Agenda item

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

 

Written questions

 

To answer any written questions from a County Councillor, (or any person living or working in the county, or is affected by the work of the County Council), about any matter which relates to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

 

The closing date for the receipt of written questions is 4.00 pm on Thursday 23 January 2020.

 

Please submit questions to Jo Moore, Democratic Services, Shire Hall, Gloucester, GL1 2TG or to jo.moore@gloucestershire.gov.uk

 

A written answer will be provided for each written question and published on the  council website. The questions and answers will be taken as read and need not be read out at the meeting. At the discretion of the Leader of Council, each questioner will be allowed to ask a supplementary question in response to the answer given to the original question. If the Cabinet member is unable to provide a response, a written response will be provided after the meeting.

 

A copy of all written questions and answers will be attached to the signed copy of the minutes of the meeting.

 

Urgent questions

 

An urgent written question may be asked by a member of the public about any item on the Cabinet agenda for that meeting which the Chairperson considers could not have been reasonably submitted by the deadline for the receipt of written questions, provided he or she gives notice of the question to the Chief Executive by 12 noon the day before the meeting.

A total of 28 member questions were submitted for consideration in advance of the meeting. No public questions were submitted.

 

Please refer to the link below to view the responses to the questions: -

 

https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=9393&Ver=4

 

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

 

Question 1: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Conscious of the lack of paper responses to the budget consultation, what would be the estimated additional cost to the council to produce a few (carbon neutral printed) paper copies of the consultation document?

 

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

 

There would be little cost involved in producing a handful of paper copies of the consultation document. However, the usefulness of producing only a handful of documents would be limited. To have an impact, it would be necessary to produce several 1000 copies.

 

Action: Cllr Stowe offered to obtain a price for producing paper copies of the consultation document to consider in advance of next year’s budget consultation period.

 

Question 2: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Given the clear desire from local residents, (for increased investment in climate change action), the £1m Action Fund is not enough. Are you ignoring the climate change emergency by ignoring the views of residents?

 

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

 

The decision to create a £1m Action Fund, (to fund carbon reduction initiatives in 2020/21), is not ignoring the views of residents. It is a proactive decision introduced as a starting point to better understand and devise long term plans for tackling climate change.

 

The problem is that the council has to prioritise the very important issue of addressing climate change against other priorities. This has to be considered against the amount of income generated from council tax payments, which is already set at the maximum amount of council tax the council can set.

 

If Cllr Smith would like to put forward suggestions on how to address the climate change emergency and what services would need to be cut to allocate the additional funding, I would be interested to consider the proposals at the next council (budget) meeting.

 

Question 3: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Funding allocated to undertake detailed business cases as part of the Strategic Infrastructure Business Case is all related to investment in M5 junction improvements. Can you confirm how long it will be before you allocate funding for the development of segregated cycling routes and other low carbon initiatives?

 

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

 

We will need to see the timescale of funding from Government before considering how the funding will be allocated. Cabinet includes many champions of cycling. When we receive the funding, cabinet will consider how to invest some of the reserves to making better cycling policies and dealing with issues of congestion to help ease the county’s environmental issues.

 

Question 4: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Separate segregated cycle-ways would make big difference to cycle safety. Can you please provide figures on how many miles of segregated cycleway are planned?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

Where we can, we invest in segregated cycleways. We are doing all we can. There are already a number of routes with segregated cycleways. This is a very ambitious programme but we have to be pragmatic about what we can do. The Lydney Cycleway Scheme, (a £1m scheme), is an example of the council’s investment in cycling.

 

Question 6: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Residents see through empty token gestures. Do you think the £1m investment in carbon reduction activities is seen as an empty token gesture?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

No. Within my division there are 20 parishes. At every parish meeting, there are discussions on how to encourage parishioners to get involved in carbon reduction activities. The response has been very positive.

 

Question 8: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

It would appear there is no value for money evaluation from some of the largest flagships of investment?

Response by: Cllr Vernon Smith (Cabinet Member: Highways and Flood) 

 

I disagree. We are investing in improving the highways network as an asset management driven investment. This in turn helps to make improvements to reducing the county’s carbon footprint and improving the economy.

 

Question 9: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Appendix 3 of the MTFS report includes an explicit request from the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide a breakdown of information relating to the disposal of assets, not just income. For transparency, could you please provide a detailed breakdown of the sale of assets, including to whom the assets are sold and for how much?

 

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member for Finance and Change)

 

This is different to the request referred to in your question. When sales have occurred, we are able to confirm the sales in the decision report. Details of the sales are provided as exempt information, on pink papers. Further to your request, we are looking at the procedures undertaken at other authorities but must be mindful of the legislation surrounding the publishing names and addresses on the council website. We will take your comments away and look into what information can be provided as public information.

 

Question 10: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 6: Minerals Local Plan

 

What impact can be anticipated from the numerous provisions included in the Minerals Local Plan? 

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

I believe this has been explained in the original answer to your question. I will ask senior officers to provide a more comprehensive answer. 

 

 

Question 13: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Agenda Item 6: Minerals Local Plan

 

In your answer to my original question, you suggest that “the plan’s provisions will make a positive contribution to the countywide carbon reduction target up to 2030 and could, in the future, be monitored to this effect through the evolving Climate Change Strategy monitoring regime”. Can you commit to ensuring this monitoring takes place?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning)

 

Of course - I would not have said so if this were not the case. 

 

Question 16/17: Cllr Rachel Smith

 

Can you confirm no methodology was used for considering carbon emission implications in relation to items 10 and 11 of the agenda? Are the answers to your questions based on personal opinions?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

Both decisions are based on considered assessments.

 

Question 18: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Was the £500k funding allocated to undertake an ash die back study plucked out of air? Could you please provide a report on how you arrived at this figure?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

An assessment of the funding required to address this issue will be determined by the number of trees affected by the disease. The current allocation will be used to identify what action is required, including if any urgent action is needed. The allocation is for the first year only and will be used to assess what action will be required in the future.

 

Question 19: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

How do you know if this is an accurate sum for the next financial year? It could be more; it could be less?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

The allocation is not a guestimate. The allocation, airing on the cautious side, has been made based on the scale on what is needed to undertake the study. It is the council’s duty to ensure the safety of local residents. We believe this is a suitable figure for the first year of work, looking ahead at what might be expected in future years.

 

Question 20: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

There are no figures in the budget for the digging out the trunks of trees affected by ash die back. Will this shortfall be included in the 2020/21 budget?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

Cllr Moor agreed to provide a written answer to this question after the meeting.

 

Question 21: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

What proportion of the 36,000 trees will be felled? Will there be a 100% replacement of trees?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning) 

 

A detailed study will be required to assess what is required. The allocation of funding will be used to undertake this study.

 

Question 22: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Is the new highways capital spend subject to Section 106 contributions? A number of projects listed are not subject to conditions/Section 106 contributions. 

 

Response by: Cllr Mark Hawthorne (Leader of Council) 

 

Cllr Hilton was advised that the information he was looking for was listed on page 87 of the MTFS report (page 117 of the agenda).

 

Question 23: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

How much of the 60% highways revenue budget will be allocated to undertaking carriageway repairs?

 

Response by: Cllr Vernon Smith (Cabinet Member: Planning and Environment) 

 

The exact allocations are not yet known. I cannot give you a detailed answer other than the information provided in the answer to your original question.

 

Question 24: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

Are you confident the council will receive £125k funding from NHS England to invest in public mental health services?

 

Response by: Cllr Tim Harman (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities)

 

I believe the chances are reasonable. The increase in the public health service budget is good news.

 

Question 25: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

With the funding for suicide bereavement services expected to be funded by NHS England, why is the council cutting the budget for this area?

 

Response by: Cllr Tim Harman (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities)

 

The council has a full leadership role in delivering bereavement services. It is important to recognise the good news the significant increase in funding the £5m mental health trailblazer scheme will provide to the county.

 

Question 26: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

 

I note the good use of the £50k in respect of suicide prevention following a Lib Dem amendment approved by council last year. Why is this amount not in the base budget for this year? Why was it not rolled forward into this year’s budget?

 

Response by: Cllr Tim Harman (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities)

 

This was a one-off proposal supported as an amendment by council.