Andy D'Agorne

Blogs are supposed to be about what our great political masters do with their lives, so for once I thought I might say something about a day in the life of a Green councillor. This morning I cycled to my normal workplace, York College. On the way note the first sound of newly arrived Chiff chaff. I stopped at Millennium Bridge to use my mobile to report some fresh grafitti and a broken street light to the council 'action line'. The usual conversation to describe the location about it not being on a street as it is on the riverside path...  Continue up the hill to the former Terry's (of which more later), passed the Knavesmire racecourse on the Sustrans route 65, noting the sound of the first swifts (or were they martins?). Double lock the bike (better safe than sorry now that summer is here). Lunchtime is spent trying to read the most important parts of the draft Development Brief for the Terry's site before the Planning Committee takes place at 4.30pm. Too many meetings this week!

Come 4pm Im on my bike down Tadcaster Rd heading for the Guildhall - at this time of day I go round passed the station rather than down the cobbles on Micklegate because of the 'footstreet' hours in our city centre. Traffic is well jammed up, but we have a bike lane, which is fine until a driver decides at the last moment to change their mind and turn left for the station. Fortunately they had an indicator on their wing mirror (shame they didnt look in it!) and a prompt bang on the side window saved me from a car across my path. They didnt stop, but later when I caught up with them in the traffic the driver did at least apologise ('Sorry I hadnt thought about cyclists') and since I avoided coming off I left it at that and went on to my meeting.

The Planning Committee was a key step in moving forward plans for the old Terry's chocolate factory site - after the committee had thrown out the first application largely because of traffic implications it was agreed to revise the development brief - this has been out for consultation and now our task was to agree the new version that will be the yardstick for assessing a new application. Much of the discussion centred on whether a particular statement should be 'explore' 'take account of' and 'have cognisence of' or 'expect', 'require' and 'must'! Having declared a personal interest 'as a regular user of cycle route 65' (the only member to declare any interest!) I found myself in a somewhat animated exchange with the Head of Development Control and the committee chair about proposals (tabled at the meeting in response to objection from the developer) to water down a requirement to provide a new cycle route on the edge of the development. Initially they said it wasnt legal to require provision of something that wasnt within the site - when it was pointed out that the development brief covered the land across which the more evenly graded cycle route has been proposed they were still insistant that the current route isnt within the site! Other members supported me in the arguements, to the point when they agreed to delegate agreement on an alternative form of wording that might keep everyone happy. My other points were fairly incidental but still significant - to specify that lighting should be 'appropriately designed' to cut light pollution and to require that the historic clock on the listed clock tower (visible from many vantage points in York with the word Terrys in place of numbers) should be maintained in working order!

A less contentious approval of a Conservation Area appraisal for Heslington followed, although there was some unease at an 'update' comment that the University might seek a 'slight variation' of its existing planning permission for a road across Deans Acre. Finished for 6.30pm, so decide there is time to pop home for some food before my York in Transition meeting at 7.30pm Fulford Rd is fairly quiet, en route note the 'hedge' that someone has asked to be cut near the forlorn Barbican Centre, and a traffic count camera that has been temporarily installed near the junction of Cemetery Rd, right next to the new permanent cameras to monitor traffic movements! The road is already marked up for resurfacing, but not seen a '7 day' notice yet so no idea when they are actually going to start (the sooner the better, so that we can get the new cycle lanes in place!)

York in Transition meeting has a good turn out, with about 10 bikes crammed in the room next to our meeting room. Reports from 3 local groups, the Resources, Events,Training, and Inclusion groups, discussion about venue, timing of meetings,a weekend away to mark the groups first anniversary, being inclusive and the cost of accessible meeting space - My main contribution from the 'Local Authority Liaison Group' was an update on the process for ideas under the 'Sustainable Communities Act' - York council has set May 8th as the deadline for ideas, so we conclude there isnt time to arrange a public meeting, but we will consult members via email on the ideas we already have then submit them into the process. Attempt to explain in 30 seconds to a newcomer what the 'Without Walls Board' is - general consensus that this illustrious body shouldnt be passing judgement on proposals before they are submitted. Technology lets us down for the planned short video clip so we make do with some discussion of efforts to promote Sunday's City Screen showing of 'The Age of Stupid' and head for the 'Slip Inn' (pictures on the walls of how it would have been very easy to 'slip in' during the flood of 2000). A pint to relax before heading off home across the Milllennium Bridge - a blog entry and quick glance at emails before hitting the sack.