The residents of Gale Farm Court, the sheltered accommodation unit for older people which is located on Front Street, have come up with a novel way of making better use of their community room.
They are offering free use of the room – which can accommodate up to 40 people – to local groups who need a meeting space.
The residents will permit free use of the room with priority being given to groups who might let residents join in with their activities.
Obviously this offer is likely to be of particular interest to craft, further education and discussion groups who are in need of additional participants, but it may also go some way to satisfying the demand for space at places like Energise and the Library which are sometimes over subscribed.
Any group that is interested should communicate their details and requirements to:
Kerrie Smith|Sheltered Housing Scheme Manager
t: 01904 552298 |m: 07825680637| e: kerrie.smith@york.gov.uk
City of York Council is due to resurface the carriageway on Woodlea Avenue during the weeks commencing 24th November and 1st December 2014. 
The works are programmed to take 2 weeks to complete, working between 8:00am and 5.30pm.
To carry out the works safely, a road closure will be in place on Woodlea Avenue. Due to the nature of the works and the size of the machinery required to undertake the works, there will be periods of time when it will not be possible for residents to gain vehicular access to their properties.
In these circumstances, residents should be prepared to use alternative parking.
Small Business Saturday is about encouraging everyone in the UK to support small businesses with events and promotions being held on what is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The Small Business Saturday bus tour is promoting the campaign in advance to shoppers and also handing out vital promotional material to help businesses be involved on the day. The arrival of the bus offers an opportunity for small business owners to gain advice and tell the Small Business Saturday team and City of York Council’s York Means Business team what they are doing to celebrate Small Business Saturday. The bus will be located in St Helen’s Square from 11am until 3pm.
York will be celebrating Small Business Saturday itself by hosting a market celebrating York’s independent businesses. Located along Duncombe Place (outside York Minster) and organised by City of York Council and the Proudly™ initiative, itself a collective of York’s independent businesses,the event will feature local businesses selling goods and sharing their unique stories.
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With yet another major York Council project falling behind schedule, and hopelessly over budget, there are growing calls for a review of project management processes in the City.
Poppleton Bar Roadworks delays
The latest budget overrun is reported on the A1237 Haxby – Wigginton cycle path. As well as major delays the project will now cost over £1.3 million compared to a budget of £700,000.
A Liberal Democrat spokesman said,
“It is time re-introduce regular project updates to the Councils monitoring committees.
Any significant delay – or cost overrun – of more than 10% must trigger a formal report in future.
We’d also like to see more openness in reporting with regular updates being posted on the Council’s web site”
As well as the cycle path, projects which would be subject to review include:
The Press are reporting that the Green Council Group Leader has now decided that there are questions about the Lendal Bridge trial which do need to be answered publicly. Despite voting last week against an Inquiry, he is apparently now saying that the Council’s Chief Executive should be asked to account for the mistakes at a “governance” committee meeting.
NB. The Lendal Bridge situation is also likely to be discussed at the Council meeting which is scheduled to be held on 11th December.
A series of short films about life in the Tang Hall area of York will premiere at a special screening at Burnholme Community College on 29 November.
York’s Young Inspectors will present a report on the Mansion House and its projected uses to the Lord Mayor on Monday 17 November following a trip to the historic house in the city centre.
Over 350 two year olds in York have taken up the offer of free childcare places this term – over two thirds of those who are eligible.
click for more information
Approximately 600 two-year-olds in York – double last year’s figure – are eligible for up to 15 hours of free childcare a week at a playgroup, day nursery or with a childminder this term as part of a national initiative. A further 500 will be eligible from January.
Parents, who earn no more than £16,190 a year and receive Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credit or Income Support, could be eligible for a free childcare place for their child or children. Two-year-olds, who are looked after by the council or have a Child Protection Plan, automatically qualify for a place.
Children with special educational needs, those who have been adopted or with a residency/special guardianship order also qualify for a place.
The free places are available to children who are two years of age and whose parents fulfil the criteria. The places can be taken up the term after the child’s second birthday.
Parents can apply on line at www.yor-ok.org.uk/childcare or to find out more call the Family Information Service on 01904 554444 or text ‘’free place’ to 07624 802244.
The Council has published a list of overpayments made by businesses in the City.
The largest overpayment (£22,608.00) currently is credited to property developer Lasalle’s who went into receivership earlier in the year. The company was hoping to develop the Piccadilly area.
A full list can be accessed by clicking here.
The York Council has published a table showing the amount of Council Tax not collected over the last 5 years because of approved “exemptions”.
The amount not collected totals £34 million.
By far the largest proportion of this is accounted for by student occupied accommodation. This accounts for around £18 million of the total. Central government claims that this is recognised in the grant distribution formulae which is aimed at equalising resources between different Councils (and is effectively funded from income tax). However the precise make up of individual central government council support grants is largely opaque.
The figure is likely to re-energise the claims of those who feel that student accommodation should attract either Council Tax or Business Rates payments.
Other reasons why properties did not attract Council Tax liability included:
Council Tax exemptions click to access
Footnote
There are three main reform options for Student flat exemptions
1. Charge each student Council Tax with benefits (rebate) available to those on low incomes. This is essentially the position at non-student occupied private sector lettings. OR
2. Levy Business Rates on exempt student occupied properties. Some private landlords might qualify for small business rate relief. OR
3. Make the additional grant, that central government says it pays Councils with a high student population, entirely transparent. Residents should be able to understand and audit the assumptions behind the figures. OR
4. Leave things as they are which means that some residents – who may have no more income than many students – may pay more for local public services subsidising, not students, but private landlords.
There is a good argument for 3 above given that most landlords do pay tax on their incomes and it is a system that should be easy to implement.
