A new edition of Focus has been delivered to residents living in the Hob Moor/Kingsway area this week.
While in the area we spotted problems with graffiti on the phone box and some dumped material. We have reported both to the Council.
The Police are following up complains about parked vehicles in Middleton Road causing an obstruction.
Page 1 click to enlarge
Pages 2 and 3 click to enlarge
Page 4 click to enlarge
Dozens of Westfield residents turned up this morning at Acomb Library to protest at Labours building plans for the area.
It was the only opportunity that residents will have to voice their opinions as Ward Committee meetings have now been scrapped.
Those attending criticised Labour Councillor D Williams who was unable to answer their concerns about a proposed “showman’s” site which Labour hope to locate on Wetherby Road. He also failed to offer any practical support for the “Save the Green Belt “ campaign.
Cllr Williams was sacked from his “Crime and Stronger Communities” post on the Council’s Cabinet last week. He is being shuffled into a role dealing with finance and customer services(!)
Meanwhile more mis-information is being circulated by vested interests.
One correspondent claimed in The Press that the campsite on Wetherby Road was for “Travellers” and urged residents to sign a Council web site petition opposing it.
Fortunately, for Wetherby Road residents, there are very clear legal differences between a Showman’s lay over site and a Traveller camp. It will be much easier to demonstrate that there is little need for the former. The Council is likely to readily agree to the “on line” petition’s request not to site a Traveller camp near Knapton…diverting attending away from the real issue, which is the maintenance of the Green Belt designation for all the land on the Rufforth/Knapton plain.
Showman’s site Wetherby Road Knapton
The land here, and the field at Dunnington which is indeed threatened for use as a caravan site for Travellers, was confirmed as being important “Green Belt” land when the Local Plan was agreed in February 2011.
What the landowners are now trying to do is break that Green Belt designation.
They have no interest in providing campsites which offer a low financial return. Once the land is removed from the Green Belt, they will seek residential or retail use for it.
An acre of agricultural land might have a value of £10,000.
If identified for housing, commercial or retail development, its value could soar to £1 million or more.
That is the long game that some land owners are playing.
By accepting the expression of interest – in providing caravan sites – at face value, the Council have been naïve, bordering on the gullible.
Ironically they are no closer to solving any perceived lack of traveller’s pitches.
A similar attempt to muddy the water can be found in an article in today’s Yorkshire Post.
Thousands of school children in York are set to take part in this year’s National Walk to School event, taking place across the city from next week (20 -24 May).
Organised by the national charity Living Streets the event aims to encourage children and parents to incorporate walking into their daily routine and support them with tips, advice and motivation.
The week-long event is part of the national Walking Month in May, aiming to bring together nearly one million school children, teachers and parents across the country.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said: “Whether it’s walking all or part of the journey to work, stepping out of the office for a lunchtime walk, or getting off the bus a few stops earlier on your way home, walking is a free and easy way to work more exercise into your daily routine.
“Logging your walks on http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/ during Walk to Work Week is a great way to get started!”
For further information about Walk to Work Week, schools and parents can contact Christine Packer, School Travel Advisor on 01904 551345.
In York, information on sustainable journeys, including an urban walking route planner, is available from http://www.itravelyork.info/
City of York Council is piloting a project to ensure all children and young people receive a library card so they and their families can enjoy their local libraries and reading.
In York, the Automatic Library Membership Project sends all children who start primary school in September a new library card – which is also a York Card – along with the letter telling parents at which primary school their child has a place. Children who already hold a library card are being asked to use their new card.
As well as being a library card, their free York Card gives free entry to council supported museums and discounted or free entry to a range of leisure facilities in York. The new card features a robot whose design was chosen by children visiting our library reading groups.
Ipad
Acomb Explore Library Tuesday 21 May 2pm – 4pm
We have a variety of devices for you try – get hands-on experience without any pressure to buy and ask some basic questions to get you started.
We can also offer advice on how to get online if you don’t already use a computer, and explain how to get started with our exciting range of eBooks.
Part of Adult Learning Week 2013.
These are drop-in sessions, no need to book.
Councillor Lynn Jeffries, who resigned from the Labour Party last year, has announced she is joining the Liberal Democrat Group on City of York Council.
Lynn, who currently represents Westfield Ward as an Independent, said she was delighted to join the Lib Dems who were offering the “real alternative to Labour in York”. She resigned from the Labour Group last August saying she was disillusioned with the way they were running the city, opposed their cuts to social care and the lack of genuine consultation, and said that Council Leader James Alexander was more interested in his public profile than representing residents.
Councillor Lynn Jeffries’ commented:
“I have chosen to join the Liberal Democrat Group because I feel they are the real alternative to Labour in York. When Labour closed Beckfield Lane and Burnholme School and when they cut adult social care it was the Lib Dem Group who actually listened to residents and led the opposition. It is also the Lib Dems that are leading the fight against Labour’s plans to rip-up the Green Belt.
“Lib Dem campaigners in Westfield and elsewhere are the ones who are actually working hard for local residents. I feel that joining the Group is the best way for me to represent the people of Westfield and to be able to stand-up for the rights of vulnerable people in York who are suffering the impact of Labour’s cuts.
“I have worked very closely with Keith Aspden on a number of issues and I know he will be an excellent Leader of the Lib Dems.”
Councillor Keith Aspden, who was elected Liberal Democrat Group Leader in York last week, commented:
“I am thrilled that Lynn will be joining the Liberal Democrat Group. She took a brave and principled stand on Labour’s handling of the cuts to social care last year and she has a proven track record as a diligent campaigner on equality issues. She is Chair of York Independent Living Network and her experience and insight on these matters will be invaluable to the Group. We have worked closely with her on many issues in the past few months and she does an excellent job representing Westfield residents. I am looking forward to working with her.”
Lynn will lead on equality issues for the Group and will be nominated to sit on the Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.
Residents in York can get a fright at York Dungeon, go for a cut price swim at Yearsley or Energise and come face-to-face with Vikings at the Jorvic Centre – all for less with a York Card.
The current York Card is available for renewal at a cost of £3. The card also doubles up as a library card, which allows residents to borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, large print books and language courses.
Residents on disability living allowance, carers allowance, housing benefit, council tax support, employment support allowance widowed parents allowance or working tax credit will be able to get the card for free . A letter from the awarding body will be needed.
To apply for a York Card go to any York library. Please bring proof of identity and York residency.
Despite assurances, many residents remain convinced that serviceable office equipment and furniture taken from the old Council offices has been land filled.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed that “Any monies received by the clearance contractors for the sale of goods is offset against the invoiced costs of labour, transport, skip hire, and recycling costs”.
This suggests that there is very little incentive for the contractors to reuse or recycle equipment.
Asked how much (%) of the equipment from the old office premises has been either a) reused, b) sold, c) recycled or d) scrapped? the Council responded with the following information:
“No furniture has been sold directly by the council.
The majority of the furniture will be recycled as materials with no more than 4% being disposed through landfill. This is a contractual requirement. All electrical equipment is recycled in accordance with the WEEE directive.
703 PC’s and thin terminals were reused and 398 were disposed of and replaced with thin terminals which are more environmentally friendly consuming less power and reducing CO2 emissions in line with the council’s carbon reduction plans, easier to support and enabling flexible working which is part of the ethos of the building.
475 Monitors (15 and 17 inch) were reused and 480 were recycled as they failed to meet the minimum flexible working standard of 19”
621 Telephones were reused and 480 were disposed of as they did not facilitate flexible working or meet the 1Gb throughput which is now the industry standard.
A number of organisations have collected furniture and equipment for reuse:-
• York Explore;
• Future prospects (Filing cabinets coat stands Pedestals) for use in existing office;
• Elderly Persons Homes (Office Chairs, desk, bookcase, pedestals)
• Children’s centres (office chairs, reception/meeting room chairs, storage cabinets, pedestals, desk fans);
• Howe Hill Homeless centre (Kitchen equipment, and furniture);
• York Crematorium (Desks, filing cabinets, chairs, pedestals for new reception, book shelves) ;
• Respite Service (Chairs);
• Canon Lee School (32 task chairs, 3x low tables, 12 chairs, conference table plus 15 chairs and storage cupboard for special needs children’s centre);
• St Georges and Osbaldwick Primary schools;
• Badger Hill Primary School (soft furnishings for children’s reading area);
• Domestic Abuse Service (filing cabinets, pedestals, chairs, shredders, coat stands);
• Foxwood Community centre (Chairs);
• Lifeline (Desks and Chairs) for use at Blossom Street;
• Adult Learning Centres (Office chairs, meeting room chairs, book case, filing cabinets);
• Pine Trees Day Care Centre (Chairs and pedestals);
• Yearsley Pool (Office Chairs, book shelves, monitor stands, desk trays);
• Hazel Court (Desks, Chairs, Soft furnishing, and Cupboards);
The Council has struggled to convince passers by that equipment apparently dumped into skips outside the St Leonards Place office earlier in the year “was being sorted for recycling”.
York Guildhall
3 months after council staff left the Guildhall to move into the new West Office building, a Freedom of Information request has revealed that the – now empty – building is still costing taxpayers £162,000 a year.
The figure doesn’t include any modernisation costs and is partly made up of Business Rates payments.
Although it was always intended that the Council Chamber would continue to host full Council meetings, it appears that other meeting rooms are also being used on an ad hoc basis.
This rules out the possibility of negotiating a reduced Business Rate liability and will have implications for heating, lighting and caretaking costs.
It appears that meeting space at the New West Offices is at a premium.
The original plan has been to locate senior staff and Councillors in the historic part of the building while leasing out the more modern annex. Space freed up at the new West Offices would also have been let providing a useful additional revenue stream for the Council (further details of the West Office arrangements will be published on this web site tomorrow)
The Council courted controversy when Labour decided to abandon the Guildhall. Critics pointed out that the prominent listed building would continue to be a burden on taxpayers and that it would be more economical to continue to use it as the centre of democracy in the City.
A largely bogus “design competition” for the site was hastily bundled together last year, although it was always clear that the huge investment needed, for a major remodelling of the building and access arrangements, was be unlikely to be available in the short term.
So it has proved to be the case with parts of the building now left to rot.
Empty buildings owned by the York Council (annual costs in brackets) include:
• Ashbank (£28,000),
• Hollycroft (£24,000),
• St Antonys House (£27,000) and
• Guildhall (£162,000)
Other empty property is leased by the Council and will be handed back to the owners during the next 6 months. Significant costs will accrue in the mean time. The properties involved are:
• Mill House (Lease expires 14th June 2013) Cost £73,000
• 20 George Hudson St (12th July 2013) £68,000
• 18 Back Swinegate (1st September 2013) £139,000
• St Leonards & Museum St (23rd June 2013) £113,000
• Little Stonegate (13th June 2013) £13,000
The anticipated cost includes rent, rates and services up until the planned termination of the lease.
628 residents have now signed the “Save the Green Belt” petition with more arriving with every post.
An independent “Action Group” is now being set up to ensure that any representations on the Wetherby Road/Knapton site (that are made, when the public consultation period on the plan starts in June) are coordinated and to a high standard.
A steering group is holding its first meeting on Monday (probably in a private house so attendance will be limited).
Survey Results. click to enlarge
The Action Group has support from a wide area including Knapton and Rufforth & across most political parties. Andrew Waller is coordinating input from the Westfield side of Wetherby Road (tel.337757) Reuban Mayne, who helped to organise the petition in Acomb, is also a keen supporter.
Meanwhile the distribution of “Save the Green Belt” window posters starts today. They are being delivered to all households on Wetherby Road who have signed the petition.
A similar delivery is planned for the Foxwood Lane area where residents groups are opposing plans to build houses on a green belt site.
Some residents are planning to lobby Labour Cabinet Member Cllr Dafydd Williams at a Westfield Ward meeting on Saturday (18th May, Explore Library on Front Street from 10:00am)
Cllr Williams was one of the “Cabinet” members who voted in favour of the green belt developments at a meeting held on 30th April
So far he has failed to take any action to address residents concerns about the decision
The residents are likely to be joined by people living in the Newbury Avenue neighbourhood who are aggrieved over the “Cabinet’s” plans to demolish garages in the area.
Watch this web site for further updates on the Green Belt campaign
