Details of the answers given by a Cabinet member to questions about bus service reliability in York have been released by the Council.

Independent checks – undertaken by “mystery travellers” – have been a valuable source of information over the years as they reflect the actual experience of passengers in the city. Suspicion is growing that the Labour Cabinet may have discontinued the checks when they took office – this seems to be the only explanation for their reluctance to publish the results.

The Council was told though that, in future, reliability statistics on “contracted services” (those subsidised by Council taxpayers) might in future be published. No timescale has been given for the release of this information.

Clearly the Council is also embarrassed by the low take up of their much vaunted “all York” ticket which allows travel on any bus in the City irrespective of operator. Information on ticket sales is not forthcoming although a Freedom of Information request is outstanding.

The Council had expected 5% of passengers to take up this option but it now seems that the actual use is much lower.

Hence the Council is thinking up all sorts of reasons for not releasing the information. The ticket enjoys a £20,000 subsidy from taxpayers and was a stop gap pending the introduction of a cashless “smartcard” payment option.

The secrecy is in marked contrast to the call for openness supported by the Coalition governments Transport Minister Norman Baker (see http://tinyurl.com/York-secrecy-criticised)

The answers to questions tabled at the council meeting on 6th October published by the Council include the following.

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The York Council has ordered 2405 brand new seats and seating units for its new HQ.

Around 1000 staff will be accommodated at the new Toft Green building when it opens next March.

A Freedom of information request has revealed that the Council will spend £2.4 million on furnishings and services of which £917,000 will go on new computers and information technology.

Items already ordered, and being supplied by “Flexiform”, include:

• 2405 seating units
• 1096 desks
• 381 tables
• 551 monitors

Of the seating units, 1186 are “operator chairs”, 148 “ visitor chairs”, 98 café chairs, 678 are described as meeting chairs, 197 as “armchairs” while the rest are made up of modular soft seating & “high stools”.

19 “poser” tables are planned together with 63 coffee tables.

Concerns had been raised earlier in the year about a lack of transparency over decisions on the office move. While the expectation had been that – to make best use of modern open plan office working methods – some new furniture would be required, no Council Cabinet member has publicly authorised the specifications issued to contractors, nor has any scrutiny committee reviewed the plans.

There was an expectation when the project business case was signed off in 2008 that, where possible, existing items of equipment, fixtures and fittings would be reused.

This more cautious approach now seems to have been abandoned.

The Council has not yet tendered for the supply of “white goods”, internal signage or audio visual equipment.

The revelation comes 3 months after the Council Leader refused to answer questions about the management of the move to the new accommodation.

At the Council meeting held on 12th July the Council Leader was asked:

“Would the Council Leader please indicate how – and by whom – the specification for the fittings, fixtures and furnishings required at the new Council HQ is being drawn up and, what is the agreed budget is for each service/activity area? Would he explain how he intends to monitor the prudent use of the budgets that have been provided for this part of the HQ project and how he intends to update Council members and residents on the progress being made?”

The Council Leader responded that it did not fall within his area of responsibility.

Venues across York are preparing to welcome filmgoers from 8 – 11 November when the Aesthetica Short Film Festival takes place as part of the York 800 celebrations.

The festival, supported by City of York Council to celebrate excellence and public involvement in this, the 800th year of self government, will take place in 15 locations which range from Mansion House and the Guildhall to bustling boutique cinemas in bars and shops across the city. The inspiring settings are set to delight visitors who attend this event.

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Sunday 28 October will see the final chapter of City of York Council’s first Children’s Book Awards, when the overall winners will be announced in the company of two leading authors at a Grand Ceremony at York Explore Library Learning Centre.

The awards were launched in March when children under the age of 14 were invited to nominate their favourite story and picture books of all time. Following the nominations, a short list of five in each category was announced, and children had until 16 September to vote for their favourite.

The short-list was:

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A statement from the local Party on the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections says,

Liberal Democrats have long supported the need for greater transparency and accountability within the police. We believe that policing should have the support of the entire community and be responsive to the communities’ priorities and concerns.

While we believe that the Police Authority membership could have been subject to refinement, we also believe that the PCC elections are an unnecessary diversion for a service that has been generally successful in promoting safe and secure neighbourhoods.

King Lear a production by The Royal Shakespeare Company at York High School on Cornlands Road

Evening performances are open to all and will take place on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st of November, doors open at 6.45pm and the play starts at 7.30pm. There will be a licensed bar and an interval, after which there will be an opportunity for Q&A and also to meet the cast.

In this new edited version, King Lear is brought vibrantly to life. Stripped down to 75 minutes, the production is a thrilling introduction to one of the greatest plays ever written. These performances are an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with the actors, away from the traditional theatre setting.

£7 Adults, £3 Concession. Tickets are available by contacting York Theatre Royal Box Office on 01904 623568.

TWO hundred of York’s young music pupils will get the chance to hear the masters at York Guildhall Orchestra’s York 800 concert at the Barbican this Saturday 20 October – free of charge!

York Guildhall Orchestra had donated 200 tickets to City of York Council for the special York 800 event which will feature a specially composed piece entitled ‘Fanfare For York’ by local composer Dick Blackford.

The 200 tickets are being offered to young people taking music and performing arts sessions with the authority. Classical orchestral concerts can be expensive and inaccessible to young people and it is hoped the free tickets will encourage a new generation of classical music enthusiasts in the city and help them towards attaining their Arts Awards.

The Orchestra has a long association with the city and the concert on Saturday will celebrate its connections with music, composers and performers all based in the York area. More information is available at www.yorkguildhallorchestra.com

One of the largest single investments in York’s transport infrastructure has taken a major step forward this week, and for the first time in the UK residents are invited to join archaeologists to unearth any secrets that one of the sites may hold.

click to enlarge

A selected list of contractors have been asked to provide their best value offer to construct the £21.9m Access York (Phase 1) scheme which will help deliver the enhanced Park & Ride service for the city.

Following receipt of the tenders in December and an evaluation by the council final approval for the scheme will be sought from the Department of Transport (DfT) in early 2013. The new sites should be open by April 2014.

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Latest government figures show that crime in North Yorkshire and the City of York has been reduced by 10% – with 4,334 fewer victims – in the past year.

Public confidence in North Yorkshire Police and local authorities’ ability to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour has also risen markedly.

Released today (Thursday 18 October 2012) by the Office of National Statistics, the Crime Statistics in England and Wales for the 12 month period up to June 2012, outline the following results for the North Yorkshire Police area:

•Overall crime reduced by 10% with a total of 37,287 crimes – this equates to 4,334 fewer victims of crime in comparison to the same period last year.

•Violence against the person reduced by 12% – total 7,042 – 945 fewer victims

•Sexual offences reduced by 12% – total 529 – 53 fewer victims

•Robbery reduced by 27% – total 152 – 48 fewer victims

•Burglary reduced by 12% – total 4,787 – 673 fewer victims

•Offences against vehicles reduced by 3% – total 3,251 – 22 fewer victims

•Other theft offences reduced by 11% – total 11,305 – 1,508 fewer victims

•Criminal damage reduced by 12% – total 6,542 – 900 fewer victims

•Other offences reduced by 12% – total 499 -113 fewer victims

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Steve Galloway at the damaged verge in January

Just 16 months after the Gale Lane verge began to resemble something approaching “The Somme” the council have started surfacing the verge.

Really shouldn’t have taken this long.

It leaves the long awaited (2 years) provision of a parking area on St Stephen’s Square as the most delayed improvement in the Westfield area.

Work underway on Gale Lane

Salt bins

Meanwhile according to The Press a Labour Councillor has said that many salt bins were not used last year.

Maybe so, given that we had a mild winter, but memories are short.

The City virtually came to a halt as recently as January 2010 when many salt bins were emptied as soon as they could be filled.

Christmas 2009

Some even became inaccessible for several days because of the depth of the snow and ice.

Big freeze 2010

Meanwhile the furore over abandoned salt bins has forced a Labour Councillor to promise “a decision will be taken quickly to ensure residents’ safety is given top priority, with action taken on the ground by the time sustained and heavy snowfall arrives”.

Ridiculous, of course, given that many of the bins are now damaged and freezing rain is often the main cause of icy paths.