Cllr Sue Galloway

Whilst many people think that this competition is just about flowers they would be wrong.  It covers Horticultural Achievement, Environmental Responsibility and Community Participation.  In last year’s competition, York was awarded a Silver Gilt Rose Award in the spring judging and a Gold Rose Award in the summer judging.

Judging for this year’s competition will be taking place shortly and I know of several organisations who will be doing their utmost to make sure that York once again achieves an excellent result.  The competition encourages residents to play an important part in the environmental and economic stability of the City and I will be encouraging residents to get involved.

I am delighted and honoured to be chosen to be next year’s Lord Mayor. It is a great opportunity to promote and serve a city which has been my home for the last 40 years.  There is a lot of preparation work to do between now and when I take up office in May - not least choosing which will be the Lord Mayor’s Charities and what my themes for the year will be.

I hope that I will meet many of you over the year and that you will contact the Civic Office if you feel that I can help in any way. The Civic Party will be delighted to attend your event, however large or small, if we possibly can.

You can contact the Civic Office by calling 01904 551011 or by emailing civicenquiries@york.gov.uk.

It was delightful to go today to have a look at the bungalows which have been built on the site of the former Discus bungalows next to York Cemetery.  196 homes are being built over four sites and the first of 60 bungalows will be occupied next week. 

They are really first class with wide doorways, plenty of room and with some fittings already in place in the bathrooms such as mirrors, towel holders etc,.  Wall lights are already fitted in the lounge, electric sockets at waist height and integral recycling facilities in the kitchen as well as loft lights, buggy charging points and individual sheds complete what is bound to be an exemplar development. 

Work is very well advanced on the 41 bed extra care facility and the rest of the homes for rent will be completed early next year.  This project has been five years in the planning but it has been well worthwhile and residents I spoke to were very pleased.

Probably because I am walking with a stick at present due to a broken ankle, I was asked by a resident if I was moving in.  However, when we got talking I realised that it was someone I knew from the early 1980’s who had lived in Westfield Ward and who I had lost contact with.  York is truly a small village!

Plans for the new play area in Chesneys Field have been published today. The new play area is one of 22 to be built across York thanks to a £1m grant from the government.

The plans were drawn up after consultation with local residents and young people who were asked what they would like to see from the site.

Contracts are being drawn up for the construction of the site and work should begin soon. If you would like to take a closer look at the plans why not come along to the next Ward Committee meeting at Westfield Primary School on 1st February at 7pm, where the plans will be on display.

It has been a busy week getting ready for Christmas but on Monday I went to see the participants on the Alltogether Better Project in Acomb and to present them with their certificates for completing the course.  This course is lottery funded and run by the North Yorkshire & York Primary Care Trust and is operating in both Scarborough and York. 

The course is aimed not only at a healthy lifestyle and eating but also at giving people confidence and a feeling of well being.  All those present felt that they had benefitted from the course and it is hoped that another may be run in the New Year.

Welcome to my website which I will try to update regularly.

I have been a councillor in York since 1979 and have served on nearly all major Committees during that time. Until May 2009 I was the Executive Member for Housing and Social Services but decided that, after 6 years, it was time to stand aside and get back to what I love doing the most - working in the community to improve the health and well being of the area in which I live and the community I represent.

I am currently a member of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the West and City Centre Planning Committee and the Licensing Committee.

For the past year I have been chairing the Westfield Project which is aimed at reducing the inequalities in the Kingsway West area of the city.  It is a multi agency programme and involves local residents associations as well as the police, the NHS, the Council, DWP, Citizens Advice Bureau, etc.  One of the organisations, Future Prospects, has been working intensively in the area and has managed to get 42 people onto training and development courses as well as 9 into employment.  Since February 2009 a total of £30,000 in new benefit take up is now being paid into the area on an annual basis.

The project’s work is currently being evaluated by the University of York St John and residents are currently being asked to participate in this work.

However, we are motoring on and have now taken the project to the Foxwood area and our first event was a very well attended cookery demonstration delivered by Michael Hjort of Meltons and Meltons Too. Watch this space for more events and campaigns!