Agenda item

The Ward Budget 2016/17

Agreement of aims and objectives for Guildhall Ward 2016/17

Joe Ashton explained that there is £84,283 available to spend in the general 2016/17 Ward Budget, plus £34,740 specifically for highways projects.  These budgets include money carried across from the previous year.

Councillor Flinders explained that the Ward Team had agreed to adopt priorities to target resources at a small number of key issues, to be reviewed annually.  He explained that the previous Annual Ward Committee meeting in October 2015 had produced the shortlist of priorities from a long list of options, grouped within three overarching aims which would be used for the period up to the 2019 local elections.  The over-arching aims were agreed by the Ward Team following the May 2015 elections and are: “a clean and green ward”; “a safe and secure ward” and a “caring and inclusive ward”. 

Councillors invited those present to advocate for any of the shortlisted objectives they felt should be prioritised during 2016/17.

Clean and Green

A resident asserted that the Council had acted against environmental sustainability by allowing shops to heat their premises whilst having the doors open.  The resident felt that the over-door heaters and the proliferation of air conditioning units exacerbated concerns about energy usage.

It was reported that the Guildhall Planning Panel was concerned about the air conditioning units as they were also visually unattractive.  It was further reported that  a survey of businesses had been undertaken which established that over-door heating and air conditioning are used to counteract the heat from lighting in shops and that customers were more likely to shop in stores with open doors.

It was suggested that a speaker be commissioned to brief businesses about energy usage with the economic incentive of lower energy bills.

Councillors agreed with much of the sentiment expressed but Cllr Flinders said that most of the planning rules for air conditioning units and similar were set nationally.  Councillor Craghill highlighted the One Planet York initiative should have a positive impact.

A resident felt that education about recycling could be improved and that this would help save the Council money in the longer term.

In response to a query, councillors clarified that although sometimes waste collections are “co-mingled”, they are then sorted in Scarborough.

A resident spoke in favour of measures to improve public transport. 

Another resident said that measures to improve provision for walking and cycling would be a better use of ward money, as it would be better for the environment and bus provision in the ward is already good.

Safe  and secure

There was a discussion about the Public Space Protector Order in The Groves, poor driving practices and enforcement of traffic management on the foot-streets.  Frustration was expressed with the policing of some vehicles using the foot-streets.

Councillors agreed to call a meeting of the Police, senior Council officers and the Business Improvement District, in order to establish who is responsible for enforcing regulations on the foot-streets and what can be done to improve this.

A resident spoke in favour of investing in preventative youth work such as that provided at Door 84 Youth Space.

Residents advocated for investment in a review of traffic calming measures in The Groves and road safety generally.

Caring and inclusive

A resident explained that part so Guildhall Ward are relatively diverse and this should be celebrated.

A resident advocated for more work on energy switching as a way of ensuring that people can live comfortably in their homes.

Councillors asked those present to vote for their top two objectives within each aim, from those which had been advocated for at the meeting.  This would give six specific objectives to work with in 2016/17.

The result of the vote was the adoption of the following priorities:

·        Parks and green spaces are better maintained

·        More waste is recycled

·        There is less antisocial behaviour

·        Children can play safely out on the street

·        There are more activities for children and young people

·        Diversity in local communities is embraced