Agenda item

Appendix 1 - Supplementary questions from members of the public and responses.

Minutes:

Supplementary questions from members of the public – Scrutiny Management Board, 16 December 2024

 

 

Question

Number

Questioner

Supplementary Question (received via email)

Question to

PQ 1

Ms Reid

Hereford

Per LAIT as at 31 March 2024, the rate of children in care per 10,000 children was:

 

  • Herefordshire: 114
  • Statistical Neighbours’ average: 66.78
  • The Statistical Neighbours’ rates are:
  • Wiltshire: 46
  • Somerset: 53
  • Devon: 59
  • Cornwall: 59
  • Suffolk: 62
  • Gloucestershire: 65
  • Dorset: 68
  • Norfolk: 68
  • Shropshire: 121
  • England: 70
  • West Midlands region: 90

 

Per LAIT, the number of children in care in Herefordshire on 31 March 2024 was 387. 

Per the Placement Sufficiency Strategy, there should be 350 at 31 March 2024, 300 at 31 March 2025 and 280 at 31 March 2026.

 

average annual cost for each child that returns back into care is £61,614 compared with an average annual cost of supporting a child to return home of £5,627 [www.leeds.gov.uk].”

 

Should extra resources (e.g. staff) be invested in reunification to reduce the cost and number of children in care?

 

Scrutiny Management Board

Response:

 

We are currently meeting the demand for care prevention and rehabilitation in the services provided. We need to ensure staffing is proportionate across the whole of children social care services within the budget allocation provided. We keep an overview on demand pressure in each part of the service areas and we have responded to move funding and staffing to respond to changing demand and we will continue to do this as part of our strategic and budget management.     

 

 

Question

Number

Questioner

Supplementary Question (delivered verbally by Mr Milln during the meeting)

Question to

PQ 2

Mr Jeremy Milln

Hereford

Simply excusing failure to keep minuted records of its regular meetings with Active Travel England over the considerable funding the Council receives for ATMs, as we heard in response to the questions from Mssrs Protherough and Martin on 6th December, is unhelpful.

 

I therefore ask plainly for a full account of how the various external moneys for active travel (DfT Access & Capability, LUF, ATF4, HCCI, STF, Supercycle, HCCTP, S.106 etc) are proposed to be applied to the various projects (Aylestone Hill, Barton Road, GWW, Cathedral Quarter, Quiet Routes, Safer to School, LCWIP, Commercial Road, Blueschool Street, Three Elms area etc) with an assurance that scheme development and design is transparent and openly consulted to ensure they are fit for purpose and value for money before decisions are made?

 

Scrutiny Management Board

Response:

 

Dear Mr Milln

 

Thank you for your supplementary question regarding the governance around the delivery of Active Travel Fund schemes. Hopefully the following bullet points will assist you in understanding the processes we have in place for approvals of ATF spend.

  • We are delivering a number of schemes which have active travel measures in them. These are being delivered mostly with Levelling Up Fund monies but also include elements of ATF in the funding mix. 
  • All of our highways capital schemes are carefully developed in line with current walking and cycling guidance such as LTN120 and the standards that govern highway design. 
  • As schemes are developed they are reviewed with the Cabinet Member for Transport. Furthermore, Cabinet have reviewed and agreed the full programme of works.
  • Each scheme has a project board and a project manager, as well as officers and consultants that are involved in the design and planning the delivery of the works.  Notes are recorded for every project board meeting and decisions are recorded.
  • We also have an overall programme board which reviews progress on each scheme.  Notes are also recorded.
  • We also hold regular informal meetings with both DfT and with Active Travel England to give them assurance that the schemes we are delivering are meeting the ATF and LUF objectives that were set out in the original bid and agreement with DfT.
  • With regards to public consultation. The original development of the schemes started from the Hereford Transport Strategy which was publicly consulted on. The results of that consultation are what developed the outline of the works. Further public consultation also happens during the delivery stages of the schemes if the works require Traffic Regulation Orders or changes that need input from residents. We may also choose to consult on specific elements of schemes during the design process, as we did with the school streets schemes where we engaged directly with the schools, parents and residents in the area.
  • Many of the scheme are about to move into delivery phases including:
    • Holme Lacy Road and Quiet Lanes
    • Great Western Way Improvements
    • School Streets
    • Transport Hub
  • Additionally, we are progressing design work on Aylestone Hill and Commercial Road schemes and these will soon be ready to move to a delivery stage. Our intention is to be in contract on all of the schemes that make up the LUF and ATF programme of works before the end of 2025/26.
  • We are happy to share the high-level objectives and measures being delivered in all of these schemes.