To receive any written questions.

Question asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen of Cabinet Member (Community and Social Development)

"Are you aware that some of the most disadvantaged people in our County are most benefited by swimming and horse riding?

Are you aware that the new Leominster swimming pool , though complying with the most basic requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, will not provide effective facilities for the more handicapped amongst us?

Are you aware that a proper changing bed and hoist, costing perhaps £6,000, would make all the difference in enabling full use of the new pool by those most in need of help?

Could this relatively small amount of money be found from either our Social Care and/or Social Development budgets to fund this facility?

Do you not agree that it would be easier, cheaper and better to do this now, than to have to provide these facilities at some later date?"

Councillor R.V. Stockton said that both officers and Members were aware and recognised the health and wellbeing benefits of swimming and horse riding within the wider context of physical activity.  He was also aware that the replacement swimming pool for north Herefordshire complies with Part M of building regulations for disabled access.  Due to the physical restrictions of the site and planning constraints, it was not possible to provide bespoke facilities for all individuals with special needs.  This issue had been discussed with disability group representatives and it had been agreed that special needs facilities would be provided at Hereford Leisure Pool where it was reasonably practical to accommodate them.  Given the constraints of the District Pool facilities every effort has been made to provide adequate access for disabled users.  He also confirmed that a “fit for purpose” changing bed and hoist would be provided at Leominster. 

He said that the provision of funding for this facility had been identified from within existing budgets and the development of the disability changing provision would be incorporated into the main construction programme for the Pool.  He also paid tribute to the local fundraisers who had raised approximately £200,000 to date towards the costs of the pool.

Question asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen of Cabinet Member (Environment)

"Can we be assured that the Herefordshire Code for Polytunnels is being adhered to, fully?

Can we also be assured that all those not complying with the code, or flouting its provisions, even if signed up to the code, are immediately and properly pursued by our Planning Enforcement Officers and, at the least, proper planning permissions required and the full requirements of the code demanded to be enacted?"

Councillor P.J. Edwards advised that since the commencement of the Code the planning department had received 24 temporary polytunnel checklists from growers detailing their plans for the erection of polytunnels. The details and plans had been studied and the growers informed as to whether their proposals complied with the code or whether planning permission was required. The landscape mitigation measures were forwarded to the Landscape Officer for comment in that process.

He went on to say that the planning department had prepared a guidance note for Officers which details the procedure that must be followed on receipt of a completed checklist or complaint about the erection of polytunnels.  If a grower did not comply with the terms of the code of practice the department would commence an enforcement investigation in line with the Council's current Enforcement Policy.

In response to a further question about the status of polytunnels, the County Secretary and Solicitor agreed to provide a written response to all Councillors.

Question asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen and J. Stone

"Does the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) share the dismay of the residents of Ashton and other A49 road users that the Highways Agency are not proposing to make any improvements on this section of the A49 trunk road?"

Councillor Wilson said that he remained very concerned at the level of accidents on the A49 in Herefordshire, particularly on the sections north of Hereford as far as the Shropshire border, and would have expected that the current level of accidents would have led to more targeted investigations to improve road safety at sites such as Ashton bends.

He intended to discuss with the Highways Agency the potential for increased joint working to deliver reductions in road casualties in Herefordshire and hoped that there would be some clearer indication from the Highways Agency that they would be identifying actions to address the unacceptable level of accidents on the A49.

In response to a further question from Councillor Stone he confirmed that he would be pursuing the Highways Agency for improvements to road safety on various stretches of the A49 including in the vicinity of Berrington Hall.

Questions asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen of Cabinet Member (Environment)

"What progress is there in the development of Low Head Hydropower systems in Herefordshire?

What progress is there in the development of other renewable energy systems, in particular biomass and biofuel projects?"

Councillor Edwards advised that there were a number of research papers on these topics and several organisations and companies in the County were pursing such systems.  He agreed to provide a more detailed response in writing.

Question asked by Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd-Hayes of Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation)

"The controversial traffic lights at the junction of Folly Lane and Ledbury Road have been in operation for the last 3 months and are causing delays and significant rat running in the adjacent roads, can the cabinet member tell me:  at what magical point did the original request from myself and the late Cllr Ann Carter for a mini roundabout and a pedestrian crossing  close to the shops and school route translate into traffic lights?"

Councillor Wilson referred to Minute 40 of the Council meeting held on 12th November, 2004 where he gave the answer to Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes' question when replying to questions from her Group Leader.

In response to a further question from Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes who said that neither the late Councillor Mrs. Carter nor she had requested traffic lights at this junction, Councillor Wilson advised that the traffic signals had been introduced to promote improved facilities for pedestrians.  He said a technical assessment of the Local Members' request for a mini-roundabout and pedestrian crossing indicated that these measures could not be installed safely within the existing road space.  The traffic signal scheme was developed to deliver the pedestrian and traffic benefits that Members had indicated they wished to see without compromising public safety.

Question asked by Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd-Hayes of Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation)

"In Tupsley Ward there are 3 schools within half a mile of each other, the ward became a prime candidate for the Safer Routes to School funding. Why was  the request for chicanes ignored and the unpopular construction of  speed bumps implemented?"

Councillor Wilson advised that the traffic calming scheme in the Tupsley area formed part of the Council's programme of 20mph zones at schools.  The initial sites, like Tupsley, had been selected on the basis of an identified history of personal injury accidents and a desire to maximise the benefits from each scheme.  As pointed out by Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes, at Tupsley it had been possible for a single scheme to provide benefits to three schools.

It had been demonstrated both locally and nationally that road humps provided a very effective method of achieving real reductions in speed to 20mph.  Requests for chicanes had not been ignored but had been considered against their ability to provide effective speed reduction measures in a large suburban area.  Chicanes had the disadvantage of taking away road space outside residential property and, sometimes, of actually encouraging aggressive driving behaviour from a small minority of motorists.

On balance, it was felt that road humps were the most appropriate form of speed control for the Tupsley area and have proved very effective.  Every site is different and the Council continues to investigate a range of options when developing its 20mph programme for schools.

Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes said she understood it was no longer policy to build speed humps and if the Council would consider removing them from the Tupsley area, as was happening in other authorities.

Councillor Wilson replied that speed humps were in fact very effective although he could understand that they were not popular with residents.  He said he would be willing to listen to the views of local people and discuss the matter with officers in an attempt to provide the safest outcome.

Question asked by Councillor Ms A. Toon of the Cabinet Member (Community and Social Development)

"At the Council meeting on 30th July last year a group of young skaters and skateboarders asked a number of questions of which one was " Will the Herefordshire Council engage with us as they do with other members of the community i.e. day centres for older residents?" A question that merely required a yes or no to which no clear answer was given.

Since that time these young people Tom Bennet, Steve Brice, Tom Powis, Tom Schofield and James Stephens have formed themselves into a group called Wheeled Sports for Hereford.  They have joined together with members from the voluntary and business sectors and members from Hereford City Council.  They now seek the willingness of this Council to engage with them.  They have identified some land within the city that the owners (subject to planning permission) are prepared to allow to be used as a skatepark, they have identified the design, the durable materials required and the cost with which to create a wheeled sports facility capable of meeting national competition standards.

Fundraising is starting now with local bands playing at local venues to support the cost of the establishment of this new facility.

So I ask again on their behalf, will the Council engage with these young people to support either financially and or in  kind to help them achieve their objective of providing a first class wheeled sports facility for the young people of Hereford.

Yes or no will suffice."

Councillor Stocktonconfirmed that officers from the Council’s Youth Service and Sports Development Team had been in discussion with the Wheeled Sports for Hereford group.  The Council’s Youth Service had recently appointed a Youth Involvement Worker and through that role the Council would be happy to continue a dialogue with the group.  It would not be possible for the Council to make a direct financial contribution to the scheme, however, the group had been put in touch with the Herefordshire Partnership Funding Service to help them explore a range of alternative funding routes.

Councillor Ms Toon thanked the Cabinet Member for his response and invited him to attend a fund-raising event organised by the young people involved.

Questions asked by Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd-Hayes of Cabinet Member (Economic Development, Markets and Property)

"Are there any proposals or considerations in hand at this time to dispose of or sell the freehold of the Maylord Orchards?"

In Councillor Hyde's absence Councillor Phillips replied that there were no proposals or considerations in hand at this time.  The Council was in regular discussion with the tenant about the management of the Centre.

Question asked by Councillor K.G. Grumbley of the Cabinet Member (Environment)

"I understand that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been conducting consultations into substantial increases in planning application fees.  Would the Cabinet Member (Environment) please inform Council what new fee structure we can expect for planning applications and when it will be imposed?"

Councillor Edwards said thatthe option for fee increases favoured by the ODPM following the recent round of consultation was one to raise an additional £68 million in the UK from application fee income. Under this option the householder application fee would increase from £220 to £265 and the maximum fee level for major developments from £11,000 to £50,000. This option represented a major step towards full cost recovery and would significantly reduce the cross subsidy from small to large applications.  The purpose of the fee increase was to generate additional income to be re-invested in the provision of planning services and to sustain recent performance improvements arising from Planning Delivery Grant. He advised that Planning application fees are set on a national basis and increased fees are likely to be implemented from 1st April, 2005

Councillor Grumbley said that he understood that other options would have been much cheaper or involve no change to the current charging regime and asked if either the Cabinet Member or any other Councillor had been involved in the Council's response to the consultation.  Councillor Edwards advised that as Cabinet Member (Environment) responsibility for a response to the consultation rested with him and that Councillor T.W. Hunt, as Chairman of the Planning Committee had also been involved.  He stressed that the Planning Department needed to be able to pay its way and could not rely on receiving the delivery grant that it had enjoyed previously.  It was important that there was sufficient income generated from application fees and the new proposals would mean that individual applicants did not subsidise larger scale applications.

Question asked by Councillor D.J. Fleet of the Cabinet Member (Economic Development, Markets and Property)

"Are there any proposals for the refurbishment of Hereford Buttermarket, and to bring the condition of the building up to an acceptable standard which reflects its historic form and design."

Councillor Phillips responded on behalf of Councillor Hyde and said that there were no plans at present to do any major work.  The possibility of major refurbishment had been discussed but given the large capital investment involved various options for funding such an initiative would need to be considered.

Councillor Fleet expressed disappointment at this reply.  He pointed out that the tenants of the Buttermarket, who provided a considerable rental income to the Council, deserved better facilities and urged a programme of refurbishment.

Question asked of the Cabinet Member (Economic Development, Markets and Property) by Councillor D.J. Fleet

"In view of the Nelson Bi-Centenary celebrations this year, are there any firm proposals for the repair and refurbishment of the historic Nelson Monument on Hereford's Castle Green?"

In Councillor Hyde's absence, Councillor Phillips stated that thecosts of refurbishing the monument would be considerable and advised that, to mark the bi-centenary a fence would be erected around the monument with two cannons being sited nearby.

He said that a private benefactor had kindly offered to meet part of the cost of the work and this had been accepted. 

Councillor Fleet reminded the Leader that a letter had been sent to the residents of Castle Street in 2002 detailing the costs of the improvements which have been the subject of ongoing discussions since then.  He was concerned that this historic monument was in danger of falling down and fencing round it would not prevent this. 

The Leader advised that the historic setting of Castle Green was the subject of a current lottery bid, as well as a police initiative to improve safety in the area.