After 5 years of talk, muddle, delay and confusion, Labour abandon plan for Lowfields Elderly Care Village

£1 million wasted on aborted project?

Acomb care village site - project abandoned

Acomb care village site – project abandoned

Labour have today admitted that they have failed to deliver a new modern facility – aimed at older people – on the site of the former Lowfields school.

The Council report can be read by clicking here

Talks with potential contractors have been abandoned and the future of the site has been thrown into the air again.

The site had been “marketed” jointly with the Burnholme school site on the other side of the City (which may still go ahead)

Residents in the west of the City were hoping to see the equivalent of the Hartrigg Oaks facility, which Rowntree Housing manage on the other side to the City, built in Acomb. The Lowfields site was considered to be ideal because it is within walking distance of all major services and facilities. It is close to a frequent buss service.

Although the retirement village was agreed in 2010 by the last LibDem administration, the project was derailed when Labour took office in 2011. They tried unsuccessfully to develop the scheme as a Council run home…. believed to be a condition which a local government union imposed when funding Labours last election campaign.

“In house” provision proved to be unaffordable with build figures of over £20 million leaked to the media in 2012.

The project then went the same way as the Community Stadium plan, with additional requirements being heaped onto potential developers making the whole scheme unviable.

Instead of admitting failure 2 years ago, Labour continued with a doomed “procurement process” until today’s’ announcement brought the sorry saga to an end

The project was 5 years behind schedule and is probably a bigger example of mismanagement than even the Lendal Bridge fiasco.

 Clearly one big question is how much has been spent (staff time, “soft marketing”, plans, procurement etc.) so far on the Lowfields project?

Some sources put the figure at over £1 million.

The U turn will cause consternation in elderly care facilities across the City. Some were destined to close when occupiers moved to the brand new state of the art village.

Now it seems that some may be modernised with suggestions that there could be a new facility and health hub at Oakhaven.

The Council has promised to work with current providers to provide improved facilities especially for dementia sufferers.   A  £2.5m extension to Glen Lodge may be built for dementia care. 

The level of care at Auden House is to be “improved”.

Labour have said that they want to build houses and flats on the Lowfields school site.

Our view is that local residents should be consulted and that the Council should remember that, while the care village had widespread support, alternative building plans were viewed with suspicion by the local community.

Obviously all this will be overtaken by the elections in May when most people expect Labour to be ousted from the leadership of the York Council.

Liberal Democrats still believe in the principle of establishing a quiet, caring, environment for older people in Acomb.

We would look to make the Lowfields site available to providers with the experience and drive to move the project forward again.

The tragedy unfolds – year by year guide to failure (click for details)

  1. 2011 May – Developers offer to build care village at Lowfields
  2. 2011 Aug – “Future of care homes homes” consultation starts
  3. 2012 Jan – Council plans to build on Lowfields playing fields, according to leaked documents
  4. 2012 April – Council announce 2014 opening date for Lowfields care village
  5. 2012 May – “Private sector to run Lowfields care village” Council announces
  6. 2012 Dec – Council announce delays to Lowfields Care Village. 2014 opening date abandoned
  7. 2013 May – Lowfields care village opening slips to 2016; huge cost increase
  8. 2013 Nov – “Dementia Support” promised for Lowfields Care Village.
  9. 2014 July – Secrecy descends on school site plans
  10. 2014 Dec – Labour Cabinet member accused of “dithering” on Lowfield project
  11. 2015 Jan – “In light of continuing care crisis in NHS”, Scrutiny Committee chair forced to submit Freedom of Information request
  12. 2015 Feb 23rd – Council announces it is abandoning the Lowfields care village project

Have your say on the future of Adult Social Care

York residents are being invited to have their say on the future of Adult Social Care in the city this month.

City of York Council clams it is “committed to helping York’s residents live independent and fulfilling lives based on choices that are important to them. The authority already knows that where residents need care and support in older age, they want these delivering in their own homes or in a community setting. They also want improved signposting, advice and guidance, and for the agencies involved in health and adult social care to join up more and provide greater awareness of the local support and facilities available to residents”.

“To build on this, the council is carrying out a quick five minute survey to understand what is important to those who are currently accessing adult social care, and those who may potentially need to access care and support in the future. The authority is also keen to hear from Carers and those in the voluntary sector.

The results of the consultation will be used to shape services (jargon) for the future, as part of the council’s Rewiring Public Services (jargon) Programme.

In Adult Social Care, the council’s rewiring (jargon)  programme is seeking to address some of the inherent failings of, and pressures on, the existing national model for adults’ care including a lack of clarity and understanding of the system by customers, an ageing population and people living longer with disease and disability.

Acomb care village site - project 3 years behind schedule

Acomb care village site – project 3 years behind schedule

Following engagement with residents, staff, elected members and partners, the council is looking at a number of different ways it can achieve the outcomes that local people want -relying less on hospital-based care and care homes, with more care delivered in resident’s homes and in their local neighbourhood -within the budget available”.

The consultation is available at www.rewiringyork.com

Sad really that the Council is making it so difficult for residents to react to their programme of cuts in public service provision.

Language, setting up separate web sites, failure to issue timely notices of meetings….. all adds up to confusion for many.

NB. Following on from our story about the Councils clumsy consultation processes and use of jargon we understand that later today (Thursday 12 February) between 2pm and 2:30pm, “Sally Burns, director of Communities & Neighbourhoods, will be answering people’s questions about proposed changes to Place-Based Services (jargon) in a live streamed Q&A session broadcast on YouTube and www.york.gov.uk/webcasts “

The Council are encouraging everyone to put forward their burning questions either before or during the event by email at rewiringyork@york.gov.uk or on Twitter using the #RewiringYork hashtag.

Residents left in the dark after streetlight cuts

Andrew waller and sue hunter

Cllr Andrew Waller and local campaigner Sue Hunter at the blind bend on Acomb Green

Liberal Democrat councillors say cuts to streetlight checks are leaving many areas of the city in the dark.

In 2013, Labour run City of York Council decided to end ‘night scouting’- the routine checking (scouting) for faulty streetlights by council officers. The council said it would rely on the public to report any faults. Lib Dem councillors ‘called-in’ the decision, but Labour forced through the controversial plans.

Lib Dem councillors now say there is a growing backlog of faulty lights with some taking weeks to repair. Cllr Andrew Waller says he has reported 50 faulty lights in the Westfield ward alone and concerns have been raised with him over public safety. He has also arranged for some tree trimming in the ward where streetlights have been covered by branches.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Lib Dem Councillor for Westfield, commented:

“Residents are concerned that there are black spots where street lighting is poor or non-existent. We need a clear plan to improve the lighting of streets. In Westfield there is a blind bend on Acomb Green at the junction with Askham Lane which does not have any street lighting and a large number of residents have raised concerns with local Lib Dems.

“Residents have contacted me saying that they would feel a lot more at ease going out at night if there was better lighting in particular areas, such as where trees are currently blocking out lights.”

Cllr Ann Reid, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Transport and Environmental Services, commented:

“We warned that the ending of night scouting would cause problems. Solely relying on residents to report issues is not an ideal system. During the summer months people don’t always notice the lights are out so there was an increase in reports once the clocks went back. This creates a backlog, which officers are now struggling to catch-up with. Regular checking prevents this.

“Labour introduced the cut without proper public consultation and they failed to take account of the problems caused the last time the council stopped night-scouting about 15 years ago. Residents expect their council tax to cover basic things like good streetlights and roads, but while Labour find millions to spend on city-centre vanity projects these basic services continue to be hit.”

Countdown to Scarborough Railway Bridge replacement

Marygate car park to be closed during February

Rail passengers, York residents and visitors to the city are being reminded to plan ahead this half term as the old bridge deck of Scarborough Rail Bridge will be lifted out and a new one installed.

The work to refurbish the bridge means that no trains can run over it between 14 and 23 February, with coaches replacing First Trans-Pennine Express trains between York and Seamer.

The worksite in York will also affect local residents and visitors. Marygate car park will be closed from 2 to 27 February to safely accommodate the crane and other construction equipment. The footbridge alongside Scarborough railway bridge which also carries National Cycle Network route 65 across the river will be closed from 9 February to 2 March and the shared use paths on either side of the river under Scarborough railway bridge will close between 14 and 22 February.
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Additional garden waste collection reminder

City of York Council is reminding residents that an additional one off garden waste collection will take place this month between 19 and 30 January.

Green Bin

This will mean the council will be able to collect all the autumn waste and Christmas trees in green bins.

Please note that Christmas trees must be inside the bin, so please cut it up if necessary.

The green waste collection will take place on the same day as recyclables are scheduled to be collected.

Look up collections or download a 2015 rubbish and recycling calendar at www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup  or call 01904 551551.

During the winter months residents can take additional garden waste to Hazel Court and Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centres free of charge in a car. Residents using larger vehicles or trailers will need to apply for permits to use the sites.

Home composting is also a great way to manage waste at home and provide nutrient rich compost for gardens. Visit www.getcomposting.com for further information or to purchase a reduced price home compost bin to get started.

Ahead of the new collection season in 2015, households with more than one green wheeled bin can sign up to the additional green bin scheme which operates during the usual garden waste season.   

To join the scheme call 01904 551551 or ‘apply for it’ via our secure website at https://www.york.gov.uk/DoItOnline/

To find out more about the garden waste subscription scheme visit www.york.gov.uk/recycling

Follow @CYCWaste on Twitter, or like CYCWaste on Facebook.

York residents contacting Council in greater numbers – 30% abandon calls.

Benefits, parking charges and Council Tax top issues

The Council has revealed that it continues to face increasing demands for its services form local residents. A recent Council meeting heard that around 25,000 telephone calls were dealt with in October.

Of these around 30% were abandoned by the caller before they received a reply.

York Council Customer Services. click to download

York Council Customer Services. click to download

There is similar pressure in dealing with personal callers to West Offices.

Around 11,000 people visited during October.

Credit to the Council as it is now making its customer service performance figures available on line. Click here to see the latest update.

For the latest week published (w/e 12th December)  around 4000 rang the Council with a reply obtained, on average, in 35 seconds.

There were also around 3000 visitors to West Offices

The Council does not publish the time it takes to respond to Email requests.

To reduce costs it desperately needs to encourage more people to use its “report it” internet systems. Residents are being encouraged to set up personal accounts (click here) which allow reports of issues to be made as well as payments to be processed.

The Council has promised that by April anyone using this channel to report issues will be able to see what progress the Council is making in resolving the complaint.

Currently the Council has to manually re-input any data received from customers using popular web based contact systems such as My Council

Blackout raises concerns that VIP may get lost tonight

Santa-with-lantern

Andrew has been out and about reporting faulty street lights.

Amongst those found  not to be working, and causing problems for residents, are three at the Acomb Green/Askham Lane junction

  • Streetlight 13 The Green – bulb not working
  • Streetlight 14  The Green – no lamp attached
  • Streetlight 1 Askham Lane  – no lamp attached

Large numbers of elves are being deployed to ensure that there are no misrouting problems tonight!

 

York Council plans to spend £250,000 on “Tour de Yorkshire” cycling event as

More cuts to local environment planned

It looks like Labour Councillors want to spend another £1/4 million on a 3 day cycling event next May. One of the stages of the new “Tour de Yorkshire” will finish in York with several local sprint races planned.

Taxpayers will be expected to pick up the bill, from the commercial rights owners, for a whopping £100,000 “hosting fee” for the event,.

A report which is being considered tomorrow, by the Councils Cabinet, shows no sponsorship or admittance fees aimed at offsetting the bills.

A decision will apparently be made before the Inquiry into the disastrous Grand Departy flop is completed.

Organisers were forced to admit a couple of months ago that the Huntington Stadium event – staged separately from the Tour de France start – had lost over £186,000.  An inquiry into the event was subsequently ordered by the Council’s scrutiny committee.

More Cuts

The same Council Cabinet agenda talks of major cuts to basic service standards.

Road surfaces in Queenswood Grove breaking up

Road surfaces in Queenswood Grove already breaking up

£1.3 million a year will be cut from social care budgets.

As well as the much publicised proposals to charge for green bin emptying and move to 4 weekly residual waste collections, Labour are now admitting that more cuts are planned to open space maintenance.

Volunteers will apparently be expected to maintain bowling greens, tennis courts, flower beds and undertake  rose planting. The report says that the “replacement of bedding plants with ornamental grass at 18 sites could potentially save 1,519 hours of labour”.

Ominously the report talks of York’s roads and footpaths being “better than average” suggesting that further cuts in maintenance standards are planned.

Many residents will view with incredulity any proposals which would allow a further deterioration in the standard of highways surfaces.

York Council neglect still to be addressed

Fly tipping on Council garage areas

Fly tipping on Council garage areas

Leaves blocking drains in Green Lane

Leaves blocking drains in Green Lane

With the York Council seemingly preoccupied with internal political discussions, service standards continue to decline.

There is a lack of preparedness for winter. Salt bins have no lids and the contents are leeching onto the streets and adding to the problems with blocked gullies.

Some bus routes – including the number 26 which provides a  lifeline service for elderly people living in the Windsor Garth and St Stephens Road areas – are still excluded from the de-icing schedules with little chance of a review before the worst of the winter weather hits the City.

Bus stop waitng areas over gorwn

Bus stop waiting areas over grown

Salt bins left without lids. This one is in Woodford Place

Salt bins left without lids. This one is in Woodford Place

Perhaps the worst examples of neglect can be found  on some of the City’s Council estates. Areas without an active residents association fare particularly badly with many communal areas, garage forecourts and verges all in a desperate condition