Agenda item

Questions

Meeting of County Council, Thursday 18th March 2021 10:00am (Item 46.)

Questions to be asked by Members of the County Council of the Leader of the Council, a Cabinet Member, or a Chairman of a Committee. The question will be answered by the relevant Member and the Member asking the question may then ask a follow up question which will also be answered

Minutes:

Cllr Woodward asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

In a press statement from the County Council last week, Burntwood residents were told, “Work to improve routes for cyclists and pedestrians in Burntwood is being proposed as part of a plan to spend £69million on highways projects in Staffordshire” and that “the authority said the money would mean improving signs, junctions and provision for pedestrians and cyclists in Burntwood.” I am aware of the minor improvements to 0.3km of Milestone Way, between High St and Sycamore Rd, that have been agreed; are any additional cycling and walking schemes being proposed, as this press release would imply?

The 2021/22 Capital Programme contains £128k for provision of the length of cycle route along Milestone Way referred to by Cllr Woodward (0.3km). This is being delivered in 21/22 through an award of Getting Building Funding (£651K) secured via a bid to the S&SLEP for Sustainable Transport Projects. Improvements will be undertaken between the ‘Morrisons Island’ to ‘Aldi Island’ including an upgrade of the existing pedestrian facility and realignment of splitter island. Detailed design is underway, including a review of scheme details to ensure compliance with latest guidance (LTN 1/20).

Unfortunately, national criteria for cycling improvements does not fit more ‘rural’ areas, and we are actively lobbying for consideration on this front.

A Burntwood Town Centre - Public Realm, Connectivity and Highway Improvements Options Report is being prepared with input from Burntwood Town Council (completion mid-April) to identify further improvements for Burntwood. A phased approach to delivery is anticipated beginning next financial year (22/23) as resources permit, to support regeneration of the town centre. The options report considers a variety of interventions and improvements as well as reviewing existing infrastructure including, enhanced public realm, junction modifications, pedestrian facilities, traffic Orders, wayfinding, directional signing, public transport infrastructure and cycle facilities. The report will inform future programmes which may be funded via the Integrated Transport block grant, dependent on the availability of resources and other spending commitments throughout the County. However, other funding opportunities will be actively sought to aid delivery.

Supplementary Question

When will these minor improvements to 0.3km of Milestone Way be carried out and how is the Cabinet Member going to square the circle regarding the criteria around investment in urban areas verses rural areas?

The improvements to Milestone Way are contained in the Highways Capital programme for 2021/22. With regard to the criteria around investment in urban areas verses rural areas, I confirm that I have lobbied the Secretary of State on this issue

Cllr Woodward asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Health, care and Wellbeing whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

I am grateful to Cllr McMahon and the Director for Health and Care for following up my question on self-isolation payments at the last Council meeting (page 16 of today’s agenda). It appears that the applicant success rate in Staffordshire reflects the national rate of around 30% nationally with 70% of applicants therefore being refused. What impact does the Cabinet Member think this may have had on the willingness of those who are Covid positive to self-isolate and therefore on the transmission rates in our communities?

There is no data about whether having a self-isolation payment application declined influences people’s willingness to isolate. The data we do have about isolation demonstrates that compliance with isolation is on the whole good. We call confirmed cases and their close contacts to verify isolation and the vast majority of these are isolating in line with legal requirements.

A small number of people (around 50 weekly) are referred to the Police because there are reasons to doubt that they are isolating. The Police visit these individuals at home and generally find that they are in fact isolating. A small number of fixed penalty notices have been issued where the legal requirements have been breached.

Supplementary Question

It would appear to me that the 70% failure rate is far to high and seems to indicate that the criteria for applications are perhaps too draconian. The Local Government Association is pushing for changes to the framework for self-isolation payments. Will the Cabinet Member continue to lobby along the same lines as the Local Government Association has made?

I have written to the Secretary of State to ask that this issue be investigated so that we can be assured that the low success rates of applicants is not having an impact on testing and compliance.

Cllr Charlotte Atkins asked the following question of the Leader of the Council whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

Does the Leader of the Council agree that a one percent pay rise for nurses and other NHS staff is a totally inadequate reward for their sacrifices over the last year, having faced the immense challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic?

I want to start by acknowledging that the NHS has done an amazing job over the past year.

For many people, the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic are like none they have seen before. People have sacrificed aspects of their lives they took for granted: seeing family and friends, going to school or work, and going to weddings or funerals,

The variety of people who have provided essential services and made sacrifices alongside nurses and other NHS staff during the pandemic are too numerous to list here. Some examples might include: the lorry drivers, without whom food wouldn’t get on to the shelves of the supermarkets; the care workers in old people’s homes; the teachers striving to ensure our children are educated; our social workers looking after our children and families; and people collecting our bins and cleaning our streets. They all deserve reward for their sacrifices over the last year.

In addition to those listed above are the army of volunteers who seek no reward at all, other than that of knowing they have helped a person in need.

There are others who have also made sacrifices over the past year that also need to be considered. They are the people whose businesses will never recover, and the people who have lost their jobs. There is no pay rise available to them.

I do understand the desire to reward nurses and other NHS staff, I also note that there are others who have sacrificed too; their sacrifice might go unnoticed or unrewarded, because it isn’t as high profile, or can’t be afforded. Ultimately, the decision about the reward for nurses and other NHS staff will be made by an independent body later this year and we will await their verdict

Supplementary Question

Does the Leader of the Council understand why nurses in particular feel betrayed by the Government and will he urge the Government to accept the recommendations of the independent nurses pay review body?

As I indicated in my written answer, the matter is to be considered by an independent body later this year and I hope that the Government will take notice of that independent body.

Cllr Charlotte Atkins asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

Now schools are fully open, what practical steps is the County Council taking to promote its Air Aware Project to ensure that the pollution from idling vehicles is eliminated? Will the County Council assist schools to measure air quality now and in future months to demonstrate to students and parents the polluting impact of drivers leaving their engines on when parked up outside schools?

The Air Aware programme played a significant role in improving air quality outside schools prior to the pandemic and the team have continued to work with schools in readiness for the return of all pupils to school on 8^th March.

Based on the success of the programme, a bid was submitted to the DEFRA Air Quality Fund last year to expand the programme to other areas in the county. I am pleased to confirm that last week DEFRA awarded Staffordshire County Council £296,828 to engage with schools, businesses, and communities to tackle air pollution. This funding will ensure that the Air Aware programme, including measuring air quality outside schools and anti-idling campaigns, will continue.

In addition to Air Aware, we have a Traffic Demand Management (TDM) programme in place, which also includes tackling issues outside school gates such as parking. Throughout the summer we will be delivering sustainable travel campaigns to encourage more pupils and parents to walk to school.

Supplementary Question

Are you aware that highways operatives working for the County Council are adding to the pollution problem by sitting in idling vehicles whilst they are waiting for their job to start? Can the Cabinet Member issue an instruction to staff not to continue with this polluting practise?

I would hope that any Councillor who observes such practises by any of the County Council’s employees would report it to the relevant senior officer. I, together with Cllr David Williams, will ensure that all employees of the Council are aware that this is not an acceptable practise. We are also looking at the Council’s fleet of vehicles with a view to introducing low emission vehicles.

Cllr Robinson asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

Does the Cabinet Member for Highways agree with me that 20 mph is plenty for speed limits around all our schools, play parks, leisure centres and community centres? Will he commit to immediately allocating funding to implement 20 mph zones outside the aforementioned community facilities across the county of Staffordshire?

Staffordshire maintains one of the safest highway networks in the country by targeting available resources at road safety interventions that have the greatest impact.

Most importantly, we liaise with our local communities to understand their individual aspirations and work collaboratively to tackle any road safety concerns.

20 mph speed limits/zones are just one of a range of measures used by the Council to improve road safety and to create an environment that supports sustainable travel modes, such as walking and cycling. Over fifty of our schools on the busiest roads already benefit from prominent advisory 20 mph speed limits and a further twenty 20 mph speed limit/zones have been implemented in local communities across the county in the last six years.

The full suite of road safety measures includes: a robust programme of targeted engineering schemes, including speed limit reductions; support for communities to install Speed Indication Devices; and engagement with the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership to deliver wide-ranging road safety training/education and Community Speed Watch initiatives.

The introduction of additional 20 mph limits/zones within our local neighbourhoods will continue as appropriate within our county-wide road safety programmes and as local community priorities established through a Members’ Divisional Highways Programme.

Supplementary Question

Will the Cabinet Member commit to working with the “20 is Plenty” campaign so that we can build on the work already carried out by the County Council?

I have already spoken with the “20 is Plenty” group and I can confirm that the Council will continue to work with any group which wants to make any betterment for Staffordshire.

Cllr Robinson asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport whose reply is set out below the question:-

Question

Will the Cabinet Member for Highways support my efforts on behalf of residents who live on Hardingswood Road and Second Avenue to see the County Council take urgent, immediate and substantive action to reduce the speed of traffic on these roads and restrict the improper use of these roads by Heavy Goods Vehicles? Local residents and I would also like assistance to see a reduction of vehicles using these roads as a cut through, causing mayhem at peak times due to the tight width of the road, specifically on Hardingswood Road bridges.

Reply

At the request of Councillor Robinson, following local prioritisation through his Divisional Highway Programme, in December 2019 the highways design team commenced a feasibility study, looking into the known issues on Hardingswood Road. An initial request for traffic data was made and the report was commenced in early 2020.

The feasibility study relies on having accurate, up to date traffic data, which over the course of 2020 varied dramatically due to the country going into lockdown. It therefore became necessary to halt the study temporarily until the highways data team could obtain the additional accurate traffic figures. The data is needed in order to assess junction capacity and to inform the designer on such things as traffic volume and vehicle classifications (numbers of cars, buses, HGVs, cyclists) and their typical speed.

In January 2021 work recommenced on the study and the requested traffic data is currently being collected. Once the full set of data has been obtained the design team will conclude their study and report the findings to the local member in the usual way. It is anticipated this will be completed by the end of April 2021.

Supplementary Question

Will the Cabinet Member undertake to work with my successor to ensure that these roads receive the attention they deserve?

Yes, I will continue to work with local members.

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