Agenda item

To deal with the following questions to the Executive Leader and / or other Executive Members, in accordance with Standing Order 10(a):

(i)         To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Watt

“Following last year's petition from the residents seeking council action to address Anti-Social Behaviour in the Rawcliffe Grange area, a Safer York Partnership Multi-Agency Working Group (WG) was convened to address the concerns raised by the petition.  The Executive Leader is requested to advise the Council:

a)     which of the WG's recommendations have been implemented;

b)     which WG recommendations is it intended to implement;

c)      which of the recommendations the Executive does not intended to follow up and why each of these recommendations is not being pursued.”

(ii)        To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Holvey

“Local democracy is helped by a local press, and York benefits from two local newspapers and two locally based radio stations. However, across the country local media outlets are suffering from budget pressures, job losses and other reductions in capacity which are also affecting the City of York. Would the Leader agree that a properly funded and staffed local run newspaper, like "The Press" is vital to local democracy?”

(iii)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Sunderland

What action has been taken to safeguard the evening bus services which First plan to cut with effect from the end of April?”

(iv)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth

“What opportunities will residents have to influence the LDF core strategy and land allocations over the next few months?”

(v)        To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Morley

“Can the Executive Member give Council an update on the performance of the City’s libraries?”

(vi)       To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Jamieson-Ball

“Could the Executive Member tell Council what action has been taken to ensure activities at Elvington Airfield have minimal impact on local residents?”

Six questions had been submitted to the Executive Leader and Executive Members under Standing Order 11.3.  The guillotine having fallen, Members agreed to receive written responses to these questions.  The questions and the written responses are set out below:

(i)         To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Watt

“Following last year's petition from the residents seeking council action to address Anti-Social Behaviour in the Rawcliffe Grange area, a Safer York Partnership Multi-Agency Working Group (WG) was convened to address the concerns raised by the petition.  The Executive Leader is requested to advise the Council:

a)     which of the WG's recommendations have been implemented;

b)     which WG recommendations is it intended to implement;

c)      which of the recommendations the Executive does not intended to follow up and why each of these recommendations is not being pursued?”

Reply:

The working group has implemented the extension of an Alcohol Exclusion Zone. SYP have funded three months targeted detached youth work  to engage with the young people in the area.  Neighbourhood policing patrols were increased and action taken where possible.  Target hardening funds for 50% of the value of  a range of physical works was allocated to the area.

The erection of two kissing gates to the access paths to prevent motorcycle access, and raised height fencing to the play areas with a lockable gate to the play park to prevent youths gathering at night, are yet to be implemented.  Such works are subject to funding being obtained and consent from the land owners.

There are no further recommendations to implement other than those already outlined above, which as I have already said, are subject to funding and land owner consent.

(ii)        To the Executive Leader, from Cllr Holvey

“Local democracy is helped by a local press, and York benefits from two local newspapers and two locally based radio stations. However, across the country local media outlets are suffering from budget pressures, job losses and other reductions in capacity which are also affecting the City of York. Would the Leader agree that a properly funded and staffed local run newspaper, like "The Press" is vital to local democracy?”

Reply:

“There is no doubt that Local news is going through a difficult time, advertising revenues are falling and the recession is hitting hard resulting in significant job losses. I recognise the importance of local journalism and the commitment of ‘The Press’s staff and NUJ to maintain a newspaper in the City. I have met with the management earlier in the year to discuss the situation and recognise the pressure that they are under from the American parent company owners.

Many residents rely on the local newspaper for local news, to hear about local events, and to keep connected as a community. The local paper is a vital source of information and a key link to the local area.

Even politicians who have been at times been exasperated by some of the articles written by the newspaper recognise the broader view that local newspapers play a vital role in scrutinising and reporting the work of the council and local elected representatives, holding public authorities to account and campaigning on behalf of local residents, all of which, in a time of economic uncertainty, are more important than ever.”

(iii)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Sunderland

What action has been taken to safeguard the evening bus services which First plan to cut with effect from the end of April?”

Reply:

“Discussions took place immediately and I am happy to confirm that:

(i)         The number 10 evening bus service from Poppleton to Stamford Bridge via Acomb and Dunnington will be taken over by Pullman as a, self funding, commercial service.

(ii)        The number 13 evening service will be supplemented by the diversion of the Coastliner number 843 service into Copmanthorpe. This will also be at no cost to the Council

.At the time of writing negotiations are still taking place regarding the future of the evening number 12 service which links the City Centre to Haxby. I am confident that we will be able to sustain the service although in this case the replacement may be subject to tender and possible subsidy.”

(iv)       To the Executive Member for City Strategy, from Cllr Firth

“What opportunities will residents have to influence the LDF core strategy and land allocations over the next few months?”

Reply:

“Subject to Member approval, the Preferred Options draft of the Core Strategy should be available for public consultation in late May. Consultation will run for at least 6 weeks.

In addition we are currently working on a site specific development plan document (the Allocations DPD) this is likely to be available for public consultation in the Autumn. I have agreed that consultation on this important document will involve a door to door distribution of consultation information.”

(v)        To the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, from Cllr Morley

“Can the Executive Member give Council an update on the performance of the City’s libraries?”

Reply:

“The last year has been a really successful one for york library service.  We have more people using our services - engaging with thousands of children and adults across the city.  Key points include:

·        National year of reading  our campaign was the most successful in the country, as we achieved the biggest increase in people joining up to the library: during the NYR (April to Dec 08) we signed up 14,453 people, which was a increase of 57% on the same period in the previous year. We now plan to work hard to ensure these new members become regular library users.

·        Explore Acomb library learning centre visits have more than doubled - average daily visits up from 180 to 435 and still growing; in it's first year we signed up 2,600 new members (diverse ages and backgrounds - postcode mapping); we've saved 20.7 tonnes of carbon by using 26 tonnes of wood pellets (saving equivalent to 16 return flights to New York) 

·        Explore New Earswick library learning centre   both issues and visits are now up by 50% on the old library (and still growing as word spreads)

·        Summer reading challenge   we signed up 3,527 children which was equivalent to 1 in 5 children in York 

·        Big city read - we gave away 2,200 copies of The Railway Children and created a real buzz around reading in the city.  Our work has been recognised as good practice nationally and we have had lots of requests on how we did it.  Our plans for this summer's big city read are even more ambitious.

·        We have moved from 63rd nationally in 03/04 for issues at our busiest library to 18th in 07/08 - demonstrating real improvement over the last 5 years.  The biggest increase can be seen in adult fiction paperbacks and children's books 

·        The smart meter library scheme is proving a huge success with 600 people having borrowed smart meters between the start of January and the end of February, and 150 people still on the waiting list. Over 20 local authorities have approached the council with a view to copying this initiative, among them South Gloucestershire County Council and Bristol City Council who have both formally decided to launch smart meter lending schemes of their own.

We plan to continue and build on that improvement in the 3 years - achieving 1 million visitors at our new york explore library learning centre.”

(vi)       To the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, from Cllr Jamieson-Ball

“Could the Executive Member tell Council what action has been taken to ensure activities at Elvington Airfield have minimal impact on local residents?”

Reply:

“When the MoD sold Elvington Airfield in 2000, the new owners were made aware that planning permission would be required for any outdoor sports and recreation uses that occurred for more than 28 days per year. Despite this the new owners soon introduced Formula 1 testing and other noisy motor sports events, without planning permission or consulting City of York Council (CYC) or local residents.    The council’s environmental protection unit (EPU) tried unsuccessful to work with the new owners.  

In response to complaints from local residents, EPU monitored the noise and found that there was a statutory noise nuisance due to the cumulative, total noise impact of Formula 1 and other motor sports and the frequency of all of these events.

A simple noise abatement notice was served in March 2005, together with advice to stop Formula 1 testing, reduce the number of other noisy events and notify residents when these would happen and also provide respite to local residents.   The airfield owners appealed against the notice but admitted at the appeal that a statutory noise nuisance existed. The judge varied the notice to restrict Formula 1 to 10 days a year, to restrict other activities and to provide 2 quiet weekends a month.

The airfield owners not only appealed this decision but also intensified the use of the airfield and the noise nuisance to local residents, increasing Formula 1 testing to 21 occasions in 2007.  The second appeal was heard at York Crown Court in May 2008 and was dismissed.

The judge said residents should have a period of respite from noise as had endured noise for so long.  He banned any Formula 1 testing as even a single event could be a statutory nuisance and also said there should be at least 2 quiet weekends per month and that other noisy activities should be reduced.

100% of the council’s costs of £127,000 were awarded to the council, together with 75% of our costs from the previous appeal.

In July 2008 Elvington Airfield appealed the judge’s decision and asked to state their case before the High Court. The case will be heard at Leeds Combined Court later this year.

Our Environmental Protection Unit has been very proactive and have supported residents in their concerns about excessive noise and the Courts have so far supported the view that there is a statutory noise nuisance.   EPU continue to respond to complaints from the public and monitor noise from events at the airfield. 

The owners of the airfield have been informed that the abatement notice is in force (pending the outcome of their High Court Appeal) and that any breach of the notice may result in a prosecution.”