Best Wishes – 2015 Predictions
On behalf of the Parish Council I would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! 2015 is a year when we will be asked to vote in National, Local and potentially Parish Council Elections. I do not usually try to predict the outcome of any of these elections but I think neither the National nor Local elections will produce an overall majority for any party. The Parish Council is not organised along political allegiances and with 10 positions available we have to obtain at least a majority consensus to achieve a successful outcome.
I believe that National Government will also have to work along a consensus route after the 2015 elections although it is difficult to predict who will be working with whom – will it be a Con/LibDem pact once again? Or perhaps a Lab/LibDem pact? What impact will UKIP and the SNP have on the overall party position? – All very interesting.
And what about the Local Government elections – Well I don’t think there will be an overall majority for any party in York and I believe there will be an increase in Independent Councillors – hopefully able to work together (with Parish Councils) to the benefit of the City of York and outlying districts. I said at the beginning of this article that potentially there will be an election for the Parish Council because we have 10 positions to fill so will need more than 10 candidates to hold an election. I hope we do get a few new faces interested in joining the Parish Council to force an election and enable those successful in being elected to at least feel they have a mandate to function with the support of the village.
City of York and Parish Councils working together
City of York are currently exploring with Parish Councils ways in which we can work together more effectively. Parish Councils may be required to take over some of the work currently undertaken by City of York due to a fall in the income received by the City via the Council Tax. We already undertake some of the work the City do in other parishes e.g. maintain the Play Area, the Village Hall and the Sports Pavilion and Field etc. However, there may be other areas we will have to review e.g. maintenance of grass verges, emptying of dog, litter and grit bins etc. possibly by working with other Parish Councils.
Post Office
As I have mentioned before, the Parish Council worked hard along with our local MP Julian Sturdy to ensure Bishopthorpe retained a Post Office and it has now been confirmed that the move into Maynews on Sim Balk Lane will be effective from 19 February 2015.
Parish Council Meeting
The first Parish Council meeting of 2015 will be held on 27 January in the Village Hall and all villagers are welcome between 7:00 and 7:15 to put any questions or queries to the council.
Stewart Harrison