Meeting: County Council (County Hall, Durham - Council Chamber - 05/11/2008 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A12 Questions received from the Public
Neville Community Centre, Newton Aycliffe
Question
The Community Centre at this time enjoys a ' Nil to Pay ' Council Tax for which we are very grateful to Sedgefield Borough Council. We had a letter many months ago from the Council to say this might not continue under the new Unitary Authority and I would like to ask this question -
Is the new Unitary Authority going to allow us to continue with ‘Nil to Pay’ Council Tax?
If the answer is no, our Community Centre (independently run) will definitely have to close on 1 April 2009.
Answer
This question relates to the granting of discretionary charitable rate relief. Properties occupied by registered charities or charitable organisations are entitled to 80% mandatory relief. Councils have the discretion to award up to 20% further relief and in doing so bear 25% of the cost of that supplementary relief. (The remaining 75% is borne by the Government). This Community Centre has been awarded relief by Sedgefield Borough. The money is part of Sedgefield’s base budget and this will be transferred to the new Authority on 1st April. On that basis the new Council would continue to support the Community Centre.
State of footpaths in Merrington Lane area of Spennymoor
Question
Why have the footpaths in the Merrington Lane area of Spennymoor (B6288) been allowed to deteriorate into such a bad state?
Although I have contacted various councillors and officers regarding the state of this area nothing has been done. Recent photographs have been submitted showing the state of the footpaths, where, members of the public are expected to walk safely. We are constantly encouraged to get out and walk, yet these footpaths are in such a dangerous state are the disabled and infirm really safe on these paths?
Could council members please tell me if there is a maintenance programme in place for this area and when can the public expect an improvement?
Answer
We are aware that the questioner has contacted the Highways Action Line on a number of occasions regarding the condition of the paths on the road B6288 in the Merrington Lane area of Spennymoor. The reports in the main related to overgrown vegetation/bushes and narrowing of paths.
The Council has taken action on these reports albeit on some occasions we have had to deal with other parties/agencies who are directly responsible for the vegetation/bushes. Safety inspections are carried out by trained Highway Inspectors and programmes of maintenance work are generated by these and also by the routine grass cutting and weed spraying programmes.
An inspection on Monday of this week revealed that the path along Merrington Lane is free from obstruction. If the questioner wishes, a site visit can be arranged through Steve Foster at the Southern Area Office in Bishop Auckland.
Estate road at Parklands, Hamsterley Mill
Question
When is the estate road of Parkland, Hamsterley Mill likely to be resurfaced?
There are so many holes someone is going to have a really bad fall, especially in the dark as there so few street lights. We telephoned the Council in February this year to report a large chunk of road broken between our own and our neighbour’s property - a maintenance man also said he would report it. The weeds are growing between the kerbs and the road, especially outside of No. 9 where there is an enormous clump.
I have written to the Council many times over the years, namely 1999, 2002 and 2004 and have always received the same responses, since this time the estate road has got into an even worse state. There will be an accident.
It is almost 30 years since the road was adopted and a temporary road surface dressing put on. I feel it is about time the estate road was properly completed.
Please will you help us?
Answer
The carriageway and footway were inspected on 4th November and in general the conditions of both are fair to good with some minor areas of deterioration. They would be ranked amongst the top 25% of streets within Derwentside. The carriageway and footway are subject to an annual inspection carried out in February each year. In February of this year two defects (potholes) above the intervention level (40mm) were picked up outside Nos 2 & 4 in the carriageway. These were repaired.
The footway has received a footway surface treatment in the last couple of years and is in good condition.
The inspection carried out on 4 November found three defects in the carriageway considered to be at or near the intervention level. Two areas of edge deterioration and one pothole will be added to the repair schedule. All road gullys were found to be clear and operational. Some areas of footway were obstructed by overhanging vegetation from the private gardens.
The limited highways maintenance budget has to be directed to areas of greatest need. The carriageway will be considered for inclusion in next years surface treatment programme but will have to compete against many other worthwhile schemes. I am unable to give any guarantees at this stage. Should Parklands not make the firm programme the condition will continue to be monitored through the routine inspection system with the next inspection planned in February 09.
Council Tax
Question
As a pensioner I pay 40% of my Old Age Pension in Council Tax for a 2 bedroom bungalow in Chester le Street. This is one of the highest council taxes in the country. Is the new unitary authority going to save money or will it perpetuate even more waste?
Answer
The new unitary authority is going to save money, but it will also continue to invest in local services which benefit residents of Durham. We will initially equalise the County and District taxes across the County as pledged in the bid for the new unitary authority. Although there may be increases in council tax in subsequent years I am confident that they will be less than would have been the case had the two tier system of local government continued. We will be looking for increasing efficiencies and savings to make sure every pound is well spent and making the most impact on residents’ lives.
Transport Innovation Fund for Durham City
Question
What is the latest status of the Council's possible bid to the Transport Innovation Fund for Durham City?
Announcements on this issue seem to have gone through a series of postponements for almost two years, so presumably the matter is complex. As a member of the group of Durham residents formed in 2005 to fight proposals for a so-called relief road through the green belt north of the city (all the three suggested possible routes), I'd be particularly interested to hear any specifics on how the controversial road building part of the proposals relates to the continuing delays in either coming up with a possible TIF bid or deciding to withdraw it.
Elsewhere in the country possible road buildings designed to address what is only a problem of rush hour traffic seem to have been regarded as a non-starter, in favour of less destructive measures of demand management and environmental consciousness raising. Occasional rush hour congestion does seem to describe Durham’s situation, as an earlier answer on this issue in August acknowledged, so it would be great to hear that the Council now regards the Durham Relief Road as a non-starter.”
Answer
In August we highlighted the need to ensure that the Members of the new Authority had to be given adequate time to reflect on the outcomes of the Durham City Transport Study. The initial view of members was that further work was required in order that the consequences of the various options could be clearly demonstrated.
This additional element of work required further transport modelling which has now been completed and is being reviewed by Officers. Once the work is finalised a further discussion will be held with Members prior to the outcomes being circulated for debate and discussion.
I appreciate that some frustration may be felt with the time taken to complete the study. However, given the potential effect the conclusion of the study may have on the long term transport policy within the City it is essential that the conclusions reached are both robust and reflect the future direction of the new unitary authority.