Public health bosses are encouraging residents to take a Covid test twice a week. Covid tests will be offered at the vaccination centre, to employers across the city and at the University of York, York St John University, York Leisure Centre at the York Stadium Leisure Complex, Acomb Explore and Foxwood Community Centre testing sites. In-person tests are available at St William s College in the city centre. Sharon Stoltz, director of public health at City of York Council, said: “Infection rates in York remain low currently but we can’t afford to be complacent. I would like to thank everyone in the city for their continued efforts. It is through this vigilance practicing Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air, getting tested regularly and getting the vaccine when called that we can continue to reopen our city and protect our recovery from the pandemic.”
Changes in political colour, internal rows and natural churn have prompted a wave of new leaders to take control in some of the biggest and most well known councils across England.
Kevin Bentley (Con) has replaced long-serving leader
David Finch (Con) as leader of Essex CC, after Cllr Finch decided not to run for re-election. Cllr Bentley, who is well known in local government circles as chair of the Local Government Association’s people and places board and former chair of its Brexit taskforce, has already set out his new cabinet’s agenda, built on “three guiding principles of ambition, renewal and equality”.
Could Cllr Vassie explain why the tribunal papers stated “victimisation and bullying especially by Keith Aspden”? Was this just another unsubstantiated attack by Mary Weastell, or mere triviality, as all Lib Dems would like us all to believe, being all entirely political. Cllr Aspden s admission of being nearly 20 years as a councillor means he would and should have known without doubt the long-standing laid-down rules of propriety in declaring a heavily involved personal interest. So while he shamefully remains in office I fear this will not go away and this will always remain an indelible disgrace on his leadership of York council.
West Offices, City of York Council’s headquarters A CITIZENS’ advisory panel will be set up by City of York Council to encourage residents to help improve transparency and leadership at the authority. The panel will be created as part of an action plan to help the council recover from a critical public interest report into its handling of a £404,000 payout to the former chief executive. But opposition councillors branded the panel an “attempt to divert attention” away from Liberal Democrat council leader Keith Aspden, whose role in approving the payout was discussed in the auditors’ public interest report. Cllr Aspden survived a vote of no confidence this week thanks to the support of Green Party councillors and his own colleagues.