Ousewem further expands flood resilience efforts
Ousewem is thrilled to announce the continued expansion of its natural flood management (NFM) focus areas within the North Yorkshire Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments, expanding its focus initially to communities in Arkengarthdale, Masham, Bellerby, and Bishop Monkton, with other communities to follow where resources allow. This follows the previous phase which targeted communities…
Senior residents invited to apply to attend Christmas Cheer receptions
The Lord Mayor and Sheriff invite 400 of York’s senior residents to join them at the city’s spectacular Assembly Rooms to celebrate at the Christmas Cheer Receptions. The annual receptions for residents aged 65 and over will take place on Tuesday 3 December 2024, when a spread of tasty Christmas fare will be served and…
City of York council unveils key proposals in ‘Our Big Budget Conversation’ amidst unprecedented financial pressures
City of York Council is asking for the community’s continued engagement as it tackles one of the most challenging budgets in its history. As part of Our Big Budget Conversation, residents, businesses, and partners are invited to provide feedback on proposed budget changes designed to protect essential services while ensuring the council operates within its limited…
Research shows over two thirds of pupils avoid using the toilet at school amid fears about safety and dirty and inadequate facilities
Pupils working with academics to address problems with school toilets A ground-breaking research project, Toilet Talk, is supporting school pupils to explore issues with school toilets and work with their schools to drive change. Pupil toilets are known as a problematic space in many schools and were the subject of several pupil and parent protests…
Blue Badge holders’ access to extend during Christmas markets
The Council’s Executive has decided to establish Blue Badge holders’ access into York city centre for two hours daily at less busy times during this year’s Christmas market. Senior Councillors were asked to consider a number of access options, recognise the risks with permitting access but consider these alongside the various human rights and equalities…
Buses are best in York this Christmas
Residents and visitors are being encouraged to use York’s bus network and Park and Ride sites this Christmas, with the launch of a new marketing campaign aimed at reducing congestion across the city and lowering the cost of Christmas for families. Funded by Government via York’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, the collaborative project between City…
£87,000 secured to support rough sleepers this winter
An extra £87,000 has been secured by the Council to support the expected rise in rough sleeping with up to 29 extra emergency beds and additional support this winter. This emergency winter provision ensures that everyone sleeping rough has the option of a warm place to stay this winter, whatever the weather. The extra funding…
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College receives third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College Sets the Standard in Yorkshire with Third Consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Rating and Exceptional ‘Strong’ Skills Provision Following an inspection in September 2024, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College is immensely proud to announce that Ofsted has once again awarded the College ‘Outstanding’ status for all six key judgement areas….
Council seeks to support care experienced children and young people
A report calling for the council to support children and young people in care by treating ‘care experience’ as if it was a protected characteristic – in a similar way as ethnicity or age – will be discussed at a meeting later this week (Executive, 14 November). The proposal follows a wealth of national evidence that…
Drax Group Trading update – strong performance, disciplined capital allocation
Highlights Strong performance – Flexible Generation(1), Pellet Production and Biomass Generation Progressing target for >£500 million EBITDA post 2027 from FlexGen(1) and Pellet Production UK energy system operator confirms large-scale biomass required for 2030 clean power system Launch of Elimini – US-based developer of 24/7 renewable power and carbon removals Up to £300 million two-year…
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
CBAM has been created by the EU and is the worlds first carbon border tax. To be precise the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) operates by imposing a charge on the embedded carbon content, of CBAM designated imports, that is equivalent to the charge required for the same materials resulting from industries subject to the…
H2Boost project welcomes government officials to witness progress with waste-to-hydrogen technology
The government-backed H2Boost project, led by the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), recently hosted a delegation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to its demonstration facility near Selby. The visit highlighted the project’s innovative approach to clean hydrogen production and carbon capture, which could support the UK’s net-zero ambitions. The delegation included…
A neighbourhood plan for Murton
Murton Parish Council has formally submitted the Murton Neighbourhood Plan for examination. Government rules introduced in 2012 give local communities greater powers to create their own plans and policies. As part of the Localism Act 2011, local communities are encouraged to come together to get more involved in planning for their areas by producing plans,…
Accessibility, sustainability and connectivity at the heart of York’s future transport plans
A detailed plan to deliver York’s future transport network has been released ahead of a City of York Council Executive meeting on 14 November. Elected Members will discuss the Local Transport Strategy’s (LTS) Implementation Plan, which has been produced following the adoption of the LTS itself in July 2024. The Implementation Plan sets out the…
Private tenants protected from unlicensed landlords
City of York Council has used its powers to protect tenants in four properties in York, where landlords were not complying with housing licensing legislations. The vast majority of York’s private landlords ensure their homes meet the required legal standards and most homes which require a house of multiple occupation (HMOs) license have one. Such…
York marks Remembrance Sunday
The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, the Civic Party and City of York Council will pay their respects to fallen soldiers and ex-service personnel at York’s official Remembrance Sunday service and parade. On Sunday 10 November, the parade will depart from Clifford’s Tower at 10:20am and make its way to the…
Night works completed ahead of schedule
The work to remove parts of Queen Street Bridge has been completed ahead of schedule, meaning the scheduled road closures for tonight (7 November) and tomorrow (8 November) will not happen. Over the course of three nights starting on Monday, intensive work has taken place to remove the remaining parts of Queen Street Bridge, which…
Council welcomes creative industry leaders to York
This week, York will welcome creative industry leaders from around the world as the city celebrates ten years of being a UNESCO City of Media Arts. York is one of 26 cities globally to have won the City of Media Arts designation and the only city in the UK to hold the title. The tenth…
Have your say: Riverside path project takes next steps
City of York Council is inviting residents to have their say on detailed designs to improve the riverside path between Jubilee Terrace and Scarborough Bridge. The designs will see around £1.7m invested on improvements that include creating separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, raising the path to make it more resilient to flooding as well…
Revitalisation of Bradford City Centre progresses as ECF appointed to deliver new ‘City Village’
Plans to transform Bradford’s former retail heart into a new sustainable ‘City Village’ have taken a major step forward. Bradford Council has appointed ECF, the partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, as its preferred development partner to deliver the scheme. ECF’s appointment, via Muse, was approved in principle by the Council’s Executive…
York free school meal pilots could be extended after research suggests improved school attendance
Free school meal pilots in York could be extended to two further schools next year following initial research into the impact of the meals. Pupils in key Stage 2 (years 3-6)* at Westfield Primary Community School and pupils at Burton Green Primary School have been able to get free school lunches, and breakfasts, respectively, since…
Richard Hawley, Asian Dub Foundation, Bassline DJs and brass bands are all part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Bradford 2025), is set to electrify audiences next year with a packed music programme, featuring a blend of world-class talent and local legends. Tickets for the first wave of performances, including must-see events like The Big Brass Blowout and Bassline Symphony will go on sale this Thursday 7 November….
Talk Money fortnight is here to help you get more and spend less
The week after the Autumn Budget, City of York Council and partners are holding a fortnight of events and activities from today to help residents with their own finances. Talk Money Fortnight runs from 4-15 November. Drop-in events and advice sessions will be held for any residents facing financial struggles. All are welcome to get…
By election called in Haxby and Wigginton Ward
The statement of persons nominated for election for the Haxby and Wigginton by-election has been published today, Friday 1 November 2024. The details of who is standing are available at www.york.gov.uk/elections-1/haxby-wigginton-election-october-2024. The election will take place on Thursday 28 November with polling hours between 7am and 10pm, and with the count taking place at the close…
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin visits Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport to spotlight world-class facilities and community partnerships
Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport welcomed West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin to a showcase of its world-class facilities and collaborative partnerships on Tuesday 29 October. Academics and students from the Carnegie School of Sport were joined by double Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee, Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Well School Partnership to showcase the impact…
LNER will be offering free return travel to serving military personnel and veterans who are attending Services of Remembrance across the country͏ ͏
LNER will be offering free return travel to serving military personnel and veterans who are attending Services of Remembrance across the country. Those who are attending the Submariners’ Remembrance Service in London on Sunday 3 November, can travel for free on LNER services to London King’s Cross, on either Saturday 2 or Sunday 3 November,…
Mansion House to undergo restoration works in the new year
To help protect and maintain an important cultural asset for the city, York Mansion House will undergo £1.2m maintenance, accessibility and safety improvements and will reopen in 2025, 300 years after its original construction began. One of the earliest civic buildings to be built in the classical style in England, the Mansion House is the…
Bradford BID and City Centre Beat strengthen crime-fighting alliance with new partnership
Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) is continuing to strengthen its approach to reducing business crime and related anti-social behaviour in the city centre by joining forces with the long-established City Centre Beat (CCB), which represents the nationally accredited city centre Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP). This collaboration builds on the BID’s recent initiatives, including the…
York welcomes national children’s leaders to celebrate success
Young people and social workers in York met national children’s leaders last week as part of a visit to find out more about City of York Council’s work to transform services for children and young people. The government minister for Children and Families, Minister Janet Daby; Frances Oram, Children’s Social Care Reform, DfE; and Isabelle…
Celebrating three years of transformative social action in York
A landmark anniversary is being celebrated this month, marking three years of social action work that has transformed lives across York, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a generous anonymous donor gave £1 million to city centre church St Michael le Belfrey (The Belfrey) to establish the Post Pandemic Fund (PPF) and…
Listening to feedback: changes to York’s sexual health service
A number of changes have now been agreed to the way sexual health services are provided in York, which follows a consultation on proposed changes and listening to respondents’ feedback. The consultation ran between July and September and saw over 100 people respond. The sexual health service in York is delivered through YorSexualHealth, provided by…
Baby Week comes to York
Baby Week is coming to York for the first time this November (14-20 November). The national initiative celebrates services working with young families and raises awareness of the importance of early childhood. As a host city, York will celebrate the work of local maternity and early years services, helping to give every baby the best…
Rick Witter’s namesake gritter unveiled!
City of York Council is introducing its new fleet of gritters ahead of the winter season, with one named as Rick Gritter (after Rick Witter, Shed Seven). The lead singer from the local band Shed Seven has been chosen in recognition of their achievements in the last year. Cllr Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of City of York…
Introducing The York Clinic
The York Clinic was launched to address the growing need for menopause support in the workplace. Menopause will impact all women, yet it remains largely unaddressed. Their services are designed to bridge this gap by offering bespoke training that empowers businesses to better understand and support their employees, whilst also ensuring compliance with the latest…
Insulating solid walled homes has potential to cut energy bills by up to 30 per cent, major new research study finds
Insulating the UK’s eight million solid walled homes has the potential to cut energy bills by 30 per cent in some homes – and is essential to achieve the domestic energy efficiency targets, according to new research led by Leeds Beckett University. The research was carried out by the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) at Leeds…
Top comedian highlights the work for foster carers in York
A top stand-up comedian highlighted the life-changing work that foster carers do in a gig in York last week (13 October). Kiri Pritchard McLean has spoken about her own experience as a foster carer for the first time during her current show, Peacock. Better known nationally as the Star of 8 out of 10 Cats…
York taxi passengers to get safer, greener rides
New requirements for York taxis and private hire vehicles are set to make them among the safest in the UK as a new policy incorporates national guidance, making them even safer, with fewer emissions and offering greater choice, especially for disabled passengers. An extensive consultation carried out this summer has helped shape a new Taxi…
Grant applications for Warm Places invited
Organisations running Warm Places in York to support local people through the coldest months are invited to apply for up to £5,000 funding from a £40,000 fund before 10 November. 28 Warm Places opened their doors to local residents last winter – ten more than the previous year – for a minimum two hours a…
City Campus ‘open for teaching’ communications
Leeds Trinity University City Campus opens its doors for teaching Leeds Trinity University has welcomed its first students to begin teaching at its new Leeds City Campus. Postgraduate students were first to step into the City Campus, based at 1 Trevelyan Square, on Wednesday 16 October. Foundation Year and undergraduate students will continue their programmes…
There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, according to two thirds of Yorkshire folk
This year’s National Adoption Week highlights all kinds of adoption journeys. City of York Council and One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for the York, North Yorkshire and the Humber, are supporting this year’s National Adoption Week (21-27 October). This year’s campaign hopes to increase understanding of modern adoption, the diversity of…
Leeds College of Building joins low carbon heat network
Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus is set to benefit from the latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES district heating network. The network uses heat recovered from non-recyclable domestic waste to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city. The project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel…
Aire Valley environment project launches company’s net zero pledge
North Yorkshire-based business, Airedale Group, has launched its journey towards net zero by 2045 with a major new project to support its local environment. The chemical specialist has pledged 200 hours of volunteer time to help the Aire Rivers Trust in its work to improve the Aire Valley rivers, reducing flooding and encouraging nature in…
Queen Street to close for 5 nights in November
City of York Council has published information to support residents and visitors as a key road near York Station closes over 5 nights in November. As an essential part of works to transform the area to the front of York Station, the new Queen Street diversion road will be closed for five consecutive weeknights. The…
Council works with regulator to further housing standards
On 1 April 2024, the Social Housing (Regulations) Act 2023 came into force. Its new regulatory standards require tenant safety and engagement, decent homes and transparency, and landlords to inform the regulator of any non-compliance. The Regulator of Social Housing also requires more frequent surveys of homes and consideration of tenants’ diverse needs and any…
Azets responds to September 2024 company insolvency statistics
Richard Oddy, a restructuring and insolvency partner in Yorkshire for Azets, the UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm, comments on the September 2024 company insolvency statistics for England and Wales: “There were 1,973 registered company insolvencies in England and Wales last month [September], slightly up by 2% on August but down 7% compared to…
City of York Council named most productive council in country
City of York Council has topped a new list of the most productive English councils, meaning that we achieve the highest value for residents per pound of council spending. Independent consultancy, IMPOWER, analysed 149 councils across eight core areas using their index. These are the areas where councils spend the most money and include: housing…
Innovative start-up cooks up a storm with council support
City of York Council has supported a pioneering food delivery business to get established in York, with the company now looking to launch in cities across the UK. School Kitchen works in partnership with schools, taking over their kitchen facilities during the evenings and over the weekends. From their bases in schools, they run home delivery…
Report reveals UKREiiF hits £5m social value milestone
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has announced that £5 million in social value has been created by its events in just three years, with the findings detailed in a report by economists at social value organisation Loop. Intended to connect people, places and businesses to accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive, and transformation…