Agenda item

York Neighbourhoods Pride

This report provides a summary of the work undertaken as part of the Council’s York Pride initiative, launched in September 2003. The report details the proposed development of the next phase of this initiative titled ‘York Neighbourhoods Pride’ and seeks approval for implementing the actions.

Decision:

Members considered a report which summarised work undertaken as part of the Council’s ‘York Pride’ initiative, detailed the proposed development of ‘York Neighbourhoods Pride’ (YNP) as the next stage of this initiative and sought approval to implement the proposals.

RESOLVED: (i) That the launch of the York Neighbourhoods Pride initiative be endorsed.

REASON: This initiative will have significant environmental and Safer City implications which will benefit the City and its residents.

(ii) That the revised programme timetable, as presented at the meeting and set out below, be agreed:

Overarching campaign throughout the 12 months	Street Champions – Caring for Your Environment Awards will be given to members of the public, organisations, groups and schools that help to make a difference in their neighbourhood. This will create ownership within the community of the cleaner safer greener issues.
November 2006	Back Lane Campaign – targeting streets in the city where problems have been experienced with refuse sacks being presented early.
December 2006	Clean for Christmas Campaign – asking residents to identify ‘grot spots’ so that action can be taken to tackle these before Christmas.
January 2007	Get rid of Graffiti Campaign – with SEO’s undertaking inspections and enforcement under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
February to Mid March 2007	Spring Clean Campaign – including a high visible clean of the city centre and residential areas.
May 2007	Red Card for Dog Fouling – using posters featuring red cards to raise awareness and targeted enforcement action.
June 2007 to mid July 2007	Litters out campaign – working with primary and secondary schools to talk about the importance of not committing ‘enviro’ crime.
June to July 2007	Blooming City Campaign – encouraging individuals, groups, residents and organisations to help make our city beautiful by producing or purchasing floral displays.
Mid July to August 2007	Cleaner City Campaign – focussing on the cleanliness of the city centre as we enter the peak tourist season.
July, August and September 2007	Feeling and being Safe in York Campaign – focussing on a range of key issues that will promote personal safety in the city.
October 2007	It’s in your Hands, Don’t Drop it Campaign – focussing on communicating the message of how much the council spends on Street Cleaning whilst encouraging residents not to drop litter

REASON: To enable YNP to be progressed in conjunction with other work ongoing in the department and to avoid the need for proactive publicity during the statutory election period.

(ii) That, subject to any existing commitments being honoured, approval be given to transfer up to £30,000 from the York Pride budget to support the York Neighbourhoods Pride campaign.

REASON: To fund YNP, which will build on the work carried out under York Pride.

Minutes:

The report highlighted York Pride’s key achievements in improving the quality of the City of York’s environment in neighbourhood and city areas. It was considered vital to continue the process of finding sustainable solutions to local environment issues, whilst reducing crime and promoting everything that was good about the City. YNP would focus on those issues that caused significant concern to residents and visitors and would include:

The launch of new street cleaning integrated operations
Targeted campaigns on issues such as graffiti, dog fouling and litter
Development of Neighbourhood Policing and relevant initiatives to tackle crime and disorder
Development of Ward Action Plans for each ward in the City.

Paragraph 16 of the report outlined a suggested timetable for a series of high profile campaigns to be held as part of YNP, initially between November 2006 and October 2007. At the meeting, an amended timetable was presented, which would avoid the need for proactive publicity during the statutory election period in 2007. This had been produced in response to a request from members of the Shadow Executive, who had called the item in subject to this issue being satisfactorily resolved.