Issue - items at meetings - WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

(copy attached).

19.1       The Cabinet Member reported that two written questions from councillors had been received.

19.2       Councillor Kennedy asked the following question:

“At the meeting of Full Council on the 16^th July, Cllr Theobald said he would ask officers to look into the possibility of installing a new access ramp into Preston Park at the northern end of Preston Park Avenue.  Please can the Cabinet member update me on this request?”

19.3       The Cabinet Member had circulated the following response:

“We have looked at our budget and we will not be able to carry out the works in this financial year. We will look again at projects and budgets for next year and keep you informed.”

19.4       Councillor Kennedy asked the following supplementary question:

“Given the council’s commitment to equal opportunities for all, can I please ask officers to give this priority in next year’s budget?”

19.5       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“Yes, we will be sure to look again at this when planning for next year.”

19.6       Councillor Davey asked the following question:

“Given the importance of the Valley Gardens area to the health and vitality of the city could the cabinet member please tell me what he is doing to bring forward the Valley Gardens project. Specifically how is he spending the £100,000 allocated for this year in the LTP and how does he plan to spend the £2.3m allocated for next year?”

19.7       The Cabinet Member had circulated the following response:

“Thank you for your question.  You may recall my response to Councillor Steedman’s question about this area at the Council meeting on 19 March. I too share your interest in this fantastic part of the city, and fully support efforts to improve this area of the city for residents and visitors.  However, my previous explanations about plans that were identified for improving it back in 2006 do not seem to have addressed your concerns.  I will therefore partly repeat what I have said before.

This administration are aware of the issues here, and the principles that were put forward in 2005 in the second Local Transport Plan for Valley Gardens as part of the development of future programmes of investment for the whole of the city.  The investment plans set out then were indicative and we are now 4 years on.  Decisions about funding proposals that were included in that document need to take into account the levels of funding that are available both now and in the future.

In terms of 2009/10 budgets and allocations, I agreed the Local Transport Plan capital investment programme in March this year and it included £1 million worth of work on urban realm schemes.  The majority of this funding is to be invested in the completion of the North Street Mixed Priority Route, which as you know runs along the southern boundary of your ward.

It is intended that the remainder of the budget will be invested in design work for a number of projects that have a good chance of being completed.  One opportunity available to us is to combine a number of funding sources to help improve the environment of Richmond Parade, and also to enhance pedestrian safety in the vicinity of Gloucester Street. At this stage this work is at a very early stage, but hopefully you will welcome this news, given that the approach could enable some improvements in the Valley Gardens area. 

Looking ahead, you will be aware that in February this year, a report to budget council indicated the possibility of a significant reduction in Local Transport Plan funding in 2010/11 in order to help the council meet wider commitments.  I am due to consider the allocation of Local Transport Plan budget for 2010/11 in March next year, after Budget Council has set the headline figures in February.  Until then, I am unable to give a definitive answer as to the levels of funding that will be awarded to specific Local Transport Plan projects in that year .

I will finish by emphasising that any transport improvements in the wider area would require the creation of an acceptable and workable balance of all the demands for movement and access that there would be.  This would need to be rigorously tested using a transport model to ensure that it would work."

19.8       Councillor Davey asked the following supplementary question:

“Given that Valley Gardens is a designated Conservation Area, what are doing to address concerns?”

19.9       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“The planned traffic model for the city will help and we are encouraging others to improve the area, in particular the state of properties in the vicinity.”