Jan 2015— a refurbished York Explore library reopened. There are delays in dealing with patients at York A & E. Labour Councillors pull back from scrapping subsidised bus services . Relations between the York Council and the Knights Rugby Club break down. The Local Plan hits the political buffers as Labour refused to remove a reneged Tory Councillor from a key committee. Cllr Joe Watt had praised Labours plans to build in the Green Belt. An independent report found the York Council to be dysfunctional. Relationships between Councillors hit an all time low. The builders for the new Community Stadium was announced. They promptly let the cat out of the bag by giving a completion date of autumn 2016 (6 months after the start of the football season). The Green’s backed Labours £9.2 million plan to turn the Guildhall into a “media centre”
Feb 2015— Official figures confirm that some Labour Councillors misled residents about the need for housing growth in the City. The Councils Labour leadership announce borrowing plans which will involve paying an extra £1 million a year in interest charges. Cuts in street lighting leave many parts of the City in darkness. There is a big drop in car parking income for the Council. A plan to establish a “traffic congestion commission” is shelved. Labour finally abandons the plan to establish an elderly care village at Lowfields.
March 2015— Proposals for a £35 a year green bin emptying charge are announced. Council Tax levels are frozen for the first time in 3 years. There is a call for bus and taxi fares to be reduced in the wake of a fall in petrol prices. Acceptance of a £3.2 million top tender for the purchase of the Council’s empty Oliver House building is shelved for 3 months. Candidates for the Council election s on May 7th are announced. A petition is launched to stop plans to charge for green bin emptying and to reduce grey bin emptying frequencies to 3 weekly. The planning application for the Community Stadium is referred to the Secretary of State for determination. As forecast no decision now seems likely before June.
April 2015— Some bizarre claims are made by election candidates who wish to appear “local” More details of the Lowfields care village fiasco slip out. The project costs taxpayers over £350,000. Questions are raised about some election candidates vested interests. Council scrap plan to modernise the Gale Farm Court elderly person’s accommodation. Council stop rubbish skip visits to several York estates. The Council loses its appeal over the issue of unlawful fines on Coppergate.Refunds are likely to be ordered
May 2015— A General Election and Council elections take place on the same day in York.
May 8th—A new dawn/last one out of the City please switch off the lights*
*Delete as appropriate
Westfield Focus
