Agenda and draft minutes

Neil Ferris (NF), Acting Director of City and Environmental Services introduced himself and said he would like to speak about the parking issues within the ward and the approach taken by CYC.

NF said that it was important to note that it was inevitable that the University would have a parking impact on the surrounding area. The Council had recognized this from the beginning and the University’s planning permission included an obligation on the University to carry out regular surveys in the area and carry out more detailed surveys in areas of parking pressure.   The University had funded infrastructure improvements (for example the recently-installed double yellow lines on Heslington Lane) and sometimes subsidized the cost of implementing resident parking schemes.

In respect of University Road speed measures had been implemented just after the marathon last year but it had been found that they had not reduced speeds on the road sufficiently. The Executive Member Cllr Ian Gillies has recently instructed officers to install additional measures subject to a 6-month review. CYC were looking at the possibility of using the lay-by as a bus stop. It was because some pedestrians behaved irresponsibly that there was a duty of care upon CYC.

NF explained that in regards to signage and speed restrictions there were problems with enforcement as if the signage was even half a metre out of position then any enforcement could be challenged and from a policing perspective this presented difficulties.  Signage needed to be absolutely correctly positioned.  

Discussion

Q

Resident raised concerns that the surveying on Main Street in Heslington had been carried out in an unacceptable way.  When contractors arrived it was not clear to residents who they were (they had no identification) or why they were there so early in the morning.

A

NF agreed to pass these comments on to the University.

Q

Resident asked what speed on University Road would be acceptable.

A

NF said that this was defined as 85% of users complying with the limit (20mph) and the remaining 15% not more than 10% above the limit.

Q

Resident asked what would happen if the new measure did not sufficiently reduce speed.

A

NF said that in those circumstances it may be necessary to look at changing the limit. The limit must be supported by the road infrastructure. The alternative would be to look at changing the road layout, particularly to encourage pedestrians to use the bridge across the road.

Q

Resident said that often drivers on University Road were very frustrated as they were stuck behind buses which often took a long time for passengers to get on and off.  He asked NF why the buses did not use the lay-by which would improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians.  

A

NF said that University Road was a challenge.  If the speed could not be brought down then CYC would have to look at other physical interventions.   CYC were currently looking into the use of lay-bys and it would be interesting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

KA gave a presentation on the new Neighbourhood Working model and the ward budgets.  How do we want to engage with communities and allocate funding? 

Listening to Residents: Ward Committees: -this is a new approach to community engagement through working with local neighbourhoods and the establishment of revised ward committees.

The Council’s approach to neighbourhood working aims to empower local residents and to support ward members so that they can:

·         Work with local communities to develop local priorities and help deliver on these

·         Help empower local communities and devolve more budgets to residents

Ward Committees:

What are Ward Committees and what do they do?

·         tackle local issues in partnership with residents

·         improve the Council’s accountability to residents

·         provide opportunities to influence services

They can do this by:

·         Talking to residents on issues affecting the ward and the city

·         Prioritising local issues

·         Agreeing how to allocate ward budgets

·         Supporting local projects that help address ward priorities

·         Working with communities to help inform what local services are needed

There are 21 Wards in York.

Meetings will take place up to four times a year with a formal meeting at the beginning of the financial year (Autumn 2015).   Further meetings can be in other formats depending on the need of the ward e.g. walkabouts, stalls at fairs, drop-in, consultations etc.  This means that a wider range of residents can engage.

Ward Teams

Ward teams would include Heslington Parish Council and community groups. It was expected that there would be regular Ward Team Meetings but not so many Ward Committee meetings.   If any group would like to be part of the Ward Team then they should contact either KA or by Claire Taylor, CYC Community Involvement Officer on 01904 551810 or alternatively email her at c.taylor@york.gov.uk

Ward Teams are led by Ward Councillors, ward-based partners will hold regular meetings to approximately once a month to:

·         Set priorities based on data, local intelligence

·         Work on projects that address the ward priorities

·         Liaise between ward partners (police, estate managers, voluntary groups, businesses, parish council)

·         Supported by a ward co-ordinator

Devolved Budgets

This financial year there was £75,000 available for ward funding but under the new system where would be circa £1M available.   These are additional budgets to wards in order to create a pot that wards can use flexibly to help to address their priorities and develop community initiatives which benefit local residents and reduce reliance on council services.   They are made up of:

General Ward Budget £3393 – this could be spent in two ways. 

·         Grants for funding projects from this fund should be made via an application form.  They can be made from constituted groups and must show a benefit to the local community.  Citywide organisations cannot apply to multiple wards

·         Alternatively should a group or organisation want to commission a particular piece of work?   Or both

Pride in York Fund (one off) £3926 –this money is allocated to wards, based on current grounds maintenance spending and could be used to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.