Latest news with #ClaireDouglas
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Talks aim to bring city's Ukraine link closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years ago. In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city". But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure". However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in April. Douglas said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future. "Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained. "This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian city. He said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities. "We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick added. Lviv has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish border. Its centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary culture. Since 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Row over 'embarrassing' delay to Ukraine link-up City of York Council Sister Cities International Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Talks aim to bring York 'sisterhood' link with Lviv closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city".But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure".However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future."Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained."This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." 'Stronger ties' According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities."We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Row over 'embarrassing' delay to Ukraine link-up
A row has broken out over a delay in implementing a partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Councillors in York approved the process of adopting Lviv as a "sister city" in April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Three years on, however, the process has not yet been completed, with opposition councillors branding the situation an "embarrassing failure" at a meeting this week. The council's Labour leader, Councillor Claire Douglas, said she would discuss the relationship between the two cities with a Ukrainian official, and denied the delay was due to a lack of funding. Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley, who tabled the original motion in 2022, said at the time he hoped it would serve as a small act of solidarity amid dark times for the country. He told this week's meeting: "We understood at the time that an official twinning process would be lengthy and expensive which is why we proposed a much quicker Memorandum of Understanding. "We urge Labour to rethink this and take forward the sisterhood process." York's Conservative group leader Chris Steward said: "This is another embarrassing failure of the council to enact a motion councillors have passed. "I struggle to see the benefit to Ukraine in its current situation of one of its cities having this relationship with York, what Ukraine needs in this awful time is for the UK to stand 100% behind it." Council leader Douglas claimed opposition groups had jumped to "inaccurate" conclusions about the delay to the process. She said: "The council and our residents have continued to support the Ukrainian community both in York and in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. "Next week, I am looking forward to meeting with a senior representative from the Embassy of Ukraine to discuss the relationship between Lviv and York and see how our cities can work alongside each other in support." Since 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Friends buy ambulance to drive to Ukraine Yorkshire-made armoured ambulances now in Ukraine City of York Council
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Row breaks out over York-Lviv 'sister city' partnership
A row has broken out over a delay in implementing a partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Councillors in York approved the process of adopting Lviv as a "sister city" in April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Three years on, however, the process has not yet been completed, with opposition councillors branding the situation an "embarrassing failure" at a meeting this week. The council's Labour leader, Councillor Claire Douglas, said she would discuss the relationship between the two cities with a Ukrainian official, and denied the delay was due to a lack of funding. Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley, who tabled the original motion in 2022, said at the time he hoped it would serve as a small act of solidarity amid dark times for the told this week's meeting: "We understood at the time that an official twinning process would be lengthy and expensive which is why we proposed a much quicker Memorandum of Understanding."We urge Labour to rethink this and take forward the sisterhood process."York's Conservative group leader Chris Steward said: "This is another embarrassing failure of the council to enact a motion councillors have passed."I struggle to see the benefit to Ukraine in its current situation of one of its cities having this relationship with York, what Ukraine needs in this awful time is for the UK to stand 100% behind it."Council leader Douglas claimed opposition groups had jumped to "inaccurate" conclusions about the delay to the process. She said: "The council and our residents have continued to support the Ukrainian community both in York and in Ukraine since the beginning of the war."Next week, I am looking forward to meeting with a senior representative from the Embassy of Ukraine to discuss the relationship between Lviv and York and see how our cities can work alongside each other in support."Since 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
