Agenda item

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

 

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

The following members of the public asked questions:

 

Sally Chapman – Questions for the Environment Agency

 

I am here representing Friends of the River Exe which was formed last year. We recently heard a talk by Fred Leach from the Riverfly partnership who coordinates regular testing of the Exe for Riverfly species that indicate the health of the river. How important are these surveys and what do you do with these results? We have also set up our own citizen's science water testing group where we send regular sample results to Westcountry rivers trust. Do you welcome and support these initiatives?

 

These questions would be forwarded to the Environment Agency with a request for a written response.

 

 

Sarah Coffin

 

Question 1:

What consideration has been given to preventing Agricultural run-off relative to Motion 583?

 

Question 2:

Are Councillors aware that despite our two major industries of Agriculture and Tourism (covering 225,920 acres) your Council has no specified policy for either? 

 

Question 3:

Are Councillors aware that Agriculture is globally recognised as a major polluting industry which if not properly managed in accordance with DEFRA/EA/WRAP voluntary ‘Farming Best Practice’ and BAT (Best Available Technique) guidance, seriously impacts air, water and soil quality?

 

Question 4:

The major pollutions occur during storing/mixing/spreading of livestock slurry and AD digestate. If ‘good practice’ and Best Available Techniques are not implemented there is considerable risk of ‘odour Nuisance with the release of harmful emissions being dispersed into the air; as well as potential overspreading and run-off into water sources. Despite this Mid Devon does not condition Best Practice within Agricultural Planning Approvals why?

 

Question 5:

Do Councillors realise that DEFRA/EA Best Practice guidance for these activities are voluntary and the EA only enforces if major water pollution occurs with fish kill. In the meantime any ‘Odour and detriment Nuisance’ impacting local communities is the remit of Mid Devon.  It is acknowledged that ‘splashplate’ method of spreading slurry and digestates is the worst and least beneficial so why doesn’t Mid Devon insist that the best method of spreading (injection pipes)  are utilised – even if only in sensitive locations. This would be easy for public to identify and report.

The Chairman thanked Ms Coffin for her questions and indicated that as the questions had not been received two clear days in advance of the meeting that a written response would be provided.

 

Goff Welchman

 

My previous question at the last meeting regarding the external Directors at Three Rivers and the reply that I received are in your minutes so I hope that you have all read it.

 

In my opinion the reply gave the impression that there were external Directors from very early on, on the board of Three Rivers. So I put in a Freedom of Information request to verify that fact and your Freedom of Information Office refused to give me a reply. So I went to Companies House and did my research there instead and what I discovered was that none of the initial Directors on the board of Three Rivers at its inception were independent of this Council and I actually don’t believe that the people involved had the necessary depth of skills to run a complex business of that nature. This appears to have been confirmed by the continual and escalating losses of taxpayer’s funds throughout the history of the company.  New Directors were only appointed around four years after the company’s inception when it was already in deep trouble. Therefore in my opinion the reply that was given to me fell woefully short of the truth. This only heightens my suspicion that, we the public, are not being given the truth about Three Rivers, therefore now that I have discovered that the reply given to just one question about one of the lessons learned fell short of being an accurate answer my questions tonight are as follows:

 

Question 1:

Can the taxpayers of Mid Devon now believe any information given to us about Three Rivers by Mid Devon District Council’s officers in view of the evasive response that I have received so far?

 

Question 2:

Will the Council now make a comprehensive statement without regarding the lessons learned about Three Rivers, all the lessons learned, explaining exactly what mistakes were made at the outset, by whom and what financial impact these mistakes had, without regard to any juggling of funds between accounts such as for example Housing Revenue Account Funds being used to buy St Georges Court?

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Welchman for his questions and indicated that as the questions had not been received two clear days in advance of the meeting that a written response would be provided.

 

Howard Cuthbert

 

The Environmental Agency claim responsibility for rivers and water courses in the Mid Devon Council area. They highlight Critical Ordinary Water Courses (COWs). However, four associated with Tiverton are listed as Unknown.

 

Question 1:

How can the public report pollution to the Agency?

 

 

Question 2:

Does the Environmental Agency have the ability to guarantee the quality of water, in the Exe and the Lowman, from Bolham to past the sewage works outfall, used for swimming by the public?

 

Question 3:

The Rivers Trust for the Exe and Lowman as they pass through Tiverton have a number of storms drain sites listed “Not Asset Maintenance, Hydraulic Capacity”. This is result of the South West Water asset being undersized and no amount of fiddling on how they are operated can prevent a spillage. Does this not course concern and suggest corrective action be taken to remedy before pollution occurs?

 

These questions would be forwarded to the Environment Agency with a request for a written response.

 

Nick Quinn

 

 

For the past few months, the purchase of the St George’s Court complex by the Councils’ Housing Revenue Account has been reported as nearly completed.

 

Question 1:

Has the purchase of the St George’s Court complex by the Council’s Housing Revenue Account actually been completed yet?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

No.

 

Question 2:

If so – On what date was this completed?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

Not applicable.

 

Question 3:

When will the remedial works be completed and all the properties in the complex be made available for bidding on the Devon Home Choice system?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

To be confirmed.

 

Paul Elstone

 

 

Question 1:

Does it remain this Councils intention to make each of the 39 houses and flats at St Georges Court primarily available to over 60’s residents.  If not, what is changing and why?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

Yes, therefore the second part of the question was not applicable.

 

Question 2:

When exactly is it planned that the first St Georges Court property will be occupied?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

An indicative occupation timeline could be confirmed post-handover and allocations then lettings would be completed as efficiently as possible. Exact dates of occupation cannot be given as they were dependent on specific checks and the circumstances of each tenant.

 

Question 3:

Over what timescale is it planned that every one of the 39 St Georges Court properties will be occupied?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

As for answer 2.

 

Question 4:

I have heard it suggested that a Letting Agency will be engaged this to rent out the 11 houses at St Georges Court and for rental onto the open market.  Can this suggestion be dispelled or otherwise?   

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

All 39 properties were being acquired by Mid Devon Housing as social housing, therefore none would be let on the open market.

 

Question 5

The underground car parking at St Georges Court is a recognised flood risk. Signs even requiring to be posted to state this.  How is this being reconciled with the future residents of St Georges Court in terms of welfare or property damage concerns? This especially given they are elderly residents and perhaps of limited financial means?   

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services:

It is common for below ground structures to have a level of flooding risk with built-in design to minimise this. As with any other tenancies, St Georges Court residents would be advised to hold adequate insurance to cover personal property including any vehicles and contents that may be at risk in the relevant parking areas. Mid Devon Housing would be responsible for all building repairs and maintenance at the property. All living accommodation had safe above ground access and egress to protect residents.

 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services asked Mr Elstone to let him know who had suggested that a Letting Agency was to be instructed to let out the 11 houses so that Cllr Clist could reply to them personally.