Sustrans workers were out yesterday keeping the York – Selby cycle track near Escrick sidings open. A tree that was in danger of falling was being cut back. Generally Sustrans do a good job in maintaining the cycle tracks that they are responsible for.
Elsewhere the cycle track on Tadcaster Road, from Askham Bogs to the Pike Hills golf course, is already obstructed by overgrowth.
We know from previous years that undergrowth will make the cycle path unuseable within a few weeks unless the York Council mows the margins.
There has been no mowing this year
Cycle ;path obstructions July 2023Cycle path May 2024
The Council has effectively abandoned the planned maintenance of many streets in the City
The York Council has confirmed its highways maintenance programmes for the forthcoming year. It is the smallest ever yearly programme of works scheduled by the Authority.
Only a handful of roads will be resurfaced.
The background papers fail to rev;eal the maintenance defect “scores” accorded to each street on the lists
On the west of the City only three streets will receive attention (York Road, Elmsford Road and Bishopthorpe Road). The best the rest can hope for will be some pothole filling.
It remains to be seen whether the Mayor – newly elected last week – will release some additional funds for structural maintenance work. There is little point developing grand transport plans if the existing infrastructure deteriorates to the point where it is dangerous to use.
All in all, a shocking case of neglect which will cost taxpayers more to repair in the longer term.
Following yesterdays decision to pull back from allocating a major advertisng ocntract, without going through a competitive tender process, the York Council has now said how it intends to proceed.
A report (click) claims that a full procurement exercise is needed because the value of the contract is likely to exceed a £5 million threshold. Competive tenders must therefore be sought .
This, however, means that the new contract cannot now be introduced until January 2026.
Council report 9th May 2024. click to view
It also means that planned additional income of £500,000 will not be received in the short term, putting further pressure on the Councils budget.
The report fails to respond to other criticisms of the original strategy.
The new contract, when it is agreed, is likely to be based on a profit share arrangement with the Council proportionately benefiting from advertising sales.
It will thus be under pressure to approve the installation of digital advertising boards in sensitive locations.
This is a particular problem in an historic City. Only recently the Councul turned down similar plans from BT who wanted to install boards at some of their kiosk sites. There is a potential clash of interest between the Authorty as a adverting revenue recipient and in its role as a Planning Authority
and the odd plan to ban KitKat adverting from kiosks has not gone away. Labour Councillors still apparently want to apply a restrictive foodstuffs advertisng policy to any new contract..
The Council is being recommended today to extend the exisiting Decaux contract until December 2025.
The authority has already been labelled as “finacilly illiterate”
This latest blunder will do little to improve that reputation.
Earlier 8th May 2024
York Council backtracks on unlawful bus shelter contract
The Council has abandoned its plan to hand out a new bus shelter advertising contract without seeking competitive tenders.
It had favoured a “behind closed doors” deal with the existing Decaux provider who it had claimed would pay a bung into Labours “Community Fund”
Procurement regulations, however, require that an open tendering process be followed. This happened when Decaux took over the contract from the previous providers Adshel several years ago.
The Labour plan – which had included a ban on chocolate advertising in the shelters – had been called in for further consideration by LibDem opposition Councillors. However, before any debate about the merits of the plan could begin, Council officials capitulated and withdrew the proposal.
It is understood that a full competitive procurement process will now be implemented in accordance with the Councils financial regulations.
The costs and other consequences of the false start have yet to be revealed although a report to an Executive meeting taking place on Thursday is promised
Earlier 11th April 2023
York Council to deploy digital marketing screens in both bus shelters and on free-standing street boards
The Council is to give JC Decaux a 15-year contract for digital advertising in the City.
The company is the current provider of advertising bus shelters some of which will be converted to incorporate electronic boards. JCDecaux UK are not the only provider of bus shelters, but they own 142 bus shelters (of which 80 include paper advertising).
No competitive tenders for the contract have been sought by the Council.
Previous Councils have been cautious about rolling out intrusive digital advertising screens because of their potential impact on the historic environment and neighbour amenity.
It appears that the authority has been seduced by promises of over £100,000 in advertising revenue, a new propaganda platform for their “communications messages” plus donations from the contractor to Labour’s new “Community Fund”. The company will also facilitate “tree-planting and community-led biodiversity activities”.
Some of the shelters may incorporate air quality monitoring equipment and footfall meters.
What shelter users will not see are chocolate bar, burger, cola and junk food adverts.
All “high fat, salt and sugar” product adverts will be banned – because the Council doesn’t want residents to get fat.
There is a long list of banned goods and services (click) on the Council list although the ban does not extend to political adverts
There have been major problems with the maintenance of Decaux bus shelters in parts of the City over the last couple of years.
Damage has gone unrepaired for months on end. Some have become gathering grounds for criminals.
The new contract says that seats will be provided in every shelter. They need to get the anti social behaviour sorted out first.
The new contract will say that all items shall be cleaned at least once a fortnight throughout the year – including sides and clear roofs; graffiti and fly posters shall be removed within one working day of JC Decaux UK becoming aware or being notified; offensive graffiti shall be removed within four (4) Normal Working Hours of the JC Decaux UK becoming aware or being notified; routine repairs shall be carried out within two working days of the JC Decaux becoming aware or being notified of the fault; & “Brandsabotage/Brandalism” – on notification the JC Decaux shall replace within a day
NB. There is a further Council advertising contract held by “Community Partnerships”. There have been no reports on the success or otherwise of their stewardship although it is understood it includes the adverts seen on roundabouts and central reservations (which are rapidly disappearing into the undergrowth as the Council’s “no mow” policy takes effect) .
The planning inspectors have now published their conclusions on the Councils policies on Gypsy and Traveller accomodation They a re heavilly critical of the sttae of repair of the sites in general and Osbaldwick (see photo below) in particular..
The adoption of the Local Plan is now further delayed while the Council finds a form of words which addesses the Inspectors concerns.
The Inspectors are content for additional pitches to be provided at the Clifton and Obsbaldwick sites but only after a Masterplan for both has been approved.
The Inspectors conclusions can be viewed via this link
It is unclear how much further delay will be involved or what the implications will be for the rest of the, hugely expensive, Local Plan which has been many years in the making
Extract from Inspectors report
Earlier 6th May 2024
York Council confirms that it will spend £5 million on campsites
A report to a meeting taking place later this week says that the Council will spend £5 million upgrading and extending Traveller caravan sites in York.
The report also takes a broader look at the needs and challenges of the Traveller community. It identifies continuing problems with access to health and education services. This will be awkward for those who were charged with making improvements when the last strategy document was agreed some 10 years ago.
It seems that little progress has been made.
An annex to the report provides more information about the 86 caravans currently parked on authorised sites in the City.
City of York Council owns and runs three main Traveller sites throughout the City:
Water Lane, Clifton
Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick
James Street, York
In addition, a small number of Travellers are living on a non CYC site in the Naburn area
Site residents pay rent, council and utility charges.
In total, there are 61 individual pitches; most are big enough for 2 caravans and 1 or 2 vehicles. Each pitch has its own service block which includes a kitchen area and bathroom. There are “regular visits from support workers who manage the site and provide help when required”.
An unknown number- yet considered the majority- live in “bricks and mortar” housing throughout the city. In York, approximately 368 residents identified as Gypsy or Traveller in the Census 2021.
Officials claim that “York’s high cost of living causes significant stress for the communities with many on low incomes struggling to afford the basics”.
As usual the elephant in the room is the relationship between the Travellers and neighbouring communities. Differing lifestyles produce tensions and there is little evidence that the Council has addressed these issues effectively over recent years.
Indeed the feeling is that conflicts are often brushed under the carpet..
None more so than on the issue of unauthorised road side campsites (There is a longstanding one on the A166 )
“Looking to identify a parcel of that land might be used for Negotiated Stopping arrangements”
The Council will also have a“regular and supportive presence on the static sites, taking an educational approach to ensure people are aware of their responsibilities for issues such as waste management, fly-tipping, Scrap Metal Dealing and dogs, while at the same ensuring people are aware of the penalties for non-compliance”.
It will come as a surprise to many residents if this hasn’t happened in the past.
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
—–
36 Green LaneAcomb York YO24 3DL
Enlargement of dwellinghouse by construction of 1no. additional storey with new roof height no greater than 3.5 metres above the highest part of the existing roof under Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) – Schedule 2, Part 1, Class AA
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Permanent • Salary: Grade 6 Level 1- 4 £26,224 to £28,725 • Job reference: CCOM004707 • Application closing date: 19/05/2024 • Package: Hybrid • Basis: Various
Join us in making a difference! An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Council’s Corporate Business Support service as a Senior Administrative Support Officer to Social Workers where you will be part of our dedicated business support team supporting children’s social workers. We have a …[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Permanent • Salary: Grade 5 Level 1 – 4 (£24,629 to £25,779 per annum) • Job reference: CCOM004708 • Application closing date: 26/05/2024 • Package: Hybrid • Contractual hours: 37 • Basis: Full tim
City of York Council’s Business Support team is looking to recruit a proactive, highly technically literate candidate with excellent communication skills and an ability to quickly learn and apply complex administrative processes. The successful applicant will primarily provide administrative s…[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Fixed Term • Salary: Grade 10 Level 1- 4 (£ 40,964 to £ 46,412 pro rata per annum) • Job reference: PLAC004706 • Application closing date: 26/05/2024 • Package: 37 hours per week Fixed term until 31/03/2025 (funding) • Contractual hours: 37 • Basis: Full time
Are you an experienced project manager looking for an exciting role in delivering a flagship Council project that supports our net zero carbon ambition? The Harewood Whin Green Energy Park (GEP) project, funded by the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) Net Zero Fund, is exploring the potential in…[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Fixed Term • Salary: Grade 11 Level 1 – 4 (£47,760 to £54,463 per annum) • Job reference: CCOM004704 • Application closing date: 17/05/2024 • Package: Fixed Term: o Additional funding Expected end date: 31/10/2025 • Contractual hours: 37 • Basis: Full time
We are seeking a qualified project manager to support the Customer and Communities Directorate in the delivery of a number of the Council’s high-profile projects. Working within the Strategic Services Team, you will be responsible for: Development and management of a programme of projects includ…[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Permanent • Salary: Grade 9 or 10 Level 1- 4 (£35,737 to £46,412 per annum) (dependent on experience). • Job reference: CHED004700 • Application closing date: 19/05/2024 • Package: 37 hours per week • Contractual hours: 37 • Basis: Full time
We are pleased to be inviting applications for a compassionate and dedicated social worker to join our Disabled Children and Young People Team. The Disabled Children and Young People Team are committed to providing bespoke care packages to meet the unique needs of children with complex and profound d…[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Permanent • Salary: £24,444 pro rata, per annum (qualified) £23,944 pro rata, per annum (unqualified) • Job reference: EXTL000709 • Application closing date: 22/05/2024 • Package: Permanent, Subject to funding • Contractual hours: 37.5 • Basis: Full time
York Advocacy Hub are looking to recruit an Independent Advocate (37.5 hours per week) to join our team, delivering advocacy support within York and the surrounding areas across the statutory and general advocacy streams we hold as part of our contract with the local authority….[more details];
• Location: York, England • Employment Type: Permanent • Salary: Grade 8 Level 1 – 4 (£31,947 to £34,988 per annum) • Job reference: CHED004685 • Application closing date: 26/05/2024 • Package: Hybrid • Contractual hours: 37 • Basis: Full time
We are excited to be inviting applications for new roles of Family Help Support Worker within the Children’s Safeguarding Interventions Teams. We are seeking innovative, child focused and strengths-based support practitioners to plan, coordinate and deliver interventions for vulnerable childre…[more details];
The independent report on the York Councils performance over recent months has finally been published. The critical report was held back, no doubt over fears that it might have influenced Thursdays Mayoral election results.
As it turns out, it may well have done, as major issues with the relationship between naive new Councillors and experienced permanent Council staff have been revealed.
Put simply, the new Council leadership came to power last May on the back of a raft of easy read slogans, but without any idea of costs much less any resourcing plan for its programme.
The report, from officials of the Local Government Association, is written in diplomatic language. No doubt any response from Council leaders will be couched in similar terms.
The critical conclusions are all the more surprising as the Council went to some lengths to ensure that the visiting inspectors did not speak to those who had criticised the opacity of the Council.
Independent observers were not given the opportunity to explain the effect tnat governance failures were having.
Voluntary organisations – and especially those who have had their support grants cancelled – were not invited to contribute.
Instead a highly sanitised group of sycophants were recruited to give Labour’s performance a sheen of respectability.
Companies and organisations which depend on Council patrimony are not independent.
The report identifies 15 major areas for improvement
It fails to identify the key issues of transparency and meaningful consultation.Had the LGA team investigated more widely they would have understood that those are among the key issues which concern the average resident.
Still no progress on developing the two vacant plots at “Lowfield Green“.
One plot was designed for much-needed “extra care” accommodation for elderly people. It is over two years since the Council asked developers to bid to provide this accommodation, but the results of the process were never reported back to a Council decision meeting.
A final decision to commence construction was expected last year but instead the valuable site remains derelict. Part of it currently accommodates ugly storage containers.
It is a similar situation on the other small site (the Wates construction compound) which was supposed to have become a public service building. Not surprisingly the work on the Yorspace site has not started.
The estate roads have still not been surfaced despite promises by the Council. They are hazardous for two wheeled users and pedestrians
No remedial work on adjacent roads like Dijon Avenue and Lowfields Drive has taken place, They have been damaged by construction lorries accessing the development site.
Street signs have been discarded and are a poor advert for what was supposed to be a prestigious development .
All in all both new and old residents could reasonably have expected all work to have been completed by now.
Local Councillors should stick their heads over the parapet and speak up against this disgraceful neglect.
York News Focus 