£5,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco sniffed out and seized
Council and police officers visited a business in Clifton, York last week, where nearly £5,000 of noncompliant vapes and illicit tobacco was found and seized. The illegal items found and taken have an estimated retail value of £4,941.25: 177 noncompliant vapes with a retail value of £2,124 2,250 counterfeit and illicit cigarettes valued at £731…
Survivor voices Valentine’s Day domestic abuse campaign
Content warning/ reporting aid: This press release contains information that you may find distressing including repeated reference to Domestic Abuse. Please be mindful of your own wellbeing and of others, when reporting on this. If you need any advice, or if it helps to talk to the Public Health team, to aid you in reporting on this story,…
Bank of England monetary policy expert to deliver lecture at Leeds Beckett University
Leeds Beckett University is delighted to welcome Dr. Catherine L. Mann, External Member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), to deliver the highly anticipated Economic Prospects Lecture on 11 February. Attendees will gain insights into the Bank’s latest Monetary Policy Report, to be released on 6 February. Catherine will address how the…
Applications open for grants and academic support for charities and community groups in Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s charities and social enterprises offered £10,000 grants and unique academic support package to boost their community work The successful Community Research Grants programme is open for 2025 applications York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice (ISJ) is delighted to announce the launch of its 2025 Community Research Grants (CRG) programme. Now into its…
Essential work to improve Lendal starts 3 February
Two urgent improvement works are due to begin on Lendal. To ensure the safety of public and workers on site, Lendal will have daily and temporary closures to vehicles as follows: Northern Gas will carry out essential work to the roadway on weekdays from Monday 3 February until Friday 14 February. The road will be open for…
Bradford BID partners with West Yorkshire Police for ‘Report It Campaign’
Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) is proud to announce a new partnership with West Yorkshire Police to launch the ‘Report It Campaign.’ This collaborative initiative aims to encourage businesses and members of the public to report all non-emergency incidents, such as anti-social behaviour and shop theft, by contacting 101 or using the online reporting platform….
Neighbours’ stand against drug-related activity helps Council evict a nuisance tenant
Following a ruling by a District Judge yesterday, a Council tenant has been evicted as his drink and drug-related activities and anti-social behaviour caused misery for his neighbours. The Council was granted a possession order by York County Court to end the tenancy of Dawon Belleh, aged 42 of 8 Oldman Court, Foxwood. Mr Belleh…
Court charges tenant £7,964 for failed disrepair complaint
Council tenants are being reminded to report repairs to their landlord as ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms target York tenants and a County Court judge orders an unsuccessful disrepair claimant to pay £7,964.75 in legal costs this month. The Council’s reminder follows a campaign advising its tenants to tell City of York Council about…
York Learning rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted
York Learning – City of York Council’s Adult Learning provider – has been rated ‘good’ in a recent inspection by Ofsted. York Learning offers courses and programmes to help residents of all ages learn, explore and achieve and can play a key role in helping people to get into work or expanding their skills while in…
Leeds Beckett University and Exemplas launch new blueprint for business productivity
Experts at Leeds Beckett University, with leading business support provider Exemplas, have designed a series of new approaches to boosting the productivity and growth of West Yorkshire SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), through a partnership delivery of business support and academic research. The team have worked together since 2022, delivering grassroots SME business support programmes…
City of York Council appoints Garry Taylor as Director of City Development
City of York Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Garry Taylor as the new Director of City Development. Garry, who brings over 25 years of extensive experience in local government, urban regeneration, and place-making, will take up the position on Monday 27 January. Garry joins the Council following his role as Assistant Director…
LNER to boost Bradford services
LNER is planning to more than triple its daily direct connections between Bradford and London King’s Cross from May 2025, operating seven services in each direction from Monday to Saturday. The timetable change sees an additional five services in each direction, linking the 2025 UK City of Culture with the capital. LNER trains currently depart…
York Talk Money helps residents save £1000s
Partners across York are kicking off the new year with the city’s popular York Talk Money fortnight (20 January – 2 February). The regular event aims to help people who are struggling financially by sharing information and advice, and signposting to local help and support. York Talk Money aims to help York residents : Get…
New year, new job? Visit Acomb Jobs Fair
Anyone looking for work, support with training or getting new qualifications is invited to the latest Acomb Jobs Fair on Wednesday (22 January). The event will be held from 11am – 2pm at Acomb Parish Church Hall, Front Street, YO24 3BZ, and will include representatives from a wide range of employers and employment agencies from…
Be inspired by our energy-efficient show home!
Two empty Council houses are being given energy-efficient revamps and will become temporary demonstration homes before being re-let to new tenants. The new tenants will benefit from a warm healthy home with reduced heating bills. The first council house to be renovated is a Victorian mid-terrace in Clementhorpe, and the next one will be a…
Help us meet the challenge of supporting residents to live independently and well
To help the Council meet one of its most important and significant challenges, residents are invited to help refine and shape a new strategy that will guide the way Adult Social Care is delivered in York, while meeting the Council’s duties and ambitions. The Council’s ambition is to support people to live happier, healthier, longer…
York marks Holocaust Memorial Day with programme of events
Residents and visitors are invited to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 with a programme of commemorative online and in-person events. Holocaust Memorial Day occurs on 27 January every year, with people across the world join together to remember and reflect on the horrific events of the Holocaust, genocides and persecutions on a worldwide scale. York…
Businesses invited to help tackle domestic abuse
York’s businesses are being encouraged to join an upcoming session helping employers contribute to the fight against domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse: Awareness for Businesses session will take place at the Priory Street Centre on Tuesday 4 February from 9:30-11:30 am. The event is free to attend, with tickets available at the link below: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/cityofyorkcouncil1/1486642…
City of York Council publishes proposed 2025-26 Budget
City of York Council has published its draft budget proposals for the 2025/26 financial year. These proposals outline significant investments in essential services and targeted support for residents, while continuing to deliver necessary savings and the long-term financial sustainability of council services. The budget reflects the council’s commitment to protecting the services residents rely on,…
Lane closure on Queen Street as part of work to improve paths
Residents and commuters are being forewarned of a lane closure that is planned at the Queen Street/Blossom Street Junction as the York Station Gateway project continues. After the removal of much of what was Queen Street Bridge in November, contractors John Sisk & Son will be carrying out works to improve the footpaths and kerbs…
2025 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme open
From today [Monday 13 January], households eligible to subscribe to the 2025 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme can sign up ahead of the new season in March. The easiest way to sign up for the scheme is to complete an online form at www.york.gov.uk/GardenWaste Support is available for anyone who is not able to apply this…
Helping York businesses be Ambitious about Employment
Members of York’s business community are being encouraged to take part in a new movement to increase opportunities for York residents to get into the world of work. In partnership with City of York Council, 4front Partners will deliver the Ambitious About Employment project, which will help businesses tap into the pool of hidden talent…
Yorkshire housing provider loaned £20m through the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme
54North Homes has received a £20m loan under the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme (AHGS) to support its delivery of new affordable homes across Yorkshire. Managed by ESR Group’s specialist investment manager Venn Partners on behalf of the UK Government, half of the loan will help 54North Homes deliver about 100 new homes, with the majority…
Free cinema event in York for people trying to stay warm this winter
York St John University teams up with York Community Energy to offer Warm Spaces film screening York St John University is pleased to invite the local community to a Warm Spaces screening of family film favourite Paddington in Peru. The event is being run by the Cinema and Social Justice project at York St John…
Repair works to start on Bishopthorpe Bridge
The council will be carrying out essential repairs on Bishopthorpe Bridge with work starting next week. In recent months, following an inspection, the bridge has been subject to a weight limit. On Monday 13 January the strengthening work will start and is expected to last for 12 weeks. A corrugated steel arch will be installed…
Residents urged to take care and avoid riverside paths
York residents and visitors are being advised to take extra care given the overnight weather, and to avoid riverside paths. The snow and ice will mean journeys take longer. The combination of recent floodwaters still receding and a layer of silt and mud left behind has made riverside paths especially dangerous, preventing the usual cleaning…
Gillygate trial gets underway this week
A trial that seeks to improve air quality on Gillygate will start this week. From 2 January 2025 the council will trial changes to the traffic light sequencing to significantly reduce stationary traffic on the street which has the worst air quality in York. Queueing motor vehicle traffic emits gases such as nitrogen oxides and…
Young people’s bus fare reductions extended as ticket sales reach half a million
Free and reduced price bus tickets for York’s young people will continue until 30 March 2025, after an extension to the subsidy was agreed as part of the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Unaccompanied under 19s currently pay just £1 for a single fare and accompanied under 16 year olds travel for free, in a…
York-based investigation helps jail criminals behind £1m home improvement scam
Four men who exploited the Government’s ‘Green Deal’ initiative and cheated their way to more than £1 million were sentenced on Friday at Leeds Crown Court (13 December 2024). The group offered home improvement services – particularly supplying and fitting windows and doors – and targeted victims across Yorkshire and Derbyshire between April 2017 and…
MHA welcomes Government representatives to Keighley and Bradford
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has hosted senior strategy and policy staff from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on a two day factfinding trip. The visit was part of MHCLG’s Social Housing Immersion Programme which provides a bridge for policy and strategy staff to engage with housing associations and tenants across the…
Does your polling district and station work for you?
City of York Council is starting a review of its polling district boundaries and the places where people can vote, and is asking residents to comment on the new proposals as well as on existing arrangements. Like all towns and cities, York is divided into polling districts in which local residents can vote at polling…
Planting to brighten up Front Street
As work to improve Front Street continues to progress, green-fingered volunteers have been planting flowers and trees to brighten up the area. The Greater Acomb Community Forum has branched out, lending their hands and expertise to sow the seeds for a brighter future. The council has worked with the community forum to select the trees,…
The Lord Mayor prepares for festive Community Carol Concert
Following some 400 older residents enjoying the annual Christmas Cheer receptions held last week, another festive treat from the Lord Mayor of York is being prepared. The receptions have been held every year since the mid-1950s and are free to the residents who attend. They are funded in part by York’s annual Community Carol Concert….
Support for Blue Badge holders against fraudsters
To address any misuse of Blue Badges and to uphold the rights of disabled people, counter fraud investigators and council officers carried out a day of action. On 4 December 2024, officers patrolled high-traffic areas around the city to check that Blue Badges were being used correctly and by their legitimate holders. Of the 162…
Increased hours of access through new Central Hall building
City of York Council has welcomed news that the National Railway Museum has agreed to additional hours of pedestrian access through Central Hall, once major works are complete and it is open to the public. Central Hall is the National Railway Museum’s brand new welcome building. It will include a welcome and orientation hall, a…
York teenagers give community space a makeover
York teenagers have been working with experienced tradespeople and an artist to breathe new life into a youth and community centre in The Groves. Community interest company Volunteer It Yourself provides free, hands-on work experience opportunities for local young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and at risk of becoming NEET. Whilst renovating…
Boosting walking, wheeling and cycling in York
Plans to create new and improved walking, wheelchair-use, wheeling and cycling facilities across York will be considered by senior councillors this week. At the meeting on 12 December the council’s Executive will be asked to approve the first Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the city. The plan proposes aspirational strategic networks for…
Enforcement against dog control and public urination could change. Do you agree?
The Council is looking at updating the way in which it can deter people behaving in anti-social ways including urinating in public or not controlling their dogs, and issue fines which are fair and timely. New proposals for powers to enforce these offences by police and council officers are being proposed. These Public Space Protection…
Bradford College officially opens STEM building after £6.9m refurb
Guests from education, construction, and regional employers joined staff and students for the official opening of Bradford College’s Garden Mills building. A multimillion-pound renovation project has transformed the derelict mill on Thornton Road into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students. The 1900s five-storey building opened after months of construction…
City of York Council invites residents to help shape the future of library services
City of York Council is calling on York residents, students and workers, other users and non-users, to participate in an early engagement exercise to help shape the future of the city’s library services. This exercise launches on 6 December 2024 and will remain open for nine weeks, closing on 7 February 2025. The Council has…
The Grammar School at Leeds named Eco-School of the Year
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has been named one of five schools nationwide to receive the prestigious Eco-Schools School of the Year Award for 2024. This accolade celebrates GSAL’s outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and its efforts to involve students and staff in creating a greener future. At the heart of GSAL’s success is…
Council presented with gold award for its support for armed forces’ members
The revalidated Gold Award has been presented yesterday (Tuesday 3 December) to City of York Council for the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme for its work to support past and serving members of the armed forces. This prestigious medal acknowledges the depth and breadth of the Council’s ongoing work since it signed the Armed…
Plans to improve air quality on York’s most polluted street
A trial that seeks to tackle congestion and improve air quality on Gillygate will be considered at a decision session this week (5 December). At the meeting, the Executive Member for Transport will review options and decide whether or not to carry out a trial in 2025 to understand how changing the traffic signal sequencing…
Date changes for some Christmas waste and recycling collections
Waste and recycling collection dates in York will be changing for some households over the Christmas and New Year period. On average, City of York Council collects waste and recycling from around 18,000 households every day. Crews carry out around six million waste collections every year and is proud to be the only frontline service…
City of York Council joins national campaign to showcase rewarding careers in local government
City of York Council is proud to support the national “Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council” campaign, a ground-breaking initiative designed to highlight the vast range of career opportunities available in local government and attract new talent to the sector. As part of this government-funded campaign, the council aims to demonstrate the transformative…
Appeal to York businesses to support local young people leaving care
City of York Council is thanking businesses and residents across the city who have already contributed Christmas gifts for children in need and young care leavers in York. The festive season can be a difficult one for many children and young people, particularly those who have had a challenging start in life and who live…
Free start-up launchpad programme to boost economic growth in Leeds
Leeds-based start-up businesses will be empowered to boost their strategies to enter new markets, achieve growth, and build long-term sustainability, through a new partnership between Leeds Beckett University, the University of Leeds, L Marks and Leeds City Council. The project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the…
Startup programme supports stained glass studio launch
A stained glass studio has been supported in its early business stage by a startup programme, commissioned by City of York Council. Since they first met several years ago while studying for their MAs in Stained Glass Conservation at the University of York, best friends and Megan Barnett and Zoe Harrigan have been united by…