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 2009 County Council meetings:

• 19 February 2009 - Budget

• 30 April 2009

• 25 June 2009

• 3 September 2009

• 15 October 2009

• 10 December 2009

Lib Dem Questions asked at the 2009 County Council meetings:

• 30 April 2009

Question by Geoff Rowe to the Cabinet Member for Community Services

To enable Kent's local communities, parish councils and citizens to use the Sustainable Communities Act, will the Cabinet Member for Community Services give an assurance that Kent County Council will resolve to use the Act by submitting proposals by 31st July 2009?

Answer

The Sustainable Communities Act aims to promote the sustainability of local communities, and is based on the principle that local people know best what needs to be done to promote sustainability in their area.

Much of the Act covers areas that Kent County Council already has the powers for, and no resolution is required by the Council in order to use the Act. Depending on the nature of any proposals received by the Council further powers can be sought from central government as and when the circumstances dictate it.

To date no proposals have been received. But if and when a proposal does come forward that is in line with the purposes set out in the Schedule of the Act, if it can demonstrate active local support and is in line with "The Vision for Kent" as our sustainable community strategy, then I can assure you the proposal will get a fair hearing.

Question By Martin Vye To The Cabinet Member For Children, Families And Educational Achievement

Will the Cabinet Member for Children, Families And Educational Achievement give the Council the reasons why Kent's schools carry out the greatest number of exclusions compared, at more than ten times for 50 Kent children, with those in other education authorities in the country; and state how CFE Directorate will help to reduce this number, and ensure provision of education for all children who are excluded?

Answer

I was disappointed at the way this data was presented, as it is not a fair representation. Kent will never be represented favourably where pupil numbers are used as opposed to percentage of pupil population.

Although Kent has had 48 pupils who had 10 or more fixed term exclusions (2007/8) - this must be compared to the size of the Local Authority and the pupil population.

o For Kent this is 0.02% of the pupil population.

o For Barking and Dagenham is 0.13% of the pupil population.

o For Surrey 0.03% of the pupil population.

It is worthy of note that the average number of days of education lost, reduced dramatically from a high of 12.95 days in 2005/6 to 6.31 days in 2006/7.

The other point to which I would draw your attention, is the significant reduction in permanent exclusions from secondary schools since 2005/6. Back then, there were 310 secondary exclusions, in 2007/08 this reduced to 278.

As you are aware, the Local Authority and Kent schools take these matters very seriously and working with head teachers to encourage a zero tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour is, of course, one of the key Local Authority 2010 targets.

In our schools, head teachers are clear about their powers in relation to exclusion and are able to use this where appropriate. They are also clear about their responsibility to all pupils and want to support their pupils to achieve their potential. To do this, they use a range of tools dependent on the circumstances and needs of the particular pupil. They are able to draw on the resources that the Local Authority has devolved to Local Children's Services Partnerships (LCSPs) to ensure the best possible support for pupils.

There are a range of programmes across Kent that are supporting schools, pupils and positively impacting upon exclusion rates. Examples include the Managed Move programme and the Restorative Justice pilot.

In addition, for pupils for whom mainstream school is not successful, Kent has a good range of Alternative Provision as recognised by the recent Joint Area Review. It was specifically noted that Kent has "a good range of alternative educational provision for school-age young people excluded from school or at risk of becoming disengaged with learning."

Question by Dan Daley to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Supporting Independence

Given that the response in the Draft Performance Improvement Plan ('Building on Success') to the Inspectors' recommendation that KCC needs to promote better trust with district councils was 'We believe this is the way we currently act' will the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Supporting Independence explain how this fits with the clear picture created in the Kent Regeneration Framework document that the KCC is leader and district councils followers in the areas of planning and housing, which are primarily district functions?

Answer

The draft Regeneration Framework, which was out for initial consultation until 17th April, has been well-received by partner agencies and individuals across the county. In order to ensure that the views of the District and Borough Councils were fully taken into account, part of the consultation involved Kevin Lynes as Cabinet Member and senior officers visiting Leaders and Chief Executives of each authority in turn.

The document was well-received at every one of these meetings, and the subsequent written responses have furthered this sense of cooperation and partnership working.

As the strategic authority, Kent County Council must form a countywide view of regeneration and economic development, which will naturally require a high-level strategic stance. Statutory responsibility for Housing clearly remains with district authorities; however, we are keen to participate in an increasingly collaborative approach, given the complexity of housing markets across Kent and the range of agencies involved across administrative boundaries. We will very much welcome further discussion with district colleagues on how we can progress this. Furthermore, under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, currently before parliament, will impose a statutory duty upon upper tier authorities to produce a local economic assessment of their area which will need to consider housing markets in their broader economic context. We will of course be involving District colleagues in this activity.

Question by George Koowaree to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

Given the ongoing and very real threat of flooding to the residents of Kent will the Cabinet Member for Environment and regeneration proceed to appoint a Flood Risk Officer , at a senior level, to coordinate and drive forward the actions required of KCC to provide the best possible safeguarding against flood risk and impact; and give his support to the formation of a standing committee of members, as recommended by the Pitt Report to ensure effective scrutiny of KCC's performance in this vital area?

Awswer

A standing committee of members will be formed to scrutinise the work taken to manage flood risk in Kent and responses to flood incidents. The need for such a committee has also been recognised by the Council's Flood Risk Select Committee, who made such a recommendation when they reconvened late last year. This standing committee will not only review the County Council's work but also that of our partners, as a collaborative approach to managing and dealing with this risk is imperative. The standing committee will be formed once the County Council elections are concluded.

As for the appointment of a Flood Risk Officer, David Cloake from Emergency Planning is working with members of Environment, Highways, Waste & Planning to develop the job specification and take it through the appropriate channels required for the creation of a new post

In the meantime, members of staff from Environment, Highways, Waste & Planning and Emergency Planning are working together to ensure flood risk management is appropriately dealt with and that the County Council is suitably engaged in the development of the Flood and Water Bill which will no doubt shape our future role in this area of work.

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

Casualty figures issued for Kent for 2007 showed that Maidstone had a higher number of deaths and injuries on our roads than any other area in Kent. An investigation into the Maidstone District Casualty numbers and progress against National 2010 Casualty Targets showed that the reduction of people killed or seriously injured in 2007 in the Maidstone District was 15% over a ten year period against an average in Kent of 40% against Government targets. A short term series of actions were proposed to influence groups in Maidstone identified as being at a greater risk, but these initiatives ended at the end of March.

Will the Cabinet member for Environment Highways and Waste please confirm when further initiatives will be announced specifically targeted to reduce deaths and injuries on Maidstone's roads, and when a longer term plan will be put in place to ensure deaths and injuries on Maidstone's roads are in the longer term reduced in line with other areas in Kent.

Answer

As you know we have achieved considerable success in reducing casualties across Kent. However, we are not complacent and I share your concern regarding the comparatively high number of casualties recorded in Maidstone.

During 2008 the KHS Road Safety team and Maidstone Borough Council Officers strengthened their links to devise and deliver several joint initiatives that drew in other partners where appropriate. I am pleased to note that we have seen casualty reductions in the Borough particularly in road crash deaths. Whilst I believe that we have much more to do I am satisfied that this partnership working has contributed to recent improvements.

The KHS Road Safety team deliver a diverse range of activities across the whole of Kent, however, they will continue to work with their Maidstone colleagues to develop opportunities for further improvements locally. I am advised that a programme of work similar to that delivered last year is planned for 2009, subject to the necessary support from Maidstone and other partners. In addition to these public engagement activities, officers from KHS Transportation and Development will be working to identify opportunities for infrastructural improvements in the Maidstone Borough. These will be brought to the attention of members through the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board.

Regarding longer term plans. The Road Safety team are currently reviewing the scope for further casualty reductions, at both countywide and local levels. I will ensure that officers at Maidstone Borough are included in their consideration before any reports are presented to the KCC highways Advisory Board.

Question by Trudy Dean to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration

Given the potentially damaging effect on the beauty and diversity of Kent's rural landscape and its value for tourism and recreation, will the Cabinet Member for Regeneration agree to submit comments to the current Application for 1,500 acres of polytunnels currently with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and to work with Kent Planning Officers to produce Kent wide Supplementary Planning Guidance on the use of polytunnels including proper location, screening, waste disposal, protection for wildlife, water resources and biodiversity and in particular address the issue of permanent polytunnels for table top growbag cultivation which are effectively industrial development in the countryside?

Answer

There are current substantial proposals for successional (permanent) and rotational agricultural polytunnels on land in the vicinity of West Peckham, Mereworth and Kings Hill in Tonbridge and Malling. Although applying to a much greater land area in total the terms of this application provide for the use of up to 175 hectares (approximately 420 acres) of land for polytunnel use in any one calendar year.

Although the County Council has not been consulted directly by the Borough Council on these proposals, the County Council is nonetheless considering them, given their scale and extent, taking account of relevant Structure Plan policies that remain applicable, the impact of the proposals on landscape character and protection of the countryside and any measures proposed for mitigating their visual impact on the landscape and local communities in their vicinity .

The County Council is fully aware of local concerns regarding these proposals including those raised by West Peckham Parish Council in correspondence with KCC

Where planning permission for the development of polytunnels is required the full panoply of relevant strategic and local development plan policies are in play including those relating to protection of landscape and countryside character, sustenance of the rural and agricultural economy ,any implications for water resources and land drainage and other relevant matters.

Kent districts are the local planning authorities responsible for both local policy and decisions on individual applications for such proposals. Given the growing incidence of polytunnel development in the Kent countryside the Cabinet Member has asked officers to discuss the issue with Districts to assess whether further guidance would be appropriate. Under current planning arrangements any supplementary guidance would need to be adopted by each District Council although it might be prepared collaboratively where it would be apply on a wide area basis.

• 19 February 2009 - Budget

Question by Trudy Dean to the Cabinet for Environment, Highways and Waste

Will the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste give an assurance to the Governors of More Park Roman Catholic Primary School, West Malling that compensation will be paid to meet the costs of the flooding on 10 February 2009, which resulted from blocked and broken KCC highway gulleys combined with the refusal of Kent Highways Services to drain rain water from the school site.

Answer

KCC does not fully insure More Park Roman Catholic Primary School. Under the general arrangements around insurance for Voluntary Aided schools, the cover we provide for Catholic Voluntary Aided schools is limited to such things as sports pavilions (100%), the first £2k of damage to property and 100% contents. We have in the past approached Southwark Diocesan Board to try and provide more comprehensive cover but without any success. I believe that Southwark Diocesan Board is simply following national guidelines in this matter.

If property has been damaged and the cost of repairs does not exceed £2k then we may be able to deal with this under KCC's insurance arrangements. If the school wishes to make a claim for compensation against KCC, then we will consider the circumstances in line with our legal liability and insurance terms and conditions. Since compensation is not automatic, I cannot give any assurance that a claim will be met, as it will be necessary to investigate the circumstances.

Not withstanding this, on 10th February, when the school was flooded, Kent Highway Services staff were redirected to More Park to assist the Headteacher, Mrs Smith, in cleaning drains on the school property and generally helping school staff in the clean up operation.

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

Given the extraordinary winter of sharp frosts, snow and heavy rain, resulting in the disintegration of Kent's road surfaces, for example in the Wincheap area of Canterbury, will the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste inform the council if he will find the resources to repeat last April's intensive blitz on potholes?

Answer

Kent Highway Services have already been proactive in its approach to the cold winter. In early January, following a significant spell of cold weather, £500,000 was made available to provide an additional 15 crews to target frost damage.

A total of 56 crews are now currently working across the County on surface related repairs.

The damage from the most recent spell of snow and rain is being identified and processed. Should this require further resources, they will be made available.

Question by Dan Daley to the Cabinet Member for Community Services

Mark Wallinger was recently announced winner of the Ebbsfleet Landmark Competition and the £2m horse sculpture is already half-funded by three private companies. Would the Cabinet Member for Community Services inform the Council how much, if any, of the £1m shortfall KCC plans to donate?

Answer

Kent County Council has not been approached by, and has had no discussions with, any of the partners involved in the investment for Mark Wallinger's White Horse sculpture.

Given the comments from the Ebbsfleet Landmark Project Board, it is also highly unlikely that they will be seeking public funds for this project in the future.

Question by George Koowaree to the Cabinet Member for Operations, Resources and Skills

Will the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Achievement inform the Council how much is in the budget for the Children Centre for South Willesborough, what services that will deliver and explain why the decision has been taken to vary the plans which were passed by the Planning Committee in 2007 - 2008.

Answer

The Swan Centre is a joint venture between Ashford Borough Council and KCC. The centre will be extended to provide community facilities including a Sports Youth Club and a SureStart Children's Centre. The total cost of the Swan Centre extension exceeds £1m of which £200,000 is Children's Centre SureStart Capital Funding.

Children's centre services will be delivered directly from the Swan Centre or though additional 'satellite' provision within the catchment area for that centre.

Parents will be involved in determining what services are provided and will be asked regularly for feedback on these. On-going arrangements will be in place to ensure parents/carers have a voice e.g. parents' forums.

Parents will have access to information and advice on services for 0-5 year olds. Early education, integrated with childcare, will be available at a nominated local nursery, linked to the centre. It is anticipated that the following services will run directly from the Swan Centre.

• Family support and outreach to parents, e.g. visits to all children within two months of birth, parenting support and advice;

• Child and family health services, e.g. ante-natal advice, information on breast feeding, speech & language therapy;

• Crèche services

• Parent and toddler sessions;

• Links with Jobcentre Plus to encourage and support parents/carers who wish to consider training and employment.

Planning approval was sought for a stand alone centre on the site of East Stour School in Ashford. After significant discussion, the governing body of that school decided that they could no longer support the initiative. They voiced concerns about the impact of the centre on the overall site, and how it would operate and deliver its services. Parking was seen as potentially problematic. The local Children's Planning Consortia proposed the Swan Centre as an alternative site.

Lib Dem Questions asked at the 2008 County Council meetings:

• 11 December 2008

Question by Martin Vye to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Achievement

Will the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Achievement inform the Council of the cost of the animated advertisement for the recruitment for the post of Managing Director of Children, Families and Education and whether he believes an advertisement targeting potential Father Christmases reflects the gravity and complexity of the position and the professionalism of the Directorate?

Answer

The advertisement for the Managing Director of Children' Families and Education was commissioned through KCC's recruitment advertising agency, Tribal whose brief was to ensure the scope and impact of the role was reflected as an integral part of the campaign. The animated version appears on the microsite for the vacancy. The advert very much reflects the complexity of this critically important role by subtly stressing the impact the postholder will have on children in Kent. Whilst this job has enormous gravity, which is fully reflected in the extremely comprehensive content of the microsite, this does not mean the recruit advert should to be dull and doom laden. The seasonal nature of the image, the humour and the fact that the primary focus of the campaign is to drive potential applicants to a state of the art and very informative microsite should be celebrated - recruitment adverts should capture people's interest and make them curious to find out more. This advert achieves this absolutely and at a cost for the whole microsite of £3,270 (which is considerably less than the cost of a single press advertisement in a national newspaper) also represents good value for money. It is part of a professional campaign which portrays KCC as a modern, vibrant organisation which values appropriate use of humour (people who are serious candidates do not need reminding about the gravity, they will be only too well aware of it) and recognises the critical nature and impact of this key role. It exactly reflects and captures what is good about this Authority.

Already twenty high calibre individuals have shown interest in the post, which demonstrates the advertisement's appeal.

Question by Geoff Rowe to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Achievement

Given the increasing complexity of child protection cases and the continuing extra pressure on Children's Social Services, will the Cabinet Member for Operations, Resources and Skills inform the Council whether there has been a review of the maximum caseload per Social Worker and whether extra resources, to ensure that the effectiveness of individual Social Workers is not prejudiced by having to deal with too many cases, are being identified in the preparation of the 2009/10 budget?

Answer

Comprehensive reviews are undertaken on a monthly basis at area, district and team levels. The Social Services' Policy Team monitor monthly activity levels and there are periodic audits of cases. In effect, we constantly review our service and ensure that those social workers with a larger caseload receive appropriate supervision and support.

The service has also been reviewed by external inspections. In the past year, both the APA (yet to be published) and JAR inspections have highlighted the fact that safeguarding functions in Kent are highly effective.

Like everybody, we were disturbed by the tragedy in Haringey but we are confident from these reviews that our services are robust and that we have a highly motivated, trained and effective staff group, who are hard working and committed to safeguarding vulnerable children within the County. Our confidence does not however blind us to the need for constant vigilance, the avoidance of complacency, and a rigorous recognition that there are dangerous families in our communities and that in the face of even the best funded and professional services, tragedies may still happen.

There will need to be further investment in the front-line delivery of social services. We are actively exploring the provision of additional funding in order to achieve this. Members will be kept informed.

Question by Trudy Dean to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste please explain whether bus journeys taken between 9.00 and 9.30am by over 60s and people with disabilities in Kent will be paid for in full by KCC or not, and if not will he explain which journeys will be paid for by KCC, and who will be paying for the remainder?

Answer

Members will be aware that the statutory Concessionary Fares Scheme only operates between 9.30am and 11pm. This is currently the responsibility of our Districts, a number of who are seriously disadvantaged by the way this service if funded nationally.

Earlier this year Kent County Council took the decision under its "well being powers" to extend this service from 9am. This has been welcomed by many.

Kent County Council has undertaken to meet ALL additional costs from this extension.

• Questions asked 16 October 2008

Question by George Koowaree to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste please inform the Council why there has been a 3 month delay in the completion of the Newtown bridge project in Ashford which will result in prolonged inconvenience in the run up to Christmas, due to the closure of that road and how the additional costs, currently estimated at £180,000 for the project, will be financed?

Answer

Network Rail is managing this contract. The delay and extra costs have been caused by the diversion of underground services which has taken some 10 weeks longer than Network Rail and its contractor initially predicted. Network Rail was hoping that the utility companies would work alongside each other but this has not been possible because of lack of working widths. The expected completion date is 22nd December 2008 and every effort is being made to bring this date forward.

The additional funding requirement is under consideration and it may need to come from funding held within the wider major scheme capital programme.

Question by Trudy Dean to the Cabinet Member for Finance

Can the Cabinet Member for Finance please say what level of savings the County Council would need to make from the Budget next year in order to achieve no increase in the Council Tax?

Answer

While we are still working through the details, we are currently projecting new pressures (excluding the impact on schools) of some £81M. Almost half of that relates to pay and prices. Over the next few months we would expect this figure to shift marginally downwards, as we continue to challenge and question these costs, as well as looking at new ways of delivering.

However, at this level we would expect savings and income generation to be in excess of £70M to deliver a nil increase in Council Tax.

Clearly this is a difficult challenge and I would encourage the Policy Overview Committees to play their part in identifying ways to save money, generate income or resist the emerging pressures.

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

Recently planning permission was given by Maidstone to Kent County Council for advertising on Roundabouts, in spite of officers confirming that risk assessments in relation to Highway safety had not been carried out for individual roundabouts and had only been done on a global basis.

The County Council is now putting advertising onto Lamp posts at high level on the main road entries to every major town in Kent.

At a time when most towns continue to suffer from fly posting, and there is a continuing need to de-clutter and reduce distractions on our roads, and at a time when Maidstone in particular has the worst road death and injury record in Kent, can you explain please why there is a need to further distract drivers attention, and whether any detailed risk analysis will this time be carried out in relation to road safety, and if this has already been done, what was the result?

Answer

1. Roundabout Sponsorship and Lamp Column Advertising are two different projects, although their remit is the same - using KCC's assets to generate income. Much of the income raised through Roundabout Sponsorship will be reinvested through enhanced maintenance and replanting. The income from Lamp Column advertising will be returned to KCC to underpin front-line services.

2. Neither Sponsorship signs nor Lamp Column advertisements will be located in sensitive places such as residential or conservation areas. There is no suggestion that Lamp Column units will be placed on the main entries to every major town in Kent. A typical advertiser will be a local business in a nearby industrial estate or retail park.

3. Roundabout sponsorship is an established feature across the UK. There is no evidence that the signs have caused an accident. Lamp Column advertising has been piloted carefully and successfully in Kent, with no reports of any accidents. Each site is considered by KHS before a planning application is submitted and columns are tested for strength and electrical safety. With regard to the potential driver distraction from advertising, national research suggests that this is possible on monotonous routes, motorways or rural roads but they do not cause an additional distraction in urban areas

4. Sponsorship signs and Lamp Column advertisements are sold to local businesses, many of which, frustrated by the lack of advertising opportunities, have resorted to flyposting. They therefore represent a legitimate, controlled form of advertising, generating income that goes directly to KCC. This is an effective tool for enforcement officers, who can remove illegal advertising on the basis that business needs are supported through affordable and legitimate alternatives.

Question by Geoff Rowe to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste

Can the cabinet member please advise how much funding is allocated for the backlog of road and footpath repairs in Kent, how this compares with the recommended investment in the Local Transport plan for Kent 2006 - 11, how long it will take to address this back log and what is the projected repair life cycle?

Answer

As is the case in the remainder of the country, the current backlog of combined revenue and capital spend on carriageway and footway maintenance does not reduce the net backlog of repairs identified in the Local Transport Plan for Kent 2006. Repairs that are high on the backlog list are dealt with each year but the estimated deterioration of the highway of between approximately 1% and 2% per annum means the overall backlog will not reduce at current investment rates. Therefore the projected life cycle of the roads does not present a meaningful calculation.

Question by Dan Daley to the Leader of the County Council

In November 2004 during the process of closing and selling the Astor of Hever School Farm in Maidstone, you made a statement designed to largely deflect the strong opposition to the farm closure. This was to the effect that the County Council would offer pre-vocational horticultural courses in partnership with Hadlow College at the school.

In May 2006, after the closure of the school farm I asked what progress had been made to provide this vocational course. The answer then was that officers were in discussion with the school concerning this vocational provision. In October 2008, four years down the line, there is still no vocational horticultural course offered at the school. Can I therefore confirm to the local residents that this plan has effectively been buried and that the mitigation for the loss of the school farm was not much more than a means of stifling local opposition?

Answer

At the time of the school farm sale, the headteacher in post and governors were engaged in developing vocational provision within the collaborative arrangements across all secondary schools and colleges in Maidstone.

The school decided that they did not wish to spend the £2.1 million capital receipt from the sale of the farm on developing land based provision within the confines of the school campus.

It had always been the intention that the capital receipt would fund a range of much needed improvements at the school including:

• The provision of an assembly hall, the school had no such dedicated facility and were having to use the sports hall

• Adaptations to create a new reception/administration block

• A new classroom block enabling the removal of temporary classrooms from the site

A project is now well underway on site which will deliver all of this.

Learners at Astor of Hever School currently access a range of vocational courses in a number of settings. Bearing in mind the close proximity of Astor of Hever School to Hadlow College, learners, if they wish, can access land based programmes at Hadlow College.

Hadlow College has very successful 14-16 programmes running with a significant number of schools in West Kent and Astor of Hever agreed that Hadlow College could more than meet learners' needs with an interest in land based studies on their campus at Tonbridge.

Question by Martin Vye to the Cabinet Member for Community Services

Given the reduction of the Youth Service budget for 2008/09, will the Cabinet Member for Community Services inform the Council how many posts have been discontinued, how many posts are being held vacant indefinitely and what effect this has had on staff morale and the delivery of the Youth Service in Kent?

Answer

There was no reduction to the Youth Service budget for 2008/09 in cash terms. In fact the Service received £13k more than in 2007/08.

Morale in the Service is generally very good, especially on the back of a very positive OfSTED report published in June 2008, and staff are very positive about the Service's move into a new Youth Services Division within the CMY Directorate.

In line with all services, the Youth Service has efficiency savings to absorb, and will achieve these through increasing income by letting their buildings when they would otherwise be unused. This has meant that no posts have been discontinued. The priority for the Youth Service is, and will remain so in the future, ensuring that the face-to-face work with young people is maintained.

No posts are being held vacant indefinitely, and this is not a strategy of the Youth Service. The service has adopted a managed approach to recruitment which will provide moderate savings throughout the financial year.

• Question asked 4 September 2008

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

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste please explain why the first areas to receive the Kent Freedom Pass were areas of low deprivation with the lowest numbers of families in financial need such as Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling, whilst the areas such as Thanet, Dartford and Ashford, with the highest levels of deprivation and the highest numbers of families in financial need, have been left until last?

Answer

The Kent Freedom scheme is designed to achieve a number of key KCC objectives particularly reducing congestion, affordable school travel and access to out of school facilities for students.

In setting up the pilots, we wanted to be sure that Freedom would work as there are no comparable examples elsewhere in the UK. We therefore chose two of the three most congested towns in the County which also have quite complex home to school transport arrangements.

We considered the deprivation angle but as Freedom will be fully Kent wide by June 2009, we felt is was more important to undertake the most robust testing of the scheme to ensure its practicality.

I am pleased to say that the pilots were very successful with over 5000 students opting for a Freedom pass in the pilot area.

Supplementary question & answer available on the County Council 4 September webcast archive

Webcast Archive.

• 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