York Against Cancer event at Energise

City of York Council’s leisure centre Energise and its fitness equipment supplier, American company Cybex, are raising money for a cancer charity during October.

For every mile gym users log on a new pink Cybex treadmill at Energise gym on Cornlands Road, the American company will donate 10 cents to local charity, York against Cancer.

Monthly members and registered casual users at Energise are being invited to keep this pink treadmill busy at all times and raise as much money as possible. The gym instructors will also be reminding people to ensure that the treadmill is in constant use throughout the whole period. The machine will be located in the main fitness suite making it easy to use and very visible to all those working out. (more…)

Only Olympic bronze for Bayley as Councillor memories continue to improve

Following our story yesterday we have been asked where residents can find their MPs register of interests. This contains details of any gifts & hospitality received. It can be accessed here http://tinyurl.com/MP-hospitality. Compared to the local councils register it seems to be commendably up to date although this may be a legacy of the MPs expenses scandal which enveloped Parliament a few years ago.

Local Tory MP Julian Sturdy’s entry is unexceptional. He declares only income received from the family farm.

It turns out that Hugh Bayley York’s Labour MP came only in Bronze medal position in the Olympics hospitality stakes. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200483/Chris-Heaton-Harris-Tory-MP-tops-freebie-table-11-750-Olympic-tickets.html
His £4500 package was eclipsed by Tory MPs Chris Harris and John Stevenson.


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Meanwhile confusion grows on the York Council as the Leader and his chief hospitality scout continue to remember events that they attended but failed to record on the interests register.

There are obvious discrepancies between the York Council’s “gifts” register and the”interests” register which need to be reconciled quickly.

The only way that public confidence is likely to be restored would if an independent enquiry into the anomalies is undertaken.

Council Leader visits licensing inspection team

Councillor James Alexander, Labour Leader for City of York Council, has recently visited the city’s licensing inspection team.

Cllr Alexander went out with the team on a licensing inspection to witness first hand the work taken on everyday. He also had the opportunity to meet with a landlord and staff and listen to concerns.

Whilst out on the visit the landlord brought to light an issue affecting several pubs across York: that due to the conditions of their license, some pubs are not allowed to accept international ID.
Cllr Alexander said: “We have a large amount of both international students and visitors, and this issue needs to be looked at in order to ensure their time in York is as welcoming as possible – as well as helping local businesses.” (more…)

LibDem action in Foxwood

Damaged service cover Lyham Court footpath


Litter on Greenwood Grove snicket


Overgrown hedges


Detritous at entrance to Tedder Road park


Trees overhanging Acomb Wood Drive


Weed growth on The Gallops

We reported around 20 issues in the Foxwood area over the weekend.

They included problems with:
* overhanging trees,
* overgrown hedges,
* weeds growing in gutters and on paved areas,
* detritous in snickets,
* damaged footpath service covers,
* full “poop scoop” bins and
* litter (in many locations).

The Council tells us that most of the litter issues were dealt with on Monday.

It is possible to report issues like these “24/7” on the internet via this link http://tinyurl.com/York-Report-it-on-line

Chesneys Field was disgraceful see http://tinyurl.com/Chesney-litter The nearby litter bin was not full.

NB. The Foxwood Residents Association have published a newsletter. It can be read here http://tinyurl.com/FoxRes-Sept-2012.

However, we understand that the date of the “estate walkabout” has changed to 27th September (10:00am).

Poppleton “dig” announced

City of York Council is offering residents an opportunity to take part in an archaeological dig on the site of York’s newest Park & Ride.

Part of the Planning Approval for the construction of the proposed Park & Ride facility off the A59, was that the land should be assessed in detail to understand its archaeological significance.

So, from Monday 24 September experienced and novice community archaeologists will be able to work alongside professionals on the site of Poppleton Bar adjacent to the A59 and Northfields Lane.. (more…)

Guildhall future: fears grow

York Guildhall

Launch of international design competition to influence the future of York’s historic Guildhall and riverside

The Council have provided more details of the “design competition” that they hope will determine the future of the Guildhall when administrative staff leave the building early next year. In a press release they say,

“City of York Council will be launching a competition seeking nationally and internationally renowned architects to submit their design proposals which clearly demonstrate potential future uses for York’s historic Guildhall and riverside complex.

Registered architects are invited to develop their ideas for the Guildhall, the associated office accommodation, river frontage and boat yard, as part of an ‘Open Ideas’ competition, run by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Entries will be sought from architects putting forward innovative ideas on how the potential of the Guildhall site and riverside could be maximised for the benefit of the city and its residents”.

Labour’s plan has been criticised for failing to guarantee the buildings future as the civic hub of the City and for glossing over the costs of, and timescales involved in undertaking, a major remodelling project. The concern is that the building – will be empty for a long period of time and will become a blot on the streetscape of a very sensitive part of the City Centre.

Labour MPs £4,500 “hospitality” admission

According to media reports, York’s Labour MP Hugh Bayley accepted £4500 of hospitality at an Olympics games event on 6th August. The gift has been declared the House of Commons register and apparently came from Nestle.

The revelation comes only a few days after local Labour Councillors in York were criticised for accepting hospitality, worth around £1000, from lobbyists and commercial organisations.

York will pay £3.3 million in Landfill Tax penalties

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It has now been confirmed by the Council that the Landfill Tax penalties, that will have to be made by Council Taxpayers, are set to increase by nearly £400,000 this year.

More commercial waste is going to landfill and the amount that residents are composting was down in the early part of the year.

The closure of the Beckfield Lane recycling centre in April will save the Council only £40,000 a year (10% of the extra Landfill Tax bill that we now face).

The Council have confirmed that Labour’s Green Bin Tax plan will not be published for consultation until 2013. Instead there will be “a review into working patterns and shifts as well as a move away from same day collections for refuse and recycling”.

Labour have also threatened to privatise the waste collection service next year.