Agenda item

Please note that Councillors are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the first page of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) not later than 5pm on Tuesday 2 July 2013. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Chairman reported receipt of questions from  Cllrs Helena Mckeown, Chris Hurst, Jeff Osborn, Helen Osborn, Howard Marshall, Simon Killane, Terry Chivers, Ian Thorn, David Jenkins, Helen Osborn, Gordon King and Chris Caswill. Details of questions were circulated and attached as Appendix A to these minutes together with the responses given.

Questioners agreed to take their questions as read and were given an opportunity to ask a relevant supplementary question to which the relevant Cabinet member responded.

Supplementary questions were raised and summarised as follows which should be read in conjunction with the attached questions.

Question 1 – Cllr Helena McKeown – studies highlighting links between children with autism and air pollution. Cllr Keith Humphries referred to the various studies on this subject by respected researchers. A number of leading experts across Europe had issued a statement following their consideration of a report on possible links. They concluded that whilst there was a link between children with autism and air pollution, it was not to an extent that required people to change their lives.

Question 2 - Cllr Helena McKeown – air pollution.  Doctors were seeing a rise in patients with breathing difficulties during warmer weather in areas particularly affected by pollution. She asked if it would be possible to map out areas which were particularly affected. Cllr Keith Humphries explained that he would be happy to discuss the matter with Cllr McKeown.

Question 3 – Cllr Jeff Osborn – take up and continuation of Small Grant Scheme.  Cllr Keith Humphries explained that a formal evaluation of the scheme would be undertaken at the end of the current scheme as well as looking into ways to better publicise it.

Question 4 - Cllr Howard Marshall – delays in completing land searches and whether there was a danger of delaying property completions. Cllr Sturgis confirmed that officers would be proactively prioritising searches by exchange dates to avoid this happening.

Question 6 – Cllr Simon Killane requested clarification of the plans to provide media arrangements in the renovated council chamber at County Hall.  Cllr Stuart Wheeler undertook to provide further information to Cllr Killane.

Question 8 – Cllr Terry Chivers – would the Highways contract be monitored and would there be penalties for non or poor performance. Cllr John Thomson confirmed that the contract included a detailed specification on what was required to be delivered. Not performing satisfactorily would bring a risk to the contractor of the contract not being extended for 2 years as allowed for in the contract.

Question 11 – Cllr Ian Thorn – when would he be able to meet with officers to discuss the particular problems which existed in Bradford on Avon South and the provision of additional bins. Cllr Thomson confirmed that there were no restrictions on arranging such a meeting with officers.

Cllr Question 12 – Cllr Ian Thorn - improving public consultation on the Council’s own planning applications.  Cllr Toby Sturgis gave a verbal response.

Question 14 – Cllr Ian Thorn – proposals for a review of residents’ parking in Bradford on Avon. Cllr John Thomson undertook to provide a written response to all members on how the Council proposed to address the demand for residents’ parking schemes throughout the County.

Question 15 – Cllr David Jenkins – requested a copy of the Council’s policy on rail. Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe explained that the policy was currently being updated and would be circulated to members in due course.

Question 16 – Cllr David Jenkins – Westbury rail network – would the Council be again writing to the Department for Transport putting the case for Westbury. Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe explained that the Council would be doing all it could and that she was very aware of the impact this would have on the rail network in the County.

Question 17 – Cllr Jeff Osborn – involvement of Trowbridge Area Board on the future of the former Council offices at Bradley Road, Trowbridge. Cllr Wheeler explained that the disposal of this building was part of the Council’s transformation policy to dispose of properties and concentrate resources on 3 modernised hubs.

Question 18 – Cllr Jeff Osborn – availability of Council diary for members. Cllr Stuart Wheeler explained that the traditional green diary was very expensive to produce. However, he was looking to investigate with officers an alternative solution that would include the reference information sought by members. Officers were also exploring the ability to provide the information as an App.

Question 19 – Cllr Helen Osborn – charging of volunteers to work and learn at Palmer Gardens, Trowbridge. Cllr Keith Humphries indicated that he was happy to discuss this matter further with Cllr Helen Osborn.

Question 22 – Cllr Chris Caswill – standard of care for vulnerable adults and the elderly. Was there confidence that with the appointment of four quality assurance posts and efforts to challenge and monitor, the problems recently highlighted would not recur. Cllr Keith Humphries explained that there were 250 care homes in the area, looking after 640 residents. Such incidences were rare and that he did have confidence in the service provided.

Question 23 – Cllr Chris Caswill – provision of a simple document providing contact details which families of those in care could use to follow up any issues. Cllr Keith Humphries explained that each care facility should have readily available details of their complaints process and that contact details were made available.

Question 24 – Cllr Caswill – Delay in the serious issues arising from the Avonmead case being addressed in a report for the Health Select Committee. Cllr Keith Humphries explained that it was important to collate all of the information in order to consider the issues carefully and thoroughly.

Question 25 – Cllr Helena McKeown – timing of visits of Avonmead before and after the Panorama TV programme. Cllr Keith Humphries explained that it had been inspected in April when no concerns had been raised.