To receive any written questions.

Councillors may ask questions of Cabinet Members and Chairmen of Committees so long as a copy of the question is deposited with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  A list of questions, set out in the order in which they had been received, was circulated at the beginning of the meeting.

The Chairman advised that those Councillors who had submitted written questions would receive written answers.  For completeness the questions and answers are reproduced below.

Question from Councillor H. Bramer

The Cabinet Member will be aware that Stagecoach Service 33 between Ross on Wye and Gloucester is a life line for work, school, health care, shopping, and travel outside the county and is vital to many hundreds of residents that live along or near the A40. Can the cabinet member please confirm that now that Stagecoach have given notice that they intend to withdraw the service from 22nd April, Herefordshire Council will provide subsidy to maintain the service 33 at its present level ?

Answer from Councillor D.B. Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation)

I can confirm that notice has been received from Stagecoach that the company intends to withdraw bus service No. 33 as from 22 April 2007 as the current level of patronage can no longer sustain commercial operation. The Director of Environment is investigating the demand for a bus service in the area affected and is seeking tenders for a subsidised replacement service that best meets the needs of local residents. Priority will be given to ensuring that journeys to work and school can still be made and a service will continue to operate throughout the day to cater for shopping, health care and longer-distance journeys.

The need to replace this previously unsubsidised service will place additional pressure on the Council's public transport budget and it is therefore essential that the level of service provided can be justified by the use made of it. A significant proportion of the service operates in Gloucestershire and that authority's views and possible level of contribution towards costs will have to be taken into account. The Director of Environment will therefore seek to award a contract at a service level that represents the best value for public money commensurate with the demand for the service and available resources.

Councillor Bramer may also wish to be aware that, on the 29th January, with the problems involving communities such as those affected by the withdrawal of the no. 33 service, I raised the matter direct with the Secretary of State for Transport. He said that he was reviewing his subsidies generally so I asked him if he would give an undertaking to pay particular regard to rural communities in remote areas.  He replied saying he was very much aware of the essential role that public transport played in such areas and would take proper account of the issue during the review, whilst bearing in mind the need for value for money.

Question from Councillor D. Taylor

I was advised that Re-Energy had posted on the World Wide Web that Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire Council and Mercia Waste (the Partners) had suspended negotiation with Re-Energy and Estec.

Could I be advised what system this Council and its Partners propose to use if they are not proceeding with Auto Claving system, as 2010 is fast approaching and the E.U. and the British Government will impose disposal tax on the Partners.

Answer by Councillor P.J. Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment)

The two Councils are in discussions with their current Contractor to endeavour to secure a sub-contractor who can deliver waste diversion technology which meets the strategy laid down in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. 

Autoclave thermal treatment has been selected as the appropriate technology.

Question from Councillor D. Taylor

Input Control Measures Household Waste Site

I have been advised by a local government electorate that on surfing the web he found that if he wished to obtain a permit for household waste, and he has a vehicle other than a private car, he must, according to the website, go to Worcester for his permit. 

As most of the people living in Herefordshire will be using a waste site in Herefordshire, could not residents be advised on the website of how to obtain a licence from a Council office in Herefordshire?  Additionally is it possible for a new permit to be issued at the waste site once the current permit presented has been used?  My concern is that if we make it too onerous for residents there will be an increase in fly tipping in the County.

Answer by Councillor P.J. Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment)

The Council, together with its partner Worcestershire County Council is making attempts to control the amounts of trade waste that is disposed of at the Counties’ Household Waste Sites.  The disposal of trade waste through the Household Waste Sites is both illegal and is undertaken at significant cost to the Council Tax Payers of the two Counties.

Applications for permits can be made by post or telephone (0845 6072007) to Worcestershire County Council, who will administer the scheme.  The normal arrangements for the scheme are that up to eight permits will be issued per application.  There are arrangements for individual permits to be obtained through our Info in Herefordshire Centres.

Whilst it is recognised that this is a more bureaucratic process than allowing open access the quantity of trade and commercial waste that is disposed of on Household Waste Sites is significant.  This scheme is certainly not unique and the two Councils have reviewed identical schemes operating in other parts of the country where there has been no reported increase in fly-tipping.

Question from Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes

What is the Council planning to do to provide youth facilities north of the river?

As I understand it from a meeting of community stakeholders earlier this week, attended also by Cllrs Wilcox and Fleet, £180,000 - generated from the insurance payment collected on the burnt-out youth centre in College Estate- is ‘loosely’ ring-fenced  to provide alternative community and youth facilities for residents in this area.  Will the same apply to the monies (£200,000) generated from the leasing and sale of the Terry Ross Youth Centre (Piggot Close)in Tupsley?

Answer by Councillor DW Rule, MBE Cabinet Member (Children and Young People)

College Hill Youth Centre

This was burnt down and the insurance claim has been settled at £180,000.  This money has been set aside within Property Services budgets to develop another community building.  We had been working with the College Hill residents association with the local members (Cllrs Williams and Wilcox) to create a plan to build a new community centre (with youth facilities) in the same “area” but not on the exact site because of road safety and access issues.  Unfortunately the College Hill RA appears not to be in operation any longer.  This money is still held.

Terry Ross Arts and Community (TRACC) (previously known as Tupsley Youth Centre)

Due to the dire state of this building in approximately 2000 it was leased to the Art College for nothing for five years on the proviso they refurbished it.  Which they did.  The space left for youth work was not suitable and the local residents association were very anti-youth service and young people being in the building so the Council withdrew and used other locations.  In 2006 rent became payable and £10,000 has been paid.  On 18th December, 2006 the building was sold to the Art College for £110,000.  This money will be put into the central corporate pot to which directorates can make applications for the money for service provision.

The Youth Service is involved in the Community Consultations regarding the area surrounding the colleges and are aware of the issue and are happy to be part of a solution which we have indicated.

Buildings are not the panacea but in addition young people need suitable and adequate places to go but they also need appropriate and challenging things to do (positive activities) these and the environment are provided by staff and currently the Youth Service has no capacity to provide any more youth work that we are currently doing. 

The Youth Service does not have enough suitable locations in North Hereford City from which to deliver youth work.  Currently the Youth work team is based in Close House, a voluntary sector project.  This has poor disabled access, is small and is in the centre of Hereford by Gilbies wine bar.

However “one” location is unlikely to be suitable for all young people and the worker currently delivers from a range of locations and schools in North Hereford.

North Hereford City is allocated one full-time member of staff and approximately 40 hours of part-time staff, plus associated funding to deliver youth work.  This is the same as all other six areas of Herefordshire.

It is clearly important to resolve the building priorities as soon as possible.

I will keep Councillor Lloyd-Hayes fully informed.

Question from Councillor Mrs. S. Robertson

The popularity of the SatNav route has increased the number of heavy vehicles using the A4110.    At Portway the road is narrow with sharp bends causing HGV traffic to use the verges resulting in erosion of the highway and other related problems.  Also, the SatNav system is directing HGV’s through villages and on unclassified roads causing damage to culverts, etc.

(a)      What is being done to address these issues? and

(b)      Could a restriction on the use of the A4110 and other minor roads by HGV's be implemented and the use of the trunk roads encouraged?

Answer by Councillor D.B. Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation)

'It is true that the popularity of SatNav has encouraged drivers of all vehicles including HGVs to use routes that they may not have contemplated if they were planning their route using 'traditional' means such as a Road Atlas, or by following Road Signs.

SatNav systems are getting better at taking account of local conditions and restrictions, however there is inevitably a delay between such conditions being registered on systems and then recognised and used by drivers as they plan their journeys. It should also be recognised that even with SatNav drivers can chose to take alternative routes and do still make wrong turns. 

Signage is in place to encourage traffic passing through the County to use the Trunk Roads, such as the A49(T). On the A4110 the existing 40mph speed limit at Portway is being extended to the south, encompassing Bewdley Bank a well know problem site, to promote road safety. The  road is inspected on a monthly basis to identify and rectify defects in condition.  

Further restrictions on the A4110 for weight are unlikely to be effective, and may unnecessarily hinder access to our communities, including many rural industries.

Question from Councillor A.C.R. Chappell

Will the Cabinet Member for Adult Services comment on my report to her that on the weekend of 27th/28th January, at least one care worker employed by "Q Care", the company used by social services to care for the elderly, sick, disabled and dying in the community, had 17 visits to make over an eight hour period in the South Wye area?

Does she agree with me that although some of these calls were repeats, that this is an unacceptable amount of calls for one carer, given that the most vulnerable people in our community need time spent with them?

While thanking the Cabinet Member for taking up my concerns about this matter, will she ensure that both the cared for and those doing the caring on our behalf, receive the respect and dignity that they deserve?

Answer from Councillor Mrs. L.O. Barnett, Cabinet Member (Social Care Adults and Health)

Herefordshire Council would not expect, or require staff, either employed directly or by care agencies, to work unreasonable hours. The Councils priority is to ensure that vulnerable people needing care are provided with appropriate and regular support that is delivered by appropriately trained staff. However it should be noted that there continues to be a shortage of care staff across the care sector, and Herefordshire Council is working with partners to address this.

Officers will look into the details of the period in question with the named agency to establish the facts and report back to me and Cllr Chappell.

Questions from Councillor W.L.S. Bowen

Would you agree that the proposal for 300 houses at Bullinghope/Lower Bullingham will make a very limited contribution to paying for the Rotherwas relief road?

Therefore, would you also agree that the total number of houses is likely to rise to 3000?

What proportion of any houses built will be affordable in perpetuity?

Has any modelling yet been done to fully understand the impact of all the extra traffic created by this housing upon our current road structure with all its problems?

Or is this to be a car free development?

Has full thought been given to the provision of safe and sensible cycling and walking routes?

What provision has been made for a proper local infrastructure, such as doctor’s surgeries, local shops etc?

Has any consideration been given to a combined heat and power plant for this proposed development?

Will all developers be required to build to the highest energy efficiency standards and also incorporate photo-voltaics and solar water heating systems?

Will proper and due attention be paid to the voices and concerns of existing residents?

Answer by Councillor P.J. Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment)

No, I would not agree.  The contribution will be substantial.

Any extra growth in housing will be addressed as part of our New Growth Points initiative.

An application to develop a site is expected shortly and I have, therefore, arranged for the developer to be made aware of the development features you have asked about.

Question from Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd-Hayes

As usual, the first most of us hear about the signing of a contract for the Rotherwas Relief Road to the tune of £12million is in our local press.  Where would we be without them? Why is the Council saying that the project will only cost £12 million, when, in fact, we have be told it is a minimum of £17.5 million?

Answer by Councillor R.J. Phillips, Leader of the Council

Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes may remember the recent report which went to Cabinet explaining the Rotherwas Futures project which includes the Access Road.  The overall funding package for the project is £17.5m which includes the £12m for the Access Road scheme.