Police seek views on their priorities

The Police and Crime Commissioner is asking residents to tell her what the policing priorities for the next few years should be.

While the decline in police visibility over recent years may lead some to be cynical about the surveys value, generally we think that residents should take every opportunity to highlight this important issue.

You can do so by clicking here or here

In completing the form, residents will no doubt bear in mind the increase in anti social behaviour seen over the last couple of years in parts of the City.

This has mostly been blamed on the decision of the police to centralise anti social behaviour officers in the York Councils HQ building; robbing local communities of both named Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers.

Taking one estate (Chapelfields) as an example, stats show crime is on the increase with 229 instances of anti social behaviour reported in the last year

chapelfields-crime

Residents complain that, despite CCTV cameras being in operation, youths routinely harass passers by.

So we need to make tackling anti social behaviour the priority that it was until 2011.

In Acomb this will mean:

The Police appointing named Police Officers and PCSOs for each neighbourhood and the reintroduction of regular foot or cycle patrols together with attendance at residents meetings
Setting up a police reporting desk in a public building such as Acomb Library (while at the same time abandoning plans for an expensive and unnecessary replacement police station in Lowfields)
Proactive communication with residents telling them about crime trends and the action taken by police to address concerns. Use of local newsletters and noticeboards should be reintroduced.

We will then be able to get back to the Police and community working together to improve community safety

Residents have until the 18th November to complete the survey

So how good are York Council services?

The results of two recent surveys allow us to measure what residents say are good and bad about City of York Council services.

The Council’s own “Talkabout” panel has given a verdict this summer.

Talkabout panel results – click to access

Best service

It is the first comprehensive look at customer satisfaction with services in the City since polls were scrapped by the, then Labour led, administration in 2013.

These can be compared to a more detailed survey being undertaken in west York where residents have also given a verdict on service quality.

The Talkabout respondents indicate that satisfaction with their local area as a place to live has increased for 83% in 2013 to 92% today.

Worst service – road repairs

66% of the panel are satisfied with the way that the Council runs thing compared to 54% three years ago

One of the few areas judged to be deteriorating was law and order. 77% said that York is relatively free from crime and violence compared to 80% in 2013.

Looking at street level services, 39% (2013 – 33%) though litter was a problem in their local area although the majority (61%) still thought litter was not a problem.

survey results as at 26th Sept 2016 Problems with vandalism showed small increases (17% up to 18%), as did drug dealing (15% up to 26%) and drunk/rowdy behaviour (25% up to 30%)

The numbers who though that the Council was doing well in at improving green spaces was static at 48% but those who thought the Council was doing well in improving streets/public spaces was down from 49% to 45%.

Looking at the more detailed poll conducted in west York, it may be significant that the 4 most criticised public services (footpath repairs, road repairs, the availability of litter bins and local car parking facilities) were not monitored in the citywide survey.

Although most residents indicated that other services were “satisfactory” there were large numbers of people who rated some services as poor.

These included weed control (31% poor), tree/hedge maintenance (36%), Policing (31%), and garage area maintenance (20%).

The top ranked services were refuse collection (91% rated satisfactory or good), recycling (92%) and street lighting (89%)

That was the week that was – west York in pictures

The week started with the Sky Ride. Local Councillor Andrew Waller was near the font of the event as a reprorted 10,000 took park

The week started with the Sky Ride. Local Councillor Andrew Waller was near the front of the event as a reported 10,000 took part

The circus came to the Thanet Road sports area. This prompted complaints about fly posting and damage to recently planted trees. Posters for events like these can be displayed for two weeks in advance but must be removed within 2 days of the event finishing. On one evening there was some disturbance in the Chesney’s Field area and a noticeable increase in litter. The Council are being asked to consider limiting the number of fairs/circuses which are permitted in residential areas in each quarter.

Cllr Sue Hunter and local residents Andrea Cropper cleared potential hazardous weeds for teh Acomb Green access steps

Cllr Sue Hunter and local residents Andrea Cropper cleared potential hazardous weeds from the Acomb Green access steps

Job Done!

Foxwood Residents Association won a gold award at this years Yorkshire in Bloom contest. They outperfromed many institutions who had been able to employ the services of professionals.

Foxwood Residents Association won a gold award at this years Yorkshire in Bloom contest. They outperformed many institutions who had been able to employ the services of professionals.

Foxwood Community centre garden

Cllr Sheena Jackson reported this offensive graffiti in the Tennent Road area. There has been an increase in graffiti issues in the area with some residents blaming the lack of high profile PCSO patrols partly for the decline.

Potholes on little Green Lane are getting bigger. Being followed up by Cllr Andrew Waller

Potholes on little Green Lane are getting bigger. The issue is being followed up by Cllr Andrew Waller

Lampposts on Bellwood drive demolished on Thursday

Lamppost on Bellwood Drive felled on Thursday

Over 30% of residents have returned the survey form issued in the Askham Lane/Grange Lane area so far.

Over 30% of residents have so far returned the survey form issued in the Askham Lane/Grange Lane area earlier in the week.

Main issues raised by residents included car parking and lack of maintenace of trees and bushes. The Grange Lane/Parker Avenue was a particular source of complaint. The snicket is overgrown and subject to littering. Some residents want to see it closed. although this is unlikely as it is a Public Right of Way.

The main issues raised by residents included poor car parking and lack of maintenance of trees and bushes. The Grange Lane/Parker Avenue alley was a particular source of complaint. The snicket is overgrown and subject to littering. Some residents want to see it closed, although this is unlikely as it is a Public Right of Way.

Many residents responding to our survey question about future events at the Acomb Explore Library have suggested Councillors surgeries. We've arranged for them to take place on the second Wednesday in each onth

Many residents, responding to our survey question about future events at the Acomb Explore Library, have suggested that Councillors surgeries be held there. We’ve arranged for Advice Centres to take place on the second Wednesday in each month starting on 12th October.

West York – The week in photos

Cllr Sue Hunter is encouraging residents to adopt local verges and amenity area and plant flowers. Grants may be available from the local Ward Committee for bulbs and containers

Lowfields verge flowers

Windsor Garth

The Ward committee will be balloting residents shortly on their priorities for using the delegated budget. Among ideas put forward by residents are plans to lop trees and overgrown hedges.

Next Ward committee newsletter will include ballot paper

Overgrown trees on Kingsthore reported by Andrew Waller

Overgrown trees on Kingsthorpe reported by Andrew Waller

More overgrown trees this time on Grange Lane

Trustees have now signed a formal lease for the Foxwood Community Centre. It means that the centre will be largely free from Council control but will have to raise most of its income from lettings. It is now run entirely by volunteers.

Cllr Stephen Fenton Dringhouses ward (extreme left*) and Cllr Sheena Jackson Westfield Ward (extreme right*) and Trustees sign the Community Centre lease on Wednesday. (*not politically!)

Meanwhile Sheena has been out and about in the Foxwood area reporting issues for attention

Obstructed path

In the Cornlands Road area, while out delivering the latest Focus newsletter, we spotted several issues requiring attention. These included offensive graffiti on the Tithe Close snicket. Issues have been reported using https://www.fixmystreet.com/

We'll be keeping an eye on drainage and gutters channel as tree begin to shed their leaves. There is an almost continual problem in St Stephens Road

We’ll be keeping an eye on drainage and gutter channels as trees begin to shed their leaves. There is an almost continual problem in St Stephens Square

It’s some times difficult to know whether an item has been dumped or left out for the scrap merchant

Andrew Waller has commenced a survey of the Askham Lane/Grange Lane area

Survey launched this weekend

Grange Lane field entrance 2

One of the issues being probed is whether residents would like to see kissing gates installed on the accesses to the local parks and open areas. At present there are problems with motorcyclists riding near where children play

That was the year that was – 1980

Following on from yesterdays story about public satisfaction with Council services, it seems that little changes.

According to one of our Focus newsletters published in 1980, local residents were most satisfied with refuse collection and least happy about highway maintenance.

That’s much the same story today although the relative ranking of some other public services has changed.

The two local Councils (York District and North Yorkshire County) were both Conservative controlled in those days. York was to become a Labour run authority in 1983, something which pretty much continued unchanged until 2001 when the Liberal Democrats gained ground in local by-elections.

Focus newsletters have improved from being hand written to using a computer design with full colour printing. So some things do change.

NB. The 1980 editor was Peggy Barker who lived in Stuart Road. She was a Liberal Councillor in the Westfield Ward for 5 years.

1980 Focus survey result

60% of York residents say road maintenance is “poor”

With the York Council’s ruling Executive due to discuss it’s first quarter performance later today, a new survey has revealed that many residents are unhappy with public service standards in the City.

West York survey results July/Aug 2016

Road repairs (60% rated “poor”) and footpath repairs (57%) top the list of woes, but there is also criticism of litter bin provision and car parking arrangements in some sub-urban estates.

Best rated service was recycling (92% rated good or satisfactory), with refuse collection also rated positively (89%).

The Council’s investment in new street lighting seems to be impressing people with 87% now rating it as good or satisfactory.

However there is little evidence that the Council’s proclaimed priority – investing in street level service quality – is having a positive effect.

Dissatisfaction with roads and footpaths is at an all time high.

Councillors today will be given a different set of figures to consider. Their “key performance indicators” are not included on the Executive agenda but can be accessed via the”open data” web site.

This is in itself a step forward from previous years when data was often hidden from residents.

Transport KPIs August 2016 click to access

However a closer look at the stats reveals that, not only are most quarter one figures unavailable, but also many of the out-turn figures for 2015/16 haven’t been updated.

No improvement targets are identified.

Quite what “performance” – other than a bland anecdotal commentary – Councillors will therefore be considering later today is a mystery.

The York Council must now put more emphasis on customer satisfaction. Publishing the results of quarterly residents “talkabout” panel views would be a start.

The key message though, as the Council begins to construct its budget priorities for next year, is that residents want to see more invested in repairing our roads and footpaths.

Acomb Explore Library popular with residents

Library is brilliant

The library and all the staff are really excellent & informative, very pleasant

Libary results at 15th Aug 2016 A door to door survey in the York Road area has found that residents rate the Acomb Explore Library very highly.

35% of respondents say that they have visited the Library at least once over the last year.

Most have gone to borrow books, but the cafe, children’s area & internet access also attracted a large number of users.

Asked what would prompt residents to visit the library more frequently, respondents said that the opening of a police incident reporting desk and a regular Councillors surgery were both worth considering.

Library staff also attracted a number of complimentary responses (above).

There were 101,000 visits to Acomb Explore Library last year.

Since April 2016 the Library has attracted 36,000 visitors.

The survey was undertaken by the Westfield Ward Councillors team dover the last 6 weeks.

New Lowfields Focus newsletter published

Lowfields Page 2 Focus August 2016

Lowfields Page 1 Focus August 2016

York Police have recognition problem

Only 14% know the name of their neighbourhood Police or Community Support Officer

A survey of residents in the Westfield ward has revealed that only 14% were able to name either their local police or community support officer.

The recognition level is well down on similar survey results from 5 years ago.

There have been a number of changes in the intervening period with fewer local police surgeries being advertised, a reduce d police presence at some resident’s association meetings and declining interest in neighbourhood watch schemes in some areas.

The Police in York have been urged to make more use of the free publicity available on web sites. At the moment there are no events advertised on the Police site and nothing on the Westfield Ward page on the York Council’s own web site.

To their credit the police have been out and about knocking on doors as part of their anti-burglary campaign and security marking of property has been continuing.

In the Westfield Ward crime trends have been following a national pattern which has seen significant increases over the past year.

The latest figures published on the Police web site ( https://www.police.uk/north-yorkshire/york-west/crime/ ) are for May. During the month there was a spike in reports of problems in the area near the Cornlands Road park.

Most of the reported crimes concerned anti-social behaviour, vandalism and (mostly domestic) violence

In 63% of cases reported during the last year no further action was taken by the Police.

Crime graph May 2016 Crime map May 2016

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
…
8
Next »

The Police and Crime Commissioner is asking residents to tell her what the policing priorities for the next few years should be.

So we need to make tackling anti social behaviour the priority that it was until 2011.

The Police appointing named Police Officers and PCSOs for each neighbourhood and the reintroduction of regular foot or cycle patrols together with attendance at residents meetings

Setting up a police reporting desk in a public building such as Acomb Library (while at the same time abandoning plans for an expensive and unnecessary replacement police station in Lowfields)

Proactive communication with residents telling them about crime trends and the action taken by police to address concerns. Use of local newsletters and noticeboards should be reintroduced.

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.

The results of two recent surveys allow us to measure what residents say are good and bad about City of York Council services.

There were 101,000 visits to Acomb Explore Library last year.

Since April 2016 the Library has attracted 36,000 visitors.

Only 14% know the name of their neighbourhood Police or Community Support Officer