1 February 2007: Pupils get a taste of political life Budding young politicians from across York will get the chance to see how a real council meeting works this week.<P> Th

1 February 2007: Benefit fraud prosecuted A York man admitted falsely obtaining more than £1,700 in housing benefit when he appeared before city magistrates today

Consultation on new planning guidance City of York Council is seeking people's views on new planning guidance that will be used to assess all planning applications in the future.

Council tightens net on graffiti City of York Council is working with the police to tighten the net on people who commit anti-social behaviour in York. The council has teamed up with North Yorkshire Police to share information about those responsible for creating graffiti in a bid to catch and punish the perpetrators.

Archive tours available Demand for tours of the city archives was so great during the recent Residents First event that City of York Council has earmarked some additional tour dates for anyone who missed out.

Golden anniversary gift with a difference York's twin city, Munster, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their twinning, with a unique gift. The German city's civic party is offering two young people from York the opportunity to join a German language course free of charge.

New website for City of York Council York's residents will find it even easier to contact the council this spring thanks to the launch of a new website.

Rethink and recycle for Live Arts Week York's school pupils will be thinking 'green' this week as part of Live Arts Week (5-9 February). Pupils aged between five-16 years of age will work alongside artists, dancers, musicians and actors on a range of activities based on the phrase 'rethink, recycle' as part of City of York Council's Live Arts Week.

Changes to York's bus services City of York Council is reminding residents that there will be some changes to the city's bus services this month (18 February).

New Traffic Signals: York Road/A1079 junction City of York Council will be installing new traffic signals at the junction of York Road with the A1079 in Dunnington. The work will begin on Monday 12 February and is expected to last for six weeks.

A19 Shipton Road, Skelton - carriageway reconstruction City of York Council will resurface a section of A19 Shipton Road, starting on Monday 26 February. The work will last for four weeks, subject to weather conditions.

'Green' citizens rewarded with new award City of York Council is rewarding the work of some of the city's most committed environmental champions as part of its campaign to improve the appearance of the city.

New Traffic Signals: York Road/A1079 junction City of York Council will be installing new traffic signals at the junction of York Road with the A1079 in Dunnington. The work will begin on Monday 12 February and is expected to last for six weeks.

Roadworks on Tadcaster Road York's drivers are being warned to allow extra time for their journeys next week due to major roadworks in the Tadcaster Road area of the city.

York Literature Festival York's first ever literature festival will kick off on 28 February, bringing a wide range of events and activities to the city in a huge celebration of local literary organisations and writers.

Wharton Avenue footway reconstruction City of York Council will start rebuilding the footway along Wharton Avenue on Monday, 26 February.

Newland Park Close footway reconstruction City of York Council will start rebuilding part of the footway along Newland Park Close on Monday, 26 February.

Graffiti crackdown a success City of York Council has cleared over 100 incidences of graffiti over the last month in a bid to crack down on antisocial behaviour.

Residents' open day at EcoDepot York residents will be able to take a tour of one of the city's most unusual and interesting buildings this month.

Engaging the community in planning: your chance to comment York residents will get a further opportunity to have their say on how they should be involved in the city's planning process this spring.

Showcasing musical talent Talented young musicians across York will be showcasing their talents at two special recitals this month.

Work completed ahead of Viking Festival A major project on Silver Street has been finished ahead of schedule, ensuring that the city's Viking Festival, which begins next week, can go ahead unhampered.

A brighter way to improve the visibility of young cyclists City of York Council has entered a three-year partnership with local solicitors Ware and Kay that will help to make young cyclists more visible to other road users.

Nestlé South Draft Development Brief Local residents will be able to have their say on how the redevelopment of the southern part of the Nestlé Rowntree factory site could look and feel over the next few weeks.

Ticket giveaway for opening event at Literature Festival City of York Council is giving away a pair of tickets for the opening event of York's first ever Literature Festival.

Bumper School's Out for February Young people aged between five and 19 will be able to have a fun-packed half term this week thanks to City of York Council's School's Out programme.

New Yozone card launched Young people in York will find it even easier to get out and about this year thanks to a new initiative launched by City of York Council.

Partners appointed for new council offices City of York Council has today announced that Shepherd Construction has been appointed to build its new offices on the Hungate site.

Pay as you go Some of York's largest employers are reminding their staff about the new penalties for using a mobile while driving this month.

City's Parks bid to keep their Green Flags Three of York's award winning parks are bidding to keep their 'green' status this year.

Twisting Field ticket giveaway City of York Council is giving away a pair of tickets for one of the highlights of York's first ever Literature Festival.

York Northwest Area Action Plan At a meeting on February 27, City of York Council's Executive will hear that an action plan that will shape development in the west of the city could be finalised by 2010.

New resource to raise standard of school swimming A brand new resource aimed at improving the standard of swimming taught at school swimming sessions is soon to be launched by City of York Council’s sport and active leisure team.

Noisy neighbours prosecuted City of York Council’s environmental protection unit recently secured convictions against two noisy neighbours.

Win advance copy of new novel Read Write York plays host to novelist Katherine Bucknell this Saturday (24 February) and is offering one lucky local resident a pair of tickets to her reading at Central Library and a copy of her new novel 'What You will'.

Council uses new powers to tackle problem plumber City of York Council’s trading standards service has obtained a court order against a York plumber requiring him to do his work properly.

Temporary closure of Dalton Terrace City of York Council has been forced to make an emergency road closure of Dalton Terrace, at its junction with Holgate Road, due to the irresponsible actions of drivers.

Council Tax for 2007/08 City of York Council last night (21 February) formally approved a council tax increase of 4.5 per cent for 2007/08.

Thumbs-up for Park and Ride City of York Council's Park and Ride service has been given a huge thumbs-up by passengers, with 86 per cent rating the service as good or excellent.

Tang Hall Lane - carriageway resurfacing City of York Council will be resurfacing the carriageway on Tang Hall Lane from Fourth Avenue to Wolfe Avenue. The work will begin on Monday 26 February and will last for two weeks, subject to weather conditions.

Great interest in Golden Triangle scheme The Homebuy Plus scheme, jointly funded by the Golden Triangle Partnership and Northern Counties Housing Association, has attracted massive interest from local people who need help to buy their first home.

'Green' tour for York's residents York residents will be able to get ideas on how to make their lives more 'green' this weekend.

Have your say on future housing needs in York City of York Council is gathering information from more than 13,000 households about their current housing situation and future aspirations.

Snap up a bargain at library's book sale Local residents will be able to snap up a bargain or two at City of York Council's forthcoming sale at Central Library.

Giving the city a spring clean City of York Council's Neighbourhood Services team is asking residents to help get the city ready for spring.

Credit Union open day City of York Council has organised a Credit Union open day at the Bellfarm community centre on Tuesday 27 February.

Council to seek lottery funding for Tang hall Library investment City of York Council is seeking around £800,000 in Big Lottery funding for a major improvement scheme at Tang Hall Library.

York Literature Festival: Win Suzannah Dunn's latest book City of York Council is giving away a copy of Suzannah Dunn's latest book to celebrate the author's participation in the city's first ever Literature Festival.

Landlords conference City of York Council is holding its seventh annual conference for landlords on Wednesday, 28 March.

York's cleaning 'Oscars' The efforts of some of York's hardest workers will be rewarded next week at their very own 'Oscars' event.

York's Annual Education Lecture asks 'what next for schools?' Baroness Estelle Morris, former Secretary of State for the Department of Education and Skills (DfES), will give York's annual education lecture tomorrow (Tuesday 27 February).

Celebrating World Book Day with story telling York's youngsters will celebrate World Book Day in style this year, with stories told by a host of local celebrities.

Official opening of Windsor House A specialist unit for the care of older people with dementia, which is located within the Windsor House residential home in Acomb, will be officially declared open on Thursday 1 March.

Fourth Annual Primary Schools' Council Conference Primary school pupils across the city will have the opportunity to take part in their very own conference on Wednesday (28 February).

Blooming marvellous! York will be bursting with blooms this summer as the city bids to win the title of 'Yorkshire City In Bloom'.

York Literature Festival: York writers take centre stage York-based writers feature strongly in the programme for York's first ever Literature Festival, which starts tomorrow (Wednesday, 28 February).

Tadcaster Road / Sim Balk Lane Junction Improvements York's drivers are being advised to continue to allow extra time for their journeys for the next few weeks due to ongoing major roadworks in the Tadcaster Road area of the city.

A166 Stamford Bridge carriageway resurfacing City of York Council will resurface the carriageway along the A166 Stamford Bridge Road, adjacent to the village of Holtby, between Eastfield Lane and the City of York Council boundary next month.

School swimming publication launched with a splash A new publication to raise the standard of swimming taught at school swimming sessions was launched at Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool.