Community centre snubbed at York Council junket

Assembly rooms jolly Dec 2015

Assembly rooms venue for Council jolly

The York Council’s annual bash, at which employees are recognised for going the extra mile, left a bitter taste in the mouths of some volunteers last night.

Tweet jolly Dec 2015The Council’s official Twitter account announced that an award for “Contribution to the Community” goes to “Volunteers at Foxwood Community Centre”.

In reality the award was presented to the – largely Council funded – Children’s Centre which rents a room at the Foxwood Community centre from time to time. Sure Start and the Children’s Centres in the City generally do a good job and their efforts are worth recognition.  

However, the Councils communications team made a crass error last night (right).

The York Council gradually reduced – to zero – the grant that it gave the community centres operating in the City. This meant that the caretakers – employed by the Council – were sacked earlier in the year.  Last month, the new Coalition run authority, agreed to reinstate an annual £4000 subsidy but this is much less than is needed to sustain the Community Centres in the long term.  

In the meantime, the work of running the centres now falls on a handful of hard working volunteers. None of the volunteers are seeking recognition although a more supportive approach from the City of York Council would not go amiss.

Apparently last night’s jolly – held in the Assembly Rooms – was funded by sponsorship.

Looking through the list of sponsors, many turn out to be Council suppliers and contractors.

Latest planning applications for the Acomb & Westfield Wards

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb

Location:       2 Lochrin Place York YO26 5QL

Proposal:       Single storey rear extension and conversion of garage into habitable room

Ref No: 15/02595/FUL

Applicant:      Ms Johnson      Contact:        Mr Philip Thompson      Consultation Expiry Date:       28 December 2015 Case Officer:   Elizabeth Potter        Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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Location:       2 Church Gate York YO26 5BW

Proposal:       Single storey rear extension and formation of rear patio with walls and bin store to front

Ref No: 15/02685/FUL

Applicant:      Mr And Mrs Barnes       Contact:        Mr Paul Butler  Consultation Expiry Date:       28 December 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level:

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Westfield

Location:       177 Chapelfields Road York YO26 5AD

Proposal:       Single storey rear extension (retrospective)

Ref No: 15/02462/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Michael Mcfarland        Consultation Expiry Date        28 December 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

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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

York Council fails to tackle Westfield Issues – Bachelor Hill & Community Centres

There have been a couple of set-backs this week as decisions taken by the Council have only gone part of the way towards solving issues raised by local residents in the Westfield area.
Bachelor Hill

Residents had petitioned the Council to secure the rear entrance snickets which serve their properties. The request followed years of problems with anti-social behaviour in the area (although the report from officials claimed that there had been no recent reports to the police).  The snickets are not short cuts and can only, legitimately, be used to gain access to adjacent properties. Requests for prompt action were rejected this week, although the site will join the list, with dozens of other locations where action may be taken at a later date.

Foxwood and Chapelfields Community Centres
Foxwood Community Centre

Foxwood Community Centre

Each centre will receive a grant of £4000 a year. Although an improvement on what was on offer from the last Council (zero!) it will not be enough to allow the centres to re-employ a part time caretaker. In turn, this means that opening hours will continue to be dependent on the availability of volunteers. The Council have, however, identified a specific fund which will be used to keep the buildings in good structural condition (although, as they own the buildings, they pretty much had to do that anyway).

There are growing concerns that the Council is being unrealistic in expecting volunteers to take on an increasing burden in maintaining local community facilities.  Sadly so far the Council have chosen not to consult residents on the options that they are considering. Sources within the Council suggest that it plans to reduce still further the standard of maintenance of public open spaces and that it is expecting local people to fill the gap.  We doubt that will happen particularly at a time when the Council continues to  waste money on “free” newspapers, “free” bus travel for under 18’s etc while continuing to rack up the amount that it borrows (and hence the interest charges that it must pay each month).   

Cornlands Road park

The Council has agreed to close off one of the entrances to the Cornlands Road park. However the area remains insecure and needs further investment if it is to become a well used community asset.

Cornlands park entrance to be closed

Cornlands park entrance to be closed

Quick start for new car parking in Doherty Walk

Doherty Walk area to be protected

Doherty Walk area to be protected

The York Council has said that it will begin to install matrix surfacing on the grassed area on Doherty Walk on Monday 7th Dec).

This is very prompt as the decision to go ahead with the scheme – which will see the area protected and therefore available for parking throughout the whole of the year – was only taken last week.

Residents are being asked not to park in the area until the work is competed in about 2 weeks time (subject to weather) 

The funding for the project is coming form estate improvement budgets which are funded from Council tenants rent payments.

Westfield action round up – Some of he issues that we have reported for action this week

Uneven carriageway on Windsor Garth - Longest outstanding issue and may not now be repaired until "Hob Stones" development completed late next year.

Uneven carriageway on Windsor Garth – Longest outstanding issue and may not now be repaired until “Hob Stones” development completed late next year.

Possibly unstable tree on Herman Walk reported for inspection

Possibly unstable tree on Herman Walk reported for inspection

External lights n during day on some Windsor Garth flats (timing clocks need re-setting)

External lights on during day on some Windsor Garth flats (timing clocks need re-setting)

Dumping reported on Dijon Avenue (and similar on little Green Lane) garage areas still not cleared up.

Dumping reported on Dijon Avenue (and similar on little Green Lane) garage areas still not cleared up.

 

Drainage channels need sweeping on Gale Lane

Drainage channels need sweeping on Gale Lane

https://www.fixmystreet.com/