3 organisations in York are to benefit from the latest Lottery awards. They are:
• Vale of York Environment Group £9,875: This is a project by a voluntary and community organisation in York. The organisation will use funding to manage a series of family nature walks and events to be delivered by BTCV in York. This will reduce isolation and enable integration among the families through outdoor activities.
• Strensall with Towthorpe Parish Council £6,720: This is a project by a parish council in Strensall, York. The organisation will use funding to erect fencing around the children’s play area. This will enable them to increase the safety of children.
• St Paul’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School £3,690: This is a project by a primary school in York. The organisation will use funding to develop a recently donated allotment plot into a community garden for children at the school and the wider community. This will enable opportunities for them to grow vegetables and learn about nature and the environment.
Some 62 groups in Yorkshire are sharing nearly £500,000 of funding this month from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme, with several of the groups using their awards to provide fun activities for children and young people to enjoy.

With the August opening of the York Sport Village at Grimston Bar getting close, residents are being kept in the dark about casual use charges. The Sports Village website www.york-sport.com is currently touting for members but is silent about the arrangements for “walk up” use.

The need for affordable prices was one of the conditions of the Council’s £2 million grant to the project which replaces the former pool at the Barbican.

Currently the Sports Village is offering a pre opening membership fee of £39.95 per month (concessions £36) which is broadly in line with other gyms in the area although the swimming pool will be by far the largest in the City.

The £9 million facility, which is a joint venture between the Council, York University and Sport England, includes:
• . Eight-lane swimming pool
• . Floodlit outdoor full size 3G football pitch and three five-a-side pitches
• . 120-station fitness suite and three studios for classes
• . Spa facilities

Energise

Meanwhile work is starting on a further expansion of the Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road. The gym area will be doubled providing space for more classes and a 50% increase in the number of machines. Members get access to gym, swim and classes and can have individual exercise plans.

Fitness suite membership is available for £33 a month with casual admission charges (with YorkCard) from £4-80. The swimming pool charge is £3.65.

A 3D “walk round” of the new facilities can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Energise-Upgrade

The store on Beagle Ridge Drive has applied to the Council to vary its trading hours:
i) Sale of alcohol
Mon – Sun 07:00hrs – 23:00hrs (currently 08:00hrs to 23:00hrs)
ii) Opening times
Mon – Sun 07:00hrs to 22:00hrs (currently no restrictions)

Anyone wishing to make representations to the Council on the application has until 05/07/12 to do so.

click to enlarge

2 York Council houses have been valued at over £400,000 according to figures issued by the Local Authority.

More typically though over 90% of homes have been valued at less than £150,000.

York has 7745 Council house and flats with an estimated total value of over £800 million.

The Government recently announced plans to offer council tenants, wishing to purchase their homes, discounts of up to £75,000, arguing that the discount will help encourage “strong families and stable communities”.

Families could receive a 35% discount after five years’ residency, with an extra 1% for each additional year, up to a maximum of £75,000.

Tenants in flats will get 50% off after five years, with 2% added yearly. The money raised from sales will go towards building more social housing.

City of York Council is today marking the start of Food Safety Week by encouraging consumers to be thrifty with food, whilst staying safe.

This year Food Safety Week is promoting food safety on a budget. New research published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that some people are taking more risks with food safety as they try to save money and make their food go further.

The research showed that 97 per cent of those questioned believed the cost of their typical shopping basket has gone up significantly in the last three years, with half of these trying to make better use of leftover food. However, some people are ignoring ‘Use By’ dates more than they used to, while others are keeping leftovers for longer than the recommended limit of two days in the fridge. (more…)

Apprenticeships on offer at York Council.

A number of Apprenticeships are being offered by the City of York Council. Details can be found on the national web site http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

What are Apprenticeships?
As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 years-old and not in full-time education can.
Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.60 per hour (from 1st October 2012 will change to £2.65 per hour); however, many apprentices earn significantly more.

Who are they for?
Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16years-old whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years or are seeking to start a new career. You just need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.
There may be different entry requirements depending on the Apprenticeship and the industry sector. However competition for places with employers can be fierce, so you will need to show that you are committed, and aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the company who would employ you. You also need to be happy to work as both part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.

There are some unlikely vacancies being advertised by the York Council.

see list here (more…)

The Council have detailed more plans for the torch relay taking place on 19th June.

The evening event at the Knavesmire – which is now all ticket – is scheduled to end at 7:30pm just 15 minutes before the Ukraine vs England Euro cup match kicks off.

As the excitement of the Olympic Torch in York draws closer, City of York Council is planning to keep expected and significant traffic disruption to a minimum and public safety a priority.

This is York’s moment to shine in the light of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the legendary Flame and be a part of the event. Everyone is invited to line the streets and cheer the inspirational Torchbearers who will carry the Flame through York – but allow plenty of time for the journey to the Torch Route or the Racecourse.
On 19 June, rolling road closures will be activated between 10-15 minutes ahead of the cycling escort which will leave York College at 5:15pm. Once the whole convoy has passed and pedestrians are off the road, it will be removed.

(more…)

North Yorkshire Police are reporting that two men were arrested after police stopped their vehicles in the Tadcaster area and found they contained a large amount of copper cabling.

The men, one aged 23 from Morely near Leeds, and the other aged 29 from the Goole area, were spotted by police on Scarthingwell Lane, Towton near Tadcaster, on 23 May 2012. (more…)

Eyebrows were raised last year when the Council renamed its “Executive” as a “Cabinet”. At the same time they moved from a 2 weekly meeting cycle to a monthly cycle.

Now the Cabinet have cancelled their June meeting leaving an unprecedented 2 month gap in the decision taking process.

Residents may begin to wonder what they are getting for the £20,000 a year salaries now being drawn by Cabinet members?

Their individual monthly decision meeting schedule is also slipping.

The Councillor with responsibility for Corporate Services (basically financial strategy) hasn’t made a decision since December 2011 while the Cabinet Leader hasn’t had a decision meeting since July 2011.

Over the last 12 months the number of decision meetings attended by Cabinet members has varied substantially.
• Leader 2 decision meetings in the last year
• Corporate Services 3 meetings
• Education 4 meetings
• Crime 6 meetings in the last year
• Environmental Services 8 meetings
• Health and Housing 9 meetings
• Leisure 10 meetings
• Transport 10 meetings

There have also been relatively few officer meetings documented where an official has formally taken decisions, following consultation with the appropriate elected member. Lists of these can be found on the Councils web site. http://tinyurl.com/York-Council-officer-decisions

Of course, not all work takes place at formal meetings. But they do form an essential part of the dialogue process that residents expect from a listening Council.

Taxpayers may feel that they are being short changed, while residents may feel they are deliberately being kept in the dark!

With the beginning of Euro 2012 just one week away, North Yorkshire Police are urging the public to enjoy the football tournament in the right spirit.

Pubs, bars and clubs will be packed with fans supporting the national team which could potentially lead to alcohol-related disorder. (more…)