Have your say in the council's budget

The City of York Council is holding a series of consultation sessions where residents can have their say on the council’s budget priorities for the forthcoming financial year.

Council officers will be on hand at each event to provide answers to any questions or queries – the venues will be open from 6pm to 8.30pm and residents can drop in at any time.

From the long list of venues, we’ve pulled out the following locations that will be within walking distance of the ward (or in it).

· Wednesday 13th November – at both St Lawrence’s Church Hall AND St George’s Methodist Church

· Thursday 21st November – Heslington Church

· Monday 25th November – Tang Hall Community Centre

· Monday 18th November – Osbaldwick Primary School

Don't miss this great opportunity to have your say!

Click for more details

Hull Road Councillors join police for Student Community Day in Hull Road

Hull Road Labour councillors will join the Police this Saturday (19th) for a student community day in the heart of Hull Road ward.

The day is an opportunity for students to get advice and guidance on a range of security and personal safety matters, as well as providing them with an opportunity to talk with councillors about the issues that are important to them.

The event will commence at 10am in the car park at the Co-Operative food store on Hull Road, and be followed by a session at Hull Road Park pavilion from Noon where Councillors Fiona Fitzpatrick and Neil Barnes will be in attendance

Coun. Fitzpatrick said:

“Students are a major and valued part of the local community in Hull Road ward and we’re delighted to have this further opportunity to meet and chat with them.  As well as the council and the Police, there will also be a student housing organisation and York University Students Union present.  Aside from the help and advice these organisations can give to students, we see our role as ward councillors to help and support students with any other issues they may have.  They need to know that any difficulties they are having may be easily resolved by a quick email or phone call to us.

“We want to ensure that students know what is available to them and what they can do to fit in and be valued members of the local community.  Our ward is a diverse one and students play an important role in that diversity, something we are keen to celebrate”.

Security of personal belongings, whether those at home or when out and about, is a key issue for students and for the Police.  The day aims to get the message across that good security will help reduce the risk of belongings, such as laptops and bicycles, being stolen.

Summer events in Tang Hall

See below for details of exciting summer events in Tang Hall:

Tackling poverty in York

Hull Road Councillor Neil Barnes visited the Tang Hall Community Centre today (Friday 19th July) to see the first opening of Tang Hall's new food bank. The food bank takes place on the same day as City of York Council's successful 'Advice Hub' which has been running for a while now.

These initiatives are all part of a multi-agency drive to tackle deprivation and poverty in York. The opening of the food bank is a positive move for the area but somehow feels bittersweet. It's shocking that in the 21st Century and a first world country we need food banks to make sure people are fed.

Tuesday 16th July's Labour Cabinet meeting saw a landmark new strategy approved unanimously - as reported in the Press on Weds 15th July: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10551825.York_s_landmark_anti_poverty_vision_is_agreed/

This is a bold new approach and The Press must be congratulated for their frank reporting this week - only by everyone pulling together can we properly tackle poverty.

Neil Barnes wrote a letter to The Press in support of the new strategy:

The ‘Poverty in Focus’ Press special report makes for sobering reading in an era when poverty in the UK is far too easily glossed over.

I’m proud to be an elected representative within an organisation that takes such landmark action as the Labour-run City of York Council’s cabinet took on 16 July.

One of the shocking statistics I learnt about Hull Road Ward upon my election in May 2011 was that nearly a quarter of children in the ward are classified as being in childhood poverty.  No doubt there are higher percentages in some areas of the country, but this is still a damning statistic for the 21st Century.

The council has taken action to address social deprivation and Hull Road ward itself has seen a number of initiatives introduced, including the successful Tang Hall Advice Hub. However, with a new food bank opening for the Tang Hall area, work is still to be done.

Therefore I applaud The Press for its frank reporting whilst wholeheartedly signing up to the strategy formulated by the multi-agency York Poverty Action Group - and hope to be a part of future action to address and end poverty in York.

Coun. Neil Barnes
Labour Councillor for Hull Road

High community turn-out at York Mosque for open day after demonstration threats

An impromptu open day held at the York Mosque & Islamic Centre off Bull Lane on Sunday 26th May proved a great success as over 100 members of the local community turned up for tea.

The open day was held in response to threats of an EDL demonstration following the death of Lee Rigby in Woolwich earlier in the week. The threat eventually turned out to be just a tiny handful of people - who were peacefully offered tea and biscuits by Mosque leaders.

Mosque Leaders spoke to the gathering of all aspects of York's community - York residents, members of local Universities, church groups and more - and stated clearly that York's Muslim community rejects all forms of extremism.

You can read the York Press article here

Imam Abid Salik (centre) addresses members of York's community

Hull Road Labour Councillors Neil Barnes and Fiona Fitzpatrick played a proud part in being among those who showed their support for York's Muslim community.

Since their election in 2011, Fiona and Neil have been very supportive of the Mosque and its congregation, visiting for events and sometimes just for a chat. They look forward to seeing a brand new building in due course and wish the Mosque well in its fundraising efforts.

The York Mosque & Islamic Centre is an asset to York's community.

Catching up with the team at York Mosque

Hull Road Labour Councillors Fiona Fitzpatrick and Neil Barnes paid a visit to the York Mosque and Islamic Centre on Bull Lane on Friday 24th May.

Fiona and Neil spoke with them about recent media coverage and offered our ongoing support to the York Muslim community - incidentally they reported lots of similar expressions of support from local residents.

It was great to find out more about their future plans for the Mosque and the new building they are currently fundraising for. As you can see from the photo below of a mocked-up model - fears about the height of the building are unfounded.

And finally, we got some great food during the visit - they are the perfect hosts! 

(pictured: Imam Abid Salik, Cllr. Fiona Fitzpatrick, President Ismail Miah, Cllr. Neil Barnes)

Hull Road Ward Committee - 14th May, 7.30pm

Fiona and Neil would like to invite Hull Road residents to the next Ward Committee - to be held at Derwent School (Osbaldwick Lane, YO10 3AX) on Tuesday 14th May - starting at 7pm with a drop-in session and formally at 7.30pm.

Agenda:

1. 7.00pm Drop-In Surgery

An opportunity to talk to your ward councillors, local policing team and street environment officer. Find out more about the future direction of York Libraries and Archives, Big Local project and Tang Hall and Heworth Residents’ Association.

2. 7.30pm Main Meeting

3. Partner Updates

4. Hull Road Park

5. Tang Hall Big Local

6. Planning Panel Election

7. Community Contract and Ward Priorities

8. Ward Budget

9. Have Your Say

Hope to see you there!
Fiona & Neil