MINUTES

OF THE MEETING OF THE

Council

Tuesday 23rd September 2003

HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET.

Meeting Commenced: 6.38 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 8.20 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Ian Peddlesden (Chairman), Glyn Duck (Vice-Chairman), Nigel Ashton, Felicity Baker, Ian Baker, Bob Bateman, Jeremy Blatchford, Astra Brand, Nick Brown, Peter Bryant, Peter Burden, Mark Canniford, John Clark, Andy Cole, Robert Coleman, Bob Cook, Alan Cotton, John Crockford-Hawley, Isabel Cummings, John Daws, Peter Fisher, Jon Gething, Jenny Gosden, Ann Harley, Alan Hockridge, Peter Kehoe, Derek Kraft, Muriel Kraft, Tony Lake, Tom Leimdorfer, Greta Lewis, Ronald Moon, George Morris, Michael Nobes, Mari Owens, Hugh Parsons, Robert Payne, Ian Porter, Howard Roberts, Michael Roe, Richard Skinner, Bob Steadman, Chanel Stevens, Sally Tabrett, Audrey Telling, Arthur Terry, James Tonkin, Barry Walters, Clive Webb, Elizabeth Wells, Roz Willis, Deborah Yamanaka.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Elfan Ap Rees, Ian Bates, Michael Bell, Colin Golland, John Norton-Sealey, Ian Parker, David Shopland, Richard Tucker and Andy Wright.

COU

Public Participation Time: Tenants’ Forum (Mr. Paul Whitehouse) (Agenda Item 1)

Mr. Whitehouse, the Chairman of the Tenants’ Forum, addressed the Council. The Forum represented eighteen residents’ associations in North Somerset and he outlined the role of the Forum. He confirmed that the Forum was in favour of introductory tenancies.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Whitehouse for his address.

COU

Petition: Dunkite Lane, Weston-super-Mare (Councillor Hockridge) (Agenda Item 3)

Councillor Hockridge presented a petition that was in the following terms:

“We the u/m strongly urge the North Somerset Council to take the necessary action to restore the public highway, known as Dunkite Lane, illegally encroached upon five years ago, to its rightful status. Allowing this situation to go on for this length of time clearly demonstrates a lack of ‘duty of care’.”

Councillor Hockridge made a statement in respect of the petition.

The Chairman referred the petition to Councillor Burden, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.

COU

Petition: Speed Restriction in the Potteries Area, Weston-super-Mare (Councillor Bateman) (Agenda Item 3)

Councillor Bateman presented a petition that was in the following terms:

“We, the undersigned, would like to enter a plea to the Town Council Weston-super-Mare, that we need a speed restriction sign positioned at the end of the (Potteries), Bridge Road area.

The speed limit we would like is: 20 mph.

In our defence, we feel a speed restriction would enable safety, not only other road users in this area, but for the safety of children, animals, and pedestrians.

We take our lives into our own hands because of the ‘speeding few’, who seem to aim at the gap, and drive towards it, at warp speed, with disregard to anyone, or anything in their path.

Bridge Road, in particular, being a very straight road, is turning into a death trap, and is already known as a potential Black Spot to residents.”

Councillor Bateman made a statement in respect of the petition.

The Chairman referred the petition to Councillor Burden, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.

COU

Declarations of Interest (Agenda Item 4)

A Member declared the interest below –

Councillor Skinner – interest in the Avon Pension Scheme.

COU

Minutes – 22nd July 2003 and the Extraordinary Meeting, 23rd September 2003 (Agenda Item 5)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on the 22nd July 2003 be approved as a correct record and that Standing Order 25 (Minutes) be waived in respect of the extraordinary meeting held on 23rd September 2003 and that the minutes of that meeting be signed at the following meeting after 23rd September 2003.

COU

Chairman’s Announcements (Agenda Item 6)

Jeff Baker, deceased, Former Councillor

The Chairman reported that Mr. Geoff Baker, a former Councillor of Woodspring District Council, had recently died.

The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Mr. Baker.

Councillor Canniford, the Birth of a Daughter

The Chairman expressed congratulations to Councillor Canniford on the birth of his daughter, Chantelle.

COU

Forward Plan (Agenda Item 7)

Councillor Roe, Chairman of the Executive, presented the Forward Plan (dated 16th September 2003) and made a statement thereon.

RESOLVED: that the Forward Plan be received.

COU

Four-Monthly Report of the Children and Young People Select Committee (Agenda Item 8(a))

Motion: Moved by Councillor Blatchford and duly seconded –

“That the report be noted.”

RESOLVED: that the Motion be approved and adopted.

COU

Four-Monthly Report of the Environment and Community Select Committee (Agenda Item 8(b))

Motion: Moved by Councillor Cotton and duly seconded –

“That the report be noted subject to ‘oppose’ being replaced by ‘apprise’ in the fifth bullet point on page 27.”

RESOLVED: that the Motion be approved and adopted.

COU

Four-Monthly Report of the Financial Accountability Select Committee (Agenda Item 8(c))

Motion: Moved by Councillor Stevens and duly seconded –

“That the report be noted.”

RESOLVED: that the Motion be approved and adopted.

COU

Four-Monthly Report of the Health and Wellbeing Select Committee (Agenda Item 8(d))

Motion: Moved by Councillor Moon and duly seconded –

“That the report be noted.”

RESOLVED: that the Motion be approved and adopted.

COU

Advance Written Questions (Agenda Item 9)

Advance written questions to the relevant Members were received and the questions and the replies are contained in Appendix 1.

COU

Question Time (Agenda Item 10)

Oral questions were directed to the relevant Members. The Members concerned and the summary notes and the topics involved are contained in Appendix 2.

COU

Report and Matter Referred from the Executive

2nd September 2003 (Agenda Item 11)

(Minute EXE 52) Designation of Felton Common as a Local Nature Reserve

Motion: Moved by Councillor Roe, seconded by Councillor Mrs. Yamanaka and

RESOLVED: that the recommendation be approved and adopted.

COU

Report on an External Organisation

Blue Skies Update (Councillor Hockridge) (Agenda Item 14(a))

Councillor Hockridge presented a report and Members asked questions thereon.

Councillor Cotton referred to support for Blue Skies from traders in Clevedon. He also referred to the need to resolve the problem associated with the Pier Hotel and the Pier.

RESOLVED: that the report be received.

COU

Report on an External Organisation

Avon and Somerset Police Authority (Councillor Terry) (Agenda Item 14(b))

Councillor Terry presented a report and Members asked questions thereon.

RESOLVED: that the report be received.

COU

Report on an External Organisation

Wessex Water Customer Liaison Panel (Councillor Walters) (Agenda Item 14(c))

Councillor Walters presented a report and Members asked questions thereon.

RESOLVED: that the report be received.

COU

Appointment on an Outside Body: YANSEC (Agenda Item 16)

Councillor Roe presented a report.

Motion: Moved by Councillor Roe, seconded by Councillor Hockridge and

RESOLVED: that Councillor Cook be appointed to this body.

________________________________

Chairman

________________________________

APPENDIX 1

NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING, 23RD SEPTEMBER 2003

ADVANCE WRITTEN QUESTIONS (Agenda Item 9)

QUESTION NO. 1

From Councillor Coleman

To Councillor Burden, Executive Member for Strategic Planning

Traffic Speed Signs at Clevedon

“(1) Who asked for the traffic speed signs along the following roads in Clevedon to be removed from, Northern Way, Central Way, and Southern Way?

(2) Why were they removed?

(3) What research has been carried out?

(4) What are the RTA accident figures for this Area? Including fatalities?

(5) How many surface crossings are there in North Somerset, and how many accidents on or around them in the last Five years, including fatalities?

(6) How many Offences around surface crossings in the last five years?

(7) How many underpasses in North Somerset? How many accidents in them including fatalities?

(8) How many offences in underpasses?

(9) What is the expected effect or result from the removal of speed indicator signs of any description, to the route described above?”

Reply:

“(1) and (2) Nobody requested the speed limit signs to be removed from Northern/Central/Southern Way. However, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, any road which has street lighting has a speed limit of 30 m.p.h. by default and 30 m.p.h. repeater signs are not allowed. Therefore, when the speed limit was reduced from 40 to 30 in response to local highway safety concerns, all the 40 repeater signs were taken down but were not replaced by 30 repeaters. The regulations do allow the use of worded signs when a new 30 m.p.h. speed limit is introduced in a street lit area. Such signs were erected, but are only allowed as a temporary measure, for a maximum of three months, and have now been taken down.

(3) If the question relates to research on the use of repeater signs in a 30 limit, I am not aware of any recent work on this. It would not be possible for North Somerset Council to undertake such research at this site without Central Government approval, for the reasons given above. An Executive Member report will be prepared on the effectiveness of the new speed limit, once monitoring is complete.

(4) In the five years to end of June this year, for the whole of the ‘Clevedon Ring Road’, (Old Church Road from its junction with Elton Road, via Southern Way and Central Way, to Northern Way junction with Tickenham Road), there were a total of 41 recorded accidents with a total of 54 casualties, including 2 serious (no fatal). Of these, 7 were pedestrians, including 1 serious.

(5) There are a total of 35 ‘stand alone’ signal-controlled crossings (Pelicans, Puffins, etc.) in North Somerset, plus 16 signal-controlled junctions with pedestrian facilities. In addition, there are 24 zebra crossings. To compile accident statistics for these 75 sites would take a considerable amount of officer time, which is not possible at present. Individual sites where there appear to be unusually high numbers of accidents are investigated as part of the Local Safety Schemes Programme. The ‘Clevedon Ring Road’ has three controlled pedestrian crossings. At the Southern Way crossing near Mary Elton School, there were no accidents recorded during the period. At the Millcross junction, which incorporates pedestrian facilities, there were two accidents involving pedestrians, although both occurred before the signals were installed. At the Central Way crossing (Wells Road), there were none within the five year period, although there has been one since.

(6) It is not clear what is meant by ‘Offences around surface crossings’. If this relates to drivers proceeding through a red light, we do not have details. There is only one set of signals in North Somerset fitted with a ‘red light’ camera. If it relates to assaults, the Police would record such incidents. We do not have this information to hand.

(7) There are twelve pedestrian underpasses in North Somerset, but I am not aware of any recorded ‘accidents’. Such incidents would have to involve, for example, a collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian.

(8) ‘Offences in underpasses’ presumably refers to assaults. Again, the Police would record such incidents, and we do not have this information to hand. ‘Offences’ could also include vandalism (criminal damage), which is widespread in the form of graffiti, broken lights, ‘torching’ stolen motorcycles, etc.

(9) It was always anticipated that the reduction in speed limit from 40 to 30 would be difficult to effect bearing in mind the nature of the road. We are supporting additional enforcement of the new speed limit in an attempt to maximise the benefits to highway safety.”

QUESTION NO. 2

Withdrawn

QUESTION NO. 3

From Councillor Mrs. Willis

To Councillor Fisher, Executive Member for Corporate Organisation

Cost of Printed Material for Members

“Could the Executive Member for Corporate Organisation please supply me with information and costs on paper, officer time and deliveries of all committee papers and other circulatory material to all Members.

Could you please advise how this would compare over a period of four years with the cost of providing a basic laptop (to each Member who does not have a North Somerset issue), so as to enable them to print only the information they need and read the rest on line?”

Reply:

“The cost of printing and distributing the papers for all Council meetings is approximately £67,000 p.a. This includes Council, the Executive, Planning meetings, Area Committees, Scrutiny Panels, J.C.C.s etc. For the main meetings we produce around 180 copies for Members, officers, the press and other media and interested parties. We are required by law to produce hard copies for display in places like libraries for public consultation.

If ways could be found to reduce the number of hard copies needed by 80% including most, if not all, elected Members switching to electronic mail, we could save around £55,000 p.a. in printing and distribution costs. However, the initial capital cost of providing 52 councillors with laptops, printers, telephone lines and so on is calculated at in excess of £60,000 with a further annual on going support cost of around £40,000. We would also need to upgrade or replace the Council's current IT system, CAIRO. This is likely to cost an additional £30,000 - £40,000. On balance therefore, even if virtually every elected Member was keen to go to electronic mail - which I doubt, it seems unlikely that we can justify making such a change at this time. The costs associated with electronic mail are continuing to come down however and I will keep the matter under review.”

QUESTION NO. 4

From Councillor Canniford

To Councillor Roe, Leader of the Council

Working Group on Expenditure

“Will the Leader of the Council set up a cross party Working Group with the sole remit of looking for savings from the Council Budget from all departments without cutting core services.”

Reply:

Councillor Roe agreed with the request and indicated that arrangements would be made to establish an informal working group to look into this matter. He had decided that it consist of five Members with the political balance of two Conservative Members, two Liberal Democrat Members and one Labour Member and he invited Councillor Canniford to be the Chairman of the group if he were appointed as a member by his Group. The Conservative Members would be Councillors Walters and Webb. Councillor Roe required that the group report by mid November.

QUESTION NO. 5

From Councillor Ian Baker

To Councillor Mrs. Cummings, Executive Member for Housing

Planning Application in Severn Road, Weston-super-Mare

“Would the Executive Member for Housing give this Council an update regarding the progress or otherwise of planning application 03/P1151/F Building of Social Housing for Raglan Housing Association at 117 Severn Road, Weston-super-Mare?

Would the Executive Member also inform this Council as to what notice she took of the objections made regarding this original application from the Town Council of Weston-super-Mare?”

Reply (by Councillor Burden):

“The application was withdrawn by the applicant on 4th July. No decision was therefore made on it. Weston-super-Mare Town Council had objected to the application on the grounds of overdevelopment, the fact that in its view there is already ‘sufficient social housing in the area’; and that ‘light industrial units should be retained.’

The Town Council’s comments were being considered by the planning officer when the application was withdrawn.

The planning officer was concerned principally about the design of the building and the loss of the existing employment use. It is understood that the applicant is considering the issues raised and may be re-submitting the scheme. If a revised application is submitted, it will be dealt with on its individual merits in accordance with the Council's planning policies.”

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Burden indicated that he would investigate the question of whether the site could be required to return to its original use if it were sold”.

QUESTION NO. 6

From Councillor Coleman

To Councillor Mrs. Yamanaka, Executive Member for Environment and Community

Waste Collection

“We in North Somerset have a Waste collection service from a variety of sites within our area, such as Tesco Clevedon. I wish to enquire about the Waste Paper collected from these sites. Can you tell me?

(1) How many sites we have for waste paper collection?

(2) How many times per week they are cleared?

(3) How many and how large are the lorries involved?

(4) Where is it taken?

(5) How is it disposed of?

(6) What are the costs of the transport for collection?

(7) What are the costs and manner of disposal?

(8) How long has this system been in operation?

(9) Is there anything else you can tell us about the disposal and costs?”

Reply:

“(1) The Council operates 37 bring bank sites for paper with a further three banks at our civic amenity sites. The Council also collects paper from most schools and Council offices.

(2) They are emptied on a basis with the frequency dependent on location and usage.

(3) A four wheeled sixteen tonne McCrill lorry collects from the bank sites and a transit pickup with tail lift and cage collects from the schools and offices.

(4) Paper from the Bank sites is taken to Buff's depot at Avonmouth. Paper from schools and offices is taken to Materials Recovery at Taunton.

(5) The paper from the banks is bulked and then sent to Aylesford Paper Mill in Kent. The schools paper is sent for reprocessing to St. Regis Paper Mill at Watchet.

(6) The cost of transporting the paper is contained within the Recycling Contract price and is not identified separately.

(7) The material is recycled and the cost is contained within the Recycling Contract price and is not identified separately.

(8) This system has been in place since the start of the contract 1st March 2003.

Since the start of the contract, Biffa has had only one small part of a load rejected at Avonmouth due to contamination of burnt paper.”

QUESTION NO. 7

From Councillor Brown

To Councillor Roe, Leader of the Council

Background Papers

“Since background papers evidence the advice that is the basis of a decision they might be important to enable the Council to justify the reasonableness of its actions. There has been a recent instance where a paper from less than six years ago cannot be found. Accounting records are retained for at least six years but council papers evidently are not. Does the Council have a policy as to how long background papers presented by officers to Executive Members or committees are retained? If so, what is that period and if not will he undertake to establish such a policy?”

Reply:

“I am not sure what the Member is referring to by the use of the term ‘background papers’. Is it the report that was prepared for Council or one of its committees some time ago or is he referring to the background papers to the report itself?

However, I will deal with both issues. All reports are retained for at least six years as is required under Section 100C of the Local Government Act 1972 and are retained by the Solicitor to the Council. Those papers used to compile the report and that are listed and known as background papers are retained by the author and are required to be retained for at least four years after the meeting at which the decision is made.

If Councillor Brown has information that a document that was listed as a background paper to a report has been discarded before the end of the four year period, I would be grateful if he would give me that information so that I can pass it on to the relevant Director for investigation and comment.

Document retention guidelines have already been prepared by the Internal Audit Section, in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, and circulated to Directors. The Council is committed to openness and is actively working towards full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in sixteen months’ time. We are currently in negotiation with Somerset County Council to extend our current archives partnership to include modern records management. This will ensure accurate and timely recording and retrieval of documents, and include more detailed document retention policies.”

QUESTION NO. 8

From Councillor Brown

To Councillor Burden, Executive Member for Strategic Planning

Officers Identified in the Minutes

“At the last meeting of the North Area Committee I noticed that in the minutes of a site meeting the presentation of the plans was attributed to ‘the Director of Planning and Development’ despite that the fact that he was not even present. The presentation was by a planning officer. It may be our policy not to identify officers by name, although I do not see why, but surely it cannot be right to make statements in our minutes that are clearly false. Will he look into this issue please?”

Reply:

“The minutes of North Area Committee, as all Area Committees, refer to the plans being submitted by the Director of Development and Environment because the officer who produced the plans is the Director’s representative at the meeting. Only the Director has delegated powers from the Council and therefore is ultimately responsible. The reason that an officer is not referred to by name is so that committee minutes can be understood many years ahead when there is no recollection of a particular officer or in what department they were once employed.”

In response to a supplementary question that the practice was still wrong, Councillor Burden undertook to investigate the matter further.

QUESTION NO. 9

From Councillor Brown

To Councillor Parker, Chairman of the Standards Committee

Councillors who are Freemasons

“The website of the Standards Board for England contains the advice that because the freemasons are a charitable organisation, councillors who are members of a masonic lodge should disclose that fact in their Declaration of Interests. Do you believe this advice to be sound?”

The Chairman of the Committee was not present and the question was not answered.

QUESTION NO. 10

From Councillor Mrs. Harley

To Councillor Mrs. Cummings, Executive Member for Housing

Introductory Tenancies

“Under the Government’s Housing Act, councils can adopt ‘Introductory Tenancies’ for their new tenants. Can I ask what her plans are for its implementation?”

Reply:

“A proposal for a working group of scrutiny panel Councillors, tenants, officers and other partners to investigate the feasibility of both choice based lettings and tenancy issues is being made to the next Housing, Health and Social Care Panel. This group will also examine the proposals in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill and the Housing Bill which are both currently working through Parliament and which may include revisions to probationary or introductory tenancies in a new single tenancy for social housing.

We also need to examine these issues in the light of any proposals from the housing options review for the future of the housing service. We are aware of a groundswell of opinion, as mentioned by Paul Whitehouse, from tenant representatives to introduce measures, and we are currently investigating the success and effectiveness of the use of introductory tenancies in areas where they have been implemented.”

QUESTION NO. 11

From Councillor Ap Rees

To Councillor Burden, Executive Member for Strategic Planning

Parking Enforcement

“The 3rd Annual Progress Report for the North Somerset Council Local Transport Plan states (page 157) that we would have ‘investigated decriminalised parking enforcement by 2002 and if a profitable scheme is available, implement it by 2004’.

It further says financial modelling now demonstrates financial viability and that changes etc. are now underway to implement the scheme.

When did either the Executive or Council agree to this new attack on car owners and visitors to Weston-super-Mare town centre and if the statement is incorrect when can we expect to see such a proposal being properly put forward?”

Reply:

“The Local Transport Plan and its target ‘to have investigated decriminalised parking enforcement by 2002 and if a profitable scheme is available, implement it by 2004’ was approved by Full Council in July 2000. The 3rd Annual Progress Report, which reports progress toward the Local Transport Plan, including this target, was approved by the Executive Member for Strategic Planning in July 2003.

The Annual Progress Report notes that this target is ‘not on track’ and that implementation is not now expected by 2004. It also notes that organisational changes and funding requirements are being identified that would allow Decriminalised Parking Enforcement to be implemented and this is being progressed through the new Development and Environment Directorate. It does not report that the scheme is actually being implemented and the decision to do so will be made by the Executive in due course, once all the organisational and financing requirements referred to previously have been identified. This is expected to take some months to complete. The Executive will then be able to make its decision on whether or not to pursue this matter further with all the relevant information available. Should the Executive decide to proceed then there would undoubtedly follow a significant period of consultation before the matter is finally agreed.”

QUESTION NO. 12

From Councillor Payne

To Councillor Burden, Executive Member for Strategic Planning

Structure Plan

“The Joint Replacement Structure Plan states that the relationship between homes and jobs should be an important consideration in determining the distribution of housing, in view of the aims of reducing the need to travel. It also recognises that in North Somerset, the large surplus of workers over jobs has been widening to 20,000, as opposed to Bristol and South Gloucestershire, which each have a significant inflow of commuters. Can you therefore assure me that there will be no further housing developments in North Somerset until such time as there are sufficient jobs locally for the people who would occupy them? And if you cannot, what is being done to tackle the problems associated with this huge number of commuters out of the District, in particular out of Weston-super-Mare?”

Reply:

“Whilst recognising the relationship between housing and employment in North Somerset, the Joint Replacement Structure Plan also requires the North Somerset Local Plan to make provision for 14,900 new dwellings between 1996 and 2011. The North Somerset figure is a share of the total 50,200 required across the former Avon area. Members will recall that the Secretary of State intervened to direct that a higher figure than that originally proposed was found, but accepted this figure as a compromise based on a strategic review of urban housing capacity in the area. In the first seven years of this period a total of 6,558 dwellings were constructed, which represents a net increase of 6,322 towards this figure.

In accordance with the Structure Plan, the Draft Replacement Local Plan to 2011 now in preparation, has identified the large sites needed to accommodate the majority of the balance. Many of these already have planning permission for housing development as part of the previous 1989-2001 Local Plan commitments, so significant change to the pattern of development is unlikely. However building will continue on these sites.

Nevertheless, dealing with the imbalance to which you refer is a particular priority for the Replacement Local Plan, as well as ongoing work on strategic transport issues and especially in the aspirations for the Weston Vision. To this end, with the South West Regional Development Agency and English Partnerships, the Council has now commissioned Phase II of this project, to produce an Area Framework for the whole town. The key priority for this is economic-led development which will strengthen Weston’s economic base, bring benefits for the town centre and counter attractions for those who currently seek employment outside North Somerset, and result in a more self-sustaining town and bring benefits for the whole District.

An improved transport network that will provide better links within the town and greater travel choices is of great importance. There is considerable work underway between officers of North Somerset and in partnership with other bodies such as the Highways Agency, transport operators and neighbouring authorities to work towards this and this will also contribute to the Weston Vision work.

An inclusive, and I believe exciting approach to consultation on the Weston Vision, is being developed and I look forward to the involvement of all Members in this.”

QUESTION NO. 13

From Councillor Payne

To Councillor Fisher, Executive Member for Corporate Organisation

National Energy Efficiency Week

“As it is currently National Energy Efficiency Week, and the Council is promoting energy savings in the home, is the Council taking the lead by making any energy savings in the Town Hall and other Council buildings?”

Reply:

“Last year North Somerset Council temporally appointed an Energy Policy and Projects Officer (EPPO) and has now extended the contract with the recommendation that the post be made permanent from April 2004.

Already considerable reductions have been made in the amounts we pay for our energy, with all directly controlled buildings now using 100% green electricity – electricity that does not produce CO2 emissions during its generation. This was purchased at no extra cost.

An ‘Invest To Save’ (ITS) energy fund is being created to allow for departments and building managers to have energy saving works undertaken with a ‘loan’ and the fund being repaid from the savings made.

Energy surveys have taken place at all major buildings, libraries, sports centres, and many schools. These reports have highlighted areas where improvements can be made and savings achieved from using less energy in real monetary terms. The EPPO is working with those managers to implement the actions and it is hoped that the ITS fund will further assist this work.

The reduction and efficient use of energy is now an important part of North Somerset Council’s commitment not only to the ‘Nottingham Agreement’ that Councillors have signed but to meet the requirements of the Government’s white paper that requires local authorities to take a leading role in reducing CO2 emissions by 12.5% in 2010 and 60% by 2050.

Using energy efficiently not only reduces CO2 emissions but also ultimately saves money in real terms.”

QUESTION NO. 14

From Councillor Mrs. Tabrett

To Councillor Mrs. Cummings, Executive Member for Housing

Lettings System

“Under the new Choice Lettings System what will you be doing to ensure the rapid letting and full occupancy of all empty properties for housing especially those in hard to let areas and of hard to let types which are bound to be identified under this new system which hinges on the preferred choices of tenants in both the location of and type of property which they wish to occupy?”

Reply:

“The choice based letting system will form a major part of the investigations of the working party proposed to be set up by the Housing, Health and Social Care Panel.

From the information I have already received on this system, Choice Based Lettings should assist with the hard to let properties as applicants will be able to make a choice between waiting for their ideal in a more popular area or possibly being housed satisfactorily but much sooner somewhere else in maybe their second or third choice.”

QUESTION NO. 15

Withdrawn.

QUESTION NO. 16

From Councillor Blatchford

To Councillor Hockridge, Deputy Leader of the Council

Play Equipment at the Scotch Horn Millennium Park

“The people of Nailsea continue to be concerned over the unwelcome delay in effecting repairs to an item of play equipment at the Scotch Horn Millennium Park. At least six months have elapsed since it was found faulty, allegedly at the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Would you explain what robust and immediate action is being taken to effect repair?”

Reply:

“I am aware of the equipment problems at Scotch Horn Park and I understand that two pieces of equipment have been repaired and replaced today.

The second problem relates to the after care from one manufacturer. A number of representations have been made and the Company’s Technical Director has visited the site. The Council is awaiting a response from Eibe, giving a date by which the matter will be resolved to the Council’s satisfaction. A meeting of the Park Development Group comprising North Somerset Council and Nailsea Town Council was held this morning and it was agreed that if a satisfactory response is not forthcoming the matter will be put in the hands of the Council’s Solicitor.”

QUESTION NO. 17

From Councillor Blatchford

To Councillor Roe, Leader of the Council

Marketing of the Nailsea Glassworks Site

“Please would you explain the intentions of the Council with regard to the marketing of the Nailsea Glassworks site. It has previously been suggested that this might be used to consolidate most of North Somerset’s office in the town on one site with a possible museum and a replacement and much larger library and learning centre. Is this possibility still under consideration as a long term way to improve services and cut outgoings?”

Will you ensure that there is full public consultation via the Town Council and Central Area and that plans are scrutinised before we sell this prime site opposite Tesco.”

Reply:

Councillor Roe replied and indicated that the matter was being investigated and a planning brief would be prepared in consultation with interested parties.

QUESTION NO. 18

From Councillor Blatchford

To Councillor Roe, Leader of the Council

Councillors’ Pensions

“It is generally accepted that, as councillors are in receipt of compensation that defines them as employees, under tax law there is a legal entitlement of pensions under employment, pensions and local government law. The payment of such pensions can only be made with the recommendation of an independent panel.

Can you advise if the panel is aware of this responsibility and the fact that there is a legal deadline of 31st December by which time Avon Pension Scheme has to be advised and members circularised and responded.