Agenda item

To receive members’ questions under procedure rule no.11.  The procedure rule provides that any member may ask the chairman of a board or group any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Support Services.

Councillor S Sheahan put the following question to Councillor R Blunt:

 

“Can the Leader set out what contingency plans the Council is preparing in the event of a no-deal Brexit?”

 

Councillor R Blunt gave the following response:

 

“I can confirm that as negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU progress, the Government will clarify the approach to Border Inspection Posts, and we will consider any implications for East Midlands Airport.

 

The Chief Executive sits on the Border Control Local Authority Steering group and is working in partnership with East Midlands airport and key stakeholders to ensure all border related changes are identified and planned for in the event of a no deal scenario.

 

In addition we are supporting our businesses through our business focus team to ensure that we share widely the government’s recently published technical notices to business, to enable them to consider and prepare for a no deal Brexit. We are also working with the Chamber of Commerce who have developed a business Brexit checklist to help businesses consider the changes that Brexit may bring to their business.

 

The Corporate Risk Register will be updated over the coming weeks and will be presented to the next Audit and Governance Committee”.

 

Councillor R Adams put the following question to Councillor R D Bayliss:

 

“The Portfolio holder will be aware regarding Planning Applications that in exceptional circumstances (such as site specific constraints or demonstrable viability issues) the Local Authority may accept a sum of money (referred to as a commuted sum) to make provision for affordable housing on another site(s).

 

Could the Portfolio holder tell me how much this Council holds in Affordable Housing Commuted Sums up to the end of August 2018 and what is the total outstanding in unpaid Affordable Housing Contributions up to the end of August 2018?”

 

Councillor R D Bayliss gave the following response:

 

“At the end of August 2018 the Council held £2,443,362.79 for affordable housing.

Commuted sums have recently been used to support the Council’s new build programme at Smedley Close and Staley Avenue, Ashby. We will also be looking to use commuted sums to support future phases.

 

Commitments have also been made to spend commuted sums on supporting the development (by east midlands homes) of 14 affordable rented homes at Scotlands Road, Coalville and 65 apartments at the district’s first ever extra care scheme at Burton Road, Ashby.

 

In addition, there is about £1,532,000 which is attached to development which have either not started or yet to reach the necessary trigger for payment. This figure may increase as a number of agreements on sites where development has yet to start allow for the possibility of either on-site provision or an off-site commuted sum”.

 

As a supplementary question, Councillor R Adams asked how recently the commuted sums referred to in the first paragraph of the reply had been used to support the new build programme, and how much had been spent.  He also sought clarification on the trigger for payment referred to in the last paragraph.

 

Councillor R D Bayliss agreed to provide a response after the meeting.

 

Councillor A C Saffell put the following question to Councillor T J Pendleton:

 

“NWLDC are responsible for making sure that the East Midlands Gateway Planning Permission is carried out satisfactorily in conjunction with the Highway Authority.  There is quite obviously something disastrously wrong with the way this is being implemented.  Please see the attached shot taken from Google Maps Traffic at 16.50 on a typical weekday, you will see that most of the roads are coloured red meaning that either the traffic is stationary or moving very slowly i.e. walking pace.  This situation applies most of the daylight hours and is even worse at peak times.  This is having a serious impact on local businesses for a number of reasons including staff unable to get to work, deliveries not arriving and sales stock unable to be delivered.  This all massively increases costs for local businesses to the point of strangulation.  We are therefore generating jobs for the region at the expense of local jobs.

 

The area is being strangled by all the traffic chaos.  There have also been many "accidents" caused by frustrated drivers taking risks.  Not to mention all the pollution caused by so much congestion.  Our AQMA (Bondgate) must by now be way over the European safety limits and is where many of our school children have to walk daily on their way to and from school.

 

Someone must take responsibility for this disaster.

 

I ask the portfolio holder, is the development order being implemented correctly, and if not, are there problems with the development order?”.

 

Councillor T J Pendleton gave the following response:

 

“Officers have discussed the traffic problems raised with Leicestershire County Council (responsible for the highway network) and updates from the County are included within my response.  

 

In summary, the significant infrastructure projects near to Castle Donington and ongoing Smart motorways project being delivered by Highways England have both contributed to increased pressure on local roads.  The County has been engaging with Highways England although has limited ability to influence their works and the resulting traffic through Castle Donington, which is seeking to avoid incidents and delays on the trunk road network. 

 

I fully appreciate the impact of development on the residents for Castle Donington and both the District and County Council will continue to use their influence to mitigate as best as possible the overwhelming impacts for the last year and the road network, which at times has not coped.   A summary of the key issues raised and the current situation which is improving is set out below.  

 

Bondgate Traffic Signals and Castle Donington Village

Changes have been made to Bondgate traffic signals following consultation with Castle Donington Parish Council and other local representatives.  One of the main issues raised by all parties was the blocking back through the junction and the safety of the pedestrians especially the school children.  It was made clear by the Highway Authority that the proposals would have a slightly detrimental effect on the side road. This was a compromise to ensure the safety of the pedestrians.  The County Council can adjust the times on the main road to the detriment of the side roads and vice versa or revert back to the previous staging but as previously advised there is too much traffic trying to traverse through this junction and at this point. 

 

I can also confirm from discussions with the County Council that whilst there have been four personal injury accidents recorded on Bond Gate within the past five years, none of these accidents have been attributable to HGV's, which is a good indication that drivers are aware of the prevailing conditions and are driving accordingly.

 

The traffic management arrangements in place have also caused some difficulties with satellite navigation systems erroneously guiding drivers through Castle Donington.  The Police are aware of this matter and where resources permit have tasked officers to pay additional attention to drivers violating the existing weight restrictions. The contractors delivering the highway schemes have also agreed to provide additional signage advising of the satellite navigation error and re-enforcing the message regarding 'No HGV access through Castle Donington'.

 

M1 Smart Motorway

The M1 smart motorway works are due to finish at the end of 2018, so there are approximately 4 months left to go.  Delays have reduced considerably north bound since the opening of the A453/A50 J24 dedicated slip road and the new M1 southbound slip road opened at the end of July ending the long delays that traffic has  experienced on the A50 and diverting through Castle Donington.  However, if a vehicle breaks down or there is an accident delays still occur, but on the whole the situation is much better now.

 

Castle Donington Relief Road

Work on the new relief road has now started and the Developer has confirmed that this will be completed within 12 months.  A draft project plan has been prepared and the Contractor has confirmed a willingness to keep the Parish Council and Ward Members updated on the work.   

 

Air Quality

The exceedance of the Nitrogen Dioxide level (primarily from vehicle emissions) means that this area has already been declared anAir Quality Management Area (AQMA Bondgate). As a result of the declaration a management plan is in place to ensure a reduction in these levels is achieved. 

 

Therefore as this is a declared AQMA, ongoing monitoring continues by the District Council to ascertain the annual levels. The European legislation is also clear that changes as a result of temporary road works have to be discounted even when the construction works are of a substantive nature.  It also provides definitions for the annual mean Air Quality Order which sets out that short term exposure whilst walking to work or school cannot be considered.  

 

The Castle Donington relief road described above is a key initiative for Castle Donington, which in turn should encourage non village traffic onto the relief road to improve the air quality. The District Council will continue to monitor the air quality levels and review the need for the AQMA based on the data recorded.

 

Development Order

The responsibility of ensuring that the off-site highway works approved as part of the East Midlands Gateway Strategic Rail Freight Interchange lies with both Highways England for the M1, A50 and A453 and Leicestershire County Council for the A6 and Kegworth by pass.  Officers have contacted both organisations to seek clarification that they are satisfied that the works approved as part of this National Strategic Infrastructure Project are being carried out in accordance with the approved details so that the impacts on the local highway network will be acceptable once the development is completed.  A further update will be provided to you once this is received”.

 

Councillor A C Saffell felt that a lot of issues had been glossed over, the whole area had suffered from the chaos caused and the design was not fit for purpose.  As a supplementary question, he asked who would be made responsible for this.

 

Councillor T J Pendleton referred to the significant infrastructure project planning meeting which he and Councillor A C Saffell had attended and the discussions which had taken place with consideration being given to accelerating work on the Kegworth bypass and Castle Donington bypass.  He explained that both infrastructure projects were led by commercial entities and as such the timetables were not within the council’s control.  He added that work on the Castle Donington bypass had now started and would be completed in 12 months and work on the Kegworth bypass and motorway improvements was nearing completion.   

 

Councillor J Legrys put the following question to Councillor A V Smith:

“At its meeting on the 12^th September 2017 I asked to the Portfolio Holder about enforcing a tidy up around the Mantle Lane Rail Bridge Coalville.

 A copy of the Portfolio Holders response can be found at: https://minutes-1.nwleics.gov.uk/documents/g1576/Printed%20minutes%2012th-Sep-2017%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=1

My question: “Clearly no work has been undertaken since the Portfolio Holders reply in 2017 and I would be grateful if she can update me on any action NWLDC has taken ‘behind the scenes’ to improve the outlook of Mantle Lane surrounding the Rail Overbridge?”

 

Councillor A V Smith gave the following response:

 

“There are a number of work streams that are currently business as usual regarding Mantle Lane Bridge.

 

Firstly the Street Cleansing Team have an ongoing regime for this area as follows:-

 

1. Barrow man litter picks – 3 days a week. He now has a new barrow with a suction hose to also pick up small litter and detritus.
2. Mini sweeper covers footways once a day Monday to Friday.
3. Channel sweep 2 x weekly, and when required (gully alongside the kerb of the road).
4. Street Scene Team Leader monitors this area very closely to ensure this area is kept to a high standard as possible.

 

Secondly the Environmental Protection Team have been endeavouring to encourage Network Rail to resolve the impact and problem of pigeons and will continue to do so. 

 

Street Environment Officers continue to include the bridge and the area around it in the annual Big Tidy Up.

 

However, it is acknowledged that to improve the appearance of the bridge itself that a project is required and this will be scoped out in the next two months. We have previously advised that there is Litter Innovation Funds that are available to groups who may be interested in accessing this money to tackle areas such as this.

 

There is also potential, subject to agreement with Network Rail, for the appearance to be improved utilising artwork.

 

This will be investigated as part of wider work on developing a vision and masterplan in Coalville and presents a significant opportunity to enhance this important entrance to the town”.  

 

As a supplementary question, Councillor J Legrys sought clarification why an untidy land notice had not been issued by the Environmental Protection team.

 

Councillor A V Smith responded that she felt the area was not untidy enough for such a notice to be issued as it was being cleaned on a regular basis.  She added that the council would continue to persevere and work with Network Rail.