Minutes

This was an opportunity for residents to talk to their ward councillors, report any street environment or any other ward-based issues.

PC Graham Cooper gave an update on ward issues and informed residents that there has been a spate of burglaries in the  Almsford Drive area.  However, crime in the ward has reduced in the last 12 months.

The main form of entry is through the windows.

Dawn Clarkson from the Trading Standards spoke to residents about cold calling and doorstep crime in the City.

·        There is a link between cold calling & doorstep crime

·        All reported rogue traders will be investigated by Trading Standards

·        There are now 14 Cold Calling zones within the City.

·        If not all the street agrees to the Cold Calling zone then partial zones can be done.

·        You can just nominate your street and Trading Standards do the rest.

Dawn also explained that Trading Standards have a home service directory of traders that have been checked and approved.

Janet Hopton asked residents on there views on York putting ina  bid to gain World Heritage statuis.

There are currently 27 World Heritage sites in the UK, including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bath, Stonehenge and, in Yorkshire, Fountains Abbey and Saltaire.

It is felt that York has a very strong case for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site,
although it is recognised that there are advantages and disadvantages to gaining World Heritage status. Potential disadvantages include the possibility of outside scrutiny of decisions taken by City of York Council (by UNESCO and its advisors); the significant costs associated with making a bid; and the fact that there is no guarantee that a bid from York would be successful.

Questions raised were;

·        Is there any ongoing costs to the Council Tax Payer?

·        Where would the boundary be?

·     The road outside No19 Beckfield Lane is breaking up and needs repairing.

·     The yellow junction box on the road outside the Sovereign Park estate has made much difference to the flow of traffic. But the boxes do need enforcing.

·     Is the speech recording on buses an infringement of human rights?

·     Can anything be done about the disruptive and disrespectful behaviour of the school children on the buses?

April 2008