Agenda item
QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received under the arrangements set out in note 5 above. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.
Minutes:
Statements were made by the following people;
Janet Marton made a statement regarding Alice Park on behalf of the residents in and around the area. She raised four issues of concern about the way the charity was being run. The full statement can be viewed via the link from the minutes. In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley about whether she had taken part in the 2 week consultation period at the end of November/beginning of December, Ms Marton responded that she had, but that she had been disappointed with the quality of the consultation. In response to a question from Councillor John Bull about whether she had taken up her concerns with her local Councillor and the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Ms Marton responded that she had e-mailed them and been told that her complaints had been forwarded to Councillor Paul Crossley. The Chairman thanked Janet Marton for her statement which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and the Leader.
Pam Jones made a statement also regarding Alice Park and issues relating to the skate park. The full statement can be viewed via the link from the minutes. In response to a question from Councillor David Dixon as to whether Ms Jones was aware that the skatepark was viewed as a gift to the trust and that the beneficiaries of the park were wider than just the residents in and around the park, Ms Jones responded that information had not been forthcoming, despite some requests being brought under Freedom of Information procedures. Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked whether she had looked into the impact of skateparks in other areas and Ms Jones responded that she was aware of problems in other areas and mentioned some specific examples. The Chairman thanked Pam Jones for her statement which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and the Leader.
Ian Cowie made a statement entitled ‘Listening Council’ expressing his view that the Council had not carried out effective engagement and consultation on various schemes he listed, including the Alice Park skatepark, and other traffic safety issues being brought to this meeting. Consultation meetings were often badly timed and seemed not to allow for alternative proposals. In response to a question from Councillor Tim Warren as to whether Mr Cowie considered that his suggestions for an alternative layout for the skatepark had not been taken seriously, he responded that he felt they had not. In response to a question from Councillor Dave Laming asking if Mr Cowie had attended an event in the summer to give his views, Mr Cowie responded that he hadn’t known about it but had the impression that it had been stage managed. The Chairman thanked Mr Cowie for his statement which would be referred to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and the Leader.
David Redgewell made a statement entitled ‘Public Rail governance; Devolution not Centralisation’. He called on the Council to work with all the surrounding areas to find sub-regional transport solutions. The full statement can be viewed via the link from the minutes. In response to a question from Councillor Paul Crossley as to whether Mr Redgewell was aware that all the Group Leaders from this Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council were working together on devolution of powers and responsibilities but that the principal block to this was the Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, Mr Redgewell responded that it was for the Councils to sort this out and find a way forward. The Chairman thanked David Redgewell for his statement which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Transport.
Wera Hobhouse made a statement to Council calling for them to look again at highways safety in Peasedown St John following a recent serious accident. The full statement can be viewed via the link from the minutes. In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Bevan, who passed sympathies to all those involved in the accident, and enquired as to whether Ms Hobhouse was aware that in addition to the eastbound filter, contrasting road surface and other alterations, she had also implemented a speed reduction and that, at that time, no serious accidents had been reported, Ms Hobhouse responded that she was aware, that maybe now was the time for a further speed reduction and she was just asking for it to be looked at again. Councillor Dave Laming passed on a question from Councillor Nathan Hartley about whether Ms Hobhouse would be happy to meet Cllr Hartley, she responded that she would. In response to a question from Councillor John Bull as to whether Ms Hobhouse was aware of the current petition gaining signatures (so far over 900) about traffic calming in Paulton, Ms Hobhouse responded that she was aware, but was keen to stress this wasn’t about politics but about making everyone safer. The Chairman thanked Wera Hobhouse for her statement and referred it to the Cabinet Member for Transport.