which could allow “community bids” to be made to purchase local amenities.
Holgate gardens
The first concerns the Holgate community garden and play area which is located off Cleveland Street.
Local residents have recently been stepping up their objections to the access bridge into the York Central development which could adversely impact on the park.
Blacksmiths Arms
The second application concerns the Blacksmiths Arms pub in Naburn.
A meeting taking place on 12th September will decide whether to add the properties to a list which – in the event of their coming on the market – would allow a local community group to make an offer to buy.
The moves follow similar initiatives last month involving Grove House EPH and White Rose House in Wheldrake. While the application for Grove House was rejected but the Council has still to determine its approach to the Wheldrake building.
Dumping problems on increase in west York
Despite the introduction of £400 fines for “fly tipping” problems with dumping seem to be on the increase.
In west York most residents have access to free skip services on Saturdays
We hope residents will use them.
What’s on in York: Carers on Front St on Monday
Executive snubs Lowfields residents
The York Council is to consult residents on a plan to build on most of the former Lowfields school site.
Former Lowfields School entrance
Last night members of the committee and officials refused to acknowledge the concerns about the plan which were tabled by local Councillor Andrew Waller.
The committee had been told of the results of a survey undertaken in the area over the last week (see foot of page).
The survey results – covering over 300 households – revealed that the community was dismayed at some of the remarks contained in an officer report.
In particular:
Labour Councillors first considered building on the football pitches in 2012.
- The suggestion that any development should be “piecemeal”. Residents have no desire to see construction traffic accessing the site over an extended period of time and are fearful that the maintenance standards that will apply to any undeveloped plots will be inadequate. They want to see an early completion of the whole of the site
- The inclusion of any “hospital”, police depot or GP surgery all of which would have an impact on 24/7 traffic volumes, put more pressure on parking spaces and bring noise and disturbance to what is otherwise an entirely residential area. Residents say that any “hub” facilities – such as a police desk – should be located at the Library on Front Street (where there is adequate expansion potential to the rear of the existing buildings)
- The reduction in open space to less than ½ the area of a football pitch is unacceptable. Residents want green space and want part of it to be allocated as a site for a nature reserve (lack of maintenance had de facto already effectively turned parts of the site into a wild life area over the last decade). Several have said that they would like to see a play park established.
- Building high density houses would exacerbate parking problems. Such problems are acute at the quoted paradigm comparator location (the top of Tedder Road). Bungalows and older persons (downsizing) apartments would be more acceptable as the number of vehicles owned by occupants of this type of property is likely to be low,
Many residents say that they hoped that the Council would agree to honour its historic commitment to the local community and restrict development to a 6.5 acre site.
Children asked to share ideas on playing in York’s parks
Tedder Road playground
The consultation is an important part of the city’s updated play policy ‘Taking Play Forward’ which was approved in May 2016. It is being launched with this summer’s Shine programme of activities for five to 18 year olds and asks young people what they would like to see take place, whether new equipment or other improvements.
The consultation includes City of York Council and Parish Council-controlled play areas and will influence how £265,000 of funding will be spent on playground improvements in 2017/18. Around £30,000 has already been allocated towards the replacement skatepark in Rowntree Park.
Suggestions are invited from children, young people, parents or carers and their ideas will be considered by a multi agency panel, including young people themselves. Photos or drawings are also welcomed. A final list of schemes will be forwarded to the Executive Member for approval and prizes of play and sports equipment to use in outdoor play areas are available for the best ideas.
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New junior parkrun on Sunday sets off young peoples Shine activities
click to download list of events
York’s new Knavesmire junior parkrun is one of the hundreds of workshops, courses, events, clubs and activities featured in the Summer2016 edition of Shine magazine which is celebrating its tenth year
Most of the Shine programme activities are scheduled for the school summer holidays, but for those who can’t wait to get started the Knavesmire junior parkrun starts this Sunday (3 July).
The parkrun is a free, timed two-kilometre run for children of all abilities aged from four to 14 years and is a perfect fit with the expansive programme of fitness activities and sports sessions planned for local young people.
Shine activities are aimed at those aged five to 18, together with their families. The programme offers accessible opportunities to enjoy a summer of activities to keep fit, explore new hobbies, learn exciting new skills such as movie making, and shares information on how to continue sport, play, arts and activities in parks and libraries beyond the end of the school holidays.
Cllr Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City of York Council with responsibility for Economic Development and Community Engagement said: “Over the last ten years Shine has grown to an exciting programme of activities for York’s young people, with something to appeal to all interests and abilities.
“The schedule, which includes sessions delivered by a wide range of partner organisations and volunteers, offers young people the chance to develop skills, make new friends and engage in new hobbies throughout the summer.”
Julie Mackenzie, Event Director of Knavesmire junior parkrun said: “We’re really looking forward to helping young people get outside, get active and have fun.”
The Knavesmire junior parkrun will take place every Sunday at 9am (with the exception of race days and other events). To take part children and young people must be registered with parkrun and have their unique bar-code with them. For more information visit www.parkrun.org.uk/knavesmire-juniors.
For more information about the Shine programme look out for the brochure from schools, pick up a copy from libraries or search online at www.yor-ok.org.uk/shine
Action taken on full poop scoop bin, high hedges and overgrown flower beds in Foxwood
Today we’ve reported a full bin in Oldman Court!
We’ve asked for the bin on Oldman Court to be emptied.
Some access paths across the verge on Bellhouse Way are overgrown with grass. We’ve asked for them to be made safe
Verge crossover disappearing do to lack of maintenance
Elsewhere we’ve reported more overgrown hedges and flower beds. We understand that the Council’s garden care scheme is running behind schedule. Andrew Waller is addressing the issue
Flower beds need trimming in Corlett Court
Dumped rubbish reported
Some bushes are overgrown
11% increase in crime in York
“Hate crime” figures up from 108 in 2014/15 to 141 in 2015/16
Performance figures released by the Council confirm that there has been a significant increase in crime levels in the City.
Crime levels up. “Hate” crime increasing
During 2015/16, there were a reported 12,018 crimes for the York area, a total of 1,211 more than those reported during 2014/15.
Increases have been seen in violent crime, criminal damage and the burglary of non-dwelling properties.
Detailed crime figures reveal that the number of complaints about “hate” crimes (such as racially motivated abuse) were on the increase even before the recent referendum result served to highlight the issue even more.
Residents will have to search if they want to find KPI data for public services.
The figures are not being reported to the Executive meeting taking place tomorrow.
However, they are available by clicking here.
Unfortunately many of the tables do not include comprehensive target information and most of the customer satisfaction measures haven’t been updated since 2013.