To receive any written questions.

The Chairman reminded Council that it had amended the Constitution at its previous meeting so 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 were received and circulated at the beginning of the meeting.

 

Question asked by Councillor R.I. Matthews:

 

"A large number of the statutory road signs situated along the County’s highways have become more or less totally obscured by overgrown hedges and general vegetation in recent months.  This obviously has an effect on ROAD SAFETY which we, together with our partners, have been striving to improve over recent years.  Can the Cabinet Member tell me what would be the legal implications for this Authority, should someone be injured as a result of these signs not being clearly visible to the motorist?  In addition, when does the Highways Department intend doing something about this extremely serious issue?"

 

Councillor D.B. Wilcox advised that, in a rural area like Herefordshire, many traffic signs are sited in grass verges and alongside hedgerows, and inevitably, during the summer months there was a risk that vegetation would encroach on the visibility of the signs.  He said that responsibility for cutting back hedges rests with the landowner and that the Council had power to issue notices to landowners requiring them to trim back hedges on safety grounds.  In practice the Council also intervenes directly where trimming back of hedges is urgently required on safety grounds.  Area Maintenance Teams have initiated an additional programme to clear vegetation from signs and marker posts at sites where specific accident reduction measures has been installed.  Individual signs have also been cleared where particular problems have been identified or complaints received.  As for verges, the Council is responsible for grass cutting and undertakes two cuts a year with additional cutting as necessary for safety and visibility splays.  The second cut of rural grass verges is about to start.

 

In response to a plea to make sure that landowners carry out their duties, the Cabinet Member confirmed that the Council has an ongoing responsibility to check areas of concern and this is done on a regular basis.

 

Question asked by Councillor A.C.R. Chappell:

 

"It is now nearly two years since I asked the Cabinet Member, at Council, about the re-location of the market site.  At the time Council was assured that officers were looking at alternative sites to the Hospital Farm site.

 

I understand that no alternative site, or one that is in the Council's ownership, has been identified.  Rumours that the Cabinet Member has finally agreed that the Hospital Farm site is the only feasible and suitable site abound.

 

Will he confirm that his preferred site for the new market is now the Hospital Farm site at Burghill.  If this is not he case will he tell Council which site has been agreed and when will that decision go to Cabinet?"

 

Councillor R.J. Phillips, the Leader of the Council confirmed that the Council did reject the Hospital Farm Site and that that was still the situation.

 

He reminded Council that the feasibility study into the best location for a new market facility preferred the area to the north west of Hereford City.  This was also the geographical area preferred by Hereford Market Auctioneers.  He said that three sites were being considered.  Options were being explored but because of commercial sensitivity it would be inappropriate to reveal the sites at this stage.

 

In response to a comment from Councillor Chappell that the relocation of the market was a major obstacle to the development of the Edgar Street Grid and that the Council would lose the confidence of both members and local people if it was not resolved, the Leader replied that important negotiations of this kind needed to be dealt with properly and that getting information to Local Members would be a priority when the time was right. 

 

Question asked by Councillor A.C.R. Chappell:

 

"Has the Cabinet Member thought how Herefordshire can take advantage of the 2012 Olympic Games being staged in London?

 

As many other local authorities will wish to take advantage of the Games being held in this country, and with additional tourists coming into the country, will the Cabinet Member take the lead and seek ways of putting Herefordshire on the Olympic map?"

 

The Leader said that he was delighted that London had been successful in securing the Olympic Games for 2012 and that a great deal of thought had already gone into capitalising on the impact the games could have on Herefordshire as evidenced by the fact that Herefordshire was one of only three local authorities in the West Midlands proactively involved in supporting the Olympic bid prior to the announcement.

 

A Herefordshire Olympic Group including the Royal National College for the Blind, Herefordshire Sports Council, Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled, Halo Leisure Trust and Herefordshire Council had been working very closely with the West Midlands Olympic Committee for some time in order to address, take advantage of and support the London 2012 bid.

 

The group had analysed the County’s strengths and opportunities in relation to hosting training/holding camps and Olympic teams as well as being a potential tourism destination for visitors to the UK during the Games. It is clear that there is a real opportunity to build on the facilities at the Royal National College for the Blind, Halo Leisure Trust and proposals for Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled to attract teams associated with the Paralympics to the County.

 

He said that, in addition to 2012 being Hereford’s year to host the Three Choirs Festival there would clearly be an opportunity to promote a range of cultural activities in Herefordshire which could significantly boost the tourism sector in the County during the Olympics and beyond.

 

The facilities we are able to provide for those competing in the Olympic Games will also provide a legacy which should not only provide better sporting opportunities/facilities for local people but should also enable the County to take part in bids to host future events which could include the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

 

Councillor Chappell, welcomed the Leader's answer and said that he hoped hotels, B&Bs and other retailers would be encourage to play their part.  He was concerned about a potential lack of accommodation and said something would have to be done now or it would be too late.

 

Councillor Phillips, replied that Herefordshire was already more proactive than many other authorities in the West Midlands region.

 

Question asked by Councillor Miss F. Short:

 

"The Scouts and Guides who are based at Westfaling Street cater for over 300 children a week, and have a long waiting list for places as this is virtually the only facility for children in the area.  Will the Cabinet Member join me in acknowledging the magnificent efforts of the volunteer staff, and pledge to offer them support to enable them to continue this vital work?"

 

Councillor Stockton, Cabinet Member (Community Services) stated that Council officers had been in correspondence with officers of the organisation for some time and had recently requested a meeting to discuss issues relating to their lease.  Unfortunately for the organisation, the premises had been continually subjected to bouts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour which had led to a significant drain on their resources.  He advised that officers were aware of some of the reasons for this behaviour and were taking steps to alleviate the situation.  He acknowledged that the local Residents' Association had a strong desire to work with the Scouts organisation to secure wider community use of the premises and additional funding for security and investment in the site, and said that officers would be happy to be able to facilitate this process and provide advice on the future management of the area.

 

In response to a further query he assured Councillor Miss Short that officers would give any assistance they could to resolve the current problems.

 

Question asked by Councillor Miss F. Short:

 

"I have heard rumours that the original cast iron RAF gates which were donated to the city when the RAF left their base at Credenhill are currently on the council 'tip' at Rotherwas. Could the Cabinet Member elaborate on their current condition and whereabouts?"

 

Councillor Stockton reminded Councillor Miss Short that she had originally raised  this matter in an e-mail.  He confirmed that there was no truth in the rumour that the gates were, or ever had been, at the Council tip at Rotherwas.  They were currently being restored by a specialist company in Ledbury.  It was still the intention to erect them at the entrance to the Aylestone Hill Park.  An order had been placed with Herefordshire Jarvis Services and a start date for the works is imminent.  The works at the entrance to the Park should be completed by the autumn.

 

Councillor Miss Short acknowledged that the Chief Executive had responded to her original e-mail query but felt that, because of the rumours surrounding the whereabouts of the gates, it was appropriate to raise it again so that a public answer could be recorded.

 

Question asked by Councillor Ms A. Toon:

 

"At the local community Forum in January 2005 provision for North of the city was requested and the comment from the head of the HCC Youth services was that it was acknowledged that there was a lack of youth facilities north of the river Wye, and highlighted the problems of staff shortages even where facilities were available.

With the potential availability of Wiggins Bowling hut could I now request for 2 hours per week of a youth workers time given that The Lads Club handles more that 400 children and young people per week?

 

Scouts and Guides at 1 location has 300 children and young people per week and also has a waiting list.   I feel the community is doing its share and young people are being let down by the Council.

 

I would like to ask the Council how many hours per week do youth workers put into supporting the young people North of the city and has any action been taken since January 05?"

 

Councillor Stockton advised that there were 1.3 full time equivalent youth workers allocated to the Northern area of the City,  He said Property Services were currently seeking definitive legal evidence of the ownership and covenants related to the Wiggins Bowling Hut and until these could be established occupation could not be granted.  He confirmed that the Youth Services Team had recently met with representatives from the voluntary sector and West Mercia Police to ascertain the feasibility of a partnership project with community groups.

 

Question asked by Councillor Ms A. Toon:

 

"On behalf of Will Marsh, Paul Jarvis, Ryan Harrison, Kori and Aiken Lee, Bradley Harrison, Ryan Harris, Tom Fenton, Jordan Lloyd, Marshall Farmer and Matt Combstock, 11 young people, children of members of the Moor Farm Residents Association, who presented a film to a recent meeting before local councillors, Paul Keetch MP and representatives of HHL and HHC Transportation Dept on how and where they skate in the city. 

 

On behalf of the residents, who are backing the skaters and skateboarders, I would like to know what action is being taken for the provision of a skate park in the area North of the city.  With Westfaling Street Skatepark being taken out of action on Health and Safety reasons, what else is there for young people to do?

 

There are presently over 7,000 young people aged between 10 – 19 years old in Hereford City accessing 1 official skate park and many unofficial ones including shops, schools, bus stations, churches etc.  Compare this with Ross with only 1200 has 1 skatepark and Leominster 1200 about to get 1 as well. (source data 2001 census from HCC library population services )

 

AGE	Bromyard	Hereford City	Kington	Ledbury	Leominster	Ross-on-Wye
10 - 14	257	3,626	165	489	645	620
15	47	781	26	92	131	119
16 - 17	90	1,376	52	159	258	237
18 - 19	82	1,281	50	127	213	233
Total	476	7,064	293	867	1,247	1,209

 

 

This is now a second group of young people who have made representation to me in this way.

 

In Sept 04  InSITE the magazine of the Youth Times a Herefordshire Partnership Project reported on the matter interviewing 6 young people at both the Newton Farm and Westfaling street sites.  It stated that 100 young people per week attend the Westfaling Street site and a Youth worker is quoted as saying “Skateboarding is a sport – not just a phase. It’s not going to go away. There are even rumours that it will be included in the next Olympics,” a youth worker from Y-Zone, Hereford.

 

Skating and skateboarding keep young people healthy and active, it is a sport, it keeps young people together and safe, it keeps them away from crime and anti-social behaviour and on this per capita basis shouldn’t we have more than 1 skatepark in the Hereford City area to meet the needs of these young people and isn’t it the duty of this Council to promote healthy activities and lifestyles for this very large sector of our communities as part of government guidelines and targets?"

 

Councillor Stockton replied that the Council's partners halo, the Courtyard and various youth and community aided programmes were providing extensive activity schemes both in the City and County-wide.  There was also a number of holiday programmes being provided for young people of all ages.

 

He stated that skatepark facilities were not provided according to any per capita formula, nor was there a statutory duty to provide skateparks to promote healthy activities or lifestyles.  Elsewhere skateparks have been provided for a number of reasons and often on the basis of time-limited funding opportunities.  No sustainable funding has been available for their upkeep or development.  He stated that each of the market towns in Herefordshire had taken on the provision and maintenance of skateparks at a local parish or town council level as evidence had shown that catchment areas for such facilities was essentially local.

 

Question asked by Councillor Mrs. M.D. Lloyd-Hayes:

 

At what stage are Members informed of the receipt of liquor and public entertainment licensing applications for premises affecting their wards?

 

Councillor Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment) advised that, in its new role as Licensing Authority, the Council had a relatively large number of statutory consultees who were required to receive copies of applications for licences.

 

The Licensing Team were currently receiving between 30 and 50 licence applications per day and the Team was working under huge pressure within very tight statutory timescales. 

Notifying Members about individual applications in their Wards (or that border their Wards) would be a relatively substantial task and there is currently no capacity to deliver this.  Arrangements are being made to ensure that lists of all premise licence applications are made available to Members on a weekly basis.  Once the initial transfer process is dealt with more comprehensive information will be made available.

 

Councillor Mrs. Lloyd-Hayes said this was disappointing.  Advances in ICT should make it possible to provide Members with the necessary information. 

 

In response to a further question Councillor Edwards advised that there were a number of strands to the new legislation including clearing up litter.  He said the Council would be working hard in association with the Hereford City Council to ensure that litter would be cleared up.

 

Question asked by Councillor Miss F. Short

 

"Could the Cabinet Member please explain the reasons for the closing down of the Skate Park on Westfaling Street?  What is proposed for the future use of the site?"

 

Councillor Stockton said that the Skatepark was being closed due to persistent vandalism of the structure and the high risk it posed to public safety.  Work to provide temporary repairs intended to last for the duration of the summer holidays was completely destroyed within 10 days of its completion and there had been several attempts to burn down the facility.  A health and safety inspection had deemed the facility beyond repair and the site will be safeguarded as public open space and re-instated to an acceptable standard to ensure public safety.

 

In response to a query from Councillor Miss Short about when Hereford would get a skatepark to match Leominster, Councillor Stockton advised that Leominster did not have a skatepark at present.  The skatepark was part of a proposed sporting scheme.  He advised that the Council may be able to make some land available in Hereford for a skatepark but it would need the backing of residents and the local council.  He said the Council would be happy to assist in any such venture.

 

Question asked by Councillor W.L.S. Bowen:

 

"Planning Guidance document PPS22 has a recommendation that all new buildings should include a provision for getting 10% of their energy needs from renewable on-site resources.  Does Herefordshire Council ever make such demands of planning applicants?  If not – why not?  Do you not think it important that we should encourage all possible uses of renewable energy systems in our buildings?  What are you going to do about it?"

 

Councillor P.J. Edwards confirmed that the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan contained a number of policies encouraging and requiring new developments to include measures that address energy conservation.  These policies promote regenerating or recycling previously used resources and increasing energy conservation, energy efficiency and energy generation from renewable resources.  These were intended to meet the PPS22 aspirations.

 

In response to a query about the number of applications that satisfy these requirements, Councillor Edwards, reminded Councillor Bowen that he had assisted in drafting the wording of the Unitary Development Plan which addresses the energy efficiency in new housing including sustainable energy generation.  He said Councillors could ask for this to be included as a condition in appropriate planning applications.