A decision to scrap a mobile toy-lending service used by over 500 families has been challenged by York’s Liberal Democrat Group.

Last week the Labour Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People decided to end the council-run Toy Bus. The decision was taken despite officers admitting that they had “no detail” on what will replace the service and fresh statistics which show that 512 families were using the Bus. The decision to scrap the provision, which will save the council just £14,000 a year, was originally due to come into effect in 2014/15, but last week’s judgment means it is now due to formally end immediately.

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Time is running out for residents in York to have their say on City of York Council and citywide services and have the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher.

The Big York Survey is an opportunity for people to give feedback on services across the city. The council is encouraging residents to take part and complete the survey, which focuses on a range of topics including York’s economy, communities, protecting vulnerable people, protecting the environment and travelling and transport in York.

Currently over 2,300 residents have responded the survey which can be done online at www.york.gov.uk/bigyorksurvey.

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Bus passengers in England are set to benefit from cleaner, greener bus journeys thanks to the 4th round of the Green Bus Fund announced today by LibDem Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The £12 million funding for 213 new low carbon buses will deliver better services for passengers while also cutting carbon and delivering economic growth.

Electric bus trial started in 2010

9 low emission buses will be seen around the City as a result of a major grant from the governments Green Bus fund.

They are expected to be powered by electricity.

We understand that one of the vehicles will replace the ubiquitous “Uni bus” plying its trade to the Heslington area, while others will service the new Derwenthorpe development and the new Park and Ride site at Poppleton.

The buses were first trialed in York in 2010 (see left).

The Labour Councillor responsible for transport said at a Council meeting in March that he didn’t know whether a bid to the Green Bus fund had been submitted.

Fortunately it turns out that local bus operators (TransDev and First) had indeed submitted bids.

The bids are part of a £12 million programme. York does relatively well out of the allocations which are announced today

The Green Bus Fund aims to cut greenhouse gas emission levels and encourage bus operators and local councils to make the switch to more environmentally-friendly buses. In total 4 rounds of the fund, worth £87 million, will have delivered more than 1200 new low carbon buses in England, saving around 28,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The government is paying up to half the cost difference between the buses and their standard diesel equivalent.

Young people can make the most of this half-term and all future bus trips by travelling for less in York with a new All York Young Person’s Day ticket.

The new ticket, launching tomorrow (25 May) means young people between the ages of 11-16 can now enjoy a day’s travel on participating bus companies throughout the city for only £2.30. The ticket will be valid from 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and bank holidays.

The first ‘All York’ bus tickets for adults were launched last July. However the success of the ticket has been criticised as the York Council has refused to say how many – if any – York residents have actually purchased the ticket.

Tickets are valid on services run by:

· Arriva Yorkshire

· Coastliner (including Transdev York)

· ConnexionsBuses ( Harrogate Coach Travel)

· East Yorkshire Motor Services

· Eddie Brown

· First

· Reliance

· Stephenson’s

· Utopia

For more information visit www.york.gov.uk/allyork

City of York Council and local bus operators say that they are encouraging commuters, residents and visitors to join a new bus user group to become involved improving travel in York

Certainly York needs a group which would allow operators to more fully understand the views of passengers. Some of the current routes ignore passengers needs.

We hope though that it will not just be another attempt by the Council to blame others for their ineffectiveness. They have still to confirm whether they have successfully submitted a bid for “Green Bus Fund” support. Applications had to submitted last week.

The organisers say, “the new Bus User Group is looking for new members who either have an interest in bus travel or use services across the city, to help to shape future investment for the bus network in York”.

It will be know by the slightly uncomfortable anagram BUSUG!

“Meetings will be held at different times throughout the year to accommodate work commitments, and members of the group will also be asked to provide feedback online, on the phone or by completing questionnaires.

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First’s Service 15, which runs between York City Centre, York Rail Station and South Bank, will be withdrawn from 12 May 2013.

Changes have been made to several bus services in York that run with financial support from City of York Council.

Buses will still run to/from South Bank, but provided by another operator.

Service change summaries can be found by clicking here.

The last day of operation for service 15 will be Saturday 11 May

A copy of the new timetables for the much changed 24 service and which will operate from 15th April can be accessed by clicking here

click to enlarge

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The number 26/27 services are also changing on the same date click here

NB Transdev services over Easter will run as follows:
• Friday 29th March (Good Friday) | Saturday service
• Saturday 30th March | Saturday service
• Sunday 31st March (Easter Sunday) | Sunday service
• Monday 1st April (Easter Monday) | Sunday service

With businesses and residents in York eagerly awaiting news of today’s budget, it has been revealed that only a small proportion of the York Council’s budget is spent in the City.

Asked what percentage of the local authority’s total procurement budget was spent on goods and services from suppliers and providers in the local authority area the Council responded?

Figures for the 2011/12 financial year indicate that of the Council’s third party expenditure, 17% was spent with local suppliers i.e.those with a York postcode.