Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that Summer Schools for disadvantaged young people in York will benefit from an extra £100million in government funding. This will ensure that this year’s successful Summer School programme will be secure for a further two years, as well as giving new schools the opportunity to take part.

This summer 5 schools in York took part in the programme which aims to help pupils make the step-up from primary to secondary school. All pupils who receive free school meals or are ‘in care’ are eligible for the scheme. Schools receive £500 for each pupil for a 2 week Summer School and £250 per pupil for a 1 week Summer School.

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York City centre flood monitor click to enlarge

The Ouse is now reaching peak levels and is expected to fall gradually over the next 24 hours.

The Foss is already returning to more normal levels.

In both cases the levels seen early today were close to the highest ever recorded (12 years ago). It was a closer call for the York community than the Council seemed to be prepared to admit on Tuesday.

Useful web site list

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It’s perhaps not surprising that, when on Tuesday a Labour Councillor took the decision, not to fill many of York’s salt bins this winter; he remained safely “behind closed doors”.

When the Council’s new culture of secrecy was introduced in the spring, residents were told that matters of public interest would continue to be debated in public.

There is nothing of more interest to people than being able to get around safely in icy conditions, especially if we have a poor winter.

But no agenda was published for Tuesdays meeting and the officer report has only just being made public 2 days after the decision was taken (http://tinyurl.com/York-salt-bin-policy-2012)

Council report. click to enlarge

The report reveals that Labour plan only to fill the 199 bins provided through the “highways budget”. The remaining 170 were filled using funding provided by Ward Committees (following the annual ballot of resident’s priorities).

Residents, of course, make no distinction on the Councils internal budget arrangements. It is all taxpayer’s money either way.

In many wards, when the Ward Committee ballot was last conducted in autumn 2011, Labour Councillors took the option- of sustaining local salt bins – off the ballot list.

It is now clear why they did so.

Bizarrely, in Westfield, Labour allocated the money, that could have been used to fill the bins, to a project to “purchase new pantomime costumes”.

Possibly one of the costumes could be made available for the Cabinet member who took this extraordinary decision? (A former student leader from Heslington called Levene)

Many of the salt bins – that are now being left out all year – are already in poor condition. Some have been vandalised, while the salt in some has congealed making them unusable.

Yet the new policy would see these bins retained (empty) on our streets -monuments to a more sensible policy

Time to think again on this one.

And hopefully rookie Cabinet member Levene will leave the safety of his ivory tower and ensure that , in future, important decisions on street level services are taken openly and only after residents have had an opportunity to give their views.

Stoptober’s challenge for York

A national campaign is calling for all smokers in York to join a 28-day quitting challenge.

During October, smokers in York are being encouraged to take part in the first ever mass quit attempt launched by the Department of Health – Stoptober.

We know that if you can stop smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stay smokefree, and Stoptober leads smokers through a detailed step-by-step programme to help them achieve this goal.

Many famous faces, organisations, employers, City of York Council and North Yorkshire NHS Stop Smoking Service are supporting the brand new stop smoking campaign in a bid to get people to quit.

The new campaign includes a preparation pack, 28-day Quit Calendar and Health & Wealth wheel. Smokers will also receive support and encouragement through a daily messaging service, inspiration from celebrity mentors, and expert advice via:

• Stoptober app (available via Smartphone)
• Motivational text messages
• Facebook page.

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North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 26 September and Tuesday 2 October 2012.

•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•A64 west-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•Broadway, Fulford, York
•Murton Way, Murton, York
•Fordlands Road, Fulford York
•A64 east-bound Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•B1228 Main Street, Elvington, York
•B1228 Dunnington Lodge, Elvington, York
•A1237 Monks Cross, York
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The weather in context. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulhudson/2012/09/all-eyes-on-york-after-worst-s.shtml

The Environment Agency expects river levels in York to peak this afternoon but levels will remain high until tomorrow morning. They are likely to be the highest seen over the last 5 or so years but they are unlikely to reach an historic high for the Ouse.

Some riverside properties are subject to flood risk. http://tinyurl.com/Skelton-river-levels

The retail, tourism and business sectors of the City are still functioning with minimal disruption

The Foss is at record high levels with some localised flooding. http://tinyurl.com/New-Earswick-river-level

A list of local flood warnings can be found here http://tinyurl.com/York-flooding-26th-Sept-2012

Upstream, all tributaries are now showing declining river levels. http://tinyurl.com/Ouse-catchment

NB. The A1 southbound near Sedgefield remains closed but is expected to reopen at about 5:00pm. The A1 northbound is closed at Dishforth.
See traffic information tab (left) for updates.

A list of roads closed in York can be found here: http://www.york.gov.uk/advice/emergencies/weather/01update/

Train services are still disrupted. Details can be found here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html#

Changes to First bus services (Poppleton, Skeldergate etc) can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/First-bus-service-updates

Adult Carers receiving support services from City of York Council will be asked for their views on the services they receive over the next few weeks.

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Thursday 18 October 6pm – 7pm, Rowntree Park Reading Cafe.

Celebrate the opening of Rowntree Park Reading Cafe and explore the life of Joseph Rowntree and why he would approve of this innovative library model.

This local history talk with Nestle Archivist, Alex Hutchinson, will give an introduction to York’s world famous, Rowntree Family, in particular focusing on the life of Joseph Rowntree, his passion for reading, libraries and learning, and his desire for Rowntree Park to aid the citizens of York of all ages towards a healthier and happier life.

Tickets cost £4 and are available online from the http://tinyurl.com/Rowntree-18th-Oct-12 or from Rowntree Park Reading Café tel: (01904) 551489 .

Grantham Drive to The Fox proposals. click to enlarge

An urgent item has been added to a council meeting which is taking place on Thursday.

If approved it would see works start almost immediately on the bus priority measures recently consulted on which affect the Boroughbridge Road areas of the Holgate and Acomb Wards.

Dozens of objections were raised by residents during a recent consultation process on the section of Boroughbridge Road between Grantham Drive and The Fox roundabout.

There were fewer objections to the proposals for the Water End to Carr Lane section.

The report and list of objections can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Boroughbridge-Road-27th-Sept-1

Carr Lane to Water End proposals. click to enlarge

Although residents have the right to attend and register to speak at Thursday’s meeting, it is unlikely that many will even know that the bus lane and parking changes are being discussed!

The NHS North Yorkshire and York board was meeting today and was being asked to approve a range of cuts to NHS services in the region. The cuts result from budget mismanagement over several years.

Unlike some York Council meetings, the NHS Board do at least hold their meetings in public and they publish agendas and background papers in advance.

Those for today’s meeting can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/NHS-25th-Sept-12

However anyone seeking a detailed list of the cuts to be made will be disappointed.

The Board said at their last meeting that “we may not take everyone with us, we are committed to ensuring that, whilst they may not agree with the decisions we have to take, the public will be fully aware of the challenges we face and the reasons behind the decisions we take”.

Strange therefore that the Board did not publicise in advance of the meeting the measures that they intended to discuss let alone take the opportunity to give residents, patients and staff the chance to make representations.

The NHS PCT Board is being wound up early next year.