Minutes:
The following questions were submitted in advance of the meeting and responses provided by the Leader were tabled:
(i) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Biederman “When will the planning website be updated and become much more user-friendly, with thumb nails having a title?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Biederman thank you for your question. The website has titles, however, we understand it can be somewhat confusing and difficult to access at times. Customer services is currently working to make the whole process easier. The Head of Place Mike Tichford has advised that we are aiming to achieve improvements by the summer of this year with full implementation by early 2020.” Councillor Biederman asked a supplementary question as to when would the planning website become more user friendly. Councillor Brailey advised that progress was being made, the communications team were working hard to bring the timescale forward and it would be implemented by early 2020.
(ii) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Biederman “Following the trials of the three weekly bin collection, what is the timetable for a roll-out, or was it found not to take it any further?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Biederman thank you for your question. The timetable for the three-weekly bin collections has yet to be decided. It will go to Executive in the coming weeks and that result will go to full council for further discussions.” Councillor Worden asked a supplementary question as to why there was no timetable in place. Councillor Brailey advised that the Portfolio Holder was currently working with the Head of Operations on the timetable for the roll-out which would be brought to the Executive in the near future.
(iii) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Worden “Would the Leader kindly explain to the Council why he has overruled the motion passed by the Full Council last autumn and cancelled cross party meetings to arrange the conference/symposium designed to help businesses cope with Brexit without consultation with the members on the group. The clock is ticking and with such disarray at the heart of government and a distinct possibility of a no deal Brexit, where is the help from this council to local businesses in preparing for the fall out from leaving the EU?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Worden, thank you for your question. There was no cancellation, but a postponement of the meeting and you are well aware of that! There was little point in meeting because we did not have information back at the time from those interested parties that Mr Miles had written to. Furthermore, at the time we did not have a steer from Parliament. However, now that Parliament have given their opinion of the deal with the EU I do not believe we are any further forward. Following the letter from the Head of Legal we have had only two responses and therefore, it will be difficult to set up a meaningful meeting that is not full of Councillors or political representatives who just offer their own opinions. However, I await information from our legal expert.” Councillor Worden asked a supplementary question as to why Members of the Cross Party Working Group had not been contacted regarding the cancellation of the meeting. Councillor Brailey advised that this was incorrect and that Members had been advised of the postponement of the meeting. The Chief Executive of Devon County Council had been appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government as the regional officer responsible for collating information on our area to be fed into Government at the beginning of each week. It was advisable that there was a small group of Members that could provide information to the Chief Executive of Devon County Council to feed back to Government.
(iv) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Leaver “What representations has the Council made to Devon County Council on the plans for expansion to the North Devon Link Road and it's impact on the local road network? The improving of junctions and safety aspects are welcome but DCC's own figures predict a 30% increase in rush hour traffic on some of Barnstaple's residential streets - this will lead to more traffic jams, more rat running and increased levels of air pollution affecting residents in these areas. These are issues that go to the heart of the quality of life of North Devon communities. Yet none of the tens of millions being spent on the link road are going into schemes to mitigate the environmental harm of increased traffic or into schemes to promote walking, cycling and public transport. This disregard for everyone except car drivers flies in the face of official government policy, Devon's own transport strategy, our own local plan and official health advice.” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Leaver, thank you for your question. The County Council have commented and I believe you are either not understanding or you are mixing apples and oranges. Further, you have picked up on a statement made by the County Council that discussed the 30% increase and twisted it. The County stated there would be a 30% increase in a do-nothing scenario. They of course will be mitigating this, however, this is not related to the link road but to additional housing requirements. The County will be working to neutralise this. They are working towards getting traffic around the town to help throughput. The County dispute the assertion that nothing is being done for pedestrians and cyclists. At Portmore there will be a footbridge, another crossing facility at Bishops Tawton, the Landkey junction will have better crossing areas, as will West Buckland, where there will be a graduated junction. Quite clearly you have completely misunderstood the situation. I am sure you realise the strategic importance of the A361 and A39. ‘North Devon is geographically divorced from the rest of the County and is highly dependent on the A361/A39 to provide strategic connectivity to the rest of the County and beyond. Whilst the Council seeks to maximise the use of sustainable transport modes, there remains a fundamental need for the sub-region to be readily accessible by road users. The adopted North Devon and Torridge Local Plan recognises the importance of this road in Policy ST10: Transport Strategy and states; The Transport Strategy for northern Devon will:
(1) Provide good strategic connectivity by:
(a) ensuring the operational effectiveness of the strategic road network (A361 and A30) and other strategic routes including the A39, linking the area to the national road network (M5 and A30) and to Exeter, Plymouth and Cornwall; This Policy also seeks amongst other strategic aspects;
(b) improving journey times and service quality on the Barnstaple-Exeter rail line linking northern Devon to Exeter and the wider rail network;
(c) maintaining and enhancing the function and connectivity of the public rights of way network within northern Devon including the completion of the gap in the Tarka Trail between Willingcott and Knowle;
(d) locating freight generating development and local freight handling facilities close to the strategic road / rail network or Bideford port.’
The current proposed improvements should be seen in the light of the overall strategy, and not in isolation.
The response also addresses the potential impacts of a number of aspects of the improvements including ‘Air Quality’, where the evidence demonstrates that the improvements will not give rise to any significant adverse impacts, and no specific mitigation would be required.” Councillor Leaver asked a supplementary question as to whether the Council had been sufficiently critical of Devon County Council’s proposed improvements to the North Devon Link Road particularly in relation to the impact on amenity and life of residents of North Devon. Councillor Brailey advised that the Council had submitted a detailed response to Devon County Council that covered these issues and others such as pollution which was available on Devon County Council’s website.
(v) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Tucker “Has there been any news on the proposed interest for a Garden Town for Barnstaple? With hindsight would the Leader agree that if the Council’s bid fails it could well be because it seems to have been prepared in a rushed way, behind closed doors and without any consultation. Would it not have been better to have taken into account the views and expertise of local people and the North Devon business community?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Tucker, thank you for your question. The government department responsible has advised that we would likely hear at the end of March 2019. With reference to the bid, this Council needed to make this bid at short notice, which was not down to this Council but due to a Homes England time frame. Are you suggesting that we should not have made the bid? Further, if we had not put the bid in we would not be considered by Homes England and we would miss an opportunity. If we had not put the bid in I believe you would no doubt be asking why. We held a meeting prior to the bid for Councillors to be updated, as you well know. Yes it was at short notice but that is because of the timeframe we were given. Full consultation will take place if we receive an invitation from Homes England accepting our initial bid. As you know the bid is an expression of interest. It will be down to Full Council to debate and arrange the way forward if we are successful.”
(vi) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor J. Cann “The last budget update received by this council showed an underspend in the grants given to disabled people to enable them to continue living at home (Disabled Facilities Grants). These grants help the elderly, terminally ill, disabled adults, children and ex-services personnel continue to live at home with their families and within their local community. At the same time, the budget figures show a huge overspend on waste and recycling services. Can the leader assure us that vital services are not being cut in order to prop up a rubbish rubbish service? Are any measures in place to stem the continued overspend on this service?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Cann, thank you for your question. I fully understand your point of view, as an ex-serviceman myself I would not want to disadvantage either ex-service personnel or indeed those who are ill and need assistance. It is for this reason that Councillor Moores has worked tirelessly to ensure that appropriate funding is available to help those vulnerable people. I should point out that in your statement you are mixing up Revenue funding and Capital funding. I can assure you that vital services are not being cut in order to support cost pressures in other service areas of the council. The Disabled Facility Grant budget is part of the Capital Programme whereas the Waste and Recycling service is funded from the Revenue budget. The original Capital Programme for Disabled Facility Grants 2018/19 was £1.613million and the Council receives a grant from the Better Care Fund to pay for these adaptations; when the Quarter 2 financial report was prepared it was identified that not all of the demand for grants would be allocated in this financial year 2018/19 and thus it was recommended to move £800,000 into next year 2019/20. This leaving a revised budget of £813,000 for this year 2018/19 (of which we have spent around £570,000 at December 2018) and a budget of £800,000 into 2019/20 year. I am extremely pleased to report that this year our Council negotiated a 28% increase in grant from the Better Care Fund. This enabled the Council to set a budget of £1.613M for these vital home adaptations. As of December 2018, just over £1.0M (91 cases) has been formally allocated. Furthermore, officers are already working up to approval a further 42 cases (to a value of £257K). In relation to the Revenue budget cost pressures on the Waste and Recycling service, at Quarter 2 we were reporting a net budget overspend of £262,000 within Operational Services; however I must point out that over half of this variance (£153,000) is due to volatility in the price received for the sale of recyclable materials, which is driven by market forces. We have also been hit by increased fuel prices which have seen a higher than estimated spend in transport costs. However, I am pleased to report that at the Quarter 2 position due to prudent budget management and savings from other service areas we were able to report a forecast position of a small net budget deficit of only £27,000 against the overall Council Revenue budget of £12.2million. We are working through the remainder of the financial year to reduce this small variance further. The Waste and Recycling Service is in fact a very good service and to suggest otherwise tends to undermine officers’ moral. Our refuse workers work exceptionally hard to ensure that residents receive a very good service. To sum up I am grateful that you have raised these points to show how well this Council is responding in both departments and the teams and portfolio holders should be congratulated.” In response to a comment from Councillor J. Cann, Councillor Brailey apologised that the responses to the questions had not been circulated to Members via email prior to the Council meeting as normal. This was due to the responses to the questions not being received until late afternoon.
(vii) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Bradford “The recent press handout regarding lighting Longbridge has a quote from the leader as a representative of the ward south of the river but no quote from either of the two representatives of central ward. Was there a reason why they were not asked for a quote as half of the bridge is in their ward or is this just another example of political bias exercised by the current administration?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Bradford thank you for your question. Firstly, the appropriate route to take if you have an issue such as this or with any area of council service is to go to the Head of Service/line manager or even the Chief Executive to discuss, not bring it to Full Council. I understand this has not been the case in this instance. Secondly, I understand that a press release on the exact same subject was sent out in November 2018 and the Communications Team contacted both Central Ward members to ask if they were involved in the project and if they wanted to be quoted. Neither ward member responded back to the Communications Team; the officer therefore assumed that neither ward member had been involved and, therefore, neither wanted to be quoted. The Head of Corporate and Community and Customer and Corporate Communications Manager would like to attend a group meeting to talk to the group about the media protocol and clear up any misunderstandings there may have been.”
(viii) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Worden “Will the leader join with those of us on this side of the house in welcoming the U-turn made by the government in the statement made last week by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood) stating that Chivenor will not be closing. He said: “With regard to RMB Chivenor, we recognise the benefits of retaining a Royal Marines presence there. I make it very, very clear that RMB Chivenor will continue to have a role to play.”
Even though we have anticipated this change of heart for some time, would the leader not agree that it is good news and a vindication of those of us of all parties who have been campaigning ever since to save Chivenor after it’s closure was announced in 2016 and that we look forward to the next oral statement on the MOD’s defence estate plans, which is due very soon.” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Worden, thank you for your question. As an ex-serviceman you will understand where my sympathies lie; I have of course lobbied our MP on several occasions, I have written on three occasions to the Minister of State for Defence and my latest letter was only last week. Our MP has lobbied hard and has asked questions in the House of Commons on the issue. I would like to thank our MP Peter Heaton-Jones for his support and help. I would like to think that my own representations have been successful and look forward to a hopeful outcome. We believe it might be good news, however, we await the details.” Councillor Worden asked a supplementary question as to why the MP had not attending the meeting on 14th January 2019 with the Minister of Defence as other MP’s for Plymouth and Devon had not attended and made strong representations in the House of Commons. In response, Councillor Brailey advised that Peter Heaton-Jones MP had met separately with the Minister of Defence.
(ix) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Spear “Members learned last week at the Local Plan briefing that working groups consisting of four Conservative members from the Executive had been meeting to discuss supplementary planning documents on green infrastructure, air quality, rural workers dwellings, affordable housing, biodiversity and design. When were members to be informed about this and wouldn’t the leader agree that it would have been much more beneficial to the council if members had been asked to join the groups that if they had a special interest or expertise in those areas?” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Spear, thank you for your question. I take your point, however, I am led to believe that the group makeup was set up by the previous administration. I cannot comment on whether it would, or would not have been more beneficial to add other councillors because that would be speculative. However, do you have a particular point or points you would like to address to this supplementary planning document? I for one would be happy to add any councillor who felt they could add some value to this group.”
(x) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor J. Cann “Following the tragic death of a pedestrian on the A39 would the leader support me in asking the county council to review the situation regarding Brynsworthy residents wishing to cross the busy link road? There is currently no safe way for Brynsworthy residents to make their way to the shopping area at Sainsburys’s on foot. Yet we seem to have had a bridge built with no footpath to get to it from that side to cross the link road.” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Cann, thank you for your question. I offer this council’s condolences to the family of the person who was killed. It was of course exceptionally tragic. Further I believe this is sub judice because the matter is under police investigation and we do not know the circumstances of this very sad death. I am sure a view will be taken by the coroner, who will issue any instructions necessary. I am sure you also understand this is a County Council issue of which they will be aware of.”
(xi) Question to Councillor Brailey from Councillor Webber “Having just returned after spending some time in Australia I noticed a huge difference in how clean it was there compared with here. Having returned home I have walked the whole of Barnstaple town centre and was horrified at the state of the town with litter everywhere. May I ask the Leader to implement a review of the standard of service we are getting because it is currently not good enough. Barnstaple residents want a town about which they feel proud so please would you ensure that the town is kept tidy and that litter is collected and disposed of.” Councillor Brailey’s response “Councillor Webber, thank you for your question and welcome back. I understand your frustration. I have also asked Barnstaple Town Council to comment. The Town Council has smartened up some of the benches in the town, and they weed-spray around the whole of the town centre 2 to 3 times each year. They also undertake one-off litter picks and cleansing activities in the town centre where required but recognise that this is regularly undertaken by NDC. The Town Council maintain The Square; planting, weeding, maintain and litter-pick the flower and shrub beds. In addition they undertake litter-picking and weed-spraying in the outer estates of Barnstaple, and work with Town Centre Management to improve the provision of litter bins in the town centre and potentially introduce recycling bins. The District Council clean the town centre on a regular basis; we have a permanent sweeper in the town, we carry out hand and mechanical sweeping and there is a dedicated team for litter bins. This is kept under constant review. What we really need is to educate people to ensure they do not throw litter way, causing more work for our staff.” Councillor Webber asked whether there could be a strategy to bring all of the organisations together to improve the cleanliness of the town. Councillor Brailey advised that the Barnstaple Town Centre Management Manager would co-ordinate.