The easing of lockdown restrictions offers the Council an opportunity to try to restore public service standards at least to the level seen in previous, pre-pandemic, years.
Some services are under particular pressure with potholes taking far too long to fill in.
Potholes in Ashford Place, reported several months ago, have still not been filled
Similarly estate management standards have fallen. At this time of year a regular checks needs to be made to ensure that roads and paths are not blocked and that access road surfaces are kept clear of moss and detritus.
Access roads need to be kept free of obstructions
One of the reasons for the decline may be the failure of the Council to fill three of its Housing Management posts. These are the posts that manage individual Council housing estates. They are very much the public face of the Council in their local neighbourhoods.
At least one of the posts has been vacant since last year.
Yet it does not appear among the 57 job vacancies currently being advertised by the Council, none of which are in the housing department. City of York Council Jobs (click)
Simon Daubeney clean up at Foxwood shops
Lack of budget cannot be an excuse for inaction . The housing account makes a surplus of several million pounds each year.
Elsewhere, local Councillor Simon Daubeney undertook a welcome clean up at the Foxwood shops on Saturday.
He will have found and reported the overturned salt bin.
The area has been subject recently to increased levels of vandalism.
The residents association have suspended maintenance of the planters following damage to the plants.
A Great British Spring Clean litter pick is scheduled to take place on Saturday 12th June.
(NB. First time we have seen a proposal, to change a domestic appearance frontage into a shop window, for some years. Trend in recent years has been to convert display windows to restore domestic use)
Speculation is mounting about the future of the Sainsbury’s Local store on Beckfield Lane. Sources suggest that it may close towards the end of the summer.
The rumours have been reinforced by the recent decision by the company to close its Argos stores, make redundancies at its head office and close 10 large supermarkets and 110 local branches
Sainsbury’s has performed well during the pandemic recording an increase in sales of 8.5% last year.
The Supermarket was rebuffed by regulators in an attempt to merge with Asda 2 years ago.
Sainsbury’s operates 10 stores in York. The Beckfield Lane store is their only outlet in Acomb. The next nearest Sainsbury’s Local is in Blossom Street.
Lloyds Bank closing this week
Lloyds Bank confirmed recently that it would close its Front Street branch on 11th March (Thursday).
It was still attracting a steady stream of customers this morning.
Details of the closure and other options for customers can be found by clicking these links
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.
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12 Beaconsfield Street York YO24 4ND
Erection of single storey extension extending 3.19 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.7 metres and a total height of 3.66 metres
It looks like many highways defects have been left waiting for attention for so long that expensive remedial works are now needed.
Many carriageways which needed patching in the summer and autumn were ignored. Now some are worn down to the hardcore base while others have multiple surface defects. Several represent a hazard for two wheeled transport users.
We have reported the following streets (but these may just be the tip of the iceberg).
Walker Drive
Vincent Way
Gladstone Street
Hotham Avenue
Lowfields Drive
School Street
There are also some problems also with leaf and tree detritus. We’ve reported two areas
Green Lane
Kingsthorpe
Finally builders waste has been dumped in the little Green Lane garage area. We’ve asked for it to be removed.
The above two applications concern a proposal to extend a Grade 2 listed building. 
Former Lowfield School