Agenda and minutes

Your opportunity to discuss any issues with your:

Local Councillors

Street Environment Officer

Neighbourhood Policing Team

Neighbourhood Management Officer

Find out about York’s World Heritage bid and ask any questions.

i. Alison Sinclair explained that the World Heritage Bid Steering Group are currently gauging the level of support from residents for the bid. The steering group came about when Councillor Janet Hopton began to investigate the potential of putting in a bid. The two thousand year history of York would form the basis of the bid if residents are in support of it.

ii. Q. Would world heritage status bring any additional funds to the city?

A. UNESCO would not provide funds but the profile of the city would be raised.

iii. Councillor Hogg declared an interest in the North Yorkshire Tourist Board and Railway Museum.

iv. Q. Does the bid go through central government?

A. Yes, putting in a bid is a long process because you have to wait for central government to review its list of potential world heritage sites to put forward to UNESCO.

v. There is a cost involved in the bid. £12,000 would be needed to produce a bid detailing the history of the city however this could be covered by Council Officers spending time working on the bid.

Find out about noise, light and other kinds of pollution and what you can do about it.

i. Alison Brown, Environmental Protection Officer, gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the work of the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU).

EPU investigate a range of complaints concerning noise, odour, smoke, dust and light. EPU will investigate complaints and take action against anyone causing a statutory nuisance. They also review planning and licensing application to prevent nuisances from developing.

ii. It was commented that the sewage treatment works can be smelt from Rawcliffe.

iii. Q. Couldn’t may of these issues be resolved by talking to neighbours?

A. EPU will always find out if direct contact has been made. Face to Face Mediation service can help residents to settle disputes with neighbours.

iv. It was commented that the two proposed building sites in the ward should not continue until there is the sewage works infrastructure to support them.

Councillors responded that the applications for these sites had not yet been submitted.

A discussion on the 2008/09 ward budget priority list.

i. Councillor Watson explained that the provisional priority spending list for the wards local improvement scheme budget has been published in Your Ward. The revenue and capital split was explained.

ii. A resident commented that the vehicle activated signs in the ward were a good idea and asked for more to be placed along York Road. This comment was read out due to  the resident being unable to attend the meeting.

iii. Comment was made that it was a shame that not everyone who had proposed schemes or requested grants had come along to the meeting to speak about them.

iv. A representative of Wigginton Old School Management Committee  expressed their thanks for their application for a grant being prioritised.

v. A representative of Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association expressed their thanks for their application for a ward committee grant being prioritised.

vi. Request was made that a list of schemes held in reserve be published to give the full picture of the ward budget allocation. Action: To be discussed at next ward team planning meeting.

vii. A request was made that Towthorpe Road be considered as a potential site for a vehicle activated sign or for a targeted speed trap.

Comment was made that the Safer Neighbourhoods Team are trained in the use of speed guns but there are legal issues with PCSOs operating them.

Your opportunity to raise issues and concerns with your ward councillors.

i. Comment was made that the Community Rangers are a waste of money.

Response was given that feedback demonstrated that residents felt supported and reassured by the presence of the service.

ii. Nick Hall is currently gauging residents support for a herb project in Haxby. The project would deliver fresh herbs to residents and help them to set up their own herd gardens. The project would have no carbon footprint and would make use of residents underused greenhouses. Herbs could also be used as remedies.

iii. A general discussion took place about drainage and causes of

localised flooding.

iv. Concern was expressed about recent press coverage of potential sites

for ‘Eco Towns’.

v. Comment was made that many signs in the villages were obscured by vegetation. Action: To be passed to Iain Dunn.

vi. A general discussion took place about speeding during which the following were noted:

§         Warning cameras are only effective in high risk areas, if they are used more generally  they are ignored.

§         Everyone can play their part in reducing speeding in the ward by driving at 30mph or less through the villages.