County Council Questions

At each meeting of the County Council, there is 30 minutes allowed for Councillor's to ask questions of the KCC Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairman. Any Member (or Councillor) can ask one question.

Question must not:

• Ask for information already in the Member's possession or which has been published to Members either in a Committee report or otherwise.

• Be about something that is outside the responsibilities or powers of the Council.

• Criticise the motives or personal character of the other Members or any employee of the Council.

The KCC Lib Dem Group will post on this webpage ALL of the questions they have submitted and the FULL written answers recieved to those questions.

This page will be updated after every County Council meeting and will have the most recent questions / answers listed first.

Dates of 2008 County Council meetings:

• 19 February 2008 - Budget

• 13 March 2008

• 3 April 2008

• 15 May 2008 - Annual Meeting

• 19 June 2008

• 4 September 2008

• 16 October 2008

• 11 December 2008

• Questions asked 19 June 2008

Question by Dan Daley to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

The Allington Incinerator facility is one that the County Council has put much faith in to deliver its waste disposal strategy for the next twenty five years. The record so far is not one that instils confidence in its competence.

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste please assure me that the two recent prolonged shut-downs at the Allington Incinerator due to serious and expensive engineering failures will not ultimately result in increased gate fees to the County Council, and with the council-tax payers of Kent ultimately footing the bills for these catastrophic failures at this high profile plant.

Answer

The Energy from Waste Plant at Allington is in the final phase of its take-over tests, after which the plant will commence the full service period. The waste tonnage delivered by KCC for the week commencing 16 June 2008 will be 1000 tonnes per day, increasing over the following two weeks to 1200 tonnes per day. This is consistent with the volume of waste specified during the contract period and should serve to reassure Councillor Daley that the plant is operating.

In respect of the gate fee, this is fixed within the contract and is therefore not affected by the commissioning of the plant. One key advantage of the energy from waste contract is that it has secured a gate fee which is significantly lower than that which would be available to waste disposal authorities procuring an energy from waste solution today. It effectively secures KCC's position and protects KCC from the risks, which Councillor Daley identifies.

Question by Trudy Dean to the Cabinet Member for Community Services

Following the announcement from Trading Standards that cases of Cold Calling in Kent have risen by 60% in the last year, would the portfolio holder for Community Services please update members on progress following the motion in County Council on 25 May 2006 with regard to agreeing a common code of practice for our own staff who carry out home visits, and including if possible those of our partners, and what advice and assistance can he offer to communities wishing to set up Cold Calling Control Zones?

Answer

In order to put matters into perspective, it is important to first comment on media reports indicating that cases of cold calling in Kent have risen by 60% in the last year. The number of cases reported has risen but this almost certainly results from the work undertaken to publicise the potential dangers associated with doorstep sellers and the help which the Service can give consumers who fall victim to cold calling.

Trading Standards have an 'Alert System' whereby warnings, about rogue traders and doorstep sellers operating in specific communities, are e mailed direct to numerous community groups and organisations representing those communities. The TS Alert messages can reach in excess of 100,000 people in Kent through around 200 recipients and they always contain advice and contact numbers for reporting incidents.

In addition the Community Wardens have delivered training relating to doorstep crime to over 6650 people across the county since 2006, addressing small and large groups or individuals. The cold calling message has also been publicised by talks to various groups such as Adult Services, Neighbourhood Watch, carers and care agencies, by interviews on local radio stations and in local press articles.

Officers have been working with the police and providing training to ensure that concerns reported to them are passed on quickly and have also visited banks and building societies to warn them to be on the look out for large cash withdrawals being made by the elderly for home improvement work.

The Trading Standards service has concentrated its resources on the key issues of promoting awareness, gathering intelligence, intervention by the Trading Standards Rapid Response teams, taking formal enforcement action and finally promoting the use of Cold Calling Control Zones. This has not yet included a common code of practise for carrying out home visits, but this work will be taken forward when resources permit.

This wealth of activity has increased awareness amongst affected vulnerable populations and the people who support them and it would therefore be surprising if the numbers of reports reaching Kent Trading Standards had not increased.

Cold Calling Control Zones: Legal Advice obtained by the OFT has provided more clarity on the legality of Cold Calling Control Zones. Targeting the zones as far as possible where there is the highest need according to the criteria, including housing where there are elderly or vulnerable people and reported incidents of cold calling and distraction burglary, should overcome any criticism or legal challenge which could arise about restricting legitimate lawful trade.

Kent Trading Standards service has actively assisted in the setting up of a number of schemes based on intelligence led targeting of resources. In addition they have produced a briefing document, providing basic information on Controlled Cold Calling Zones, and suggested guidance for initiating and running a scheme which can be shared with partner agencies. Schemes require the co-operation of partner agencies, usually under the leadership of a local Crime and Disorder Partnership, Community Safety Partnership.

The Trading Standards service has also provided speakers at all Cold Calling Control Zone launches to give information about the rapid response teams and promote the Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme.

• Question asked at Annual Council meeting 15 May 2008

Question by Geoff Rowe to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Supporting Independence

What assistance is KCC able to offer the residents of Aylesford village to secure a village centre location for its Post Office rather than the distant A20 garage location now being used and, specifically, would KCC support the use of the redundant library premises for this purpose?

Answer

It is our understanding that sub-postmaster was given notice by their land lord, which forced the closure of sub-post office in Aylesford High Street. We have been informed that Post Office Ltd looked at a range of options - which has now resulted in the relocation of the sub post office to the garage. The library site was considered, but was deemed to be too small. No other suitable town-centre locations could be found at the time.

It must be stressed that the post office concerned is a sub-post office and as such the contract to provide office services, in these circumstances, is between the sub-post master and Post Office Ltd. Under the existing policy framework implemented by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, a high street post office presence could only be re-established with consent from both Post Office Ltd and the sub-post master. We have also been told that substantial investment (much of it private sector) has already been made in relocating the sub-post master post office, installing a new counter and associated security and new disabled access at the garage site.

We are aware that there are local concerns over the new post office not being based in the village centre, but are pleased that a post office function has, at least, been retained for the community - in the recent wake of nationwide closures. To assist with preventing further unplanned closures, KCC is continuing work with Action with Communities in Rural Kent (the rural community council) and Business Link Kent to fund an expert advisor to work with communities on this front.

As regard to the library, we are progressing plans to implement closure and making arrangements for the introduction of alternative service provision. The Library will close during the summer - KCC needs to give 3 months notice to the Community Centre Committee who run the Hall and to whom we pay the rent.

The Committee have been involved in discussions and consultation throughout the process. They have not mentioned at anytime what their plans might be for use of the space the library currently occupies.

• Question asked at County Council Budget meeting 3 April 2008

Question by Trudy Dean to the Leader of the Conservative Group and the Leader of the Labour Group

Will the Leader of the Conservative Group and the Leader of the Opposition Labour Group join the Liberal Democrats in supporting the Bill in the House of Lords to give Ghurkha soldiers serving before 1997 rights to stay in this country and pensions equal to those of British soldiers?

Answer by the Leader of the Conservative Group

I wrote to the Prime Minister last week on behalf of KCC's Cabinet pleading with him to urgently rethink his Government's policy to exclude Ghurkha servicemen who retired from service prior to 1997 from applying for British citizenship.

Kent is proud of its association with the Ghurkhas and is proud to be the home for the Brigade following relocation from its main base in Hong Kong in 1997. KCC values and takes pride in their contribution both at home and abroad.

The imposition of the quite arbitrary 1997 cut-off date defies rational justification and it is hard to see how the integrity of immigration policy could be threatened or undermined by such a specific exemption in favour of a small - and dwindling - number of Ghurkha ex-servicemen.

The Ghurkhas occupy a unique and highly-regarded position in British military and social history and I struggle to see how such an exemption from the rules would create any sort of precedent, either for the Armed Forces or the generality of British citizenship.

Answer by the Leader of the Labour Group

We are all grateful to the Gurkhas for what they have done and what they are doing for the defence of this country and that is why the Government has ensured the following for Gurkhas and ex-Gurkhas:

1. Equality of take-home pay with the wider British Army since 1997

2. A change in the immigration rules in 2004 to include post 1 July 1997 retired Gurkhas

3. Married accompanied service after 3 years with the Brigade (previously only one married accompanied tour in the whole service) since 2006

4. The opportunity to transfer to one of the 2 Armed Forces Pension Schemes since 2007

5. The opportunity to serve longer for those transferring to the Armed Forces Pension schemes (22 years rather than the previous 15 years)

6. The opportunity to transfer to the wider Army after 5 years service with the Brigade allowing for increased opportunities at the end of their service

7. Opportunities to obtain settlement/naturalisation whilst serving in the wider Army since 2007

8. Gurkha pensions were reviewed and substantially increased in 2000 and are also updated annually for inflation in Nepal (by 7.3% in 2007)

9. In 2007 other ranks not on a British Armed Forces Pension Scheme were awarded a 19% rise to reflect changes made in the Indian Army scheme to which the Gurkha Pension Scheme is linked.

Some 2232 retired Gurkhas who were serving on 1 July 1997 or later have been offered the same terms and conditions as the wider Army. Nearly 70% so far have chosen to transfer to an Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

It has been a long-standing policy of governments of all colours not to make retrospective adjustments to pensions. To make a special case for Gurkhas would have far reaching implications for other serving and former servicemen.

• Questions asked at County Council Budget meeting 19 February 2008

Question by Ian Chittenden to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

In the local Transport Plan for Kent 2006 - 11 (Appendix 3, Page 54 Item 7.8), it was reported in 2006 that the current annual investment on footways would achieve a repair life cycle of once in every 226 years. It also recommended future investment for footways to eradicate the backlog over 10 years and produce repairs to pavements on a 50 year cycle.

Subject to Council approval, there will be a 14.9% increase in spending this year on Environment, Highways and Waste. Can the cabinet member please advise how much will be allocated for footpath repairs, how this compares with the recommended investment in the Local Transport plan for Kent 2006 - 11, and what is the projected repair life cycle based on this higher level of spendi

Answer

The Repairs budget for 2008/09 will not be determined until the HAB meeting on 4th March. However an additional allocation of £2 ½ million was made last year for this purpose which is additional to whatever sum is determined at the HAB meeting.

Question by Martin Vye to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste confirm that a survey of highway drains in Kent in 2006 identified an annual need for investment in road drainage of £12.208 million, indicating that at the then current rate of investment drains would have to remain in service for up to 300 years and inform the Council -(i) how much money was invested in this area in 2007/8, (ii) how much has been allocated for this in the 2008/9 Budget and (iii) will he also confirm that the gulley inspection regime has been reduced from an annual inspection of all gulleys to an average inspection of every two years of most gulleys?

Answer

(i) In 2007/08 the revised drainage Repairs budget was £1.92m; this is entirely capital funding and represents approx 7% of the total Repairs budget. The Operations budget for 2007/08 is £1.88m.

(ii) The Repairs budget for 2008/09 will not be determined until the HAB meeting on 4th March

(ii) The cleaning frequency for gullies as set out in the Kent Highway Asset Maintenance Plan [Jan 2004] is once a year on average.

This standard has not been amended since the plan was approved. High risk sites are inspected more often than once a year and low risk sites less often. Additional reactive inspections are carried out in response to customer complaints.

Lib Dem Questions: January - December 2007

The Lib Dem Councillors asked 19 questions at County Council meetings during this period:

• Processes in place to ensure collection of recyclables within schools and the engagement of children in the recycling message in the County's schools?

• The cost so far for the reconfiguration of the Ashford Ring Road and if its within the budgeted sum?

• When PFI contractors will finally vacate the site of Aylesford School Sports College, any future working operations will be in accordance with planning permissions granted in order to protect local residents quality of life and students learning?

• Type of provider chosen to run the nursery in existing Children's Centres; and in each case the charge made to parents, and by how much, if at all, this exceeds the value of the Government Voucher?

• Consider the introduction of signage across the KCC Highway network?

• What arrangements are made with developers or records taken of highways prior to developments taking place to ensure that the costs incurred as a result of damage to highways and footways?

• Identify the parishes in Kent where standard access to Broadband is not available, and give the Council the combined population figure for these parishes?

• How many Kent residents' cheques have been cashed in advance of the crossover installation works, why has the stated agreement to hold cheques until the work is "in hand" been over-ridden and whether KCC intends to compensate these residents?

• Why the scheme to improve safety by extending the existing 20mph zone into Hilary Road in Maidstone to include St Paul's School, under the Safer Routes to School' scheme, has been withdrawn?

• Please state whether there has been an increase in domiciliary care protection cases or complaints from clients, explain the current system of checks on home care assistants and advise if there are any plans to strengthen those checks?

• Percentage of pupils in Kent grammar schools who are recognised as having an educational difficulty or disability and the total percentage of their pupils who are entitled to Free School Meals?

• Clarify what Kent's Conservative administration plan to do about Kent Grammar Schools?

• It would be reprehensible for this County Council to encourage advertising on lamp posts purely as a revenue-earner?

• Confirm which authorities outside Kent are using the Allington Incinerator for domestic waste disposal and what progress made in making arrangements for the disposal of domestic waste from East Kent?

• What is the frequency of clearance of Highways drains, are residents asked to remove parked vehicles in advance of clearance work; and what plans to increase the frequency of drain clearance?

• What is being done to address local concerns about lane marking, signage and traffic light phasing connected with the Leybourne - West Malling Bypass/junction 4 scheme?

• Support those users of Junction 10 of the M20 who have signed a petition?

• Identified any ways in which KCC can help to ameliorate the problem of the shortfall in uniformed officers patrolling our streets?

• With regard to street and public footpaths lighting in the Borough of Ashford:

• 1) the current budget allocated to street lighting maintenance

• 2) how many lights are currently not working

• 3) how many have been out for over a month

Lib Dem Questions: January - December 2006

The Lib Dem Councillors asked 17 questions at County Council meetings during this period:

• KCC's policy on the use of fingerprint systems in Kent schools?

• Setting up a Select Committee on Kent's Youth Provision?

• Daily return service by Eurostar between Ashford International?

• Percentage of the total A Level passes (A-C) in Kent schools were in Modern Foreign Languages?

• New Kent Police protocol for responding to reports from schools of intruders?

• Mainstream primary schools are equipped to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act?

• The cost of implementing each proposal in the "Towards 2010" document?

• Implementation of the recommendations of the white paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say"?

• Has Conservative Administration adopted a policy which is uniquely hostile to small schools?

• Tackling bullying by production and distribution of anti-bullying cards?

• Why the NHS 'Health Profile for Kent 2006' states that Kent's older population is less well supported to live at home compared to England?

• Development and implementation of the Local Compact between KCC, voluntary and community organisations?

• What progress for Horticultural Vocational Centre at Astor of Hever School?

• Delayed publication of the report of the Select Committee on Gypsy and Travellers Sites?

• How many pupils currently have places in Kent secondary schools as a result of passing a non-PESE entrance test?

• Number of young people presently receiving a second chance education through Alternative Curriculum Project?

• Removal of Members Smoking Room, which also contravenes the KCC Smoking Policy introduced in 1994?

Lib Dem Questions: May - December 2005

The Lib Dem Councillors asked 8 questions at County Council meetings during this period:

• Update on the Discovery Centre in Ashford as regard to funding and completion date?

• Identify the present problems associated with poor delivery of highway services?

• Cancellation by Kent Adult Education Services of all non-statutory learning courses for adults with learning difficulties?

• Confirm that the Administration to spend extra money in the budget for the Youth Service for 2005/06 on 'new projects' and not on much-needed strengthening existing services?

• How many children did not obtain a place for September 2005 at the secondary schools in Canterbury which their parent had chosen?

• Current situation on the establishment of vocational centre?

• How many 3 year old children in the Canterbury District are not in pre-school provision?

• Any traffic management measures to ameliorate the problems of congestion and gridlock?

Lib Dem Questions November 2004 - April 2005

The Lib Dem Councillors asked 16 questions at County Council meetings during this period:

• Why it is necessary for the County to propose changes to the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards?

• The action being taken to address the 'Black Hole' in the KCC Pension Fund.

• The lorry parking strategy for Kent.

• The river bank at the Old Bridge Gardens, Aylesford.

• The insufficient places for children wishing to attend St Marks School in Eccles.

• The number of Kent's children, attending Primary or Secondary School, whose results are below the national average.

• The number of street lights in Kent which are not working.

• KCC Superannuation Fund underfunding.

• County Council's policy with regard to 20mph zones outside schools.

• What is KCC doing to encourage lifts in blocks of flats?

• Will East Malling be supported with a dedicated youth facility?

• Will the impact of the 'management action' be absorbed by the Schools Advisory Service?

• The future of Astor of Hever School?

• Malling & Maidstone, are these areas for further development?

• Will the retained Joint Transport Boards mean local councillors can have their say on Highways matters?

• Can KCC help alleviate the execessive noise & vibration levels for the residents of Blue Bell Hill & Kits Coty?

If you would like details of the full question & answer to any of the questions listed above, please email the Lib Dem Group, quoting the question(s) you are interested in: libdem@kent.gov.uk