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Could you give a child a home? York supports National Adoption Week

The week runs until 23 October with aim of raising awareness of adoption and encouraging potential parents to come forward and the theme is embodied by the hashtag #SupportAdoption.

Across the country, there is a shortage of people coming forward to adopt older children or sibling groups or those who have additional needs. That means that these children often wait the longest to be adopted when many are in urgent need of permanent, caring homes.
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Police Community Support Officers being recruited in York

70 more special constables also sought

PCSO-passing-out-6-June-2014-group-shot North Yorkshire Police have opened recruitment for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to join the force.

Police Community Support Officers are a critical part of North Yorkshire Police. PCSOs work at the front line of the force and provide a vital link between the police and the local communities the force serves.

They provide a visible and reassuring presence on the streets of our region and act as the eyes and ears of the force – building relationships with local communities and business owners, tackling anti-social behaviour and using the information they gather to prevent and deter crime.

PCSOs have slightly different powers to a Police Constable. They have designated powers surrounding anti-social behaviour, tobacco and alcohol, transport and fixed penalty notices amongst others.

The role can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding so North Yorkshire Police are looking for individuals who want to make a difference every day, have excellent communication and customer service skills and a genuine interest in helping others and building positive relationships.

Recruitment applications are welcome up to 9am on Monday 24 October 2016 .

For more information or to make an application go to https://northyorkshire.police.uk/jobs/

Special Constable recruitment

North Yorkshire Police is looking to recruit at least 70 new Special Constables when it opens recruitment on Monday 10 October 2016.

Special Constables are volunteer police officers who have the same uniform and powers as regular (paid) police officers. They volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month to policing York and North Yorkshire and carry out a full range of operational, front-line duties.

“Specials” as they are known, come from all walks of life and backgrounds which means that they bring with them a whole host of skills and abilities which complement those of their full-time colleagues.

Specials go through a rigorous training programme before they qualify to go out on the beat where they cover a wide range of duties from policing public events, to attending emergency incidents.

They can also choose to undertake further training and specialise in a particular area of policing such as public order, (policing protests, football matches etc), roads policing and joining our Rural Task Force.

Training as a Special Constable can take up to two years. Initial training takes around 19 weeks and involves weekend training sessions that culminate in a week-long course to consolidate everything the students have learnt. Students who successfully complete this initial training will then be attested – which means they swear an oath in front of a Magistrate – and are issued with their warrant cards and uniform. They then spend up to two years on the beat under the guidance of their tutor constable as a probationer Special Constable. During this time they must successfully complete a file of evidence of their experience called Student Officer Learning and Assessment Portfolio (SOLAP).

To apply to join, visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/specials

North Yorkshire Police currently has 150 attested specials, 21 in training and a further 28 awaiting training.

A recent recruitment campaign for regular police officer saw a number of our Special Constables successfully apply to become full-time police officers. 20 of them attended their passing out parade last week.

Last modified: October 10, 2016

New energy efficiency grants available in York

cavity-wall-insulation-illustration-244136 Grants and loans will be available to less well off households towards the cost of cavity wall and loft insulation. A small number of grants are also available to insulate loft extensions and solid walls.

Households with annual incomes below £20,000 per year could receive 100 per cent funding whilst those with annual incomes between £20,000 and £35,000 could receive 75 per cent towards the cost of the improvements.

Qualifying households will be in the five priority wards:

Micklegate,
Guildhall,
Holgate,
Clifton and
Fishergate.

These have been identified as having higher numbers of poorly-insulated privately rented or owned homes and where households suffer higher rates of fuel poverty.

City of York Council will be working with Willmott Dixon to deliver these energy efficiency measures through the Better Homes Yorkshire framework set up to support the ten local authorities in the Leeds City Region to work together to secure funding and improve properties.

This funding follows the council’s Northern Health and Housing Summit ‘Better Homes, Better Health’ held in York in June this year, when the impact of cold and how to tackle it was a central theme.

Research commissioned by the council from the Building Research Establishment identified that cold homes are associated with a range of poor health outcomes such as respiratory andcirculatory problems, and can exacerbate certain conditions including asthma, diabetes. Recovery following hospital discharge can also take longer and sometimes increases the risk of conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Eligible residents living in the priority wards who need cavity wall or loft insulation should contact the council’s Housing Standards and Adaptations team on 01904 552300 or email housing.standards@york.gov.uk. Residents not living in these wards but who have low incomes with high heating costs may also be eligible for help and should also call 01904 552300.

For help with energy debts or other advice contact Citizens Advice York on 03444 111 444, visit www.yorkcab.org.uk; or contact Age UK York on 01904 627995.
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World Mental Health Day tomorrow (Monday)

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, is “psychological first aid”. This looks to focus on basic pragmatic psychological support by people who find themselves in a helping role whether they be health staff, teachers, community workers, or front-line service staff performing a variety of roles, who offer both psychological and social support.

The day is designed to encourage people to consider the role that offering support and reassurance may play in helping those with ill mental health, and how the act of showing care and communicating with someone who may be vulnerable is so important.

The awareness day comes ahead of a conference on Friday 28 October which will launch an ambition for York to be a Suicide-Safer community and part of a Mental Health Friendly County. The event will give people the opportunity to offer their views on how York can achieve these ambitions as well as hear about the work already being done in the city. It will also invite people to have their say on their experiences and where they feel the support available can be improved or just come along and listen to the talks which are taking place.

The event will be taking place between 2pm and 7pm at the Ron Cooke Hub, University of York on Friday 28 October, which will:

Share stories about people’s experiences
Raise awareness of the issues facing those with mental ill-health, their families and those authorities responding to those in crisis
Outline what support is available to people and how this can be improved
Discuss prevention and early intervention

Speakers will include professionals and people who have been affected by suicide. To reserve a place please email wdu@york.gov.uk, phone 01904 553017 or visit bit.ly/suicidesaferyork.

Cllr Carol Runciman, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “World Mental Health Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and get people talking about mental health issues. This year’s theme focuses on how we can all play our part to help friends, family, colleagues and other people we meet in our local community.

“This awareness day comes ahead of an event we are holding later this month to launch an ambition for York to be a Suicide-Safer community and in a Mental Health Friendly County. We are inviting professionals and people who have been affected by mental health to come along to listen and have their say on how the support already available can be improved.”

Inspector Bill Scott, North Yorkshire Police’s mental health development lead, said: “World mental health day is a chance to talk about mental health, raise awareness and break the taboo. One in four or us will suffer from mental ill-health in any one year and it’s vital that people feel able to talk about it, and get the help they need. Every suicide is devastating for all affected by it, but there are often indicators that people are vulnerable. We want to help build a community where people feel able to talk about feelings of distress or suicidal thoughts, and that there are people who will listen. The aim of the event on 28 October is to bring together people who have been affected by suicide either personally or professionally, to help shape our plans to make North Yorkshire and York a suicide-safe and mental health friendly zone.”

To seek help or support with any problems:

· Ring 111 to access mental health services – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

· Contact your general practitioner (GP). If you do not have a GP or do not know your GP’s telephone number contact 111

· Phone the Samaritans 24 hour helpline on 08457 90 90 90 for confidential non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

For more information about the international campaign visit

Tories plan to scrap current housing waiting list allocation system

On 17 October the York Council is likely to authorise changes to the current housing registrations service.

City of York Council operates a choice based lettings (CBL) system for applicants to bid for affordable rented homes across North Yorkshire and York. The system was introduced by the LibDem administration in 2011.

The Council says that “a recent review of it has identified changes that would streamline processes for applicants and officers. The detailed consultation and review included involving staff from multiple council services as well as visits to other local authorities that use other application or bidding systems. The council also conducted two consultations with customers on the current system.

A number of changes have already taken place including streamlining administration, interviewing new applicants and updating housing advice.

The Executive Member will be asked to give officers authority to work with the North Yorkshire Home Choice partnership to discuss changing from a choice based lettings (advertising and bidding) system to an officer allocation system based on customer preference, and also to start discussions about future changes to the allocations and letting policy.

Improving the private rented sector

On 17 October, a York Council committee will be updated on laws introduced last year which aim to better regulate the private rented sector in York.

The new laws include two aimed at ensuring letting and property agents deal fairly with any complaints by landlords or tenants, and that all fees are clearly displayed in agents’ offices and on their websites.

Last year the council wrote to all the agents operating in the city advising them of the new laws and asking them to confirm in writing that they were complying with them. Nine who did not initially respond were visited by officers after which, it was established that all known agents were compliant.

In June this year, a random sample survey of six agents (10 per cent) was undertaken to ensure that the agents were still complying with the law. Two found to be non compliant, and penalty notices were issued in both cases. Officers are currently visiting the other city agents’ premises and a verbal update will be given at the meeting.

The third piece of legislation covers privately rented accommodation and requires landlords to have smoke alarms and, where necessary, carbon monoxide alarms in all accommodation that is rented privately.

The council worked with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to publicise the law to landlords and tenants and more than 260 free smoke alarms were provided for landlords to support compliance. Three tenant complaints have been investigated since the introduction.

The Executive Member will also be asked to consider the implementation of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to confirm that the fines will remain at the maximum level of £5,000.

To find out more about the laws visit the council’s website https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20097/private_landlords_and_tenants or ring the Housing Standards and Adaptation team on 01904 552300 or email housing.standards@york.gov.uk

York minerals and waste plan update

Fracking to be discussed by York Council committee on 10th October

Fracking dangers A joint minerals and waste plan for York and North Yorkshire will take another step forward next month, when City of York Council’s Local Plan Working Groups and subsequently its Executive, will be asked to approve the draft Minerals and Waste Joint Plan.

North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority have joined together to produce a new minerals and waste plan for the area covered by the three authorities.

The report also deals with the issues relating to hydraulic fracturing for shale gas (fracking) in terms of what policies would be included in the Draft Minerals and Waste Plan to deal with any potential future applications for shale gas exploration or extraction in the Joint Plan area. The Joint Plan will help make sure a high level of protection is provided to local communities and the environment when planning applications for these forms of development are being considered.

A first consultation was undertaken within the three authority areas in June 2013 and was followed by an Issues and Options consultation in April 2014 which received 2,405 responses. Both consultations sought views on what the Joint Plan should contain and what the priorities should be.
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York’s Little Festival of Live Music

The Music Marquee (Parliament Street) :

Fri 23 Sep – Thu 1 Oct : 5.00pm – 9.00pm :

Free

Sep 23_Festival Of Music York’s Little Festival of Live Music is delighted to announce that they’ll be hosting over 24 hours of musical entertainment at this year’s York Food and Drink Festival from 23 September – 1 October.

This year’s line-up sees bands and musicians from all over the country take to the stage including: Leeds College of Music student Ingrid Schwarts, Newcastle acoustic-folk performer Savannah Betts, Manchester’s own Dave Gorman, West Yorkshire’s orchestral folk-pop band Dear Friends, Yorkshire Coast sensation Gracie Falls and five-piece folk extravaganza Ramble

Gamble from North Lincolnshire. Other acts who will be performing include acoustic-folk musician David Ward Maclean, Dan Webster, Duncan Macfarlane Band, popular York group The Blueprints, Americana folk combo King Courgette, country duo Mulholland, Leather’o, eight-piece theatrical band Vesper Walk, Everlate, These & the Other Guy, Flora Greysteel, The Bronze, Kitty VR, Jess Gardham, Laura Kindelan, Ava Rose and Charlie Daykin from Barcode Zebra, The YORKshire Puddingz, Kymberley Kennedy, York renowned performer Boss Caine and the veterans of the festival the Surf Sluts who are returning yet again due to popular demand.

Entry into the festival is free!

For more information visit: www.yorkfoodfestival.com, follow them on Facebook: or email the team.

20 mph speed limits flop – road accidents increasing in west York

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the York Council has published updated figures indicating the effect that the revised 20 mph speed limits have had on average vehicle speeds and accident levels.

The figures reveal that the new limits have had little or no effect on average vehicle speeds while some accident levels have actually risen.

The data updates that published in March 2015 which showed similar results.

The data covers the 20 mph wide area limit in western York implemented in 2013/14. The project cost £600,000 to implement and was widely criticised for failing to recognise that such limits were unenforceable and, in any event, would have a negligible effect on accident levels.

Opponents wanted the money spent directly on safety improvements at accident black spots.

On some 20 mph roads such as Alness Drive the maximum speed recorded this year has been as much as 68mph – well above levels seen before the speed limit change

Overall there has been a reduction of only 1.3 mph in mean speeds.

Accident levels in the area have increased from 62 recorded in 2012 to 78 in 2015

On a related issue, North Yorkshire police are to be asked to justify their decision to increase the number of mobile speed enforcement cameras vans to six.

The Police responded to an FOI inquiry indicting that they only held information relating to the total number of offences which had been recorded when a van visited a particular location. This information had been published on their web site for couple of years now.

The police also publish how they they are dealing with specific speeding complaints raised by members of the public (although there is a backlog). click here

However, it doesn’t provide a measure of how effective the vans have been in controlling vehicle speeds or in reducing the number of accidents on the roads being monitored.

The number of drivers exceeding the prevailing speed limit is only a crude reflection of the “success” of the cameras. Changes in offender numbers may simply reflected changes in traffic volumes.

Against a background of increasing numbers of road casualty’s, residents need to be convinced that roads are now safer as a result of police investment.

A further request for the information is now being drafted.

Comparative vehciels speeds in west York pre and post 20 mph limits

Comparative vehicle speeds in west York pre and post 20 mph limit change

Road accident trends in west York

World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow (Saturday)

The conference will launch an ambition for York to be a Suicide-Safer community and part of a Mental Health Friendly County. The event will offer the chance for people to hear about the work being done in York and offer views on how the city can become a Suicide-Safer community. It will also invite people to have their say on their experiences and where they feel the support available can be improved. Alternatively people are welcome to come along and listen to the talks which are taking place throughout the day.
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