Coronavirus York updates; 3rd February 2021

Deaths

FIVE additional deaths were announced by the York Hospital Trust today. Three occurred on Monday and two yesterday.

Test results

THIRTY SEVEN (37) additional positive test results were announced today. Brings the cumulative total to 11,215

The rate /100k population figure has now fallen to 185.18.

case numbers in York are now down to 390 (7 day moving average). They continue to reduce at a faster rate than elsewhere in the region.

Neighbourhoods

Six neighbourhoods now have significantly lower than average infection rates (below the 100 cases rate benchmark). The 6 include Woodthorpe/Acomb Park area which, 4 weeks ago, had the highest rate in the City.

Vaccinations

National & Regional

Local

Nimbuscare say that they vaccinated over 1700 people each day on Monday and Tuesday at the Askham Bar site.

Today (Wednesday) over 1800 have been vaccinated so far.

NB. Some patients are getting same day appointment options having received their “call up” Email in the morning. Very impressive process.

Testing

During the week ending 29th January 2021 (latest figures), 5363 PCR tests were completed in York.

Of these, 8.2% were positive.

This was a further reduction on the previous days figure (8.7%)

987 lateral flow tests were also completed on 2nd February

York Stadium testing site

The York Stadium Leisure Complex is the latest facility in York to offer symptom-free testing,

as thousands of people who live and work in York continue to do their bit by getting tested regularly to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Following an agreement between City of York Council and Better York, residents will be able to get tested at the new York Leisure Centre, part of our fantastic new facilities at York Stadium Leisure Complex at Huntington, Monks Cross, from Monday 8 February.

You can book a rapid test if:

you live or work in York, and are unable to work from home during the lockdown, and come into contact with other people during the course of your work (including working in early years settings, essential retail and construction)
you’re aged 18 or over, and you come into contact with lots of other people as part of your work in any essential sector
you’re aged 18 or over, and you work with, live with, or support those most at risk from coronavirus
you’re a pupil of a secondary school in York, and your school has advised you to be tested
you’re an eligible staff member, postgraduate researcher or student at university in York

It joins York St John University and the University of York in offering residents, workers, students and staff who are eligible. Since starting testing on 14 December, we have done over 20,000 tests.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said:

“I am pleased that the council is teaming up with Better York to offer another location for residents and people working in the city to get a symptom-free test.

“This is yet another example of how we are working to expand testing capacity in the and how we are coming together to fight the spread of the virus.

“From the very beginning of the project, it was our ambition that the York Stadium Leisure Complex would become an asset of real value to local communities and this new symptom-free testing offer shows how these fantastic facilities are being put to good use for the benefit of local people.

“We will continue to work with partners across the city to improve access to symptom-free testing, exploring how we meet the different needs of people who live and work in the city. Thousands are doing it every week and we hope more do in the coming weeks, as part of our efforts to stop the spread of the virus.”

Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health at City of York Council said:

“1 in 3 cases of Coronavirus have no symptoms so it is vital cases are found early to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

“Whilst cases have fallen in recent weeks rates in York are still higher than we’d like. The early identification of cases and subsequent self-isolation if the test is positive is really making a difference in our fight against Coronavirus.

“We are hugely grateful to those who are regularly getting tested to play their part in the fight against Coronavirus.

“Symptom-free testing can help protect your work colleagues, neighbours, friends and family. We are constantly increasing capacity so would urge anyone who is eligible to get a test.”

Paul Bickle, Better’s Partnership Manager for York said:

“The York Leisure Centre provides an ideal location for Covid-19 testing, offering easy access, plenty of parking and sufficient space to ensure social distancing at all times.

“The concept behind the stadium project was always that it would be a resource for all the community and it is fantastic to be able to play a small part in the city’s efforts to battle the ongoing pandemic.”

If you are eligible please book at https://www.york.gov.uk/SymptomFreeCOVIDTest

If you have coronavirus symptoms or you’re self-isolating, instead visit: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119

& the name of the new stadium will be….

The LNER Community Stadium.

LNER through the Agreement will also have the naming rights to the main East Stand of the Stadium and it is proposed this will be named the – LNER Azuma Stand.

The deal is thought to be worth around £50,000 although the York Council is refusing to confirm this.

In 2012 property and valuation advisors Edward Symmons valued the naming rights between £40k – £60k per annum. This valuation was consistent with the estimate made in the original business case of between £50k to £70k per annum.

Those of a nervous disposition will be aware that the East Coast mainline operator has changed a lot over the last couple of decades. (LNER, Virgin, GNER etc etc) . No doubt any signage at the stadium will be digital to allow for regular updates!

Community Stadium limps towards goal line

More risk for taxpayers as restaurant providers play hard to get

There is little new in an update report on the Community Stadium which will be considered by the Council next week.

It says final contracts will be signed this month.

We will see.

The report does admit that expected leases for some of the commercial property (restaurants) included in the project have not been completed. This means that, potentially, taxpayers could lose around £1.4 million compared to the figures quoted earlier in the year.

In July the Council admitted it would get a lower price (£10.76m) when it sold the land for the southern block and the lease on the east stand restaurants.

That was £2.6 million less than forecast in March 2016.

It is that sum that is now, potentially, being further eroded

The Council claims that this might be offset by increases in income later in the life of the complex.

The stadium itself is being paid for by section 106 contributions. It is the neighbouring sports and swimming facilities which have become a financial deadweight.

Too late to make any major changes now though.

The Council claims that the stadium will be ready for use in June 2019.

York Community Stadium

A new report to the Council’s Executive confirms that the builder has pulled out of the GLL led consortium which was to have constructed and run the new Community Stadium.

Contracts for the sale of commercial elements also haven’t been signed.

The report says, “Until legal agreements can be concluded, a risk remains that the Investment Fund could look to alter the terms of the proposed deal. This could include a reappraisal and increase or reduction in the Capital Land Receipt to the Council. Should the Capital Land Receipt reduce from that set out in the March 2016 this would have significant effects to the overall financial position of the Project”

Commenting on the need to appoint a new builder the report says, “Council instructions to GLL have been very clear in that any revised Construction Cost from their Building Contractor re-procurement must meet the existing approved March 2016 budget. However, until GLL have received final revised Building Contractor cost submissions there remains a risk that the Construction Cost could differ from that presented in the March 2016 Executive Report”.

Despite these issues, the Council says, “Stadium and New Leisure Facility built and operational by late 2018”.

The report does not say whether – in the light of the continuing high risk level of the project – a contingency plan has now been developed which might still see some sort of investment in a new stadium undertaken.

Around £12 million, of the original Section 106 developer contributions to the stadium project,are still held by the Council.

No scrutiny of York Community Stadium at key meeting

Project disappears from “to do” list

Every six months a committee at the York Council looks at the progress being made in delivering major projects. A report is being presented on 14^th November to a scrutiny committee which lists all the major projects in the City.

Most of the major plans of the Council are listed.

Schemes listed for consideration at meeting on 14th November

We learn that the plan to improve the northern by pass has a “red alert” attached to it, meaning that progress has stalled. Perhaps more surprisingly we are told that there is now nothing to prevent the Guildhall project from being fully implemented (other perhaps than the small matter of financial prudence).

However there is one major omission from the list.

The £44 million Community Stadium project.

When the committee was last updated in May details of the stadium project were included.

Stadium timetable presented to a scrutiny committee in May

By now builders should have been on site but, of course, the project now faces a “judicial review”.

We think that there are some questions that backbench Councillors would want to ask about this project. There are hundreds of jobs hanging in the balance.

We wonder if there is an even more serious precursor of failure than a “red alert”?