Agenda item

Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns.

Have Your Say.

Residents were given opportunity to raise issues or concerns in regard to the Holgate Ward

Paul Hepworth - Poppleton Road Memorial Hall representative reported that thanks to CVS, volunteers to run the Monday Afternoon Club have been found. He also thanked to everyone involved with Holgate Windmill Preservation Society. The Windmill will hopefully be in working order next year and residents will even have the opportunity to purchase flour milled in their ward.

Q – There is an issue with wheelie bins around Leeman Road. The street looks untidy, as the residents keep leaving their bins on the pavements, back alleys and streets. Bins are still left out after collections, the warning information stickers being placed on the bins are being ignored as no action is being taken.

A – The situation here is complicated. The system, which is in place, doesn’t seem to be working at all. Uncertainty about the correct way of leaving bins for the collection means that some residents tend to leave their bins at the front of their property, while others leave them in the back alleys. We went out for couple of rounds with waste collection teams to examine the situation. There is no universal system on one street and that certainly needs to be changed. We will address that with relevant officers and feedback on the issue.

Q – Some of the elderly resident may have difficulties with pulling their wheelie bins in and out.

A – An assisted collection can be arranged for each individual. Please contact us (Cllrs) and we will make sure that will happen.

Q – The issue with wheelie bin collection, is that only local problem on terraced houses streets?

A – Yes, it seems to be a local problem. Trials were carried out in other areas of York, but the Leeman Road area has mixed collections on a household basis, this seems to be where the confusion lies. Again if you have any specific queries please address them with the ward committee and the issues will be follow up. 

Q – Some of the back alleys don’t have alleygates. Are there plans to install the more alleygates?  I think it will make the area saver.

A – According to the Police reports the crime figures have decreased in the ward, compared with last year. In regarding to the alleyway gates we are trying to find the best model for each street.  Alleygating requires substantial fund so decisions can only be made in the new financial year.

Q – The alleygates that were installed, which we weren’t consulted on, mean that bins are left in the alleys for weeks and not collected. The bin men don’t enter the alleys and with the number of bins from a street collecting at the collection points it isn’t always possible to get the bins out of the alley, so they aren’t collected. Some bins have been full for six weeks or more.

A – Again this is an issue that we are aware of, the information you have given us tonight will be passed onto the councils waste services department.

Q – Some residents permanently leave their recycling boxes out in the street. Not everyone is taking them back in and some are getting smashed up on the street. Could we think of a system where landlord would be responsible for bringing the bins back in to the property?

A – The executive members are making the changes and decisions; they make their decisions along with Council Policy. We can challenge their decision, but cannot guarantee change. Please contact Cllrs with specific queries and we will make sure the actions will be taken.

Q – On Burnsall Drive the wheelie bins don’t seem to have appropriate lids, as they don’t close properly. This creates the situation where the bins are overflowing with rubbish. Another major issue on Burnsall Drive is that the replacement wheelie bins are too big to go in the stores.

A – This can be followed up with the waste team.

Q – Lincoln Street looks like the worst street in the city. There is a problem with gullies and drains. The smell from the drains is in the air constantly, do they get cleaned?

A – Each gully should get cleaned yearly, if there are problems with the drains, report them and the appropriate action will be taken.

Q – At Landing Lane, next to the waterworks, there’s a piece of land, who maintains it? It should not be interfered with, as this piece of land has historical connotation. There used to be a notice board informing about the history of that area, it was a landing place for barges in the past. 

A – The ward committee budget allocated funds for replacing signs in the ward, will look if there’s any money left in the budget to revamp that notice board. Enquiries will be made with Community Payback to tidy the area if it’s required.