Agenda item
Items from the public or Councillors - to receive deputations, statements, petitions or questions relating to the business of this meeting
David Redgewell wishes to address the Panel about the Community Safety and Public Transport.
Minutes:
David Redgewell addressed the Panel about the service reduction plan for bus services (document ‘Forthcoming changes to local bus services in Bath and North East Somerset – January 2011’ is available on the minute book at Democratic Services). He asked for this to be urgently reviewed. David Redgewell also highlighted the importance of Government funding for electric buses and stated that there was a danger for losing out on this funding if the steps were not taken. David Redgewell concluded his statement by informing the Panel about the meeting between the Police and bus services providers regarding Anti Social Behaviour on buses and the urgency of getting on with the Bath package.
The Chair said that the credit for the initiative for transport safety should also go to the Community Safety team in the Council and that the other issues were within the remit of the Enterprise and Economic Development O&S Panel.
The Chair thanked David Redgewell for his statement.
Councillor Roger Symonds (Combe Down Ward Councillor) read out a statement regarding the recent severe weather. He said that the Council managed to keep main roads free and gritting was done very well. However, there were some suggestions and criticism from local residents. One resident asked if the footpath in Ralph Allen could be gritted; another resident commented that in other European countries grass cutting machinery had been used to grit pavements in winter; two groups of local people in Combe Down gritted their roads and one resident bought his own grit salt; Council should provide more grit bins or deliver bags of grit to local people; no grit bins in Foxhill; in Wilmington none of the roads in or out of the village were gritted where 10 of the residents are over 60; and that the bus companies should contribute towards gritting. Councillor Symonds concluded his statement by asking the Council to issue gritting instructions to local people on how much to use and how to disperse it.
Councillor Gerrish responded that the Council had been very good with gritting during the severe weather. All Local Authorities had been supplied enough grit from the Government to meet the demand. If the grit was provided to all people then the Council would not be able to supply the grit to the further network. Council’s contractors had the responsibility to fill empty grit bins. If grit bins are empty, people should contact Council Connect. Although the contribution from bus companies was not an unreasonable request people should be aware that bus companies were also threatened with all sorts of cuts.
Matthew Smith also responded by saying that weather extremes were becoming more common and the expectations of the public seem to be in the increase but that this was at a time of public sector financial restraint. As our response was evolving over time and Members had not formally had the chance to agree Council policy on this, he suggested for the Panel to have an update on the current “winter maintenance” policies and procedures at the next meeting in March so that these could be reviewed.
The Panel AGREED to have ‘Winter Maintenance Policies and Procedures’ for March meeting.