The Article Four Direction governing the conversion of homes into Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) is now nicely established. As predicted in several quarters, we saw a rush of houses being converted, which then raised the question of whether they'd met the April deadline or not. As a result, the Council has seen a number of enforcement actions resulting in landlords being forced to submit planning applications.
Link: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9998337.Council_probe_into_possible_shared_housing_breaches/
We, as councillors, were still then concerned that planning applications might be approved despite guideline thresholds on concentration of HMOs within areas (10% at street level, 20% at neighbourhood level). Therefore we lobbied officers to refuse applications where a threshold had been breached. We're pleased to have seen our efforts pay off, with applications now being refused - notably at least one in the Newland Park Drive area.
We continue to support the maintenance of mixed communities where all strata of society can co-exist peacefully. So with that in mind, we have also been working with the University of York Students' Union in how we can support their volunteering and community activities. We've been particularly impressed by their proactive attitudes to community cohesion, and as such, have included them as a vital part of neighbourhood working and our Hull Road Community Contract.
Elsewhere:
- Neil Barnes has written to the York Press to highlight pressures the Coalition Government continue to place on lower income families - as there are many who live in Hull Road. As Labour councillors, Fiona and Neil will continue to work as part of the City of York Council Labour Group in protecting York residents against the worst of these pressures & Gov't cuts at local level: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/features/readersletters/9939860.Fantasy_land_stuff/
- The Mosque on Bull Lane - which sits on the ward boundary between Guildhall and Hull Road - has had a planning application approved for a new building to rehouse the Mosque and Islamic Centre. A Mosque has stood on the site for over 25 years and is a well-established entity in the area. Fiona and Neil support social inclusion in York and greater provision of community services. But we will also continue to address localised concerns where we can. For example, around traffic and noise.
- As the Derwenthorpe project takes shape (just outside our eastern boundary), we, as Councillors, continue to address the impact on our ward residents. Fiona Fitzpatrick chairs a Derwenthorpe Partnership forum sub-group and is well placed to be a voice for residents.
Earlier this year, Neil Barnes nominated popular local figure, John Horsley for Volunteer of the Year at the York Community Pride Awards. This was following his commitment to improving the environment of the ward via weekly walks - despite being 83 and continuing to suffer from cancer. To our great delight, last week he won! Unfortunately John was too unwell to attend, and Fiona Fitzpatrick collected the award for John alongside Simon Moss of the Heworth & Tang Hall Residents' Association.
John won the award jointly with Violet Armitage - who volunteered in the St Leonard's Hospice in Tang Hall for many years. Violet sadly passed away before the awards evening but was represented on the night by friends and family. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/communitypride/news/10001170.Community_Pride_Awards_2012__Volunteer_of_the_Year/
