The Council has published its response to as Freedom of information enquiry about the café at the York Explore Library
Did the cafe located in the Central Library make a financial profit in each of the separate financial years that it has been in operation?
The cafe made a profit in 11/12 and 12/13. In 10/11 it did not make a profit.
The cafe is required to make a profit and this is used to fund the Libraries and archives service as a whole.
Business properties:
With a rateable value >£5,000, who are in arrears with their business rates payments? http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7723/cf3724-attachment
The Council has also indicated how many businesses have sought hardship relief (Nil!)
http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7686/cf3561-businesses_hardship_relief
The Council has also issued a list of commercial ratepayers who have a credit balance http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7717/cf3643-attachment
The number of small business premises where relief is not being claimed has also been revealed
http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7677/cf3456-business_rates
http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7678/cf3456-attachment_1
http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7679/cf3456-attachment_2
Free compost giveaway on Sunday
In partnership with Yorwaste Ltd free compost is being made available again.
Bring your own bag, container and shovel (it is not pre-bagged) and help yourself to some free soil improver for your garden or allotment.
When: On the first Sunday of every month from March until October: 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October
Time: 9:30am until 2:30pm or while stocks last
Where: Harewood Whin waste site, Tinker Lane, Wetherby Road, Rufforth, York, Yo23 3RR
Although the Council has cut back on the number of amenity skips it provides, several residents associations continue to run programmes aimed at making it easier for tenants to get rid of unwanted items.
The skips are only in place for a few minutes and residents must ensure that they put any rubbish into the skips and do not leave it on the path or highway.
1 Ebor St 08:30 09:30
2 Paston Walk 10:30 11:30
4 Kingsway West 08:30 09:30 70-72
5 Stuart Rd 10:30 11:30
6 Windsor Garth 12:30 13:30
7 Hewley Ave 08:30 09:30
8 Rawdon Ave 10:30 11:30
9 Hadrian Ave 12:30 13:30
The number of complaints about litter in the City is edging up following the Councils decision to scrap many bins in July 2012.
The number of bins in place were:
Dec 2011 to June 2012 – Litter Bins = 919, Dog Bins = 425
July 2012 to Date – Litter Bins = 604, Dog Bins = 420
click to enlarge
Labour abandon plan to construct a Showmans Yard on Wetherby Road.
The landowner has withdrawn their consent from the plan.
However the battle to have the land confirmed in the Green Belt continues
How many properties in your local authority area have been sold under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme since May 6th 2010? 40
How many social homes for rent have been built in your local authority area since May 6th 2010? 291
How many social homes for rent to be built in future have, at this point in time, have both planning permission and financing in place? 343
Interesting responses to recent Freedom of Information requests by the York Council
How many directly-employed staff in your local authority area earn over
(a) £50000 per annum, 144
(b) £100000 per annum, 4
(c) £142500 per annum 0
How many directly employed staff do you have on “zero hour” contracts?
As at 31st March 2013 (the last complete month) the number of directly employed “zero hours” casual staff was 2962. CYT Ltd casuals were 250 at 2nd May 2013.
Hundreds of children in York registered for free school meals are not receiving them, according to government figures released this week. The revelation follows news that a council ‘Task Group’ has been set-up to examine the issue of the low take-up of all school meals in York.
Figures show that out of 1,819 pupils registered for free school meals in primary, secondary and special schools in York only 75.7% actually took-up the dinners meaning 583 schoolchildren were not eating the free meals for which they were registered. Nationally, take-up is around 82%.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Reid, who will chair the City of York Council cross-party Scrutiny Task Group, commented:
“The Task Group will be looking at the low take-up across the board but we know there is a particular problem with the take-up of free school meals. There are many reasons children don’t always choose to take the free school meal after registering, including possible stigma, preferring to leave school at lunchtime, and not liking the healthy options offered. Given this, the Task Group will look at what the Council can do to make sure schools get all the help and advice they need to increase uptake. This could be promotional work or expanding the ‘cashless’ system successfully used in many schools.”
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Proposed PROW diversion
The right of way in question (Public Footpath, Dunnington No 16) runs along the Derwent/Heslington and Fulford Ward boundary and bisects the land that is affected by the development. The path runs from the Grimston Bar Park & Ride site in a southerly direction over the A64, eventually linking in with Ox Close Lane, Heslington (via Public Bridleway, Heslington No 7) to the south. From the east, a short section of (currently non-definitive) path, leading off from the end of Low Lane, Heslington also links in to the path.
There have been no objections to the planned diversion. A temporary diversion has been in place for some months.
