Issue - meetings

(1)       Mr Hallett introduced the report and highlighted key pressures and savings.  Issues arising from discussion included the following:-

(2)               Mr Ferrin explained to Mr Daley that it was too early to give an answer on the elderly persons travel passes countywide system as the Government’s guidance was still awaited.  The current system could not be sustainable for the Borough and District Councils, that were having to fund the system.

(3)               In response to a question, Mr Ferrin advised Mr Daley that £100k had been allocated for the replacement of trees in the Budget for 2009/10, which should be sufficient.  This figure would be reviewed in the following financial year. 

(4)               Mr Ferrin responded to a question by Mr Poole advising that the underspend on the Freedom Pass was due to assumptions that the South East Trains would be covered as well as buses.  This was expected to be £2m, this did not arise as South East Trains did not wish to be included. 

(5)               In response to a question from Mr Manning, Mr Ferrin explained that KCC in answer to “Kent Jobs for Kent People” had produced an apprenticeship programme.  There were current negotiations for different types of work packages to include training with £½m budget to begin with.

(6)               In response to concerns raised by Mr Angell, regarding heavy transport creating damage on country roads, Mr Ferrin sympathised, advising that this came under basic law, which says “if you need access, you can have access”, legally KCC cannot stop them using the country roads. 

(7)               In response to three questions from Mr Parker, Mr Ferrin advised that he would consider the possibility of transport links to country parks to encourage visits.  He said that the main reasons for the reduction in Cubit income was due to the scrap value in cars, fewer cars were now abandoned.  This would be closely monitored for any changes.  Mr Ferrin advised Mr Parker that he had been unable to find a budget for tree replacement in the absence of an available figure for tree replacement, £100k had been agreed.

(8)               In response to a request by Mr Harrison, Mr Ferrin advised that he could not give an assurance of underspend being put into the maintenance of country parks at this stage of the budgetary year.  Mr Hallett reassured Mr Harrison that within the Medium Term Plan £800k was allocated for country parks.

(9)               Mrs Tweed highlighted an exercise conducted by Leicestershire County Council to divert heavy lorries and sought assurances that KCC would look into this.  Mr Ferrin said that he was aware of the exercise and questioned that this involved paying local police to enforce restrictions, a role that the police should be carrying out regardless.  Mr Ferrin advised that this issue would form part of the work undertaken by Mr A Mee, Director of Integrated Transport Strategy on the KCC Integrated Transport Strategy, that would be completed this year. 

(10)          RESOLVED that the report and the comments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122