2015 – York commentary archive site

As we welcomed the New Year local Tory Councillor Joe Watt announced his resignation from the Council Group. He was to lose his seat in May. It was to be the first of a series of major changes in local government in York during 2015.
There had been capacity problems at the York hospitals A&E departments
York Knights lost their training ground and were effectively homeless.
The York Council was rapped by Local Government Association inspectors in a public report.
The Lendal Bridge “automatic fine repayment” process was announced
Delays in upgrading the Central “Explore” library were set to cost taxpayers an extra £61k

The Council decided to “freeze” Council Tax levels.
Lowfields care village 2011 plans – abandoned in 2015
All existing Elderly Care homes in York would close by 2019. There was bad news about the future of the Lowfields school site which had been earmarked as a location for an elderly care village.
A campaign to invest £500,000 more in Council estate regeneration was launched by the LibDems against a background of problems with parking and deteriorating infrastructure.
A proposed York “traffic congestion commission” was shelved

Falling fuel prices meant that local taxi and bus fares should be reduced. No action resulted.
Confusing speed restriction signs on Green Lane
The £6 million highways repair budget was divided up at a “behind closed doors” meeting
There had been a 91% increase in car parking charges in York during the previous 4 years
The Council was forced to admit that the introduction of 20 mph speed limits had had little impact. In some streets average speeds had actually increased since the signs were erected

The York Council was failing to repair 67% of street lighting faults within target time
Opposition to plans to charge £35 a year for emptying all “green” bins increased with over 1000 signing a petition. The idea was dropped when many of the policies supporters lost their seats at the Council elections in May
The Clifton Moor – Haxby Road cycle track (along the A1237) was finally opened
The Council lost its appeal against having to repay fines imposed on Coppergate.

Labour retained the York Central parliamentary seat in the General Election.
However in the Council elections the LibDems swept to victory in both the Westfield and Dringhouses wards. Labour lost 9 seats and the Council was “hung” or “balanced”
Not for the first time St Helen’s Road was closed because of Yorkshire water works
Following the Council election results in York, a new coalition took over the running of the City. More transparency and public engagement wa promised although in reality this was illusive during the rest of the year. Priorities would change with vanity projects banished and more to be spent on basic services. However, by the start of 2016 the City was still committed to spending £10 million on a bridge into the York central site, £9 million on a Guildhall redevelopment plan and £8 million propping up the Community Stadium project.
York was disappointing 11th is a league table of foreign visitor numbers

After standing empty for over 2 years the Council decided to sell the Oliver House home. It will become a set of retirement apartments
Tim Farron – who was latter to become Leader of the Liberal Democrats – visited Foxwood
The former airspeed factory and tram dept on Piccadilly was condemned as unsafe. It was later demolished
Developers applied to build houses in a copse of trees on Knapton Lane. The application was later refused planning permission
House prices in York rose strongly
The new Council decided to formally investigate the £187,000 lost on the TdF Grand Departy concert. A report was received 6 months later but most of those responsible for the mistakes had by then left the Council.
Weeds started to overwhelm many public footpaths. The Council blamed its own contractors for failing to apply chemicals at the correct time.
One of York’s new fleet of electric buses caught fire. 6 months later the cause of the fire has still not been explained

July

The Councils ward committee system – which devolves decisions to local communities was revived – with a £1 million potential budget. Community centres were also promised that a support grant would be reinstated.
Housing and benefits advice services in Acomb were discountined despite assurances given when the Acomb office closed
The York Art Gallery reopened and immediately became embroiled in a controversy about discount admission prices for York residents

There was a murder in Hamilton Drive
A new Quango “Make it York” got off to a bad start. They threatened to remove the Parliament Street fountain without any consultation. Later they were to ban children s entertainment rides from their annual St Nichols Fair.
Weeds threatened to overgrow Ouse Bridge…..as they had in 2014.
The Community Stadium had already cost £3.9 million. No building work had taken place.

York could’t decide between North Yorkshre and West Yorkshire in the devolution debate. In the end they opted for neither.
Micklegate closed for utility works (again)
Another Labour Council Group Leader quit. Janet Looker would be appointed the third Labour Council Group Leader in less than 12 months. Jeremy Corbyn became the party’s national Leader
Road traffic accident numbers increased
With the Huntington Stadium closed, the Council paid out £1/2 million for the Knights match-day and training facilities. The rugby club were not to play any matches at Bootham Crescent during 2015. By the end of 2015 no contracts for the construction of the new stadium had been let.
Acomb Library had its most successful year with record numbers visiting
The Council published new “housing” figures to inform the new Local Plan. It still failed to discuss how big it actually wanted the City to be.
The Council is criticised for continuing to make “behind closed doors” decisions. It struggled to even publish agenda before some matters were decided

Homeless numbers in York hit a record low
The Council introduced a new “on line” issue reporting system. It flopped but a better system is promised for later in 2016
The City’s Lord Mayor attracted national attention for the wrong reasons. York City advertised for a new manager.
A new plan for the redevelopment of the Piccadilly area
The Council admitted that it was not measuring its own performance on many key public services

Unemployment levels hit a record low in the City. But average earnings were also down.
Concerns about Syrian refugees continued although 4 months after the crisis developed none have yet reached the City. The Press front page plumbed the depths of insensitivity as more details of the bombings in Paris emerged
Delays in the reopening of the Theatre Royal had cost £3/4 million
Crime levels were starting to creep up
It was revealed that the Councils “free” newspaper “Our City” was costing taxpayers £40,000 a year.
Businesses voted to establish a Business Improvement District in York. It will add 1% a year to their rates bills.
A revised bus service map was published

Consultation started (again) on the York Central development
The Council launched a consultation on public service priorities and Council Tax levels amidst fears of a 3.9% rise.
Councillors were given a 15% pay increase.
A rat bit an elderly resident in a council care home