Agenda item

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, to be submitted and answered.

The Mayor advised that 5 questions from members of the Council had been received under Council Procedure Rule 10.6

 

Question 1 from Councillor Pound

 

“The detailed and well-constructed report ‘Mind The Gap. Tunbridge Wells Borough: Health Inequalities Action Plan 2015-2019’ report contains baseline figures (2014) for all but one of the six priorities the Council was going to address with partner agencies between 2015-2019. Can the Portfolio Holder please advise members when and at which CAB or Committee progress has been reported on these priorities and also provide an update on the 2014 baseline figures to confirm positive progress in each of them?”

 

Answer from Councillor Fairweather

 

“The action plan was developed by the local multi agency Health Action Team (HAT) and pre-dates my time as a councillor. The plan was monitored through the HAT rather than through specific reports to Cabinet or committees. Previous portfolio holders will have had the opportunity to highlight progress and answer questions as part of their annual updates to Overview and Scrutiny however I am not aware that took place as I was neither a portfolio holder at that time nor a member of the Overview and Scrutiny.

 

The HAT meetings were suspended during Covid with progress on actions to support vulnerable people being report to the Covid Member Panel.

 

As to any progress made, changes in national data collection means that comparable data isn’t available across all themes but there have been improvements in the areas of adult obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse when compared with the England average.

 

As chairman of the HAT, the meetings have been reconvened and we will be working with KCC’s Public Health to develop a new plan recognising that excess winter deaths and child obesity in particular continue to present challenges in our local area.”

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Pound

 

“How do you align your statement this evening, that 634 units of social housing not all affordable housing, has been developed in the last 5 years, when on 3rd Nov 2021 I have an email from an officer of the council who had spoken to Cabinet on the 28 Oct confirming that of the 313 new units of affordable housing built in the last 5 years only 26 were for social rent.”

 

Supplementary answer from Councillor Fairweather

 

“I can’t see the correlation or relevance with the supplementary provided after my first response. That said, it is quite a lengthy supplementary and contains some quite complex data and if Councillor Pound should care to write his supplementary I will ensure its replied to in full.”

 

Question 2 from Councillor Rutland

 

“Local residents, along with councillors of all parties, including members of the Joint Transportation Board, have expressed concerns about pedestrian safety in the new public realm in front of the War Memorial. These fears were confirmed on 9 April when there was an incident involving a motorbike and two pedestrians, in which two people were hospitalised. One year ago, a KCC review stated ‘Road Safety Audits of the designs and the scheme as delivered have been completed in line with guidance and best practice. No material issues have been raised.’

 

Please can you explain:

·         the disparity between our view and that of Kent Highways;

·         what attempts have been made to lobby Kent Highways for safety improvements to this scheme, including the crossing at Monson Road; and

·         why, in your opinion, have they failed thus far?”

 

Answer from Councillor Scott

 

“The disparity between our view and that of Kent Highways:

KCC has been in constant dialogue with TWBC officers regarding the aims of the scheme and the need to remove the through traffic within the restricted periods to allow the scheme to function as intended. The signs review highlighted improvements that could be helpful in re-enforcing the message to drivers that they were entering a restricted area between 9.00am and 6.00pm. With reduced traffic flows (only buses, taxis, and cyclists) it is believed that the layout of the street would function as intended which was to improve the space to encourage more pedestrian activity and encourage business growth. The signing alterations along with the installation of CCTV cameras are nearing completion (the majority of signs are in place and the cameras installed). To allow enforcement an agreement between KCC and TWBC needs completing which is with the relevant officers to progress.

 

What attempts have been made to lobby Kent Highways for safety improvements to this scheme, including the crossing at Monson Road:

TWBC officers have had regular contact with KCC officers and discussed what, if anything could be done to improve the crossing facilities concentrating specifically on the Monson Road crossing although the main granite centrepiece in Mount Pleasant Road has also been discussed. Suggestions such as planters placed in the centre of the crossings to act as an island have been investigated however they themselves may add additional risks as they would need regular maintenance (watering and weeding) in the middle of a live road and could also hide small children or wheelchair uses from drivers’ views. It is not possible to install any type of island on the Monson Road granite table as the turning of vehicles heading down Mount Pleasant Road and turning left into Monson Road would be prevented from doing this manoeuvre if an island was in place (prior to the changes vehicles could exit Mount Pleasant Road via Church Road/Crescent Road which they are not able to do now between 9.00 and 6.00 so have to turn into Monson Road). In addition, any vehicle wishing to exit Civic Way (controlled by bollards but sometimes used) would be prevented from doing this if an island was placed further away from the Mount Pleasant Road junction with Monson Road.

 

Why, in your opinion, have they failed thus far:

We are working towards reducing traffic flows and getting the street to function as designed and then monitoring it to see if further engineering is required. This way forward has been agreed by TWBC. The project team highlighted that the restrictions would be difficult to enforce at the start of the project and was understood by all parties. The project has always relied on both authorities working together. We are confident that KCC takes road safety extremely seriously and will continue to work with TWBC to make sure the highway environment is as safe as can be and fit for purpose.”

 

No supplementary question

 

Question 3 from Councillor Hamilton

 

“We are told that this Council has a deficit. What does that mean please and what is being done about it?”

 

Answer from Councillor Dawlings

 

“My intention is advise that the Council for ten years has operated with a revenue budget surplus which at the end of each financial year has been transferred to reserves. With Covid beginning to impact from February 2019, the Council's income was significantly affected and there were months during lockdowns when there were revenue shortfalls of over £1 million. With Government encouraging Council to maintain services and undertaking to help finance shortfalls (the scheme determined was for Council to bear the first 5% of the loss with the remained shared 75% government and 25% Council) and with good financial management, there was no need to draw on reserves at the end of the year to deliver the revenue budget in the years ended 31 March 2020, 2021, or 2022.  The Government scheme to help with the loss of income ended in June 2021.

 

The budget for 2022-23 approved in February, forecasts a shortfall of £944k. This is a prudent budget, and we hope that this shortfall will be narrowed as activity in the town increases. It will certainly be narrowed significantly by the planned co-working arrangements for the Town Hall. The major loss is revenue from car parking and if this does not recover then there will be parts or entire car parks that can be repurposed and put to other income generating use.

 

For 2022-23, the Council was given a one year settlement by Government. Government has indicated that a multi-year settlement will be announced - this will almost certainly be towards the end of December. A multi-year settlement will help to align with our own medium term financial planning and use the post pandemic usage data to make informed decisions on service delivery.”

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Hamilton

 

“How happy are our auditors with this?”

 

Councillor Hayward raised a point of order that under Council Procedure Rule 10.10 supplementary questions were without notice and it was clear from the prepared answer that the supplementary had been notified in advance. The Mayor ruled the question out of order.

 

Question 4 from Councillor Dr Hall

 

“Has Fusion delivered on their commitment to investing in the three leisure centres in the borough?”

 

Answer from Councillor March

 

“Following the Cabinet’s decision to extend the sports centre management contract we have been working closely with Fusion on the delivery of their investment programme. The spin bike studios in The Weald and Putlands have been refurbished and all three centres will very shortly have new and upgraded spin bikes. The refurbishment of the fitness studios at all three centres will start in July and be completed by the end of September.

 

As part of the five year extension Fusion had offered to invest £425,000. The total investment in facilities and services will now be in the region of £800,000.”

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Dr Hall

 

“Is that sum that you mentioned is that more or less than what they spent in the pre-covid period”

 

Supplementary answer from Councillor March

 

“I am sorry I do not have that figure to hand but will ensure I get this information and have it added to the minutes.”

 

Question 5 from Councillor Dr Hall

 

“Has usage of the leisure centres recovered to their pre-covid levels?”

 

Answer from Councillor March

 

“Nationally the industry is still in recovery mode and there has been a steady increase in usage across all three of our centres. We expect the investment package will lead to an increase in memberships and usage of the centres to above pre-covid levels.

 

And if I might just add literally this afternoon I was given figures and graphs showing figures of usage up until end of March 2022 this year, obviously it is very difficult to explain graphs there are three of them but if I can look to democratic services I can hopefully will be able to include these graphs in the minutes, there are three of them which clearly show what the actual usage and how much it has gone up and they type of activity if that is acceptable in the minutes.”

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Dr Hall

 

“Additional to that thank you for telling us that they have the aspirations do we have any idea by which date this year next year, they will have brought the level up to the pre covid levels?”

 

Supplementary answer from Councillor March

 

“Well it should be by this year after all the different investment and refurbishment they are pretty close to finishing the refurbishments by Sept/Autumn very close getting there now which is shown by the graphs but once refurbishment is done it should then be Autumn I hope.”