Meeting documents
Cabinet
Wednesday, 1st September, 2004
1. Question from Councillor Colin Barrett
Recent changes have been made to the arrangements regarding street cleansing in residential areas (Cleaning Zone 3).
Having raised concerns with Officers over the past 18 months as a result of numerous complaints from the residents of Weston regarding the condition of our streets, the new proposals will make the situation even worse.
To what extent is the Executive Member satisfied that these new arrangements will improve the cleanliness of our streets?
Answer by Executive Councillor Rosemary Todd
A pilot scheme has been introduced in some areas of Bath. The plan is to double the frequency of visit so that litter picking can be carried out more regularly but reduce the frequency of sweeping to compensate for this. Ward Members have been notified that this change has been introduced and the results will be monitored to establish whether an improvement in standards can be achieved using the revised method. The traditional method and frequency of cleansing will be reverted to during the period of leaf fall.
2. Question from Councillor Colin Barrett
Part of the proposals for the changes to the cleaning arrangements is to replace street sweeping once every ten working days to street sweeping once every four weeks, supplemented by weekly litter picking.
Does the Executive Member think this constitutes a service enhancement or a service cut?
Answer by Executive Councillor Rosemary Todd
The results of the inspections will tell us the answer to this.
3. Question from Councillor Colin Barrett
What is the frequency of inspection of street sweeping?
Answer by Executive Councillor Rosemary Todd
900 inspections per year are carried out by Enforcement Officers to comply with the standards set by DEFRA in the relevant BVPI. These are checked by Encams who also carry out an independent inspection annually. Self monitoring is also carried out by Cleansing managers (over 2,000 inspections per year) and joint inspections are also carried out. On average therefore, some 250 inspections are carried out each month.
4. Question from Councillor Colin Barrett
How frequent is sweeping conducted by the 'Johnston' sweeper
Answer by Executive Councillor Rosemary Todd
The frequency of cleansing depends on the zone (as defined in the Environment Protection Act, Litter Code) and whether there is a requirement for a mechanical sweeper. Mechanical sweepers work to various frequencies and officers would be happy to provide further details if requested. Each operator has a work schedules and the achievement of these is monitored by the cleansing manager. For information, schedules are Zone 1 daily, Zone 2 weekly, Zone 3 once per fortnight, Zone 4 once every 6 months
5. Question from Terry Reakes
In the Bath Chronicle of 17 August 2004, it was reported that Cllr Colin Darracott has been asked to agree a list of improvements at the cost £1.3 million for improvements for council facilities across the district. Therefore at the Executive meeting of September 1st 04 I would like to ask the following written question;
Would Cllr Darracott , Executive Member for Economic affairs confirm whether or not the Victoria Hall, Radstock (which is leased from the authority) is to be included in this list for improvement under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act? If not, why not?
Answer by Executive Councillor Colin Darracott
Victoria Hall Radstock is not included in the programme of works detailed in the recent report to the Executive member for Economic Development.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) makes it illegal for a service provider to discriminate against any customer or employee.
Victoria Hall is not a building from which Bath and North East Somerset Council provide a service. It is occupied by Norton Radstock Town Council on a full repairing and insuring tenancy.
Furthermore the lease requires a covenant of the Town Council to "comply at the tenants own expense with all requirements, duties and obligations, arising from the tenants use of the premises, as a result of any statute, statutory instrument, bye law or regulation"...
It is therefore the Town Council's responsibility to address the requirements of DDA.
6. Question from Councillor Chris Watt
Aquaterra Leisure promote through their web site their espoused philosophy, it is as follows;
"Our philosophy is to provide everything a private club would but at an affordable price for everyone."
The South Wansdyke Sports Centre gym has historically been used on a fee per usage system, an important part of maintaining accessibility for people on low incomes and those encouraged to exercise by council policy. They have now introduced a joining fee of £50. The example below relates to someone who might have been advised by a health expert to exercise twice a week for eight weeks as part of improving their health.
The Aquaterra Leisure price for use of the gym is £50 joining fee and £4:20 per time used = £117:20.
The Works gym in Midsomer Norton High St price for the use of their gym is £34 per month with no joining fee = £68.
Can the executive member responsible reconcile this charging structure and price with Aquaterra Leisure's espoused philosophy? Does the executive member agree that the use of a compulsory joining fee for the gym at South Wansdyke Sports Centre makes access for people on low incomes difficult?
Answer by Executive Councillor Nicole O'Flaherty
A response will be sent within 5 working days.
7. Question from Councillor Gitte Dawson
On 30th June 2004, the Council Executive jointly decided to commit £400,000 for further feasibility and assessment work on a range of potential measures towards a major bid in the Local Transport Plan. No detail was provided at the time on how this money should be spent. The measures proposed to be studied were the ones proposed by the Bath/Bristol to South Coast Study and concentrated on ways of alleviating traffic on the London Road. They included a road to link the A46 to the A36.
By now, a detailed project plan may be available as to how this sum of money is to be spent. I would like to know which measures are finally to be investigated; in which order; and how much of the budget is to be allocated for each. Please may I see such a project plan?
Please may I also see a timetable which shows the proposed staging of this work and the necessary consultation, with an indication of decision milestones and production deadlines for the Local Transport Plan?
Answer by Executive Councillor Sir Elgar Jenkins OBE
1. Measures being investigated:
The report to the Council Executive meeting of 30 June 2004 entitled Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study contained in paragraph 4.1 a list of the measures which the Executive resolved should be investigated further. The list comprises:
B7 Expanded Park & Ride
B7 Improved bus services (in conjunction with operators)
B7 Better integration of public transport
B7 Rail capacity improvements
B7 Demand management measures, including road user charging
B7 An A36/A46 Link Road
In accordance with the resolution of the Executive meeting, all these measures are being investigated. It should also be noted that HGV management options are included under the umbrella of demand management.
2. Order of investigation
It is necessary to investigate all these measures in parallel, rather than in sequence, as this will be the most efficient way of working, and will allow decisions to be made in time for submission of a bid in July 2005 for funding of any of these measures ultimately approved by the Council.
3. Budget allocations
An outline plan of how the budget is to be spent has been developed and is set out below:
option development and feasibility:
public transport including park & ride A360,000
demand management including HGV controls A355,000
highway options including link road A360,000
transport modelling of all options A360,000
environmental impact of all options A365,000
economic assessment of all options A310,000
consultation on all options A335,000
reporting and bid preparation A320,000
project management A335,000
Officers intend to use the budget intelligently to ensure that all possible measures have been looked at, and that as robust a bid as possible can be produced.
4. Project programme
A programme for the work has now been developed. It shows the following summary activities:
Problem identification - Aug - Sept
Option development - Aug - Oct
Transport model development - Sept - Nov
Option assessment - Sept - Dec
Package development - Dec - Jan
Public consultation - Jan - Feb
Executive/Council decisions - Mar - Apr
Prepare submission - May - June
In addition to public consultation, Stakeholder involvement is planned throughout the option development and assessment stages. This programme is currently being finalised with more detail added with a view to publishing on the Website by the middle of September.