York has made steady progress over recent years in enhancing the appearance and function of the City centre. Some of he key improvements implemented or planned include:
• Library and Library Square public realm enhancement Internal alterations to library approved 2009 and now complete.
• 5* Hotel, New CYC Offices and Station Road War Memorial
• Minster Piazza A new and improved setting for the spectacular South Transept
• King’s Square public realm enhancement
• St. Sampson’s Square and Parliament Street public realm enhancement
• Fossgate New Footstreet
• Piccadilly junction improvements
• Treemendous Initiative, in partnership with community groups, to plant 50,000 trees in York over the next 3 years.,
• Duncombe Place public realm enhancement

Cross party support for these improvements has been forthcoming.

Now the new Labour administration is setting out their priorities. They are entitled to do so but residents have an expectation that any plans will be carefully costed, that financing will have been obtained, that residents – particularly those who are directly affected such as traders – will have been consulted and that a realistic implementation timetable will have been drawn up.

In the case of the proposals going to a decision meeting on Thursday, none of these principles seems to have been respected.

…..And residents were given only a couple of hours (until 5;00pm on Friday) to record their written views on a report which was only published on the Friday morning!!!!! (the previous Council allowed a full week for written representations to be lodged).

A summary of the proposals is reproduced below.

They are something of a curates egg.

• Many would like to see large delivery vehicles banished from the City centre. The idea of transhipping goods onto smaller local delivery lorries is an attractive one. But previous studies have pointed out to huge costs in setting up a new depot with substantial annual costs for planning and running the delivery system. If this scheme were introduced then either an (unlikely) taxpayers subsidy would have to be found or City Centre traders would have to pay (and that would mean higher prices for shoppers and a reduction in the ability of City centre retailers to compete with out of town centres).

• Similarly, while the Councils budget might run over the next 3 years to one major additional paving scheme – and Duncombe Place does offer a major opportunity – then costs could escalate if major work is required to utility services. 9York’s infamous Victorian sewers still need a lot of investment),

• The report talks of introducing “pay and display” in the City centre. We have actually had pay and display at both on street and off street parking spaces for 2 decades now. Some retailers want pay on exit to be introduced at municipal car parks at a cost of around £750,000. But the system of mechanical barriers was abandoned in the 1990s because of reliability problems. Fortunately the is a solution available in the form of touch in touch out smart cards which could satisfy those who do not want to forecast the length of their stay when they park in the City.

• Alarms bells will be ringing in the ears of traders in streets like Micklegate who are singled out for unspecified traffic management changes.

So, all in all, some good ideas rather ruined by the manner in which they have been put forward.

The lack of public consultation in particular will leave a legacy of distrust and scepticism.

Labour have finally published their proposals for changes to the City centre. They are contained in two documents that will be debated at a meeting on Thursday.

Today we look at the changes that they propose to the traffic and parking arrangements in the City centre pedestrian areas.

Several of the proposals are welcome and build on the improvements made in the City centre over the last decade. They include standardising – and extending – the footstreet hours, adding Fossgate (and Castlegate) to the zone, additional cycle parking, additional parking spaces for disabled drivers on Piccadilly, reductions in unnecessary signage and eliminating A (advertising) boards from public footpaths.

Other proposals will be more controversial;
• The exclusion of most motor vehicles – together with the elimination of “on street” parking outside the pedestrian hours – could hit the evening economy.,
• Putting in a (one way) cycle link on High Petergate will not please all and it fails to address the need for a west to east cross city centre cycle route,
• The most severely disabled residents who currently have green badges (in addition to those with national blue badge ) will have less access to the city centre and fewer “on street” parking spaces.
• Changes to access arrangements in Micklegate could hit traders and area beingpropmoted with little preliminary consultation with those affected.

Some plans need to go back to the drawing board.
 Extending the pedestrian zone to include Monk Bar would leave a large number of residents and businesses without day time vehicular access. This would include part of the Aldwark development and The Minster
 Reducing the number of general parking spaces available in car parks – and reserving the spaces for blue badge holders – is unnecessary (given that spare spaces are available at most time for all potential users).
 Erecting 10 mph advisory speed signs at the entrance to the zone would simply add to the street clutter. The few vehicles that could still enter the area are unlikely to travel quickly.
 Evening parking spaces in Blake Street, Lendal, Goodramgate and Duncombe Place would be lost. Some of these, at least, add to active feel of the city particularly on winter evenings.
 Closing the Blake Street slip road (from Duncombe Place) would have little effect (it is only used regularly by a horse and cart)

We will review the more controversial, and costly, proposals for physical changes tomorrow.

Lib Dems in Government making sure every young person has a fair chance

The Lib Dems in Government are taking real action to tackle youth unemployment. Every young person who wants it will be guaranteed a job, training or work placement.
The Youth Contract will create over 400,000 new jobs and 250,000 new work experience placements to help young people across Britain to get into work.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP said, “If people are out of work when they’re young they bear the scars for decades. If they have a false start, they might not ever fully catch up.

“This £1 billion investment will make sure our young people are earning and learning again, before long-term damage is done.”

The Liberal Democrats are determined to tackle youth unemployment – an issue that has been ignored for too long.

During Labour’s 13 years in power, youth unemployment rose by nearly 40%. There was a shocking 86% increase in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
Local Lib Dem campaigner Steve Galloway added, “Our new plans will make sure every young person has a fair chance. Thanks to the Lib Dems in Government, 1010 local learners took on an apprenticeship in the past year to gain key skills, and now the 3.4% of young people in our area on Job Seekers Allowance will get extra support to help them into work too.”

The £1 billion new investment to tackle youth unemployment includes:
• Over 400,000 new work places for 18 – 24 year olds over the next three years
• 250,000 extra work experience places for every 18 – 24 year old who wants one (after 3 months on Job Seekers Allowance) and 160,000 wage subsidies
• All 18 – 24 year olds to receive extra careers support from Job Seekers Plus (after 3 months on Job Seekers Allowance)
• More funding to support apprenticeships, including 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices
• A new programme to help the most disengaged 16 – 17 year olds get learning again or into a job with training

Anti social behaviour in Westfield has been increasing recently with more incidents recorded in the ward than anywhere else outside the City centre in October.

The increase has partly been blamed on the cessation of the Ward committee funded Community Ranger security patrols.

The Labour council has been asked to reintroduce the patrols as soon as possible.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Iain Spittal said:

“North Yorkshire Police has the necessary contingency arrangements in place to ensure core services are maintained during the planned public sector strike on Wednesday 30 November.

“We are satisfied that these measures will mitigate for any police staff who choose to support the industrial action.

“Members of the public will experience a ‘business as usual’ service as far as possible, with emergency 999 calls being dealt with as swiftly and professionally as ever.

“We feel our approach best serves the overarching priority of North Yorkshire Police, which is to protect and serve our communities.”

Industrial action – Wednesday 30 November

Headteachers will advise pupils, parents and carers of the detail of any school closures that are required due to industrial action.

Schools expected to be open:

Primary Schools
• Burton Green Primary School
• Carr Infant School (nursery closed)
• Headlands Primary School
• Ralph Butterfield Primary School
• St. Mary’s CE Primary School
• St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School

Schools planning a partial opening (Parents will be advised of specific details):

Primary Schools
• Badger Hill Primary School (open for Year 2)
• Carr Junior School (open for Year 4)
• Danesgate Community
• Derwent Schools (open for Key Stage 1 only)
• Dunnington Primary School (open for Reception, Years 1,2,5 and 6, closed for Years 3 and 4)
• Heworth CE Primary School (closed for class 1 and class 4, open for classes 2,3 and 5)
• Lakeside Primary (1 class closed in Year 2)
• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School (Open for pupils attending Hamilton Drive site with the exception of Year 3, Windsor Garth site closed to all)
• Poppleton Ousebank Primary School (open for reception, Years 1 and 2) (The nursery and Years 3-6 will be closed)
• Rufforth Primary School (Open for Key Stage 2 only)
• St Barnabas CE Primary School (Year 4/5 class and Year 6 open)
• St. Lawrences CE Primary School (Open for Nursery, Reception, Years1,2 and Year 6)
• Westfield Primary Community School (6 classes closed – final details to be confirmed)
• Woodthorpe Primary School (7 classes open 6 classes closed)
• Wigginton Primary (Class R and Class 45J open all day. Classes 1D and 34PR open for the morning only, Classes 6B and 56Br open for the afternoon only)

Secondary Schools
• Archbishop Holgate’s CE School (Years 12 and 13 open only)
• Danesgate Community
• Fulford School (Year 11 open only)
• Huntington School (Years 7,12 and 13 open only)
• York High School (open for Year 7. Year 11 will be able to go in and do individual study in the library and ICT areas)

Schools expected to be closed:

Primary Schools
• Acomb Primary School
• Archbishop of York’s CE Junior School
• Copmanthorpe Primary (but Year 6 residential trip will go ahead)
• Clifton Green Primary School
• Dringhouses Primary School
• Elvington CE Primary School
• Fishergate Primary School
• Hempland Primary School
• Hob Moor Oaks and Hob Moor Primary School
• Knavesmire Primary School
• Lord Deramore’s Primary School
• Osbaldwick Primary School
• Naburn Primary School
• New Earswick Primary School
• Park Grove Primary School
• Poppleton Road Primary School
• Scarcroft Primary School
• Skelton Primary School
• St Aelreds RC Primary School
• St Georges RC Primary School
• St Oswald’s CE Primary School
• St Paul’s CE Primary School
• St Paul’s Nursery
• Stockton on the Forest Primary School
• Tang Hall Primary School
• Wheldrake with Thorganby CE Primary School

Secondary Schools
• All Saints RC School
• Applefields School
• Burnholme Community College
• Canon Lee School
• Manor CE School
• Millthorpe School
• The Joseph Rowntree School

This information is subject to change.

Upon taking office, each Councillor must record any Interests that they may have on a publicly available Register. The Register can be viewed “on line” at the Councils web site.

The list is intended to make clear what Interests individual Councillors may have and which might influence their voting behaviour. While it is mainly aimed at reassuring electors that Councillors do not bring influence to bear on issues from which they might personally benefit, it also provided transparency on any links with Companies, Trades Unions and other outside bodies.

Generally the system has worked well and until recently there seemed to be no reason to suppose that all Councillors had not been diligent in filling in and maintaining the accuracy of the register.

As reported on this site previously, concerns were raised about Labour Councillors not declaring an interest at the June Council meeting when a proposal to increase the number of Trades Union officials paid for by taxpayers was considered. The vote came only a few days after candidates at the local elections had confirmed, in returns lodged at the Guildhall, the amounts paid towards their election expenses by third parties.

Most were expected to declare contributions at least from the political party that had nominated them.
By the 26th October, 12 members of the Labour group had failed to register any donations towards their election expenses.

The guidance on completing the register is clear: “The Standards Board for England does not draw a distinction between direct financial assistance (payments of money directly to a Councillor for election or other expenses) and indirect assistance (such as payment for election posters or leaflets). You should register any person or organisation who has made a financial contribution (whether direct or indirect) to your election campaign or who assists you with the costs of carrying out your duties. This may include your political party”.

A complaint about this irregularity was registered with the local Standards committee.
A few days later several Councillors updated their Register entries with 2 now admitting a donation towards their election expenses having been made by UNISON (Cllrs Laing and Crisp).
3 Councillors (Hodgson, Funnell and McIlveen) continued to claim that they had received no help towards the costs of the election (although their running mates in the wards concerned had by then admitted at least a contribution from the Labour Party).

The Standards Committee must now decide whether the Register of interests is now accurate and what action to take – if any – on the votes which were recorded at Council meetings without the appropriate Declaration if Interest being in place.

The Electoral Commission has published details of the amounts donated to UK political parties during the period between July and September this year.
The Labour party got most of its money from Trades Unions with the biggest donors being UNITE and UNISON.
Predictably the Conservative Party got most of its income from business and individual donations.
The Liberal Democrats depended largely on individual donations.
Biggest eye opener though is each party’s debts.
Labour owes nearly £10 million in outstanding loans dwarfing the £2.6 million owed by the Tories.
Seems that Labour – who claimed to be debt adverse at the last elections – are unable to manage even their own finances and now owe more than several medium size sovereign states such as Anguilla and Montserrat.

The ever popular St Nicholas Fayre 24 – 27 November, has everything from gifts and crafts to the best local produce including venison, suckling pig, ostrich, kangaroo and wild boar. Why not try some famous Swaledale cheese or heavenly herbal punch made to a traditional recipe? ….See the City come alive with Victorian costumed traders, carol singers and the delicious smells of roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate laced with brandy.
The Fayre offers a range of markets specialising in gifts, crafts, and the very best in local farm produce. Outside markets move into Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate. The magnificent medieval townhouse, Barley Hall, presents a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders.

Other events include
Fri 21 Oct 2011 – Sat 24 Dec 2011
• Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park – Christmas Adventure
Wed 23 Nov 2011
• Wines for Christmas at Fairfax House
Thu 24 Nov 2011
• Mansion House at Christmas at Mansion House
Thu 24 – Sat 26 Nov 2011
• St Nicholas Fair – Craft Event at Quilt Museum and Gallery
Thu 24 – Sun 27 Nov 2011
• St Nicholas Fayre at Barley Hall at Barley Hall
Sat 26, Sun 27 Nov 2011
• An Audience with Victorian Father Christmas at Clifford’s Tower
Sat 26 Nov 2011 – Sun 18 Dec 2011
• Christmas at Castle Howard at Castle Howard
Sat 26, Sun 27 Nov 2011
• Christmas Music and Lights at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
Sat 26 Nov 2011
• Four Seasons By Candlelight at York Barbican Centre
Sat 26, Sun 27 Nov 2011
• Meet Father Christmas at Castle Howard at Castle Howard
• Santa’s Steam Adventure at National Railway Museum
Sat 26 Nov 2011 – Sun 8 Jan 2012
• The Ice Factor – Outdoor Ice Skating at York Designer Outlet
Sat 26 Nov 2011
• York Walk – Choccy & Sweetie Tour at Museum Gardens
• York Walk – St Nicholas Tour at Museum Gardens
Sun 27 Nov 2011
• Artsmix- Christmas Contemporary Art Market at Castle Howard
Mon 28, Tue 29 Nov 2011
• Yorkshire Christmas Craft and Produce Market at Castle Howard
Tue 29 Nov 2011 – Sat 3 Dec 2011
• The Keeping of Christmas at Fairfax House
Wed 30 Nov 2011 – Sat 10 Dec 2011
• York Early Music Christmas Festival at National Centre for Early Music

For more details visit
http://www.visityork.org/inspire/christmas/stnicholas.aspx

The High Pay Commission, an independent inquiry into top pay in the private sector, published its final report on Monday. Here’s how The Guardian reports its key conclusions:
The commission sets out 12 recommendations to tackle high pay. The main reforms include:
• Greater transparency in the calculation of executive pay to end the “closed shop” on pay decisions. At present, many people do not understand until it is too late how a vast salary – often composed of as many as seven different elements – is worked out.
• Putting employees on remuneration committees, a move included in the government’s own consultation remit.
• Publishing the top 10 executive pay packages outside the boardroom.
• Forcing companies to publish a pay ratio between the highest paid executive and the company median.
• Requiring companies to reveal total pay earned by the boardroom members.
• Establishing a new national body to monitor high pay.
In York Liberal Democrat Steve Galloway is backing the report.
“The excessive rises in executive pay are clearly unfair. They bear little or no relation to improvements in long-term company performance. This is particularly corrosive at a time when millions of workers are feeling the pinch.
“This report underlines the urgency of the work that Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable is doing to bring rewards back into line with performance.
“It is crucial that the proposals are now adopted by the Government without delay.”
Former York resident Vince Cable said:
“Many of the options we are consulting on are reflected in the High Pay Commission’s final report and we welcome their contribution to this important debate. The government will announce next steps early next year. In the last decade we have seen extreme increases in top executive pay which appear to be completely unrelated to the performance of companies. They are therefore acting against the interests of shareholders and consumers.
“There is widespread consensus, not just among the public but in the business community, that this is unacceptable and is undermining the credibility of our markets-based system. What I’m working towards is responsible capitalism where rewards are properly aligned with performance.”
I count myself an economic liberal, a believer in regulation-lite government. But Vince Cable’s moves appear shrewd to me, founded on three fundamental tenets of a free and fair market economy:
• Transparent information on executive pay, including how top executive pay relates to median employee pay, enabling shareholders to become more involved in the oversight of companies;
• The clear alignment of remuneration with performance — as Graeme Archer suggests in the Telegraph: ‘Make every listed company publish the ratio of their CEO’s salary to that of their lowest paid employee. Plot that ratio over the last five years, against the share price over the same period.’
• Pay structures that reward long-term and sustainable corporate growth, rather than salaries/bonuses that reflect short-term risk.
Liberals do not believe in a market free-for-all, recognising that the perfect free market in reality does not exist; that government intervention is needed to ensure a level playing field, with low barriers of entry and easy access to information. The party’s support of the High Pay Commission’s proposals seem to me entirely consistent with a liberal approach to market economics.