Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hamilton Drive, Acomb

Contact: Matthew Ward, NMO 

Items
No. Item

1.

Ward Committee Surgery

You will have an opportunity to talk to Cllr James Alexander, Cllr Denise Bowgett, Cllr Sonja Crisp, Matthew Ward, your Neighbourhood Management Officer, the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, Lisa Buckley from York CVS, a representative of York Central Library and a representative of Friends of West Bank Park.

Minutes:

1.1 During the surgery residents had the opportunity to talk to Cllrs Alexander and Crisp, Matthew Ward, Neighbourhood Management Officer, Zoe Burns, Neighbourhood Management Unit, Michelle Watling from Street Environment, PCSO Hale, Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Lisa Buckley, York CVS, Sarah Garbacz, York Libraries, and Richard Green, Helen Hoult and Mark Hoult of YWPS.

2.

Welcome and minutes

Minutes:

2.1  Cllr Crisp welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.2 The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed.

3.

York Council for Voluntary Services (CVS)

Lisa Buckley, Youth Volunteer Advisor, will inform you of the services York CVS supply to help volunteer groups.

Minutes:

Lisa Buckley is a volunteer advisor at York CVS (Council for Voluntary Service).

 

3.1 York CVS supports the work of community organisations by helping them to recruit volunteers and providing advice to community groups about best practice in running voluntary services.

3.2 York CVS uses a national website called www.do-it.org.uk which helps potential volunteers to find opportunities locally. Residents are invited to register with the service and then arrange a meeting with an advisor at York CVS.

3.3 In Holgate ward York CVS work with the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, which is based at Holgate Villa. They also work with groups in the Micklegate area and will support people interested in starting their own groups, for example, a book group.

 

Residents asked the following questions:

 

Q. What kind of opportunities can people get involved in?

A. The response was given that there are 200-300 volunteering opportunities in York, which means there is a huge variety of activities available.

Q. Do you get people interested in a subject rather than in a specific group, for example, bird watching?

A. The response was given that York CVS can provide support to people who are interested in setting up their own group. Recently, they worked with a young person who wanted to set up a support group. They can also put people in touch with organisations offering similar services, to help them to pool their resources.

4.

Libraries

Find out about the Library Services and ‘Explore’ Central Library plans.

Minutes:

Sarah Garbacz introduced the planned refurbishment of York Central Library as an Explore Library and talked about the range of services offered by the Library Service.

 

4.1 There are 14 libraries in York, as well as a mobile library and home library service. The Explore development at the Central Library will be the third Library Learning Centre in York, following Acomb and Earswick.

4.2 The services offered by the libraries include: IT training sessions, research into family history and display facilities for community groups.

4.3 York libraries are visited by 80,000 people every month; 2,500 people took part in the Big City Read; 1 in 5 children took part in the 2008 Summer Reading Challenge; 14,400 joined the library last year; they lend over 1 million books a year. 

 

Residents asked the following questions:

 

Q. One resident took the opportunity to commend the library service, especially the mobile library service.

A. The response was given that they receive a lot of positive feedback about the mobile library service.

 

Q. Is it possible to arrange a presentation about the library service to a local group?

A. The response was given that the library service would welcome the opportunity to promote the range of services they offer. If any groups are interested, they should get in touch with Sarah Garbacz.

 

Q. What’s the trend in the use of library services?

A. The response was given that York Libraries are bucking the national trend. Nationally, libraries are reporting a decrease in the number of people borrowing books, but in York there is an increase in the number of visitors to the library and an increase in the number of people borrowing books. York Libraries have jumped to 18th place in the national rankings.

 

Q. Do you think there might be some conflict between the café and lending services at the refurbished library?

A. The response was given that they will be spending £100,000 on new books as part of the refurbishment. The library stock is currently between 60,000-70,000; they want to increase this to 100,000.

 

Q. Will there be an increase in the number of paperbacks?

A. The response was given that there would be an increase in the number of paperbacks. Consultation has shown that people prefer paperbacks, so they will be shifting the emphasis from hardbacks to paperbacks; currently 50% of stock is in paperback, but they are hoping to expand this to 80%.

 

Q. Yortime was an excellent internet service. Will it be restored?

A. The response was given that the Yortime site will be relaunched as a more interactive website.

 

Q. What are the details of the refurbishment?

A. The response was given that like Acomb Library, the refurbished Central library will be more accessible, opening up the available space, opening a café, buying new stock, replacing the existing furniture, and maintaining the identity of the listed building in keeping with the advice of conservationists.

 

Q. How much will the refurbishment cost?

A. The response was given that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Sustainable Communities Act

Zoe Burns, Head of Neighbourhood Management and Business Support, will be talking about how you can get involved in the Sustainable Communities Act.

Minutes:

Zoe Burns, Head of Service, Neighbourhood Management Unit, introduced the Sustainable Communities Act.

 

5.1 The Sustainable Communities Act is a lobbying Act that seeks the ideas of residents to potentially generate new powers for local authorities. It’s basic principle is sustainability, and it is informed by the idea that local people are best informed to know what is required in their local communities. The Act has a broad definition of sustainability, encompassing economic, social and environmental factors.

5.2 While the overall consultation process is quite complex, it has been simplified by using ward committee meetings, parish councils, community organisations and online surveys to solicit ideas. Ideas and suggestions then come to the council and are examined by experts in various fields, explored in greater detail by citizen panels and Local Strategic Partnership, and then passed to central government through the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA will explore common themes that emerge from consultations across the country and pass the information to central government who must produce an action plan.    

5.3 Proposals should relate to powers that are currently held by central government and that promote the idea of sustainable communities. Some issues that might be addressed by the Act include: the local authority could ask for the power to retain a greater portion of rent from council housing; business rates could go back into the local economy; lobby to generate power locally.

5.4 In order to develop ideas to pass onto the LGA, the deadline for initial suggestions is May 8, 2009. Suggestions can be made by filling in a form that is available from the Neighbourhood Management Unit, completing the online survey at the council website, or by emailing shapingneighbourhoods@york.gov.uk.   

                       

 

Q. (Cllr. Alexander) Could the act be used if residents contacted the local authority about getting more power over bus companies, public transport, etc?

A. The response was given that deregulation of bus services could be considered, subject to approval by the LGA. Post Office closures and other issues for the local economy could also be considered. 

 

Q. (Cllr Crisp) Is the process taking place over 12 months?

A. The response was given that there isn’t an exact timescale in place, but it is expected that there will be another opportunity to take part in the process.

 

One resident suggested that the Act might be used to give local authorities the power to enforce parking restrictions, like laws against parking on grass verges, without having to post signs on every grass verge.

 

Q. What is the LGA?

A. The response was given that the LGA is the Local Government Association. They have a panel of all political persuasions that will examine proposals from across the country.

6.

Holgate Windmill Preservation Society

Find out about work already done, plans for the future and how you can get involved.

Minutes:

Helen Hoult and Richard Green of Holgate Windmill Preservation Society (HWPS) spoke about the society, the history of Holgate Windmill and its restoration.

 

6.1 HWPS was formed in 2001 and now has more than 500 members. Their goal is to restore the windmill to full working condition and be able to grind grain using wind power. They have successfully applied for several large grants to this end and also enjoy local support.

6.2 The windmill was built in 1770. It is a five-sail, fully double-shuttered windmill which rotates to face the wind. When the restoration is complete it will be the only one of its kind in the country. The sails were damaged in a storm in 1930 and it was then run entirely by electric motor; it was finally shut down in 1933. The millhouse and granary were demolished in 1940 making way for the houses of Windmill Rise. The spines were removed in the 1950s and the windmill remained in that state until 2001. 

6.3 Richard Green of HWPS spoke about the restoration of the windmill. This has included reinforcing the structure of the mill, replacing windows and doors and replacing the cap and fantail.

6.4 Helen Hoult informed the meeting that the society is making the shutters for the restored windmill and would welcome any practical help that residents could offer. Each of the 200 shutters will be dedicated to individuals at a cost of £50 per shutter. The windmill is open to the public on the first weekend of the month from May to October, and they can train volunteers to act as guides.

7.

Have Your Say

Your opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns with your ward councillors.

Minutes:

Q. Do we know when skips will be available?

A. (Matthew Ward) The response was given that arrangements are currently being made with Yorwaste, but dates have yet to be confirmed.

                 

Q. Would it be possible to install barriers at the park gates at New Lane to stop children running onto the road?

A. The response was given that the councillors will look into it.

 

There were a range of issues raised relating to the bus services, including problems arising from more than one bus company serving a route, price rises and bus passes for senior citizens.

 

Q. One resident pointed out that Grantham Drive was reseeded just before gas contractors began work on the area.

A. The response was given that if the problem recurs they should contact the councillors immediately to take action.

 

Q. Helen Hoult praised the work of Andrew Williams, Street Environment Officer, in refurbishing a road sign.   

 

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