A fuller analysis of how people voted in the recent Council elections is now available (see below).
Although attracting the support of 38% of voters Labour now has 55% of the Council seats.
Support for fringe parties such as the BNP collapsed while the Liberal Democrats came second in the popular vote both in the York Central constituency and overall throught the Council area.
The Greens saw a small increae in their vote reflecting the additional condidates that they fielded. The Conservatives attracted fewer votes than in 2007 but this may have been partly due to their choosing to field fewer candidates.

From todays The Press
“Detective Inspector Ian Wills of North Yorkshire Police said: “We take the matter of election fraud extremely seriously and will vigorously investigate anybody suspected of electoral malpractice.
“I would urge anybody who has been approached by somebody attempting to influence them to contact the police with information.”
Are any of the 100 or so candidates in this years York Council elections not trying to influence voters? Perhaps Ian Wills meant “intimidate” electors?

The last in our pre election look at the last 4 years in the Westfield part of York

Changes to the Tudor Road Kingsway West road junction were modified following residents representations…….. New operators SMG announced detailed plans for the Barbican reopening. A Morrissey concert quickly sold out…………… The Council house modernisation programme reached an historic milestone with all properties in York now meeting “decent homes” standards. These included a large number that benefited from the “York Pride” enhanced standards agreed in 2003 when the LibDems took over control of the Council.
After some indecision, the majority of residents in the Green Lane terraced area opted to have wheeled bins to store refuse. Most though choose to use plastic sacks to present their rubbish…………. A new sports village was announced for the Hull Road area. It includes a competition standard swimming pool, indoor & outdoor sports and athletics facilities………….. Volunteers set out to deliver our Christmas card to everyone – just as the heaviest snow fall ever recorded hit the area. We turned our attention to trying to keep the salt bins topped up.

York High school won a £4000 grant to restore a nature reserve…………… There was a lot of good news as it was revealed that crime in the City had fallen from 23148 in 04/05 to 14481 in 09/10……… The numbers killed and seriously injured on our roads had reduced from 100 in 2003 to 60 in 2009…………… Homeless numbers were down from 400 to 130 during the same period of time……….. The new Lidl store opened on 3rd February while a Valentines Ball, in aid of the Lord Mayors charities, raised over £10,000……………In the wake of the winter weather a public meeting heard how Yorkshire Water intend to address residents concerns in the future. Better communications were promised although frozen pipes could not always be prevented………….. A 20 mph zone in the Beaconsfield Street was confirmed by the Council and vehicle activated speed signs were erected on Green Lane.
In April works started on the Grange Lane park playground and Sue Galloway announced her retirement from the Council. She is replaced on the LibDem ticket by St Stephens Road resident Mark Waudby who faces the electorate in the 5th May poll….. Over 1060 Westfield residents opt to vote by post in the local elections – the largest number ever.

Works starts on the new Grange Lane park playground

Where will you be on Thursday 5 May? That’s the question York residents are being asked ahead of the local election Polling Day.
With City of York Council’s elections and the first UK-wide referendum* in over 30 years taking place on 5 May, City of York Council is urging voters to be ready to have their say.
With several bank holidays coming up, residents who are going to be away on 5 May can also apply to vote by post or by proxy.
Anyone who will be away or unable to vote on 5 May can register for a postal or proxy vote until 5pm on Thursday 14 April.
For more information visit www.york.gov.uk, call the council’s Electoral Services team on 01904 551052 or email electoral services@york.gov.uk

Sue is presented with a limited edition picture of the Minster to commemorate her 32 years as a Westfield Councillor

Cllr Sue Galloway has announced that she will not be seeking re-election when the City Council elections take place on May 5^th.

First elected in 1979, Sue has represented the Westfield Ward, without a break, for the intervening 32 years.

During that time she has served on most Council committees and is currently the Councils second longest serving member.

She was the Executive member with responsibility for Social Services during the first Liberal Democrat administration in 2003 and pioneered in 2006 the ”Telecare” system which is now revolutionising how elderly people live safely in their own homes in the City.

She is one of the driving forces behind York’s increasingly successful performance in the “Britain in Bloom” contest.

She also led on the successful “Kingsway Project” – an initiative which has seen unemployment fall in one of the poorer areas of the City and which is now being expanded to include other neighbourhoods.

Sue became Lord Mayor in May 2010 and has already helped to raise over £30,000 for her charities (British Heart Foundation & Our Celebration)

Commenting Sue said

“Obviously, after such a long time, I will be sad to leave the council and in particular to have less contact with residents in the Westfield area.

The City has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. When I first entered politics the Liberal Party had only a small number of Councillors but this grew over the years, until in 2003 we had a landslide victory at the polls.

I like to think that I have made my mark on the City during that time.

The numbers using the Councils Social Services continues to increase and we are lucky to have a dedicated team of carers to look after them.

In my own ward all the local schools have been modernised  

New public transport services,  like that provide by the ftr, were the stuff of science fiction comics in the 70’s.

We should not forget that it is only relatively recently that we got a northern by pass. Until that time HGVs regularly chugged their way through the City centre causing pollution and congestion.

I was delighted when the new Energise sports centre was established on Cornlands Road – and amazed when over 400,000 used it in its first year.

The “Explore” library in Front Street has also been hugely popular and has set new standards for public access which will now be rolled out to the rest of the City.

But the time has come to pass the reins on to someone younger.

I wish whoever is elected as my successor on May 5^th every success in representing the Westfield community”

 We are less than 10 weeks away from local council elections which are due to be held on Thursday the 5^th of May. Now is the time to check you are registered to vote. If you have any doubts contact the council here to check you are on the electoral roll. OR if you are not registered, download and send off this form to the City of York Council. The closing date to guarantee you are on the electoral register is coming up fast (the 11^th of April) so don’t delay.