Due to the popularity of the “New Year New You” offer Energise have extended the end date to Sunday 12th February.
Join up now to our annual membership and save yourself £66.
Membership includes use of Gym, Swim, Fitness Classes and Climbing.
Streets cleaner, reporting systems improving in York
Although there is still a long way to go, many streets in the City are noticeably cleaner than they have been in recent years. It represents a success for the Council’s revised street sweeping processes where the emphasis now is on doing a thorough job rather than concentrating on speed.
Communal areas and parks are still liable to litter problems. In some parts of the City residents are getting together to promote “clean up” events on or around 4th March. A range of support items for the “Great British Spring Clean” can be found by clicking here
The Council’s own “on line” reporting systems are also improving although only the litter response team seem to be fully up to speed. Click here to access
Tory finance chief quits York Executive
Mystery surrounds consultants contract
The Conservative Councillor responsible for City finances has abruptly quit his post. The announcement came only days after the Council released details of a hitherto confidential consultancy contract.
In 2014 a small consultancy firm, run by a former City Council employee, had been awarded a contract to project manage the older person’s accommodation project. This is the programme which will see existing elderly person’s homes like the one at Oakhaven closed and replaced by larger privately run “mega homes”. Part of the programme would see elderly person’s accommodation built on the Lowfields school site.
The consultants contract was to have run from 1st January 2015 until 31st December 2015. The contract was extended to 31st March 2016 with a total value of £130,000.
In response to a Freedom of Information request the Council says it does not hold any information to indicate “which Directors and Councillors were involved in the letting of the contract, and any extensions thereof” nor can they ” provide copies of all appropriate decision meeting minutes or notes – including copies of any invitation to tender adverts”!
The contract had an “output” specification. This meant that payments were made to the consultancy only when agreed targets and milestones had been met.
The Council was also asked about its current policy in engaging employees, consultants and contractors who seek to be remunerated via a private company.
They replied;“There is currently no policy which specifically deals with this question. Each assignment will be considered individually and advice is provided on the employment implications by human resources or the procurement team”.
In March 2016, the Council, now under coalition control, decided that further work was needed on the older person’s project. They decided to let a further consultancy project covering the period 31st March 2016 – 30th March 2018 using the services of NEPRO This is a local government “spin off” company run from Sunderland. It effectively procures and manages contracts let on behalf of local authorities.
The Council have admitted that “The decision to use NEPRO is an officer decision and was made by the Council Management Team on 7th May 2014. As this is a legally compliant framework, the terms and conditions are pre-agreed. Suppliers on the framework have already agreed to these terms and conditions, therefore no further steps were deemed necessary to ensure transparency of individual contracts agreed through the framework.
The new contract was handed to the same consultant who had held the old contract since January 2015.
It appears that no Councillors were involved in the decision nor is there any evidence that the employment of NEPRO has been reviewed during that last 3 years. It is unclear what proportion of contract costs are retained by NEPRO or indeed what value they add, in a situation where an existing contractor is simply reappointed to a role.
The new contract had a potential value of £216,000.
£54,000 was paid out in 2016 during the first 9 months of the contract.
The contract is again based on “outputs” being achieved (see below).
While output contracts can have advantages, they are an opaque system and unsuitable for activities where taxpayers opposition to proposals must be overcome before payments are released. The temptation may be to prioritise financial gain over the views of residents.
This happened with the decision to build on the Lowfields playing fields, where lobbyists were urged to influence consultation results and a, misleading, report gave the impression that the NHS had agreed to fund a new health centre on the site (see here).
It hadn’t.
The lack of engagement by senior Councillors in the contract letting process at the York Council is a concern. So is the lack of, publicly accessible, records of decisions taken about contract letting.
With spin off companies not subject to FOI regulations, this means that large sums of public money can be committed to controversial projects with minimal accountability.
Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward
Below is the latest planning application received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the words highlighted in blue
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Meeting House Lane, The Green Acomb York YO26 5FD
Fell Sycamore tree in a Conservation Area
Ref 17/00199/TCA
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The Gatehouse 6 Westfield Farm Askham Lane York YO24 3HU
Prune Horse Chestnut, Pine and Sycamore trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order No: CYC 138
Ref. No: 17/00149/TPO
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116 Foxwood Lane York YO24 3LT
Change of use from dwelling (Use Class C3) to House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4)
Ref. No: 17/00109/FUL
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7 Kir Crescent York YO24 3DF
Single storey front, side and rear extensions
Ref. No: 17/00039/FUL
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Westfield Primary School Askham Lane York YO24 3HP
Erection of cycle shelter
Ref. No: 17/00050/GRG3
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(Hob Stone) Our Ladys R C Primary School Windsor Garth York YO24 4QW
Conditions 9, 10, 12, 18 and 23 – 13/02892/FULM
Ref. No: AOD/17/00004
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1 St Stephens Square York YO24 3EJ
Two storey side and rear extensions and single storey front and rear extensions
Ref. No: 17/00009/FUL
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176 Gale Lane York YO24 3AE
Proposal Single storey side and rear extensions
Reference 16/02830/FUL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received
Foxwood – Askham Bar FREE Sunday bus service will run to end of March (at least)
The FREE Service 500, which links Foxwood to Askham Bar on Sundays, will continue until at least the end of March.
The service utilises electric buses whenever possible.
Foxwood residents join “Great British Spring Clean” campaign
The Foxwood Residents Association have become the first York based group to announce their plans for the Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) which is scheduled to take place on 4th and 5th March.
The GBSC is a national initiative which encourages local people to tidy up public areas near their homes.
Nationally over 20,000 people have already registered to take part and 700 separate events have been listed. Full details can be found by clicking here
It is hoped that other residents groups and individuals in York will join the campaign. We will publish details of any other events which are copied to us.
York Council launches appeal for “estate champions”
The York Council is seeking volunteers who will check the quality of local public services in their local estate or neighbourhood.
Although in much of the Westfield area, Residents Associations and local Councillors do routinely inspect the quality of public services we think that the more people who are involved the better.
So we hope that some will volunteer and feedback their experiences of getting problems rectified.
The speed of reaction by the Council to problems with dumping and litter has improved recently although there are still problems with some services such as the maintenance of communal garage areas and trimming hedges and trees.
Problems with road and footpath surfaces are a continuing issue as is dog fouling in some areas.
What’s on in York: Boccia Club at Acomb Explore library today
Acomb Explore Library :
Fri 3 Feb :
3.00pm – 4.00pm :
Free
Start the new year with a new activity and the opportunity to make some new friends!
Acomb Explore Library invites you to come and have a go at Boccia! Boccia is an inclusive game that is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. It is related to bowls and played indoors from a seated position using soft leather balls.
For more information please call Acomb Explore Library on (01904) 552651 or acomb@exploreyork.org.uk.
Empty garages costing York Council £25,500 a year in lost rent
489 registered on waiting list for garages in west York
Figures released by the York Council confirm that there is a high level of demand for Council garages in west York.
There are waiting lists at most blocks with the most popular being at (little) Green Lane where 24 residents are seeking a garage. Ironically this is a garage area which the Council have badly neglected. It suffers from an uneven forecourt, overgrown boundaries and occasional fly tipping.
One applicant for a garage in Dijon Avenue has been waiting since 2009!
Waiting list
Despite this the Council records that there are 67 garages currently vacant.
One garage in The Wandle has been unused since 2005!
Part of the problem has been a moratorium on the letting of garages in blocks which may be redeveloped.
This has affected 15 garages in Chaloners Road, which have been empty since 2014, while 21 garages in Newbury Avenue have suffered a similar fate with most empty since 2012. The development plans for Newbury Avenue are still in a state of flux so the Council is losing £500 a month in rent from that block alone.
Proposed new charges for garages have also been announced by the Council (see below)
We think that the Council should be much more proactive in trying to let empty garages. In many areas “on street” parking space is very limited and some residents resort to parking on verges. In turn this causes damage which is both unsightly and expensive to remedy.
The Council web site should be updated regularly with a list of garages that are empty, while Councillors should ensure that a list of garages, which are available, is displayed on local noticeboards
NB. The figures provided cover the Westfield, Acomb, Dringhouses and Holgate Wards. There are a similar number of Council garages on the east of the City
York Council seeking “community health champion”
As part of work to support residents in their communities and empower people to get involved in healthy activities, the council is inviting residents to apply to be a community health champion.
The Council says that a ” community health champion is a volunteer, who with training and support from the council can help improve the health and wellbeing of their families, communities or workplaces by:
- Motivating and empowering people to get involved in healthy activities
- Creating groups to meet local needs
- Directing people to relevant support and services.
As part of a pilot scheme, community health champions will work closely with City of York Council’s Public Health team and raise awareness of health messages amongst communities, support older people and help to create supportive networks and environments for residents, making a real difference to their lives”.
For more information on this opportunity visit www.york.gov.uk/volunteeringopportunities,call 01904 553377 or email yorwellbeing@york.gov.uk.
Separately local residents groups have been told about another project.
Local Area Coordination
The Council says that “Local Area Coordination is an internationally recognised evidence-based approach to supporting people as valued citizens in their communities. It enables people to pursue their vision for a good life and to stay safe, strong, connected, healthy and in control. As well building the skills, knowledge and confidence of people and the community.
Local Area Coordination supports people who may feel vulnerable due to age, frailty, disability or mental health needs.
City of York Council will be taking forward the programme in York and shortly be recruiting three Local Area Coordinators to work in the following areas: Tang Hall, Westfield and Huntington & New Earswick. The Local Area Coordinators will take time to get to know you, your family/ carer and community.
If you would like to find out more and are interested in getting involved and making Local Area Coordination a success in York please come to one of our informal community awareness raising events shown below”.
- New Earswick Folk Hall – Monday Feb 6th 4 – 6pm
- Acomb Explore Library – Thursday Feb 9th 5 – 7pm
- Tang Hall Community Centre – Friday Feb 10th 4 – 6pm
“It will be fine to drop in but to enable us to plan the sessions please contact Jack Derham on email jack.derham@york.gov.uk to register your planned attendance.
If you have any queries please contact Joe Micheli, Head of Commissioning (Early Intervention, Prevention and Community Development) on 01904 554477 or joe.micheli@york.gov.uk “
At there moment there is little substance to the plans.
There are no fact sheets indicating the scale of the problem, no indication of how success will be judged and no targets.
What precisely the workers will actually do on a day to day basis has also yet to be defined.
However, anything that can be done to combat the isolation felt by vulnerable people in our community is welcome and we hope that the Council will quickly refine and explain their plans