NOVEMBER 2011 TOWN COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY UPDATE

My update is as follows and if any member of the Community wishes to discuss this update please contracts me on 07974353121

Secondary School Modernisation

On Tuesday 8th November we will be receiving a briefing on the out comes and proposals for secondary school modernisation form the cabinet member for schools Cllr S Hayes. The out come will show the preferred model for schools and 6 forms in Powys. I will update the council at the next meeting.

Hay School / Supermarket Development

Following the public meeting in Booths Book shop on 28th of October I have received around 90 emails from concerned residents and businesses in and around the area as far as Kington and Winforton.

I have sent a number of emails to the council leader and Chief executive and they are copied in below for your information.

On Friday 28th I talked to officers as CEO was away they have agreed to agenda this as an emergency item for discussion on their senior management meeting the following Monday. The Cabinet where looking to discuss on the issues today (Monday 7th) on how to communicate with and involve the community

I also on Friday 28th in County Hall we had a question and answers with the MPs and AMs.

I raised the following Question and the answers are below

Question in county hall Friday 28th October 2011

Following a public meeting call last night in Hay on Wye by concerned resident regarding the possibility of a supermarket in the town centre. Are you willing to meet my self to discuss this issue and are you able to assist the community in making sure that their concerns are answered before any finial decisions are made?

Roger Williams MP- Yes
William Powell AM- Yes
Kristy Williams was sadly not present but has contacted Pcc re community having its say

It was late in the debate so a quick answer but we have it on record.

Then on Wednesday 2nd I was requested to send a question in on impact assessment

Question and answer are below

Dear Michael and Jeremy

Today i was approached with the suggestion that the community could fund and run its own community impact assessment in a couple of months on the proposals for a new supermarket in Hay on Wye. As you are both aware there is large concern with resident in and around Hay.

Would you consider this and extend the decision date giving the community time to put forward its impact assessment.

Reply

Gareth
Following our discussion I have asked that the Hay proposal be discussed informally by the cabinet next week. You will recall that when we met I cautioned against viewing the issue as a solely planning matter. The community impact study will need to be done but as part of the planning process which will be undertaken by BBNP. The Cabinet will need to be aware of the likely impact but it must also consider a range of other issues at the early stage such as education, recreation and social care. I think the impact study should come later but I will seek cabinet views on this.
Regards.
Jeremy

Following that the cabinet where going to discuss the issue today but has been cancelled until tomorrow I have sat in county hall waiting for the cabinet to invite me in as I had requested with the chair. At this point, I haven’t been invited to discuss the concerns with the cabinet I was there from 9.30 till I was informed at 1.20 this afternoon that it had been cancelled

Senior management team also meet today and the chief executive met with me this afternoon to inform me that he will personally be bringing it up with the cabinet tomorrow.

I hope to get a reply from the cabinet in the next 24hrs re their plans and time lines

I will keep the council and residents updated on any issues as the information develops.

New Recycling scheme

The new scheme has been rolled out around the town last Thursday and Friday. The collections start this week with collection of food waste and recycling. There have been a number of questions raised over the weekend and I have dealt with 12 requests for people wanting wheelie bins. I held a question, answer on facebook on Sunday night, and had 66 comments in 2 hours.
This Friday I am spending the day getting my hands dirty with the local refuse team in Hay to see first hand the issues that are facing the residents.

Remembrance Sunday

Please do not forget the mace of peace. I have cleaned the lower Brass and will complete the rest by the weekend. Mac is going to clean it with the pressure washer and sweep the area ready on Sunday. See you all there.

Questions to full council

Following my question to Cllr G G Hopkins Portfolio holder for environment and regulation I received the following reply.

It has now been over 6 months since the council took over the civil parking enforcement. Can the cabinet member report back on the progress and the following.

1. The number of tickets issued
Penalty charge notice (PCN's) Issued 2962

2. The number of off street tickets issued
PCN's issued 979

3. The number of on street tickets issued
PCN's issued 1983

4. The number of tickets paid within 14 days.
PCN's paid within discount period 2075

5. The number of appeals
555

6. The number of successful appeals
180

7. How much income has this generated for the council
£70,969.66

the portfolio holder was not present. I am disappointed that he has not given a report on how it is going so I asked if the report on progress could be made available.

Question 2

Following the scrutiny report that was presented to the Children, Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee on the 8th September 2011 officers stated that over this financial year the Council has gathered a surplus of £800k following the increase in Housing rents.
1. Can the Cabinet member confirm this figure?
2. Has the figure solely been from housing rents increase this year?
3. It was reported this is due to the Welsh Housing Quality survey delays. Are the changes to WHQS causing delays?
4. When was the delay in the WHQS reported to the Council?
5. What are the Council's plans to spend this surplus?

A detailed verbal report was given in which he confirmed the figure to be £860,000 in reserve.

In my supplementary, I asked if he would conceder freezing council house rents for the forth-coming year due to the large unforeseen surpluses.

He declined and said that the moneys would be used to go towards the Welsh Housing Quality Survey review.


Completed Works

Pcc have completed the following

Bin installed in Broad Street
30mph limits identified on Brecon road
Cross-slipway by church
Hand rail by phone box Broad st fixed


BBNP have completed the bailey walk works


Lights in Castle Street

I have had the light in the main street switched on following requests from businesses in the street. I will be looking to do a review this month and if any town councilor wishes to join me, I am more than happy.

Grant re canoe landing area

The committee will give very successful meeting with BBNP and Town council. The estates committee is dealing and at the meeting, I requested that there is a memorandum of understanding between the council and the user groups to protect all involved.

Parking

Met with Officer from Pcc (Kevin Lloyd) he was in agreement re cattle market being turned in to a pay and display car park when it is not being used (like the car park in town centre). He has looked at the site and has had contact with the legal department to start the discussions with the tenets. He hoped that this would be in place for next year. Will update council on developments next month

Bike track

I have now received letters of the youths, youth club and youth leaders. The clubs ran an event, rose over £300, and are looking at more events. I talked to the director for communities, he has passed me on to officers, and I hope to have a meeting this month.

Best wish

Gareth

Sorry for the long report