Following last year’s consultation on litter bins, besides the six new ones which have been installed, residents suggested that three were moved. We are happy to say that for two of three this has now happened – relocation from Ridgeway (which was damaged due to being knocked over) to the bench at the junction of Grange Lane/Askham Lane/Ridgeway, the litter bin at the end of the snicket of Askham Grove and Tennent Road has been relocated to the Tennent Road end of Bachelor Hill field (to complement the new one at the other end of the field). Coming soon will be the relocation from the old Green Lane Fish and Chip shop to the benches on Front Street (which sadly get lots of food wrappers left behind). As the old fibreglass bins were showing their age it was agreed to replace these with the new type of bin from Ward Committee funding. On the subject of bins the vandalised bin on Acomb Green has now been repaired – thanks to residents who reported this to us.

New bin at Askham Lane bench (relocated from along Ridgeway) following success of bin at Gale Lane/Front Street

New litter bin Tennent Road end of Bachelor Hill Field

Front Street benches to be joined by new litter bin

Vandalised litter bin

Restored bin

Liberal Democrat budget plans announced today will help protect local frontline services in the face of huge government cuts.

Key proposals include:

• Doubling long-term investment in roads and footpaths to £20million
• More money for gulley cleaning, gritting and litter bins
• Supporting renewable energy to make York the Greenest City in the North
• More support for mental health services and care for the elderly
• Keeping your council tax one of the lowest in the country

The proposals will see investment in roads and footpaths doubled to £20million over the next 5 years alongside new litter bins, extra gulley cleaning and gritting. The plans will mean extra investment in mental health services, libraries, and funding for renewable energy to help York become the Greenest City in the North. The proposals also include a new local-area approach to tackling poverty.

The budget comes in the face of unprecedented cuts by the Conservative Government. York’s grant will be slashed by over 50% (£6.3million) next year, and between 2016 and 2020 £21.7million of savings are being made. This comes at the same time as growing cost pressures due to an ageing population and the national financial crisis in social care and the NHS.

The Council will therefore use the Government’s 3% social care precept to fund services to elderly and vulnerable people in York. Added to this will be a 0.7% increase in general Council Tax.

This balance will help us to protect the frontline services that matter to you whilst ensuring York continues to have one of the lowest council tax rates in the country.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Deputy Leader of City of York Council, commented:

“Liberal Democrat councillors, as part of the joint executive, are working hard to protect and invest in crucial frontline services across York. Next year we are putting additional money into areas such as road repairs and pothole prevention, gulley cleaning, litter bins and protecting areas such as local community ward budgets and services to vulnerable children and adults.

“This effort comes despite unprecedented national cuts, which will see the central grant given to York all but wiped out by 2020. The Conservative Government is starving local councils of funding. However, by making savings in areas such as senior management costs and taking a balanced approach to Council Tax we are working to protect the frontline services that matter most in your area.”

Full details of the budget will be published here: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=9310

The full budget report will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 9 February. Full Council will debate the budget and have final approval on 23 Feb.

There was a great Family Fun Day with the York Carers Centre at Foxwood Community Centre on Saturday. Hundreds of people came to find out more, and help them to fundraise to support their work with young carers. It was good to meet Emily, Rosie, Rebecca and the team. The Bus Stop Charity & Emily Finch provided great games in their bus in the car park (with the Ward Committee we will be doing more with this charity to help provide more activities for young people). More information on the work of the York Carers Centre is available via their website http://www.yorkcarerscentre.co.uk/young-carers/

Weekly list of planning applications received between 9^th – 13^th January 2017

A balloon release for Katie Rough on Monday at 4pm on Grange Lane field next to Westfield School drew hundreds of residents to mark their respects to the family and see the release of the balloons to remember Katie on what would have been her 8th birthday. Parents, staff and pupils from Westfield School were well represented as Katie had been a pupil at the school. This followed a very moving ‘light a candle’ drop in session at St Aidan’s Church on Friday, and similar sessions at St James the Deacon Church on the Wednesday after the tragic news.

The Westfield councillor team Sheena, Sue and Andrew have been present at these events and have offered condolences to the family and to the school.

Some houses in the Green Lane area had their power cut off this evening due to work in response to an explosion in the electricity supply box just outside Gateway earlier in the afternoon. The event which saw huge sparks fly out  of the box moments after a family had walked past the narrow pavement near to the railings resulted in the doors of the box being blown open. The supply to the lights on the pedestrian crossing was knocked out. Until the area was made safe the pavement was cordoned off with a police van and Northern Powergrid van at either end – and PCSOs in attendance. According to the eyewitness from Acomb Coblers this is the third time that there has been a problem with the box, and so Cllr Andrew Waller has written to Northern Powergrid today for a report on the causes, and what will be changed in future to avoid a repeat. Homes had their electricity cut off in the evening with power being restored around 9pm.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sue Hunter has backed the idea of a new investment scheme for Front Street and called on the council “to give Acomb the support it deserves”.

A recommendation for a “wider renewal and reinvigoration scheme” was agreed by York’s Executive Member for Transport & Planning at a meeting this afternoon in response to petitions presented by Lib Dem councillors in Acomb and Foxwood.

Over the summer, Cllr Sue Hunter organised a petition signed by over 800 residents calling for action to fix pavements in Front Street to help those who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and support the local shopping area. Meanwhile, Cllr Sheena Jackson organised a petition calling for improvements to the pavements around Foxwood Shops.

In response to the petitions, it was agreed today by the council that standard repairs will continue and that further work is carried out to appraise the possibilities for a wider renewal and reinvigoration scheme for both locations and a report prepared for the Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement.

Cllr Sue Hunter, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Westfield, speaking at today’s meeting said:

“In March, I launched my petition to improve the condition of the footpaths on Front Street. This followed concerns raised by local residents and business owners. The response over the spring was tremendous – with more than 800 local residents backing my campaign. I think this shows how big an issue it is, and how important it is to get something done.

“The response also reveals how much local residents and businesses care about Front Street. People want Acomb to succeed. They want to have a thriving local shopping area that is the hub of the local community. This was the driving force behind the Acomb Alive! traders’ group we set up in 2012; to get Acomb buzzing again and to rebuild the community life that Acomb village once had.

“Improving the paths is part of this wider campaign. If we want people to shop locally, then we need to ensure the infrastructure and public space is safe, accessible and attractive. This – along with good local businesses – will encourage people to stay in Acomb rather than get the bus into town.

“I want to thank officers for their work on this report, and I urge the Executive Member to support their recommendations. We should investigate fixing the paths as part of a wider economic improvement scheme for Front Street and Acomb. We also need to work with local traders on this.

“There is so much good work going already in Acomb. Agreeing this recommendation would show the council is willing to back this work and give Acomb the support it deserves.”

We have reported a number of incidents from around the ward in recent days. This includes vandalism to the fencing around the War Memorial at Acomb Green (which we have specifically asked to be repaired quickly so that it does not detract from the Remembrance Day Service) and a burned out bike left near the horses on Foxwood Lane.

Fencing around War Memorial Acomb Green

Burned out motorbike Foxwood Lane field