Welcome To My Website
Posted November 5, 2009 Comments Off

I’ve been the Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Huntington and New Earswick ward in the city of York since 1999  and have recently taken over as Leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrat Group.

Between 2003 and 2011 I was on the Executive as the Councillor responsible for children and young people’s services and I am also  a member of  New Earswick Parish Council.

Together with my fellow Lib Dem ward councillors, Keith Hyman and Keith Orrell, I work hard to represent the residents of the ward. Local residents’ issues and concerns are important to me, so please do contact me if you need to, using the links on the left.

Updates and information will be added to this site at regular intervals so do check back to see the latest news.

Best Wishes

Carol

Visit to the Wilberforce Trust
Posted April 26, 2012 * Comments(0)

Last week local Huntington & New Earswick Liberal Democrats Carol Runciman and Chris Twells joined Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, Housing and Adult Social Services Cllr Ian Cuthbertson on a visit to the Wilberforce Trust headquarters on North Moor Road, Huntington. They met Rachel Lintott, the Rehabilitation Services Manager who gave them a tour of the newly refitted building and discussed some of the exciting new projects that the Trust is undertaking.

The Trust supports people with visual and other disabilities and has a variety of accommodation services across York and in Tadcaster. Their staff and volunteers place great emphasis on working with service users to maximise their independence as much as possible.

Rachel is currently running courses to help people with a visual impairment to find employment. The Trust is also taking part in the York 800 celebrations this summer. More information about this programme can be found on their website.

75,000 York Residents receive £220 tax cut thanks to Lib Dem plans in the budget
Thursday, April 12th, 2012 by admin

From next year, the Income Tax threshold will be raised to ensure that no one pays any income tax on the first £9,205 they earn.

In York, that means 6,830 people will be lifted out of paying Income Tax altogether and 76,900 will receive a £220 tax cut. This is on top of tax cuts of £200 last year and a further £130 next month.

Commenting, Lib Dem Group Leader on the City of York Council Carol Runciman said:

“The Chancellor has done the right thing in listening to Liberal Democrat calls for the Income Tax threshold to be raised further.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I want to see a fairer tax system where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold to £9205 will help average working people in York who have been struggling with bills and higher cost of living.”

Liberal Democrat Councillors attend Royal Maundy
Thursday, April 12th, 2012 by admin

On April 5th all of York’s Liberal Democrat Councillors and many Liberal Democrat Aldermen attended the distribution of the Royal Maundy at York Minster. In a day of glorious Spring sunshine that saw York at its best the Queen gave money to 86 women and 86 men – one for each of the Queen’s 86 years – in recognition of their services to the Church and their communities.

The Councillors and Aldermen, dressed in their civic robes, walked from the Guildhall to the Minster through streets thronged with people who had travelled far and wide for a glimpse of the Queen. It was estimated that 15,000 people descended on the city for the day. York Lib Dem Leader Cllr Carol Runciman said “it was wonderful to see so many people had turned out to welcome the royal party to our city – and also excellent news for local businesses.”

After the service Cllrs Carol Runciman, Keith Hyman and Paul Firth attended a civic lunch with the royal party in the Mansion House. Cllr Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion later attended a visit of Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses to the new Yorkshire Museum exhibition “1212: The Making of the City.” The new exhibition marks the 800th anniversary of York’s independence and celebrates the people, places and events that have contributed to the city’s medieval heritage.

Huntington & New Earswick Street Light Replacement
Posted March 19, 2012 * Comments(0)

The Council have finally announced the timetable for replacing the lampposts which were removed last year. Following the lack of communication with residents, I have been keeping up the pressure on council officers to ensure street lights in Huntington & New Earswick were replaced and switched on as soon as possible.  

For the full street light programme in Huntington & New Earswick click HERE.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards evening
Posted March 16, 2012 * Comments(0)

I went to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme ceremony the other day, as I do every year.  The scheme in York is a very active one and there were young people there from almost every school in the city.  I was sitting next to the Regional Organiser who told me that there are about 300 working at all levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – here in the city and that’s the most anywhere in the region.

The young people were very proud of their achievements and were pleased to collect their certificates from the Deputy Lord Mayor.  They had worked very hard and done many new things to achieve their award and their parents and friends clapped enthusiastically as each one went up to the stage.

It is always a good evening to attend and reminds us that many young people, right across the city work hard and serve their communities well .

University to join Russell Group
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 by admin

York’s Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed the news that the University of York has has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Russell Group of the United Kingdom’s leading research universities.

Councillor Carol Runciman, the Group Leader said “As a member of the University Court I have seen for myself the hard work of students and staff that has led to this invitation being made. The last Liberal Democrat administration supported the expansion of the University and we are delighted that the institution continues to go from strength to strength.”

Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, who studied Politics with Education at York has added his congratulations, saying “In less than fifty years the University has earned itself a worldwide reputation for excellent teaching, research and learning facilities. I am confident that the whole city can continue to be proud of it.”

Lib Dem plan to reverse £2m of Labour cuts rejected
Friday, February 24th, 2012 by admin

Liberal Democrat Councillors were disappointed last night when their plans to amend the ruling Labour Cabinet’s budget plans were blocked. The plans would have seen over £2m of the cuts Labour have planned for frontline services reversed, paid for by cutting the Labour leader’s planned £1m ‘Delivery and Innovation Fund’ and reducing council borrowing.

Just some of the plans included in the Liberal Democrat Amendment are:

Reversing Labour’s planned cuts to voluntary sector organisations (including York CVS and the Salvation Army)
Reversing Labour’s  cuts and more investment into Youth Services £50k
Cutting the planned £1m ‘Delivery and Innovation’ fund
Introducing living wage of £6.83ph for council workers
Freezing council tax
Reversing £895k of road maintenance cuts
Reducing borrowing by £1.5m this year (which saves £135k in interest payments this year alone)
Reversing local Ward Committee funding cuts
Reversing cuts to the target hardening fund to combats anti-social behaviour
Keeping Beckfield Lane Recycling Centre open

Councillor Carol Runciman, the Lib Dem leader who proposed the amendment, said “Our amendment would make the proposed budget fairer for York’s residents, in particular the most vulnerable.”

She added: “I was very disappointed that the Labour and Conservative groups did not support our proposals to reverse cuts to vital services and support the most vulnerable in our city.”

For further details of our budget proposals please view http://yorklibdems.org.uk/en/page/news

Topping out at the Sports Village Swimming Pool
Posted February 22, 2012 * Comments(0)

The £9m Sport Village at York University is growing fast and the 8 lane, 25m swimming pool now has the roof on, with the tanks for the small and large pools constructed and tested. The site, which is next to Grimston Bar Park and Ride, will also include a 3G Astroturf pitch, three 5-a-side pitches, a fitness suite, a cafe and rooms for classes such as yoga. The University has contributed £5m, CYC £3m and the rest has come from grants.

 

I attended the Topping Out ceremony to mark the completion of the pool roof and saw how well it is all is progressing. McAlpines are the contractors and they expect to meet the target date for completion at the end of the summer term this year. Led by a piper, we all went to see the topping out.  A yew bough was nailed to the construction to symbolise growth and bring good luck and the Vice Chancellor drank a celebratory noggin of ale. I spoke to several of the students afterwards and they all said how much they were looking forward the making use of the facilities when they open.

 

 

Percy’s seat
Posted February 21, 2012 * Comments(0)

One of New Earswick’s much loved residents was Percy Roberts MBE, who died recently at the age of 89yrs. He first lived with his family in White Rose Avenue and ended his days in Hartrigg Oaks. He was York’s Youth Officer for many years and worked with many young people across the city. He was also a long serving Governor of Joseph Rowntree School and that was where I first met him. He served the school well, enjoying mentoring and talking to the students, and giving unstintingly of his time whenever help was needed.

The school has recently planted a Rowan tree and placed a seat in the grounds in his memory and has named the Learning Resource Centre the Percy Roberts Centre. Two generations of Percy’s family came to a short ceremony to mark the installation and joined with the Governors in remembering his life. Percy’s lovely smile and endless kindness will be missed by us all.

 

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