Family history at the touch of a button Library users across the city will be able to access a wide range of family history information at the touch of a button from Monday, 7 January - and it's all free of charge.

Closure of Moor Lane as part of A1237 Moor Lane roundabout construction City of York Council is reminding motorists that Moor Lane will be closed from 10am on Thursday 3 January as part of ongoing work on the construction of the Moor Lane roundabout.

Council's 'recruitment pool' finalist in regional awards City of York Council’s HR Team was a finalist in the People Management category at the Local Government for Yorkshire and Humber last week (Friday 30 November).

Post-festive recycling reminder City of York Council is reminding residents how they can recycle their Christmas waste.

Fairer parking charges for York New parking charges which aim to introduce fairer penalties are being considered by City of York Council at a meeting of the Executive on January 15.

Top authors lined up for 2008 York Literature Festival A host of well-known names from the literary world will be making appearances in York as part of the programme for the 2008 Literature Festival, which takes place between 1 and 15 March.

Council to further develop use of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) City of York Council's Executive will consider a report on the future development of the council's Intelligent Transport System (ITS) at a meeting on 15 January.

Residents asked to air their views on Dial and Ride services City of York Council is to investigate how improvements can be made to the city's Dial and Ride services as part of its on-going review of community transport.

Funding of voluntary organisations Members of City of York Council's City Strategy and Advisory Panel will be asked to consider the funding support to voluntary organisations across the city at a meeting next week (Monday 14 January).

York Highways Maintenance Budget 2008 The annual resurfacing programme for roads and footpaths in York is being considered by City of York Council at a meeting of the Executive Member and City Strategy Advisory Panel on 14 January.

Proposals for new homeless facilities Homeless young people in York could get new purpose-built facilities to help them get their lives back on track.

New budget for Housing and Adult Social Services Proposals for the 2008/09 Housing and Adult Social Services budget will be considered at a meeting of City of York Council's Housing and Adult Social Services Executive Member Advisory Panel on 14 January.

Sheltered housing to be updated Following a review of sheltered housing, City of York Council is seeking approval to redesignate some of its sheltered housing accommodation based in Bell Farm and The Groves.

Affordable housing City of York Councillors will be considering ways of addressing the need for affordable housing in the city at a meeting on Monday 14 January.

City Strategy budget proposals for 2008/09 Members of the council's City Strategy Advisory Panel will be asked to consider proposals for the directorate's budget at a meeting next week (Monday 14 January).

Easy access guide to council services launched An A to Z guide to essential services in York has been launched this week, going out to all households in the city.

Council considers Economic Development budget for 2008/09 Members of the council's City Strategy Advisory Panel will be asked to consider proposals for the directorate's Economic Development budget at a meeting next week (Monday 14 January).

Walmgate (Part), Guildhall Carriageway Reconstruction City of York Council is to carry out essential carriageway reconstruction and resurfacing along the section of Walmgate, between Fossgate and St Deny’s Road. The work will start on Monday 21 January and is programmed to last for approximately three weeks. The work will take place Monday to Friday.

Lord Mayor of York launches 2008 Literature Festival programme The programme for City of York Council's 2008 Literature Festival will be officially launched by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Irene Waudby, this week.

Council considers Chief Executive Directorate's budget for 2008/09 Members of the council's City Strategy and Advisory Panel will be asked to consider proposals for the 2008/09 budget for the chief executive's directorate.

New licensing rules for private hire vehicles and drivers City of York Council is reminding residents that, from 28 January, changes in legislation mean that all vehicles used for private hire purposes with eight passenger seats or less must be licensed by the council.

Sports clubs encouraged to 'get it together' for people with learning disabilities City of York Council’s sport and active leisure team has organised a ‘Get Together’ inclusion course for sports clubs in York.

Residents 1st Weekend York residents will get the opportunity to see many of the city's tourist 'hot-spots' free of charge later this month.

Learning more about family history Family history enthusiasts in York will be able to learn more about how to make the most of City of York Council's new online family history tool at a series of workshops later this month.

Put your best foot forward this year Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer walk leader can join a free City of York Council course on 16 January.

Auditions for new city wide dance group kick off Teenagers interested in a dancing career could strike lucky this month when City of York Council Arts and Education Department holds its first York Youth Dance Group audtions in York.

Council considers Neighbourhood Services Budget for 2008/09 Members of the council's Neighbourhood Advisory Panel will be asked to consider proposals for the 2008/09 budget for the directorate later this month ( 21 January).

Council considers Children's Services budget for 2008/09 Members of the council's Children's Services Advisory Panel will be asked to consider proposals for the 2008/09 budget for the directorate later this month (21 January).

Neighbourhood Services team retains its Charter Mark status City of York Council's Neighbourhood Services team has retained its Charter Mark status after receiving a glowing report from government inspectors.

Leisure and Culture budget to be considered by council Options for City of York Council's 2008/09 budget for Leisure and Culture services are being considered at a meeting later this month (22 January).

New Danesgate Skills Centre opens its doors The Danesgate Centre, City of York Council's new vocational skills centre at Fulford Cross, will open its doors for the first time today (Monday 14 January).

Working in Early Years - it's not just child's play! Anyone who wants to work with children or who would like to develop their childcare skills is being invited to a training and recruitment fair in York later this month.

York gets set for new carnival weekend City of York Council is planning a special carnival weekend that will take place in May and represents an exciting new addition to York's calendar of festival events.

Recycler the rapping robot returns to York 'Recycler' the rapping robot has returned to York this week to visit children at seven local primary schools to spread the word about recycling.

York Literature Festival 2008: Take a 'literary walk around York' A guided walk organised as part of the programme for the 2008 York Literature Festival will enable residents and visitors to revisit the city's rich literary history.

Council joins fight against fraud City of York Council is teaming up with the Audit Commission in a bid to fight fraud.

Annual book sale bonanza York's readers will be able to pick up a bargain this weekend thanks to the annual Big Book Sale at York Central Library.

York Youth Mysteries gets creative Ambitious plans by City of York Council to celebrate the city's cultural history have take a further step forward this month.

Tackling congestion on A19 Fulford Road - have your say City of York Council is asking residents for their views on proposals aimed at reducing the level of congestion on the A19 Fulford Road route into the city.

easy @ york moves toward phase 2 City of York Council's programme of e-government improvements, easy@york, has received the go ahead for a second phase of work.

York Flood Group update The York Flood Group* met at 2pm today (Tuesday, 22 January) in response to the Environment Agency's prediction that the River Ouse will rise to approximately 4.4m above normal summer levels later this evening.

Two new children's centres due to be completed York's two new Children’s Centres - at Westfield and New Earswick - are due to be completed in the coming months, as part of a national initiative for children under five.

Budget consultation extended City of York Council has agreed to extend its budget consultation until 31 January to ensure that as many responses as possible can be taken into account.

Residents 1st reminder York's tourism partners are reminding York residents about the special offers available this weekend.

York one of top cities in the country for employment York is one of the best cities in the country for employment and economic development according to national figures released this month.

Nine out of ten tenants satisfied Nine out of ten City of York Council tenants are satisfied with the service provided by the authority's housing team, according to figures revealed this month.

Photo opportunity: Pedalling for recycling success Staff from City of York Council's Neighbourhood Services team are taking the 'reuse and recycle' message to a new level this week.

New cold calling controlled zones introduced Harewood Close in Rawcliffe and Hartrigg Oaks in New Earswick will be the next two areas to become Cold Calling Controlled Zones, as part of a City of York Council initiative to crackdown on rogue traders.

Daring to dream: York's Annual Education and Children's Services Lecture 2008 The Artistic Director of the Southbank and Chair of Culture, Ceremonies and Education at the London Organising Committee for the Olympics, Jude Kelly, will give York's tenth annual education lecture this spring (9 April).

Fair trading seeks national accreditation National accreditation is being sought for a council scheme to audit York motor traders.

Explore library learning centre opens in Acomb York's first Library Learning Centre - the first of its kind in the city – will be opening its doors on Thursday (7 February).