It was still neck and neck between the LibDem candidate Andrew Waller and his Labour opponent as the parties entered the final week of campaign.
However recent revelations about the Labour Council Leadership are a major talking point and seem likely to influence the result of Thursday poll.
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The second is an email to the Chief Executive of this council confirming that I have resigned the Labour Party Whip, I am no longer part of the Labour Group and will now be a Labour Independent Councillor.
“It has been a difficult decision for me to take. I have been a member of the Labour Party for over 20 years. I come from a long line of active trade unionists. I didn’t just choose the party I was born into it.
“But the York Labour Party is not the Labour Party I joined.
“Its leadership team don’t lead – they bully, scheme and connive.
The Leader behaves like a spoilt child almost stamping his feet if he doesn’t get his own way.
“Some will be aware that the Labour Whip was removed from me last year. What you will not know is why. I am now freed from the shackles of the secrecy of the Group and can say that there were two attempts to withdraw the Whip from me. The first attempt had to be abandoned after it was found that the Chief Whip had broken a number of Party Rules in his haste to withdraw the whip from me. The second attempt was quashed by a regional appeal panel.
“And what was my alleged crime? I voted in favour of the removal of a number of expenses from members of this council in line with the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and an earlier decision of the Labour Group.
“I have thought about whether I should resign my council seat. I won’t for two reasons.
The First is all that would happen is that a York Labour clone will be put in place at the expense of the residents of the city.
Secondly remaining a councillor will allow me to represent the residents of clifton and the city in the proper Labour Way. The way that they thought they were voting for in the first place.
“My first speech in the Council ended with the verse by Pastor Martin Neilmoller. I will remind you
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
“Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
“Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
“Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
“I do this for the good of the Labour Party in York. I make a plea to the members of the Party to reclaim their party from those that control it and are destroying it
“For my sins I came up with the phrase that York Deserves Better.
Sadly that still remains the case.
York not only deserves better, it deserves the best.
For the remaining months of this council I will do my best to achieve that with any group or grouping of councillors that demonstrates that they have ideas, drive and commitment to achieve the best for York.
LibDem Euro MP Edward McMillan Scott with Westfield residents last year
Opposition parties at last nights Council meeting flexed their muscles for the first time and rejected Labours “Big City” Draft Local Plan
The decision came shortly after 2 further Labour Councillors had defected leaving James Alexander’s residual group without a majority.
The highly controversial draft Local Plan had proposed to build 17,000 new homes mainly on Green Belt land.
It envisaged a population increase in the City of 40,000 over the next 15 years.
Now, following a successful intervention by Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Reid, those figures will be re-examined at a special meeting which will be held in November.
The meeting will take place after the Westfield by election and will be a major boost for those seeking to conserve areas like Acomb Moor.
His decision came shortly after the local newspaper reported complaints by Westfield Labour Councillor Dafydd Williams.
It is understood that Williams and Labour Councillor Leader James Alexander had written to senior executives and trustees as the Charity demanding that they take action against the worker.
It has also emerged that none of the comments made under the pseudonym “Jack Ham” on The Press website were in any way abusive.
The losers will be those suffering from mental health problems in the City who may have had renewed hoped following the announcement, at the Liberal Democrat conference yesterday that their illness would have a greater priority for health resources in the future.
A period of uncertainty is certainly not what is required.
They have accused him of using a pseudonym to make critical comments about Labour polices and personalities.
It is a glimpse of a totalitarian state mentality to which many of the current York Council Leadership subscribe
“Agree with my views or we will target you” seems to be their mantra.
No wonder that so many former Labour Councillors have chosen to jump ship to escape from this suffocating authoritarianism.
It would not be so bad if Labour Councillors themselves did not use false names to promote their views – and belittle their political opponents – on the local Press web site.
Residents would be amazed to find out just who is responsible for such vindictive, and often untrue, vitriol.
The Press can address this issue by insisting that – just as it does on its letters page – people use their real names when posting on line.
It might mean that some public servants are discouraged from criticising Labour politicians but there are other independent channels – including this web site – where whistle blowing is an option for the faint hearted.
In the meantime Labour should withdraw their attack dogs from their voluntary sector targets and reflect that it is their commitment to secret decision making that has led to the frustration felt by many York residents.
That is too long for an authority that claims it its trying to reduce costs by encouraging the use of electronic communications.
The responsible Cabinet member is already expected to come under fire at the Council meeting taking place on Thursday for poor customer care performance figures.
A question has been tabled which reads:.
Will the Cabinet member please publish the latest quality of service statistics which he holds for Customer Services covering both “in person” presentations at West Offices together with time to answer telephone calls and respond to electronic communications.
Specifically why is it taking the Council up to 2 weeks to log for action some issues which have been Emailed to the YCC?
Today’s IT collapse – and lack of update information from the Council – will only raise even further concerns..
Yesterdays steady rain revealed more blocked drains
We’ve reported several but really think that it is time for the Council to reinstate 6 monthly routine cleans.
Failing that, they need to actively clear those drains that have – like the one below in Bellwood Drive – been blocked for months.
If there is large scale ponding on footpaths, then the arrival of icy weather will multiply safety problems
Blocked drain in Bellwood Drive
The York Council has admitted- in a response to a Freedom of Information request – that it did not formally consult on ending the mid day meal service at its sheltered accommodation units.
Gale Farm Court Affected by meals decision
Instead any discussions centred around the quality of the meal on offer.
The Council has also blamed officials for the decision to end the meals service which it is intended will save £50,000 a year.
They say that the Labour Cabinet approved the budget cut but implementation was delegated to council officials.
The FOI response can be read by clicking here
Liberal Democrats are pressing for the meals service to be restored and have pointed to the £30,000 a year being spent on the empty Oliver House home as one source of alternative funding.
If the Liberal Democrats win the Westfield by election it is also likely that the number of £20,000 a year Cabinet posts will be reduced from the present level of eight.
Yorkshire Water have been asked to clean up their pumping station on Bellhouse Way
The issue was raised by residents with t he York Council but they declined to take any action.
Gone it seems are the days when the Council sought to take a leadership role in supporting local York Pride initiatives.
We’ve emailed Yorkshire Water and will find out how quickly this public company responds to concerns.
