Filton Town Council meeting 29th November 2016
Road and Traffic Issues – I continue to ask about the study that has been done on the junction of the ring road and Filton Avenue but so far it still hasn’t been released to me. I will report at Council should I receive anything by then that I am able to share.
At the last meeting of the Environment and Communities Committee I raised questions about the decision by Network Rail to delay the electrification of the Filton Bank four tracking. I expressed the concern for residents of Wallscourt Road South particularly who have seen the bank cleared of trees and shrubbery both to allow access to the road required to allow many lorries to access the works at Filton Abbey Wood station and the four tracking work itself. The fact is that a large amount of vegetation has been taken out in advance of the electrification works all along the track to Temple Meads and Parkway, but this has proved unnecessary and has removed some noise protection fro residents.
Additionally I raised the issue at the meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium that I attended a couple of days later in London. It is somewhat ironic that at a time when there is serious concern about air quality in the centre of Bristol and pressure for diesel cars to be banned from the centre we see the likelihood of diesel trains running at increased intervals on the line between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.
Devolution – at a Council meeting held on Monday 14th November the Council voted overwhelmingly to go ahead with the deal negotiated with Government together with Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset. Over the period that this deal has been being negotiated I have become increasingly concerned that it isn’t a good deal for the West of England.
I am concerned at the democracy of having a combined authority which in practice is just 4 people, the Leaders of the 3 authorities and the Metro Mayor, who is going to be elected on Thursday 4th May 2017.
The deal is for 30 years and financially will bring in an “extra” £900m over that time, which is £30m per year and it is argued that this will bring major funding for infrastructure, I don’t think that this is enough to solve the transport problems faced by the West of England let alone funding the other so called devolved powers. If we are to resolve transport issue we need to be looking at going under or over the city and that would require tens of billions of pounds, which is unreachable under this deal.
There is no guarantee that successor governments will continue with the same deal and just on the legal cycle of general elections there could be 5 changes of Government over the period of the agreement.
Although we are assured that the Mayor will have limited powers and will require the agreement of a majority in some cases and unanimity in others, it is questionable as to whether it is politically workable and no Government will give the Mayor all of the power over the area in the future.
The papers contained the Parliamentary Orders which would be laid in Parliament and approved as part of the Autumn Statement.
In the event I was one of the few to vote against acceptance of it for the reasons that I have outlined here.
Local democracy – at the meeting on 14th November the ruling Conservative Group took the first steps towards taking opposition members out of the democratic process of the council.
They have started the process of bringing the Cabinet form of Government back, whereby policy decisions will be taken by individual Executive Councillors and not the all party committees which we moved to in recent years.
In fact opposition councillors will have less involvement than they did before the council moved back to committees, which was that there were scrutiny committees mirroring the main committees involving a large number of councillors from all parties, this is to replaced by a scrutiny commission of about 15 members under these proposals.
Labour and Liberal Democrats voted against this move, but as is the case now were outvoted by the Conservative majority.
House in Multiple Occupation – on 9th November I attended the first meeting of the Task and Finish Group on HMOs. Initially we received a briefing on the legislation that is going through Parliament at the moment which will extend licensing to all HMO’s and not just those in house of 3 storeys or more as is the present situation. Initially this will mean that the Council will need to identify all of the properties covered by the legislation and it could take some time for that work to be done and the full register to be compiled.
An initial discussion took place on the possible use of Article 4 directions, but more information is required by the group on the implications of this and the detail required by Government for consideration of approving Article 4 directions. This feels like a breakthrough, but I think that there is some way to go before it is clear what might be achieved.
Joint Spatial Plan and Joint Transport Study – consultation is currently open on these two very important documents. In South Gloucestershire the nearest display to Filton is at Thornbury was on Friday 25th November. Details can be found on the West of England web site.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Wednesday 26th October – I attended a briefing on the agenda of the West of England Joint Transport Executive which was to be held at BAWA on Friday 28th October, the main item of which was an update on the progress with Metrobus. Yate
In the afternoon I attended the agenda briefing for the Environment and Communities Committee which would be held on 9th November. Yate
Friday 28th October – I attended the meeting of JTEC (Joint Transport Executive) of the West of England as a member of the public. The bulk of the meeting were detailed presentations on the progress of each of the sections of Metrobus from each of the “Lead” authorities all of which are making good progress. BAWA
Saturday 29th October. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 1st November – I attended a briefing from 2 Directors of the Merlin Housing Society on aspects of the work of the society Yate
Wednesday 2nd November – I attended a meeting of the Policy Advisory Group (PAG) for a final briefing on the Devolution deal which was to be decided at the Council meeting on 14th November. Yate
Wednesday 9th November – I attended the first meeting of the HMO Task and Finish Group Yate
In the afternoon I attended the meeting of the Environment and Communities Committee the agenda for which included an update report on the North Fringe to Hengrove Metrobus package, confirmation of a study to be carried out on the proposed junction 18A which is the link from the Ring Road to the M4 at Emersons Green and Area Wide Grants. Kingswood
Friday 11th November – I attended the Annual General meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium where I was re-elected as the Labour Vice Chair. amongst receiving a great deal of transport information we received an update briefing on the Buses Bill from the civil servant who has been responsible for it’s drafting. London
Friday 18th November – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Sites Inspection Committee. Thornbury
Between this report being written and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Saturday 26th November. – our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 29th November – A meeting of the PAG to discuss the first stage of the new Local Plan. Yate
Filton Town Council meeting 25th October 2016
The following is my report since the last meeting of the Town Council
Libraries
Following the decision of the last meeting of the Environment and Communities Committee a further consultation has now commenced on the revised proposals and all information including form is available on the South Gloucestershire Council web site. The consultation is taking place between 10 October and 02 January 2017.
Road and Traffic Issues – I have been trying to progress a number of outstanding issues which are being dealt with differently since the change of committees and the abolition of the Area Forums where we were able to take decisions on schemes which are now decided by officers.
There has long been concern from residents in Kenmore Crescent and Kenmore Drive about the “No Entry” that happens at peak times during the day to attempt to stop rat running. This has been looked at several times over past years and is being investigated yet again after pressure from residents and councillors. Traffic counts have been carried out to assess the level of non compliance and are in the process of being evaluated at the moment.
2. A few weeks ago a petition was received concerning the crossing of Elm Park where it joins Gloucester Road North at the southern end. It was felt by those complaining that the facility for crossing for people with disabilities was inadequate and I understand that this is being looked at still.
3. It has been confirmed that an area wide review of parking within Conygre has been identified as a potential candidate for implementation. Under the system that now exists this and others are under consideration by senior officers to dvertimne the priority order in which they will be carried out.
4. There is continuing work being done in conjunction with officers to try to keep disruption and inconvenience as low as possible during the time that Network Rail lorries will be using Wallscourt Road South to enter the area where the 4 tracking and new station platform works are occurring. I reported this in more detail on my September report to the Town Council.
5. In addition to these local works there are ongoing and significant works on the ring road taking place and planned which I hope to cover further next month.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Thursday 6th October – a meeting of the Development Control West Committee Thornbury
Saturday 8th October. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 10th October – I attended a meeting of the Public Transport Forum Kingswood
Thursday 13th October – I attended a meeting of a working group in respect of the overall planning of the land to the East of Harry Stoke. Yate
Friday 14th October – I attended a meeting of the Policy Sites and Places Yate
Saturday 15th October – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Between this report being written and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Thursday 20th October – The opening of the Knighstone housing development on the site of the previous Charlton House. Filton
Followed by a Briefing on the operation of the new system whereby councillors will be allocating a budget for community grants. Yate
Friday 21st October – A meeting of the Development Control West Planning Sites Inspection Panel
Saturday 22nd October – our regular weekly surgery Filton
Filton Town Council meeting 27th September 2016
The following is my report since the last meeting of the Town Council and comes with an apology for not being at the meeting as I will be at the Labour party conference in Liverpool.
Libraries
A final decision on the future of ur libraries, including Filton of course, was taken at the meeting of the Environment and Communities Committee at a meeting in the Armstrong Hall at Thornbury on Wednesday 7th September.
Following the consultation, which ran across the summer, a new proposal was announced by the Council’s Conservative administration which for the moment is called “Open Plus”, a system of keeping libraries open during unstaffed hours by the use of technology.
Under the system, demonstrated to us by a company called Bibliotheque, which supplies the “Open Plus” version, on the day before the meeting, access would be available to library members during the hours when they are not staffed.
Basically libraries can be open for as long as the council decides, probably 09:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs 7 days per week. Access would be by using the current library cards not new ones and would be available to all residents, apart it appears, anyone under the age of 16 years.
The affect on Filton would be that the original proposal of 18 staffed hours will increase to 26 which is still a reduction of 15.5, but better than originally feared.
The main debate revolved around staffing and the funding of better staffing hours as my political group repeated the position that we took at the Council’s budget meeting which was to pursue the reinstatement of the £6 reduction of the green bin charge back up to £36 and use that money to fund better staffing numbers across the library service. In the final vote this position was lost., although the numbers that I have quoted from the report could change depending on the ultimate cost of the introduction of “Open Plus”.
The system is being introduced at the Bradley Stoke library as a permanent “pilot” so issues that have been raised should be able to be resolved.
So at present a number of issues are still outstanding for resolution including concerns at the restriction on under 16s, security of the buildings and contents when unstaffed, nervousness of some people in entering an empty public building. There is an issue that may arise when switching from staffed to non staffed hours as the probability is that library users may have to leave the library when the switch over takes place and then re-enter using their cards.
So, ultimately I, with my group, supported the use of technology and increased hours for library users with the introduction of “Open Plus” , but could not support the cuts in staffing, supporting the re-instatement of the green bin charge to £36 to help with funding.
Road and Traffic Issues – I have to report that the report in respect of the A4174 and Filton Avenue junction has still not been released but I am promised that it soon will be.
Road and Rail – On the 7th September, together with Cllr Adam Monk, I attended a presentation by Network Rail of plans to access a service road along the west (Filton) side of the railway track for the purpose of undertaking work on the 4 tracking of Filton Bank, construction of a new platform at Filton Abbey Wood Station and work in relation to the electrification of the system which will taking place at a later date..
This was the first time that we had heard about the plans for access and it raised some serious concerns that have been reiterated to us by residents, with whom we have considerable sympathy, but have to recognise that this is a decision that Network Rail have the authority to make.
The plan is that vehicles will access the “haul road” through Wallscourt south and travel in one direction emerging at Dovercourt Road, the is to allow Horfield cutting and Filton Abbey Wood station plus the reconstruction of the Stanley Farm footbridge to be done in 6 months less than using any other possible options.
For residents there are clearly issues as the vegetation will be stripped from the embankment the fences taken down for the road access at the bottom of Wallscourt Road South, no parking on the north side of the cul-de-sac and approx 30 lorries per day accessing the haul road. This is in addition to the issues that are already identified of trying to find further measures to assist residents with parking and access, limiting or stopping (if it were possible) commuter parking mostly it is believed from the MoD and Abbey Wood station itself.
Adam and I immediately wrote to residents in the roads most likely to be affected and we will be working with officers to try to do as much as is possible to keep disruption to a minimum.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Wednesday 27th July – I attended what I hope will be the final meeting of the Members Working Group that has been revising the Council’s Animal Welfare Charter, with the particular addition of the banning of snares on council land. Yate
Thursday 28th July – I attended a new regular members working group in respect of the building of the new neighbourhood on the land East of Harry Stoke which has particular difficulties associated with it. Yate
Friday 29th July – a meeting of the Development Control West Sites Inspection Panel. Thornbury
Saturday 30th July. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 8th August – I attended the agenda briefing for the meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee due to be held on 11th September, as the returning application for the new Air Ambulance and Police Helicopter base. Yate
Thursday 11th August – I attended the meeting of the Development control West Planning Committee which approved the site for the Police and Air Ambulances on the site at Almondsbury Thornbury
Wednesday 24th August – I attended the agenda briefing for the meeting of the Environment and Community Service Committee due to take place on Wednesday 7th September. Thornbury
Friday 26th August – I attended a meeting of the DC West Sites Inspection Panel. Thornbury
Saturday 3rd September – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 5th September – I attended a briefing on the agenda papers for the West of England Joint Transport Executives due to take place on Friday 9th. Yate
Tuesday 6th September – I attended demonstration of the “Open Plus” system by Bibliotheque. Yate
Wednesday 7th September – In the morning I attended a presentation from Network Rail on their decision to use Wallscourt Road South as the access route for lorries servicing the work to Four track Filton Bank and build the new platform at Abbeywood station. Kingswood
In the afternoon I attended the meeting of the ECS Committee on which the main item was the future of our libraries described above. Thornbury
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Filton Community Engagement Group. Patchway
Thursday 8th September – I attended a meeting of the DC West Planning committee. Thornbury
Saturday 10th September -I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Thursday 16th September – in the morning I attended the “drop in” for residents to view the exhibition on the plans for the use of Wallscourt South for access to the railway line and discuss the nature of the comments received. Filton
Saturday 17th September -I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Between this report being written and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Thursday 22nd September – A meeting of the Filton Priority Neighbourhood Steering Group. Filton
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Labour Deputy Lead Member for Environment and Communities
Wednesday 21st September 2016
Email: roger.hutchinson@southglos.gov.uk
Tel: 07860 181204
to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com I can also be found on Facebook Roger Hutchinson and Twitter @rogerhutch
Cllr Roger Hutchinson – report to Filton Town Council meeting on Tuesday 27th September 2016
Filton Town Council meeting on Tuesday 26th July 2016
My last report to the council was at the April meeting so this follows on from that so maybe a little lengthy
At the Council’s AGM on Wednesday 18th May the Council changed it’s constitution, a major change being to amalgamate the Planning Transport and Strategic Environment Committee and the Communities Committee into one called the Environment and Communities Committee. The new committee will have the same number of members i.e. 13 and the Conservatives take Chair and Vice Chair with Labour and the Lib Dems having Lead members and Deputy Lead members, so I have become Deputy Lead member for Environment and Communities and no longer Lead member on PTSE Cttee.
Also at the meeting there were a large number of public statements in support of the library service and against cuts. Cllr Joanne Ward made an excellent contribution in support of retention of Filton library at it’s current hours and listening to all of the submissions it made me wonder how the council could possibly fail to listen to them and go ahead with the proposed cuts. We will find out in September.
Filton Airfield – Local members had a further briefing on 11th May, which I understood to be being given to Town and Parish Councils soon after.
Essentially the Framework Agreement had still not been singed but was believed to be imminent., expected on or around the 20th May
Background work for more detailed planning applications were underway
Transport infrastructure was being delivered/planned
On the enterprise area which is the Filton part there is a focus on: Sustainable Travel (walking, cycling and public transport).
Public realm: (quality, design, materials/treatment)
Serves and facilities: (accessibility, function ad management)
The Environment: (air/noise quality, sustainability and natural landscape)
On the Airfield site now owned by YTL pre-app discussions are underway and proposals are intended to fall in line with the Framework Agreement with a broad timetable for submissions of planning application.
Higher number of dwellings being investigated with implications for revisions of Metrobus/MetroWest schemes and principles being considered for amendments to timing of some infrastructure delivery making access and public transport being delivered earlier than the BaE scheme and planned.
This was the subject of a presentation to the Town Council on
Devolution – This is ongoing, the proposed ballot on 23rd June was rejected by Government so South Gloucestershire Council will decide on whether to accept or reject on the 29th June and the public will then be consulted on the proposals.
There was a debate at council on the 29th June were I and others expressed some concerns of the size of the offer i.e. £900m over 30 years which , as North Somerset have decided not to join, is split between 3 councils so £10m per year for 30 years for South Glos. I could not see how major transport schemes costs 10s of billions of pounds, such as an underground system, could hope to be funded. There is also an issue of democracy and exactly what a combined authority is because it isn’t a big council. The combined authority would be the leaders of the 3 councils and the metro mayor taking major strategic decisions. In the event Labour abstained on the basis that it still has to come back in October for a final vote, the Lib Dems voted against and the Conservatives voted it through. It remains to be seen now whether the final deal will be the same or will be worse as a result of Brexit.
Road and Traffic Issues – Since the April meeting the roundabout resurfacing has been completed and the lane markings changed. The necessary signs and road markings have been done in the areas with 20mph limits.
HMOs – The new ECS committee (which I wasn’t able to attend as I was at the annual conference of the Local Government Association) received a report which had been asked for my the Planning Committees on the issue of HMOs and what might be done to deal with the continued increase in numbers, particularly in Filton and Stoke Park. The committee decided to set up a task and finish group Cross party Member Working Group comprising members whose wards are particularly impacted on by HMOs to further investigate the issue and to advise if one of more Article 4 pilots should be established in South Gloucestershire. I am personally pleased to see this as I have done a great deal of work on the issue of HMOs over the last 2 or 3 years.
Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension – This was a long awaited report to the ECS committee that was deferred by the previous and last meeting of the PT&SE Committee. The major issue was the question of the link between Parkway Station and Gypsy Patch Lane and whether it should be via Hatchet Road or from the north side of the station out to Winterbourne Road and down the dual carriageway from rabbit roundabout. There had been considerable local opposition to the Hatchet Road route but the committee decided to follow that route from the south side of Parkway and including a bus lane up the north side of Hatchett Road.
Waste management – the last report from that meeting of the ECS committee to report on is the adoption of the new waste strategy which will see changes to the current system with the black bins being reduced in size from 240l to 140l, still being collected fortnightly and the collection of all recycling on a weekly basis. This is designed to increase the amount of recycling and consequently reduce the amount of waste going to landfill in line with the council’s climate change strategy.
new vehicles are being purchased to replace those currently in use and this will mean that all recycling will be collected using one vehicle.
There will be no change to the service for particular medical problems, those with larger families will be assessed for more black bin space as now, a separate nappy sack collection will be done through the provision of a one use plastic bag that can be put out with the black bin. Additionally families will be able to seek assistance through a reusable nappy scheme offering a discounted nappy kit to provide reusable nappies.
It is estimated that provided that targets are met a saving of between £800k and £1000k will be saved per annum.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Saturday 30th April. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 3rd May – I attended a briefing on the skills element of the proposed devolution deal. Yate
Wednesday 4th May. – I attended the final meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee. Kingswood
Thursday 5th May – I attended the first meeting of the new Filton and Patchway Safer and Stronger Group Filton
Friday 6th May – In the morning I attended the DC West Sites Inspection Panel Thornbury
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Policy, sites and Places members working group. Yate
Tuesday 10th May – I attended a briefing on devolution proposals on Planning, Transport and the Environment. Yate
Wednesday 11th May – I attended the CPNN briefing outlined above Yate
Wednesday1 8th May – I attended the South Gloucestershire Council AGM as outlined above. Kingswood
Friday 20th May – I attended a further meeting of the Policy Sites and Places Members Working Group Yate
Saturday 21st May – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 23rd May – I attended a meeting of the Self Build Working Group Yate
Thursday 26th May – An event marking the beginning of the new Concorde museum. Filton Airfield
Friday 27th May – A meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium Executive Committee Westminster
Wednesday 1st June – a further briefing session on the devolution deal proposal.
Yate
Saturday 4th June -I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 6th June – Yet another meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places Working Group Yate
Later in the evening I attended the Public Transport Forum Kingswood
Saturday 11th June – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 14th June – I attended a briefing of Lead members on the agenda for the West of England Joint Transport Board Yate
Wednesday 15th June – I attended the final meeting of the devolution policy advisory group before the council meeting that was to decide the council’s position. Yate
In the afternoon I attended the draft agenda briefing for eh new ECS Committee Yate
Thursday 16th June – in the morning I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee Thornbury
In the afternoon I attended the celebration of the new housing scheme that has replaced Newleaze House.
Saturday 18th June -I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 20th June – I was at a joint meeting of the 2 Development Control Planning Cttees with the ECS committee to consider the proposed Policy Sites and Places DPD consultation document. Yate
in the afternoon there was a training event for members who wold be on the ECS committee. Yate
Tuesday 18th June – I attended a visit to the custody suite at Patchway Police Station.
Wednesday 29th June – I attended the South Glos full council which dealt with the devolution deal referred to above. Kingswood
Friday 1st July – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Sites Inspection Panel Thornbury
Saturday 2nd July – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 4th July to Thursday 7th July – I attended the Annual conference of the LGA. Bournemouth
Friday 8th July – I was on the annual tour of the DC cites which visits sites of interest where the result of planning consent can be seen as finished and asses whether decisions had been good or not. Among the sites visited were the Newleaze House replacement housing and the site where Charlton House Elderly Persons care home was located. Yate
Saturday 9th July – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Wednesday 13th July – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Committee. A site on the agenda was a 9 bed HMO in a 3 bed semi in Charles Road which I argued and voted against, but the committee decided to approve it as there view was that it was unlikely, based on recent experience, to be able to be defended at an appeal. Late
Saturday 16th July – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 18th July – I attended a meeting of South West Councils at which we had an update briefing on the various devolution deals that are being set up around the region and across the country. Of interest was the view from the Officer doing the briefing was that there is a big question mark on the availability of any money to back up the offer of £900m over 30 years without the Government cancelling a major infrastructure scheme and there is also concern over how long the £5.3 billion due to be paid to the UK from the European Union Structural Funds during the 2014 – 2020 programme period would be paid . Secondly there is a strong possibility of it being held up because too the heavy workload on Government during the period of negotiation and the amount of new legislation that will need to go through Parliament to replace existing legislation. Exeter
Between this report being written and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Thursday 21st July and Friday 22nd July – Attendance at the LGA Public Transport Meeting and study tour in South Wales Cardiff
Saturday 23rd July – our regular weekly surgery Filton
Please note that there will be no surgeries during August
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Labour Deputy Lead Member for Environment and Communities
Wednesday 20th July 2016Email: roger.hutchinson@southglos.gov.uk
Tel: 07860 181204
to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com I can also be found on Facebook Roger Hutchinson and Twitter @rogerhutch
Filton Town Council meeting 26th April 2016
Filton Airfield – Things are now moving on as far as the airfield site is concerned and this week we had a briefing by a team from YTL, the new owners of the airfield, which showed that the new company intends to develop and retain ownership of the whole site, with a number of changes to the original ideas of BAe which was to sell the site of in plots. An interesting addition was an indication that the company is considering the future use of the Brabazon Hangars as part of the development..
Devolution – South Gloucestershire are holding several briefings on the various aspects of the proposed Devolution agreement so that we understand what is on offer. It is clear that there isn’t universal agreement on the way forward, particularly as the government is clear that the deal is only available if we have a Metro Mayor, the election date of which has been fixed as May 2017. The Labour Groups in the 4 authorities have been concerned that while consultation is promised the public will have no say at all on whether there will or will not be a Metro Mayor, in spite of the 4 Labour Groups calling for a non binding vote to be taken on 23rd June, the same date as the Euro poll when the cost would be minimal.
Road and Traffic Issues – Since the last meeting, I have received concerns about the lack of consultation by Bristol City Council in respect of proposed new traffic management measures around the hospital, which might have an effect on parking in Charborough. As a result I met with a South Gloucestershire officer and one from Bristol CC on site to discuss the issues. It appears that the changes on Southmead Road on the Filton side are minimal, the bulk of the changes being to put in restrictions to parking times similar to those that we have introduced in some of our roads whereby there is a 2 hour period when parking is banned. What I found interesting is the timescale involved, which appears to see the work being done probably in September, by which time the new car park and extra parking will be due to open in the hospital site. In this case it is impossible to predict what the effects might be on Filton.
Priority Neighbourhood – I attended the recent meeting of the Communities Committee as a substitute for one of my colleagues, where the decision was taken on whether Filton should or should not continue as a Priority Neighbourhood. The main proposition was that Filton should be removed from the list while receiving the same support for the next 3 years. It was also suggested that a “celebration” would be held to mark the occasion.
I, with the support of my Labour colleagues on the committee, to argue against taking us off the list, given that we would still be funded as a PN. The important issue was that as a Priority Neighbourhood local organisations and charities have an advantage when applying for grants from various organisations which they would lose if they lost the name. The logic of this was clearly understood by some, including officers, but in the event the Conservatives out-voted us to remove Filton from the Priority Neighbourhood list!
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Saturday 2nd April. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 5th April – I attended a briefing from Directors of Merlin Housing Society Yate
Wednesday 6th April. – I attended the meeting of the Communities Committee that voted to take Filton off of the Priority Neighbourhoods list. Kingswood
Friday 8th April – I attended the DC West Sites Inspection Panel Thornbury
Saturday 9th April – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 12th April. – I attended a site meeting with officers of South Glos and Bristol to discuss the hospital parking proposals as mentioned above. . Southmead
Wednesday 13th April. – I attended a meeting of the PTSE Major Schemes Sub Committee to approve legal documents in respect of MetroBus Kingswood
Friday 15th April – I attended a meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium plenary Westminster
Saturday 16th April – I attended our regular weekly surgery followed by the demonstration at the library against the proposed cuts in library services in Filton Filton
Monday 18th April – I attended a briefing from YTL in respect of the Filton Airfield development as described above. Yate
Tuesday 19th April – I attended a meeting of the Policy Sites and Places Members Working Group Yate
Wednesday 20th April – in the morning I attended a meeting of the LED Policy Advisory Group where we learnt that since the introduction of Part night lighting and LEDs the council had saved over £2m and large amounts of carbon. Yate
In the afternoon I attended the PTSE Agenda briefing for the committee meeting on the 5th May Yate
Since writing this report I expect to attend the following:
Thursday 21st April – A meeting of Development Control West Planning committee
Filton Town Council Meeting – Tuesday 29th March
CPNN – I have nothing more to report at this meeting, although South Glos Cllrs are having further briefings before the Steering Group is set up, hopefully there will be a timetable for Liaison meetings and the Steering Group inaugural meeting soon.
Devolution – I am aware that both Adam and Ian have reported on this so I won’t duplicate what they have reported. So I can report that we have been briefed on the document and are to receive further briefings on parts of it to gain a good understanding on what has been agreed by the 4 Council Leaders. The document is to be consulted upon but as Adam and Ian have said, unlike the decisions on Mayors for various Cities, it appears that the Metro Mayor is being forced upon us.
Road and Traffic Issues – at the last Council meeting I reported that I was pursuing parking issues that had been raised with me in respect of Conygre Grove. Other Conygre issues were raised by members and as a result I can report that the other complaints in the ward are being investigated in addition to Conygre Grove.
I received a petition via the Town clerk in respect of concerns, particularly for older residents, at the state of the pavement at the southern junction of Elm Park with Gloucester Road North. On Tuesday of last week I met with an officer on site and agreement has been reached that some remedial work will be carried out on the kerbs to improve safety and a request for tactile surfaces will be put onto the list for consideration for the 2016/2017 financial year.
At the same site meeting I raised issues in respect of concern by people using the crossing across the new 3 lane section approaching Filton Roundabout.
I also raised my concerns at the white lining on Filton Roundabout that should indicate clearly that the middle lane going north is not a right turn lane. I am hopeful that this will be rectified when the roundabout and parts of Gloucester Road North and the A4174 are resurfaced in May.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Thursday 25th Feb. – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee. Thornbury
Tuesday 8th March. – I attended a meeting of the Members Working Group that considers the renewal or changes to supported bus services Yate
In the evening I attended the final meeting of the Southern Brooks Area Forum where I supported a grant application from the St Peters 3rd Filton Brownies Patchway
Wednesday 9th March. – I attended the agenda briefing for the PT&SE meeting due to take place on 23rd March Yate
Friday 11th March. – I attended a meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium Executive Committee. Westminster
Saturday 12th March. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 14th March – I attended a briefing from officers on the Agenda and Reports for the meeting of the West of England Joint Transport Executives/Transport Board Yate
Wednesday 18th March. – I attended the South Glos. Full council meeting Kingswood
This was followed by a confidential briefing on the Devolution Deal that was reported to Parliament in the Budget Speech earlier in the day.
Saturday 19th March. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 21st March. – I attended a meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places Members Working Group . Yate
Wednesday 23rd March. – I attended a further meeting of the Bus re-tender WG
Yate
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee Kingswood
Thursday 24th March – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee.
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Labour Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment
Tuesday 29th March 2016
Tel: 07860 181204
Filton Town Council Meeting – Tuesday 23rd February
CPNN – Last month I reported that a meeting had been called to update South Gloucestershire Councillors on recent developments on the CPNN for the 9th February. This meeting took place and we received a report from the Planning Officer in respect of the outstanding need for the Framework Agreement to be finally signed and possible changes that would be requested by the new owners YTL, during the planning process. Officers were expecting to agree the signing of the Framework Agreement in the next few weeks which wold allow individual applications to come froward. A change in the position with the airfield site is that YTL intend to develop the site themselves under one large application covering everything including housing and employment areas, the latter is not proposed to change from the current 24 hectares.
The next stage will be to set up the Steering Group, which is the body that will check progress against the schedule of dates and suggest alterations where appropriate. The agenda for the steering group will be set by the councillors group who will have any information that arises fro the liaison group with Bristol which is also to be restarted. I will report further at future meetings as I have in the past.
South Gloucestershire Council’s Budget – South Gloucestershire Council met on the evening of 17th December to set it’s budget agreeing a council tax increase of 3.99% for the coming year. Much of the budget was known from the decisions taken at the Policy and Resources Committee 2 weeks ago where we tried to improve services that Filton people have been complaining about such as a reduction in gulley cleaning times from every 3 years as it is now to every 2 years, employment of an extra dog warden, making 3 in all because of the concerns about increases in dog fooling and the lack of enforcement and extra measures to deal with litter and fly tipping, no-one of which were successful.
At the full council meeting we, the Labour Group tried do change the Conservative budget to save the 9 PCSO posts to retain the Welfare Grants at there present Cleveland to reduce the savings proposed in the youth budget by £100,000. We pressed for the continuation of the policy of paying staff at Living Wage Foundation rates again without success and finally we pressed for a figure of £230,000 to be taken off the proposed savings target on libraries. £230,000 is the savings that are estimated to be made by a reduction of the green bin charge by £6 per year i.e. 11p per week.
So the result is that South Gloucestershire will fund 9 less PCOs and Filton library will remain under threat of reduced hours to give a percentage of residents 50p per month reduction in their annual payment from £36 to £30, a very poor choice of priorities.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Wednesday 27th January – I attended the PT&SE Cttee meeting. Kingswood
Thursday 28th Jan. – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee. Thornbury
Friday 29th Jan. – I attended a meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium where we received 2 presentations the first from a company called HCT which runs a fleet of buses across the country and has some interesting methods of improving Community Transport. They are working with Bristol Community Transport on a pilot scheme for self drive community transport and one of their vehicles runs from the Filton Community Centre.
The second presentation was from representatives of Crossrail, the new overground/underground line that will join Reading through central London to Abbey Wood with new stations being built at Paddington, Tottenham Court Road< bond Street, Liverpool Street ,through to Abbey Wood. The construction methods and drilling machine are very interesting and a great deal can be seen on YouTube clips. Westminster
Saturday 30th Jan. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 1st February – I attended the Public Transport Forum Kingswood
Thursday 4th Feb. – I attended the SGC Environment Forum where the subject was the SGC Biodiversity Plan Chipping Sudbury
Tuesday 9th Feb. – I attended the CPNN update briefing mentioned above Yate
Thursday 11th Feb. – I attended a meeting of the South West Council Resource and Management Cute Taunton
Friday 12 Feb. – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Sites Inspection Panel Thornbury
Saturday 13th Feb. – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 15th Feb – I attended a meeting of the Self/Custom Building members working group. Yate
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the PT&SE Major Schemes Sub committee to sign off the agreements that will be negotiated and signed with MetroBus operators. Kingswood
Wednesday 17th Feb. – I attended the South Glos Full council budget meeting at Kingswood
Between today and the Town council meeting I expect to attend
Saturday 20th Feb. – Our regular weekly surgery Filton
Monday 22nd Feb – briefing for DC West meeting on 25th Feb
Tuesday 23rd Feb – Policy Advisory Group on Devolution proposals
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Thursday 18th February 2016
Please note that I no longer have the 01454 964048 telephone number, in future I can be contacted on 07860 181204
Filton Town Council meeting – Tuesday 26th January 2016
Shield/Third – I am now pleased to report that the work requested by the school and local residents has now been completed. Contrary to public statements made recently, I would remind the council that this work was able to be done because of the work done by Filton Labour Councillors in pursuing the matter to the priority list and then securing the funding at a meeting of the Southern Brooks Area Forum.
HMOs – as the council will know I have been pursuing the issue of the need for licensing HMOs for houses less than 3 storeys high, given that the council only has licensing powers for HMOs of 3 storeys and over and has therefore been powerless to do very much about issues that cause concern to others..
In recent months there has been a change in the officer who was doing the work on this and recently I have been finding out exactly what the position is and have been advised that there are proposed changes to HMO mandatory licensing due this year which would enable the council to licence 2 storey HMO’s without the considerable cost, resources and evidence needed to set up an additional licensing scheme. This is timely as it will be in place before we would have been able to set up an additional licensing scheme even if Filton had met the criteria for additional licensing.
The expansion of the mandatory licensing scheme has been designed to pick up areas like Filton. As soon as the legislation is changed (the technical discussion document says changes are planned for this year) the council will start licensing these additional HMO’s in Filton and the rest of S Glos. The survey results, for Filton that were carried out last year and I reported on, will help SGC target these properties. Licensing will allow SGC to ensure smaller HMO’s are adequately protected and properly managed, but would not allow us to prevent them from being there.
Air Ambulance and Police Helicopters – council members will no doubt remember that planning consent was given several months ago for the new base of the 2 helicopters to be sited on land close to the junctions of the M4 and M5. This decision has been quashed because of possible legal proceedings by objectors and will be heard again at a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee on 25th February.
CPNN – a meeting has now been arranged for 9th February to brief and update South Glos Councillors on the current position in respect of the developments on the airfield and the surrounding sites that make up the Cribs Patchway New Neighbourhood. I will therefore be in a better position to report more fully on this next month.
South Glos Budget – The Council will set it’s budget on Wednesday 17th February, after it has been agreed as a recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee on 1st February. However we already know that the Communities Committee has decided to remove it’s funding of 9 PCSO’s, close several public toilets and a library at Chipping Sudbury as well as the mobile library service.
Since the last meeting I have attended the following:
Wednesday 9th December – I attended the South glow Full Council meeting
Saturday 12th December – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 15th December – I met with a planning officer to discuss the future meetings in respect of the CPNN Yate
Thursday 17th December – I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee Thornbury
Friday 18th December – I attended a workshop on the progress of neighbourhood heat networks on CPNN Yate
Saturday 19th December – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Wednesday 6th January – I attended the PTSE Agenda briefing for the January meeting Yate
Thursday 7th January – I attended a briefing on the council policy in respect of Gypsy and Travellers Yate
Friday 8th January – I attended a meeting of the Allowable Solutions Board Hanham
Saturday 19th January – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Wednesday 13th January – I attended a briefing on MetroBus Kingswood
Saturday 19th January – I attended our regular weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 19th January – I attended a briefing and a list to the council’s customer service centre Kingswood
Between today and the Town council meeting I expect to attend
Monday January 25th – A meeting of the Animal Welfare Charter review group in the morning and in the afternoon a meeting of an informal policy advisory group. both at Yate
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson 