FirstGroup , the UK’s largest bus and rail operator, intends to be the first bus operator outside London to offer customers a ‘touch in, touch out’ contactless fare payment option. The new ticket machines, designed to read contactless debit or credit cards, in addition to “ITSO” smartcards such as concessionary bus passes, will be introduced to buses from the autumn and will initially allow customers with an ITSO smartcard to touch in. Contactless bank cards will be accepted across England from late 2012.
First’s new ticketing system will act much like London’s Oyster Card; customers will simply ‘touch in’ and ‘touch out’ using their debit or credit card, taking less than a second, and avoiding the need to carry the correct change. The system will also allow FirstGroup to offer a range of tickets including capping the daily fare.
But, unlike Oyster, customers won’t need to carry an additional card or worry about pre-payment or topping up. Customers using the contactless cards will simply see the cost of the fare deducted from their bank or credit card balance.
With the continuing rapid advancement of mobile phone technology, FirstGroup has also ensured that its new system has the capability to accept payment via mobile phone.
The news should also be welcomed by the York Council as it has a long standing commitment to introducing a cashless payment option. The new system could also provide a platform for the introduction of “cross ticketing”, avoiding costly back office manual revenue apportionment systems.
The system also allows for the maximum daily fare to be capped, potentially encouraging greater use of public transport.
A similar system has been suggested for introduction at York’s car parks, thus eliminating the need for a driver to “forecast” how long they intend to stay at pre payment sites.
FirstGroup’s UK Bus division carries approximately 2.5 million customers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities. As well as York, the new ticketing technology will be implemented to all of First’s services in England, including Manchester, Bolton, Oldham, Wigan, Stoke, Northampton, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford, Leicester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Plymouth, Bristol, Ipswich, Norwich, Slough and Bracknell.
The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, welcomed the news: “I want to see smart ticketing rolled out across public transport in England as quickly as possible and this announcement from FirstGroup is a positive step towards achieving that.”

So a large proportion of the population woke up this morning eagerly anticipating a Jackpot Euro millions win. All were disappointed …….but there is still the Friday draw to come!
As tends to happen during difficult economic times, gambling increases. This time the main beneficiary has been the National Lottery with ticket sales approaching the record levels set when the draw was first introduced.
One positive side effect is that the money available for good causes has also spiralled. Around £28 million a week is available for “good causes”. It is therefore a good time to be thinking of projects in the City which could benefit.
Locally the York Cemetery was given a make over using Lottery funds while the Quilt Museum is seeking votes in the annual residents ballot which helps to decide how some of the money is used. You can vote at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
As well as the inspirational York Minster Revealed project – which has just appointed a new Project Director – another heritage project which could benefit from the windfall is the plan to make the City Archives more accessible.
The Archives – which have been housed in cramped conditions under the Art Gallery for many years – contain a wealth of information about York and its people covering the last 800 years. The intention of the project is to improve peoples understanding of our history.
On the sports and leisure front, now that the costs of the Olympics are covered by projected income figures, there should be more for areas outside London. Aspects of the new Community Stadium project might qualify for grant aid, while the ambitious Sports Village and competition standard swimming pool, scheduled to be built on Hull Road, could be prime candidates.

A York primary school will see part of its school field turned into community gardens and allotments as a result of the Big Community Challenge, being launched this week by York Cares.

The employee-volunteering charity needs 100 volunteers to take part in the challenge which takes place at Westfield Primary School in Acomb on 4, 5 and 6 October.

Launched in 2006, York Cares is a partnership of York’s leading employers – including The Press – which matches volunteers to community projects where they can have the most impact, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Mrs Tracey Ralph, head teacher at Westfield Primary School says: “Our School Council found out that there is a waiting list for allotments in our community, and some of our own children do not have gardens at home, so we are very excited about Westfield School’s new Community Garden. It is hoped that the gardens will enable our children and their families to grow their own with help from the BTCV Get Growing team”

Under the expert guidance of Miller Construction, the volunteers from local businesses and schools will work together to create 15 plots, install a water pipe and tap, chop back hedging, create pathways and raised beds.

Jacqui Tesselment, from York Cares says, “We are so grateful to the Miller team for leading this project on behalf of York Cares but we need the help of local businesses and their people to help– we can’t do it without you!”

John Lister Chairman of York Cares and Finance Director of Aviva Life adds: “We have every confidence that the people of York will pull together and meet this challenge. Businesses who encourage their staff to donate just three hours of their time are not only helping to improve their local community, they are also helping their team to learn new skills such as team building, problem solving, confidence building, and leadership skills. The community benefits by gaining a new resource, employees benefit by learning new skills and businesses benefit from a motivated workforce – it’s a real win-win-win situation.”

To volunteer contact York Cares on 01904 323482 or email info@yorkcares.co.uk.

A £1.6 million potential budget deficit has built up in the Councils Social Services operations as Councillors dither over the need for reforms.
Much of the deficit is the result of larger numbers of elderly people requiring care while those opting to manage their own budgets has also continude to increase. Direct payments to the later group exceed budget by £613,000. It is a system where the individual can specify who they wish to use to meet their care needs. Most are opting for the private sector.
One way of offsetting this demand – which simply reflects the fact that we have an aging population in the City – was to reform the so called reablement service. These are care workers who teach people with minor disabilities how to continue to be self sufficient in their own homes. It is a successful service but one that is very expensive and with a long waiting list. Tenders for the provision of the service in the future should have been received by now but the new council is delaying action.
Reform of Elderly Persons Homes and other care services are also behind schedule.
In Children’s Services, the number of children in the care of the Council is also above predicted levels with 175 foster home placements having been made.
If the Council doesn’t act decisively on these issues then it will find that it faces a financial mountain which it is unable to climb.

The £123 million net budget for public services provided by the York Council is currently funded by Council Taxpayers (60%), central government grant (9%) and Business Rates (31%).
The York Council collects around £88 million in Rates from local businesses and this goes into a national pool. Around £43.2 million is used by central government to subsidise services in less well off areas like Bradford, Hull and Barnsley.
Starting in 2013 York will retain locally generated Business Rates but to will still have to contribute its “surplus” to a central pool. In net terms it will be no worse off than currently is the case.
However, the new rules will allow the City to retain part of any additional income generated by new businesses. This should be to our advantage as we are currently the second fastest growing City in the country.

The Council faces a difficult choice in deciding how it can best present York’s case for 3 new park and ride sites. The project was set to cost around £25.5 million with the Council finding £2.3million of the cost (9%). The largest part of the cost goes on the A59 Poppleton Bar site which also includes a much improved roundabout at theA1237 junction. This will complement the improvements recently opened at the neighbouring A19 junction.
The government has indicated that 45 schemes costing £870 million are currently bidding for a total transport budget of £600 million.
Hence individual bids are being pared down.
Later this week the York Council will have to decide whether to shelve one of the new sites to reduce both the overall costs and the proportion of the total value of the project that the DfT will have to pick up.
They’re considering using part of the £15 million “New Homes Bonus” that the City is projected to get (from the government) over the next 6 years to make the figures stack up.
Alternatively they could borrow money and repay over several years using the £250,000 a year in fares income (surplus) that the Askham Bar and Poppleton Bar services would produce between them. However the costs of borrowing £5 million are £450,000 pa (principal and interest) so this would breech the Labour leaderships “no additional debt” mantra.
Altogether a difficult set of decisions to be made on the 3 options put forward by the Strategy Cabinet member.
& his recommendation? In the published report he says go for option “X”.
Hardly the smack of decisive management.

Residents in the Westfield, Acomb and Heworth Wards have been responding to our survey on Labour’s proposed Citywide 20 mph speed limit.
So far it has been a resounding “thumbs down” for the plan which could cost taxpayers £1 million to implement.
The table shows a summary of the responses so far.

New school
The replacement for Our Lady’s school – being built on Hamilton Drive – is scheduled for completion by the middle of November. We understand the existing building on Windsor Garth will be demolished before the end of April 2012. The long term future of the site has yet to be determined but some housing is likely to be provided there.

The Council have extended the deadline for comments on its plans to replace elderly persons homes in the City to 26th September. A questionnaire can be completed “on line” at http://www.york.gov.uk/consultation
Comments on the City’s plans for conservation if the historic core have to be in by 5th September (same web site).

Separately the Council claims that it is consulting on the future arrangements for access to Council services in Acomb. This is “Council-speak” aimed at covering up their plan to close the Acomb branch office on York Road/Carr Lane. However you won’t find any survey on the Councils web site. Face to face interviews with residents are apparently taking place and “focus” groups are being set up. The consultation ends on 12th September. Needless say it is unclear how local residents can participate in this highly selective “consultation”.
So that every resident can have an opportunity to express their views, we have added a survey question to this web site (see right) and have included it in editions of our Focus newsletter which are currently being distributed.