To receive any written questions.

The Chairman reminded Council that the Chief Executive was no longer required to read aloud the questions submitted by Members.  The questions had been listed in the order in which they had been received and circulated at the beginning of the meeting.

Question asked by CouncillorD.J. Fleet

"Can the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) confirm whether or not the new traffic orders for Hereford High Town are now in place?"

Councillor Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) reminded Council that theTraffic Regulations introducing revised arrangements for prohibition of parking and loading, prohibition of access and one way traffic came into legal effect on 28th October, 2005.

He advised that the Department for Transport has not finally approved the extensive signage which is needed to support these Orders and to allow the restrictions to be enforced.  He said it would not be realistic to expect this work to be completed before the New Year. 

Questions asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen

"Can you please illuminate the Council on the key elements of the Nottingham Agreement?

1. I note that Hereford is one of the few, but sensible, Councils that have signed the Nottingham Agreement – please could we be informed of our baseline position (particularly re carbon management) and what future actions we will be taking to implement the Agreement?"

Councillor P.J. Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment) replied that the baseline position was established as part of the Council's Carbon Management Action Plan, by which it would be delivering the Nottingham Agreement.  Greenhouse gas emissions in 2002 amounted to 72,000 tonnes.  He advised that the agreement was available for inspection by any interested parties.

2. "What efforts are being made to encourage the manufacture and use of bio diesel and bio ethanol fuels?  How much of these fuels are being made?"

Councillor Edwards said Herefordshire was being considered as a location for both bio-diesel and bio-ethanol manufacturing plants.  Plans for a small to medium size bio-diesel plant had been developed by a local business which was seeking support from Advantage West Midlands and Defra.

He advised that there was a small manufacturer of bio-diesel substitute fuel at Rotherwas Industrial Estate which is selling fuel to a number of customers at a substantially lower price than fossil fuel diesel.  The fuel is made from waste cooking oil, much of which is collected from Herefordshire schools.

Councillor Bowen asked if the Council could encourage the manufacture of new fuels, perhaps by relaxing the planning regulations.  Councillor Edwards replied that the Council was very active through a number of Environmental Ambitions Groups, but that it would be wrong for the Council to favour one particular company over another.

3. "Is Hereford Jarvis using bio diesel in its transport fleet.  If not, why not?"

Councillor Edwards advised that Herefordshire Jarvis does not at present use bio-diesel.  The group has a purchasing arrangement through Jarvis parent company for fuels, and the Council has asked for the use of bio-diesel to be considered.

4. "Are we making sufficient attempts to encourage the use of biomass generators for the production of heat and electricity?  Can you give me any examples of biomass generators in Herefordshire?"

Councillor Edwards said that the Climate Change Working Group of the Herefordshire Partnership had assessed the distribution of available sustainable biomass and its report was due to be published along with the final Climate Change Strategy in March 2006.  There are a number of biomass heat-only boilers installed in the County, and the Council continues to encourage such facilities at every opportunity.

5. "Why doesn’t the Council re-cycle all the grit and stone picked up by the road sweeping lorries?  If other Councils do this successfully – why can’t Herefordshire?"

Councillor Edwards advised that Severn Waste Services (the Council's contractor) is investigating the feasibility of recycling these materials on behalf of both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

In response to a further question from Councillor Bowen, Councillor Edwards advised that this matter was being actively pursued.  The Contractor was arranging for the installation of plant to reduce the mass but warned that much of the material would need to undergo an extraction process to be de-contaminated.

Questions asked by Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd Hayes

1. "Are the proposals for a corporate building, Library and Hereford Police Station on the Edgar Street Grid, now defunct? If so what was the cost of the DTZ consultation?"

The Leader advised that he was still waiting to hear from a number of partners who may be interested in sharing a corporate building.  He confirmed that the Library would be an important part of the development of the Grid and that the Police were expected to maintain a presence in the area. 

He reminded Council that the DTZ study was commissioned under the previous administration and had a budget limit of £250,000, half of which would be met by Advantage West Midlands and half by the Council.  The final costs were £242,211.  The DTZ report was submitted as part of the Unitary Development Plan proposals for Hereford City which were still awaiting final determination.  He advised that 17 companies had expressed an interest in the regeneration works.

In response to a further question from Councillor Mrs Lloyd-Hayes, Councillor Phillips said he was unaware of discussions being undertaken with any particular supermarket.

2. "Is there any truth in the rumour that Park and Ride is to be located at the Hereford Race Course?"

Councillor D.B. Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) confirmed that a review of a variety of sites had been carried out, a preferred site had been selected and work had commenced to progress this.  The exact location of the site would remain confidential for the time being  to avoid conflicting with commercially sensitive land negotiations. 

3. "When will this Council show some vision and cross-party thinking in order to achieve a County we can all be proud of in 20 to 30 years time?"

Councillor Phillips reminded Council, that following the 2003 elections he had proposed an all-party administration in order to achieve those objectives.  He believed that there was a great deal of evidence to support the Council's commitment to cross-party working and cited the Unitary Development Plan, the Local Transport Plan, development of the Edgar Street Grid as well as the Herefordshire Plan as examples.  He spoke of the good work being done in the market towns of Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye where local Members from all parties were meeting regularly and discussing issues of importance to their residents and encouraged all Members to come together to discuss matters of mutual interest or concern.