Agenda item

Q: How will we get any highway work done with £5,000?

A: Nigel Ayre is aware that this funding is very small but notes that the figure can be carried over and saved up to complete larger projects. There are also ways to get maintenance work done in a cheaper way if effective planning is done – such as coordinating work when CYC have deployed teams.

Q: One resident brings attention to a surfacing problem on Woodlands Grove suggesting that this should be a priority as it is causing a great deal of noise in their home from 6am to midnight.

A: CYC highways work is prioritised to specific assessment criteria and timescales, with each road graded 1-5. The point of the new ward highways funding is to allow the ward to address specific issues such as this. However, there is a suggestion that the funding might be too minimal to address this issue in particular.

Q: One resident suggests that the ward develop a process which allows people in the community to provide their time, supporting people to do work in their community and take pride in their area. Allowing the ward to utilise the assets available in the community could also make necessary savings in the budget. For instance, the hedges around Monk Stray would not take long if the council would provide support in removing the clippings and insurances checks.

A: This is precisely the idea behind this new budget process and there is scope to fund someone to coordinate volunteers and put them through relevant training etc. It is positive that people are willing to get involved in projects such as this as the budget challenges are reliant upon it.

·        One resident has concerns that volunteers would be able to effectively cut the hedges on Monk Stray without heavy machinery. However, it is said that the key point here is focusing on the principle, rather than this specific example. The Pride in York fund is intended to allow investments which support volunteering groups and community projects.

·        A member of the Parish council notes that volunteering is difficult as it regularly falls onto the same people to do all the work. There are also concerns about the quality of work done in this way.

Looking at the grounds maintenance budgets that have been outlined by the CYC, the current spending in the ward is £7,000 and this is set to be cut to £5,600 next year and £4,200 the following year. It is noted that the greatest expenditure is on grass cutting, mainly Monk Stray. One resident suggests that Monk Stray will be the crunch point for the ward as clumps of grass are already being left and with further cuts to the budget this will only get worse, which will make the area look scruffy. Nigel Ayre notes that nobody is pretending that this is an easy task and work needs to be done to establish the priorities.

Nigel Ayre suggests that the main problem the committee now needs to address is articulating these budget changes to the wider community and engaging as many people as possible in the process. There is an awareness that a number of different lines of communication will suit different people and exclude others; e.g. web pages, ‘Our City’ newspaper, social media and community notice boards. Any ideas from residents on this will be greatly received. Going forward, people are asked to make notes of priorities and suggestions, asking the opinions of other members of the community.

There are questions about how the budget priorities set out by the ward team will be communicated to residents. It is suggested that by the time this work could be done and another meeting arranged it would, at least be January and we would be coming close to the end of the financial year.

Q: Would it be legitimate for residents to give the ward team the power to spend as they see fit for this financial year as there is no time to consult residents effectively?

A: Nigel Ayre agrees that this would be a logical solution and some funding could be carried forward to be spent next year.

·        There is general agreement on this approach. However, one resident raises concerns about spending cross over in regards to the grounds maintenance budget and it is assured that this will be used to inform spending Others also expresses a wish to develop an advisory group of residents to work with the ward team and there is scope for this if the ward agrees it is a priority.

·        It is noted that the process will more ad hoc this year, due to the time constraints, but a more formalised process is set to be developed for next year’s budget.

Q: When will the additional green bin collection take place?

A: Leaflets with a programme for council waste collections is currently being distributed and some have already received this today.

Residents are welcomed to add any further suggestions they have now to the board at the back of the room, in addition to contacting Amanda Wood for ideas surrounding the public health pilot.

The next meeting date is yet to be confirmed.