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“Bring back annual Council elections” petition

An electronic petition is being collected in support of a return to annual elections for the York Council. It can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Annual-elections-petition

In support of the petition the organisers point out that until 1995, annual Council elections took place in York.

One third of the Council was elected each year.

As now, each Councillor served for 4 years (County Council elections took place on the fourth year; although that would no longer apply to York as it is now a Unitary – all purpose – Authority).

This system continues in use in many Councils up and down the country.

The advantages of annual elections include:

• The ability of the electorate to hold to account, on a regular basis, those who spend taxpayers money

• Avoiding dramatic changes to the political make up of the Council avoiding periods of indecision as large numbers of new Councillors build up experience

• Acting as a pressure on the Councils leadership to be sensitive to public opinion on an ongoing basis

The Boundary Commission is asking for views on the reintroduction of annual elections as part of its current review of Ward Boundaries in the City which is scheduled to be completed by 14th January 2013.

This petition asks the current York Council to support the reintroduction of annual elections.

Representations on election frequency and ward boundaries can also be made direct to the Boundary Commission by clicking here: http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/yorkshire-and-humberside/north-yorkshire/city-of-york-fer

LibDems not to contest Police Commissioner elections in North Yorkshire

A statement from the local Party on the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections says,

Liberal Democrats have long supported the need for greater transparency and accountability within the police. We believe that policing should have the support of the entire community and be responsive to the communities’ priorities and concerns.

We do not believe that in North Yorkshire it is appropriate to make a single politician responsible for a service which currently has delivered the lowest crime rate in the country and which levies an average bill to local taxpayers of around £200 a year.

While we believe that the Police Authority membership could have been subject to refinement, we also believe that the PCC elections are an unnecessary diversion for a service that has been generally successful in promoting safe and secure neighbourhoods.

Police and Crime Commissioner elections 15th November 2012

Times are changing

Many may feel that the PCC elections, due to take place on 15th November, will prove to be an unhelpful diversion for a Police force which has a good record in reducing crime in York and North Yorkshire at a levy of £200 per for the average household.

The Force has a achieved this under the general guidance of a broadly based “Police Authority” which included Councillors from all over the area, and with differing political views, together with several magistrates.

The structure of Police Authorities is far from perfect. They include no directly elected representatives and therefore accountability with the electorate is at best indirect. So a refinement of its membership, roles and responsibilities may have been overdue.

Nor have all Chief Constables always shown sensitivity and respect for the concerns of local residents. Several examples of apparently unnecessary expenditure have emerged over the last few decades, while recently there have been reports of inappropriate nepotism in recruitment processes.

However, electing a single politician to take responsibility for addressing crime issues is an over-reaction to the perceived weaknesses of the present system. At worst it could bring into question the political impartiality of the Police.

At a salary of £70,000, plus significant on costs, it may also be a role that the taxpayer simply can’t afford.

Over the last few days other concerns have emerged.

2 Labour candidates for the posts (elsewhere in the country) have been forced to stand down. They had committed offences in their younger days and, although not jailed, it was judged that their “experience” was inappropriate for someone towards the top of the justice system. They have been forced to stand down although the Labour party has yet to explain how they came to be selected in the first place.

Last week a judge ruled that existing JPs (magistrates) must resign before they can take up a PCC job. Initially the Judge had said that the ban on JPs would apply to anyone standing as a CANDIDATE, although this view was apparently quickly reversed. The revised guidance says that, for this first round of elections, as long as they undertake not to sit on the bench while the campaign is in progress, candidates will not have to resign as JPs unless they are elected.

Stranger still – according to The Guardian – is the presumption now that members of the – largely advisory – Police and Crime Panels may also have to resign if they also serve as a JP. The Police and Crime Panel (PCP) will have the ability to veto the Commissioner’s plans for the police’s share of council-tax bills and their proposed candidates to be Chief Constable, as long as it has a two-thirds majority on any vote.

The membership of the York and North Yorkshire Police and Crime Panels was announced a couple of weeks ago. It includes at least 1 J.P.

Only 2 candidates have so far been announced for the PCC post in York and North Yorkshire. They are Julia Mulligan a Conservative (http://juliamulligan.org.uk/) and Ruth Potter Labour: (http://www.yorklabour.org.uk/police/)

Other potential candidates may be discouraged by the £5000 deposit that each will have to find.

There will be no postage paid election address delivered so many residents will have to trawl the internet to get details of the candidates and their policies.

City of York Council elections Thursday 5th May 2011

Elections for the City of York Council take place on Thursday 5th May. Polling stations are open between 7:00am and 10:00pm.
If any resident would like a lift to the polls please telephone us on York (01904) 794111
There are 10 candidates competing for the 3 seats in the Westfield Ward.
I am joined by Andrew Waller and Mark Waudby as the 3 Liberal Democrat candidates in the poll.
Biographies
Steve Galloway lives in Foxwood and has been a local Councillor for 38 years. A former Lord Mayor of York, he was the Council Leader between 2003 and 2008. In Westfield he led the campaign to provide a roundabout at the Askham Lane ring road junction and backed the new Front Street “Explore” library.
Askham Lane resident Andrew Waller is the current Leader of the council. He was first elected to represent the Westfield Ward in 1994. Andrew championed the replacement of the Hob Moor and York High school buildings and was the architect of the 3 fold increase in recycling rates seen in the City in recent years.
Mark Waudby lives in St Stephens Road . He had 8 years experience on the York council before moving to Westfield. He recently led the fight to have the White Rose site redeveloped quickly and is a keen supporter of our new “Energise” sports and leisure centre.
Result last time (2007)
LibDem 1485
Lab 838
Con 423
Others 335
(Average vote per party)

Council elections on Thursday – Key LibDem policy plans

1. Reopening the Barbican Concert Hall on 10th May (with no ongoing subsidy from Council Taxpayers)
2. Providing new athletics, sports and swimming facilities at a Hull Road “sports village”.
3. Reducing the costs of Council office accommodation by £17 million
4. Providing salt bins/bags for use in icy conditions and getting the remaining potholes repaired
5. Improving the outer ring road and reducing traffic congestion by providing 3 more Park and Ride sites.
6. Pioneering a low emission transport system with more pedestrian areas.
7. Providing a Community Stadium in partnership with commercial developers (with no Council subsidy)
8. Further improving recycling rates and opening a “salvage” centre at Harewood Whin to promote the reuse of materials
9. Giving elderly people more choice in their care arrangements, building on the success of “Telecare” and the new homes programme
10. Continuing to provide good quality public services at the lowest “cost per resident” of any unitary Council in the country.

Time to end secrecy of “all party” transport group”

Councillors from all parties represented on the York Council have apparently been holding meetings to discuss future transport policies. It is likely that the deliberations will influence the fourth edition of the upcoming “Local Transport Plan”

There have been tensions between the main groups represented on the Council since Labour “bounced” an anti-car motion though the Council shortly after the last local elections.

The motion sought to ban “inessential journeys” within the “City Walls”. No traffic impact modelling was commissioned before the motion was passed. They have subsequently made no attempt to define what an “inessential journey” is or how any such definition could be enforced.

The motion would mean the reintroduced of restrictions/tolls on the use of Lendal Bridge as well as Ouse Bridge.

Labour’s defeat at the last local elections owed much to their traffic ban on Lendal bridge, with its chief architect – Dave Merrett – losing his Council seat.

Now “behind closed doors” meetings have apparently  been taking place in an attempt to find a consensus.

There are concerns that Councillors are being bullied into accepting an extreme transport plan fronted by a small number of members from the York Civic Trust. They have used the cover of a retired University transport lecturer to give their plans credibility.

Liberal Democrat Councillors would be wise to  abandon this secretive approach to policy formulation. Something more inclusive is needed.

If history tell us anything, then it is that the residents of York will not tolerate a “we know what’s best for you” attitude from its elected representatives.

York Council clarifies short term policy on face-to-face meetings

National guidance on council meetings updated

Pressure is growing on the York Council to make its position clear on when a return to public decision making using an all party committee system will be considered. A similar proposal in Sheffield received majority public support in a referendum last week.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto at the last local elections promised to introduce such a system and local Green Party Councillors – who form part of the ruling coalition in York – also say they favour a the modern committee system option.

Although the Labour and Tory groups apparently favour retaining the “winner takes all” Executive system, they are currently in a minority on the York Council.

So what is stopping the leadership from getting moving on the issue?

Separately the Council has announced which meetings will be “in person” over the coming couple of months. All party “scrutiny” meetings will still be held virtually (via zoom) which is a shame given that they are the only real debating forums for many issues.

Some of the more obscure Executive decision meetings attract little public interest though so perhaps the Council is right to try to conduct them “on-line”. Such meetings often last for less than 10 minutes.

City of York Council say that they are putting in place plans to accommodate the national ruling on the future of council meetings.

Following the ruling of the high court, from Friday 7 May, all council decision making meetings will be held in person, with some non-decision making meetings continuing virtually.  Whilst the guidance means meetings will need to be held in person, the council will be putting in place measures to ensure meetings are conducted in a covid safe environment, including allowing for appropriate social distancing.

Over May and June, the following meetings will be take place in person:
•    Annual Council: 27 May, 11am
•    Executive: 20 May, 5.30pm
•    Planning Committee: 17 June (provisional), 4.30pm
•    Area Planning Sub-Committee: 13 May, 4.30pm; 26 May, 4.30pm; 10 June, 4.30pm
•    Licensing Committee: 8 June (provisional), 5.30pm

The below meetings will continue virtually to consider making recommendations before any decision is made.

Executive Member Decision Sessions:
•    Finance and Performance – 14 June, 10am
•    Health and Adult Social Care – 16 June, 10am
•    Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods – 17 June (provisional), 10am 

Scrutiny:
•    Economy and Place – 25 May, 7pm
•    Customer and Corporate – 14 June, 5.30pm

This format will be in place for May and June, and will be reviewed from July onwards, following further guidance on the roadmap after 21st June.

Public participation in relevant meetings will be allowed in person, and by phone for those wishing to dial-in. In addition to the relevant councillors and officers, meetings will have a space for public speakers to attend, and a cleaner will be present to wipe down any surfaces they come into contact with between each speaker. The safety of members of the public, along with officers and councillors, is of paramount importance.

Those wishing to speak at public meetings will need to register their interest a minimum of 2 working days in advance, this can be done online here. If you would like to attend a meeting in person, along with registering to speak, it is recommended that you should take a symptom-free covid test in the 24 hours before the meeting. If your result is positive you should immediately self-isolate and follow the process for confirming your results.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of the Council, said:

With national guidance changing, council meetings will continue to be delivered in a safe way, as to provide local residents, businesses and organisations the opportunity to engage in the Council’s decision making process.

“We would still encourage anyone looking to share their thoughts at public meetings to follow the usual procedure to register and have their say.”

Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, said:

As we move through the steps of the roadmap to recovery more elements of life will ‘return to normal’. It is still essential that we all remember that covid is still very much a part of our lives, and we must continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air to help stop the spread. I would strongly encourage everyone to regularly take part in symptom-free testing, especially as more people will be leaving their household much more often.

The council will share further information about the plans for future meetings, including the planned Full Council meeting taking place in May, soon.

Easier to be transparent! Auditors criticise York Council

Its over a year since the York Councils last Chief Executive – Mary Weastell – retired. It was thought to be the end of what had been an awkward relationship.

An auditor’s report from Mazers, issued yesterday, criticises the process used to approve the terms of the early retirement.

We said over a year ago that details of settlements (anonymised to protect the privacy of individuals) should be published.

That still does not happen in York.

What happened after the May 2019 elections is the subject to varied interpretations.

However, very soon after the poll Mary Weastall went absent on sick leave.

It appears that negotiations about her future then extended over a 12 month period.

There were (unsubstantiated) allegations of bullying while the Council said that it wanted to reduce ongoing costs by doing away with the post of Chief Executive.

In turn this attracted what is known as a public interest report from the Councils external auditors. In essence taxpayers had claimed that an estimated £400,000 (actual £377,115) pay off given to the departing Chief Executive was excessive.  Most of the money went on pension contributions.

The auditors are critical of Keith Aspden for not declaring a personal interest at the (private) meeting which determined the payment to be made to the former Chief Executive. They confirm that this was not a pecuniary interest as Councillors have access to public liability insurance cover.

(Mazers fall short of their own standards when quoting from a 2017, supposedly independent investigators report, which subsequently turned out to be far from “independent”. It was considered at a public meeting – at Cllr Aspden’s request – on 3rd January 2019. They also omit to mention that the bogus investigation cost taxpayers over £100,000 and Cllr Aspden £20,000 himself)

The auditors confirm that the former Chief Executive was kept on full pay throughout her sick leave absence. Her contract provided only for 6 months on full pay followed by 6 months on half pay. The difference amounts to £18,165.

The auditors also say that of the £377,115  “exit package” only £286,452 was statutory. The Council had a choice about whether to pay the remaining £90,663 which was labelled as “redundancy” and “ex gratia”.

The auditors recommend,

  1. The Council should adopt and apply appropriate standards for business case preparation in relation to exit and pension discretions to improve information supporting decisions.
  2. Decision notes should be maintained that document the factors that explain the case for the use of public funds under the scheme of delegation such as where payments exceed contractual entitlements.
  3. The Council should review the design of its governance policies and procedures to manage conflicts of interest (including self-interest threats). This should include updating the Council’s constitution and scheme of delegation.
  4. The Council should ensure all Members fully understand the requirements of the Code of Conduct in relation to declaration of interests.
  5. The Council should review its policies and procedures to reflect Government guidance in the use of non-disclosure agreements.

The Council has said that it accepts the recommendations and will act to changes its procedures.

We will see.

Election for Crime and Fire Commissioner

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections May 6, 2021

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) elections will take place on Thursday, May 6; the same day as the North Yorkshire County Council Elections.

There may be more interest in this poll because of recent publicity about street violence and increasing problems with anti-social behavior.

However, the post is likely to be scrapped shortly if the government goes ahead with its threat to impose a Mayor, with wide ranging powers, on North Yorkshire.

The PFCC’s salary and office costs have spiraled to over £1 million a year. It is expected that most of the candidates will promise to minimise those costs and instead invest the money into front line policing services.

PFCCs are elected every four years and are the representatives who oversee a police force and fire service area.

There will be one PFCC elected for all North Yorkshire. The winner will replace the current commissioner Julia Mulligan, who has come to the end of her term.

While the Council are putting COVID-19 safety measures in place for personal voting at the polling stations some residents may prefer to vote by post.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is Tuesday 20 April at 5pm. For a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 27 April.

This is a link to the application form for a postal vote.

https://www.york.gov.uk/…/vote-by-post-application-form

The candidates announced so far (the closing date for nominations is 8th April 2021)

  • Philip Allott (Public relations consultant, Knaresborough) Conservative
  • Cllr. James Barker. (Retired army officer York) Lib Dem 
  • Alison Hume (TV Screen writer York. Credited with writing an episode of “The Vice” 20 years ago!) Labour
  • Keith Tordoff MBE. (Retired police officer & sweet shop owner Pately Bridge) Independent 

Result of 2016 election for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

First Choice Voting: Conservative 53,078 Labour 34,351 Independent 30,984 Lib Dem 13,856. As no candidate won over 50%, the second preferences of the Independent and Lib Dem candidates were distributed to the two leading candidates, giving this final result: Conservative 65,018, Labour 44,759

Key Dates

  • Notice of Election – by 15 March 2021
  • Appointment and Notice of Election Agents – by 8 April 2021
  • Receipt of Nominations and Withdrawal of Candidates – by 8 April 2021
  • Statement of Persons Nominated – by 9 April 2021
  • Last date for Registration – by 19 April 2021
  • Receipt of Postal Vote Applications – by 20 April 2021
  • Receipt of Proxy Applications – by 27 April 2021
  • Notice of Poll – by 27 April 2021
  • Appointment of Polling and Counting Agents – by 28 April 2021
  • First Date to Reissue Lost or Spoilt Postal Vote Packs – 29 April 2021
  • Receipt of Emergency Proxy Vote Applications – by 5pm 6 May 2021 (Polling Day)
  • Return of Election Expenses – by 16 July 2021

York Council contract list

An updated list of the contracts that the York Council has awarded is available on line (click)

The awards range from £7000 for a “weed control consultant” (£58,000 is also being spent hiring a weed control contractor) to £4.5 million for the provision of electric vehicle changing points.

Over £28,000 was spent on “homeworking laptops” in February.

£13,000 will be spent on a “Review of the Covid-19 Micro Grants Scheme”

Yesterdays road surfacing works on Wetherby Road/The Green cost £8,729.

TitleAwarded supplierValue (est.)
Highway Weed Control ConsultantPeter Corbett Consulting£7,000
B1224 Wetherby Road Patching WorksThomas Bow Limited£8,729
NYCC Framework – Lot 2 – City of York Council – Huntington RoadHanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd T/A Hanson Contracting£130,000
Oracle Database Enterprise Edition RenewalTrustmarque Solutions Limited£6,444
CCTV Drainage Survey for Castle & Eye of York and Castle MillsSubscan UDS Limited£14,225
Hungate CCTV GPRSMalcolm Hughes Land Surveyors Ltd£5,000
Additional ‘Homeworking’ laptopsKingsfield Computer Products Ltd£28,650
Collection of Covid Lateral Flow Test Centre WasteHonley Environmental Services Ltd£5,000
Consultancy Review of Covid-19 Micro Grants SchemeBlueberry Marketing£13,000
Provision of Quantity Surveying ServicesTurner & Townsend£284,063
Creation and Distribution of ‘Our City’ NewsletterYour Creative Sauce£61,000
Provision of Four Towed Water PumpsEuroflo Fluid Handling Ltd£98,110
Provision of 2 Hire MinibusesLondon Hire£11,000
Independent Connections Provider (ICP)E.ON Energy Solutions Limited£1,750,000
Printing Contract for 2021 Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Elections and possible Neighbourhood Planning ReferendumsStephen Austin and Sons Ltd£32,000
Fire RemedialCLC Contractors Ltd£289,000
Land Surveyor Services for the Phase 1 York Outer Ring Road Dualling SchemeAvison Young (UK) Ltd£250,000
York Blue Badge Case Management SystemNORTHGATE PUBLIC SERVICES (UK) LIMITED£4,000
CIPFA Asset Management SystemCIPFA Business£18,994
2217-21 Highways Labour and Street Lighting Services and WorksMultiple award (9)£11,000,000
Lord Deramore’s Primary School Provision of Cleaning ServicesCivic Enterprise Leeds£30,000
The Provision of a Staff Salary Sacrifice Scheme for CarsNHS Fleet Solutions£200,000
3 Urban Gritting John Deere TractorsAdamsons Turf Machinery£32,240
Yorkshire Flood Resilience Marketing CampaignPMA Outdoor Media Ltd£10,000
West Offices Washroom ServicesMultiple award (2)£30,000
Supply, Installation & Maintenance of Vehicle LiftsStertil UK Ltd£55,000
City of York Employment and Skills Strategy ConsultancyAnnabel Jelley Consultants£15,000
Logic Monitor LicencesANS Group Limited£29,110
Provision of Staff Salary Scheme – Technology ProductsHawk Incentives Ltd.£10,000
Highway Weed Control 2021Munro Weed Control£58,000
Engineering Consultancy for Tadcaster RoadAECOM£249,861
Adoption Support ServiceTherapy in Praxis Limited£5,000
Supply of Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, Bread & Morning GoodsDooleys Wholesale£6,000
Provision of Systemic Practice TrainingThe Institute of Family Therapy£75,000
Blue Badge Eligibility Assessments ServiceMultiple award (2)£103,000
Recycled rubber speed cushionsRediweld Rubber & Plastics Ltd£45,000
Management of 10 rural meadow sites within YorkThe Conservation Volunteers£30,000
City of York EV Charging NetworkChargemaster Limited£2,500,000
Hyper Hubs – Creating a network of ultra-low carbon transport refuelling hubs across YorkEvoEnergy Ltd£1,950,000
Website Accessibility AuditSitemorse Limited£7,500
Hazel Court Electric Vehicle Fleet infrastructure- Mobile Bin Wagons DC node4 chargerVital EV Solutions Ltd£20,000
Winter Maintenance Support 2020 – 2021Dunning Plant Hire£50,000
The Supply and Fit of TyresB A Bush & Son Ltd£240,000
The Provision of Computer Products and Software ServicesEurolink Technology Ltd.£25,000
Brain in Hand Trial *Brain in Hand£27,220
City of York Council E-Scooter TrialsTIER Operations Limited£0
Property Flood Resilience Pathfinder ProjectUniversity of Leeds£126,319
Neighbourhood Homecare Key Provider ServiceMultiple award (2)£267,200
Kofax Power PDF 4 Advanced LicencesTrustmarque Solutions Limited£11,200
MapInfo Professional Annual MaintenancePhoenix Software Ltd£10,868
The Supply, Installation & Maintenance of Pay on Exit EquipmentOrbility£246,000
Provision of Citrix Nutanix NodesCDW Limited£87,000
Supply of GrittersGo plant Fleet Services Limited£36,740
Aids and Adaptations for City of YorkMultiple award (4)£2,100,000
Vodafone PSN ConnectVodafone Limited£6,680
What’s On Listings and Culture ArticlesYork Mix Media£10,000
Wellbeing for school returnYork Mind£22,850
Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription RenewalTrustmarque Solutions Limited£12,276
Servelec Synergy SuiteServelec Education Ltd£500,000
Time to Change Organic HubYork CVS£29,709
Click contract title for more information

*The Brain in Hand tool is a new way of monitoring and managing feelings of stress and anxiety and is designed to help keep the day on track. It has been designed specifically for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. It is an application for use on a smart phone or other device that is designed to help monitor feelings and help manage stress and anxiety.