Agenda and minutes

7pm – Ward Surgery

Come along and have a chat with your Ward Cllrs, First York Managing Director,  Neighbourhood Policing Team

Cllr Waller welcomed everyone to the meeting, introduced Cllr Jackson and Cllr Hunter

An update from the Neighbourhood Police Team

An update was given by the local Police Community Support Officer. 

Crime statistics from 2014 to the present day:

Vehicle theft down -  20%

Shop theft down – 24%

Cycle theft down – 50%

However, more recently there had been an increase in the number of ‘sneak’ thefts especially in the Dringhouses area.  Residents were encouraged to ensure all windows and doors were locked even when residents were home.  Staff had been deployed into the areas currently being targeted by thieves.

It was noted there would be a number of workshops where items could be security marked, the first one being at The Gateway Centre on 13^th Nov am- 1pm.

The meeting was informed about Operation Liberate which tackles unsocial behaviour involving youths under the influence of drugs and/ or drink.  Vulnerable people under the influence are taken to a safe haven and are not allowed to leave without a responsible adult.  It was noted that this operation will be ongoing over Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Operation Noel will be implemented to reduce shop theft over the festive period.

Cllr Waller thanked the PCSO Team

First York Managing Director Ben Gilligan will be listening to residents concerns

First York Update – Stuart Fillingham

Mr Fillingham apologised for the recent changes to the No 4 bus route timetable.  It had become apparent that the new timetable was not robust enough.  The comments from residents had been taken on board and from 22^nd November the route would run from Acomb to Skeldergate, it would be a much shorter route and much more achievable, it was acknowledged the current route within the allocated time had been unachievable.

It was that a new scheduler had been appointed from York who understood the issues.  Other route changes were outlined:

No 1 – Some changes between timetables making the timetable more robust.

No 5/5A – No changes

No 10 – Timetable changes making routes 30 minutes long replacing the current 35 minutes.

No 6 – The old route has been reinstated.

Ward Councillors will present the ward budget amounts for this financial year

Ward Budgets

Cllr Waller informed the meeting that previously the Ward Grants had been awarded through an application process and this system was being reinstated... 

Cllr Waller shared statistics from the process in 2003 where priorities had been community rangers.  More recently priorities had been youth, older people, parking, lay-bys, and matrix parking which had been introduced to ease flooding.

The process for allocation of grants was explained.  Applications would be received by a deadline and people involved in the Ward would decide where the funding would be allocated.

The new budgets were:

·        Annual General Ward Fund - £10309

·        Community Care Fund - £5154 - to support activities which would potentially delay people needing to access social care.

·        Pride in York Fund - £6877 – to support environmental projects aimed at keeping the area presentable; grass/ hedge cutting, repositioning litter bins, targeting problem areas.  It was noted that this fund would be additional to work currently carried out by CYC such as playing field maintenance.

·        One off Pride in York Fund - £7046 – to initially support projects which potentially would prevent additional funds being needed at a later stage for example removal of perennial weeds, replacing salt bins.

·        Ward Highway Programme - £17181 – this budget would be in place for 4 years to target Ward maintenance not covered by CYC for example improving footpaths and pot holes in pavements.  It was noted that the Gale Farm elderly residents were experiencing difficulties access the shopping areas due to the uneven footpaths.

It was acknowledged that due to the recent election the budget information and application process had been significantly delayed and would operate much earlier in future years.  Cllr Waller explained that the application period would remain open until 31^st October 2015; packs were available at the meeting on online via the CYC website.  The Councillors would review the applications on 4^th November 2015 in line with previous priorities and decide which had reached the criteria for the funding.  The results would be published on CYC website and the residents would then be balloted in February 2016 on the qualifying projects for feedback and comments.  The Councillors would then review the feedback and allocate funding appropriately.  It was noted that unsuccessful projects may be able to access alternative CYC funding.  Residents would be notified of the projects chosen via notice boards across the Ward.  It was noted that successful applicants would be required to demonstrate how the funding had enhanced the Ward following implementation of their project.

Ward Councillors will feed back on the development of Front Street and the footpaths

Front Street & Footpaths Update

Cllr Hunter informed the meeting that a campaign was underway around ‘Safer walking in Acomb’.  It was aimed at addressing the issues surrounding the poor quality of the footpaths around the Ward.  It was noted there had been a significant number of falls and vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled and visually impaired were experiencing significant difficulties.  Cllr Hunter would be asking residents to sign petitions and encouraging shop owners to back the campaign by having petitions in their shops.  Ideally Cllr Hunter would like the whole area repaved, this was a necessity not vanity,

Cllr Hunter informed the meeting that other key areas for action by the Highways department were;

·        Alleyways at Beaconsfield and Milner

·        Flooding on Green Lane although the drains had been cleaned which had helped.

Paving outside the shops had been completed but was still uneven

Thsi is an opportunity for residents to ask questions or raise any issues or concerns with Ward Councillors