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Shrewsbury Question Time 2007
Monday 19 March 2007, the Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury
Listen to a recording of the event
A recording of the event was broadcast by BBC Radio Shropshire at 6pm, Tuesday 20 March 2007, to listen to this recording please use the following link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2007/03/20/shrewsbury_question_time_feature.shtml
Questions and answers
A summary of questions asked by members of the audience at Shrewsbury Question Time 2007 are set out below - responses from relevant services managers have since been added and individuals have been contacted directly with responses to their questions.
| Subject | Question | Service Manager/Officer to respond | Service Manager/Officer Response |
| Unitary |
Why did the council not see fit to hold a public meeting opposing the unitary council proposal and choose instead to hijack the meeting held by SCC? |
Robin Hooper | The council wrote to the County Council and advised it that it was not appropriate to hold public meetings on the 'One Council' during this poll. SABC therefore did not hold any. |
| Unitary | If the government decide to make Shropshire a unitary authority will the 'New Guildhall' be sold off for UNAFFORDABLE apartments? | Robin Hooper | There will be a need for office accommodation to deliver the services. The Guildhall will remain either for the Unitary Council or new Town Council as offices. |
| Unitary | Does the Panel agree that as many as possible of decisions that may affect Shrewsbury and Atcham, such as parking, traffic restrictions or road pricing, should be taken by SABC Council rather than the County Council; and if so what steps will they take to claw back decision-making processes that may have been moved from the Borough to the County? | Robin Hooper | The evolution model for local government advocates that in two tier areas the services should be decided and delivered at a local level as possible. This philosophy has been adopted by SABC since 23/01/07. |
| Unitary | The people of Shropshire have overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to become a county wide authority, so are unions and council employees from across the county right to be resigned to the fact that the Shropshire Unitary Authority is to go ahead in 2009? | Robin Hooper | No, SABC has decided to support the public view expressed in the poll and will judicially review the Secretary of State to order retain and improve the present structure. |
| Unitary | Following the public vote which was overwhelmingly against unitary, what steps are the council taking to ensure that the government respects the wishes of the people of Shrewsbury on this matter? | Robin Hooper | The council brought the vote to the governments attention. The MP has raised it several times in Parliament. The council is now raising it in the courts by way of Judicial Review. |
| Car Park Charges | Given the car park charges to workers/shoppers and visitors to the town and encouraging people to use public transport will the council charge it's own staff a similar amount if they use the car parks and encourage them to use public transport. Then car parks can be for income generation. | Andy Goldsmith | From 1st May 2007 staff who are not contracted to provide a car for work will no longer benefit from free car parking. Some staff require a car to undertake their duties in an efficient and cost effective way, for example Environmental Health Officers. It is a condition of employment for these staff to provide a vehicle for work and in return receive free car parking on long stay council car parks. If other members of staff wish to park on council long stay car parks they will be able to purchase a permit. |
| College Merge |
A question on the proposed co-location of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College at London Rd with SCAT |
Robin Hooper | The leader of SABC has placed an item on the Cabinet for 21st May 2007 to confirm how the Borough Council will deal with this issue. |
| Golf Course | Shrewsbury does not need another 18-hole golf course. Meole is exactly what the town needs, affordable golf for the young and perfect for the elderly who find 18 holes to challenging. Recognise the need for more housing developments but not to exclude excellent appropriate profit making facilities for current residents in the town. | Geraint Morgan | The provision of golf facilities by the Council needs to be examined. The Meole Brace golf course is provided by the Council for target groups including youngsters and beginners. It is currently running at a small loss having made a small profit over the last 10 years. |
| Golf Course | Would the panel agree that the proposed sell off of the Meole Brace golf course has little to do with any real need for new golf provision and everything to do with selling off of valuable green land for development? | Geraint Morgan | The Council has an obligation to all of its chargepayers to maximise value of its assets except where it is proven that this objective is over-ridden by other real objectives such as social need and environmental needs etc. The issue is being examined before any decision is made. |
| Golf Course | Does the panel agree that the land currently occupied by the Meole Brace golf course is very important green space and ideally situated recreational land and should be preserved as such? | Geraint Morgan | The value of the current Golf Course in 'green space' terms is appreciated. Any proposals for change of use of the site would include significant areas for such a purpose. |
| Golf Course | Is the council considering disposing of the land currently occupied by Meole Brace golf course so that it can continue to keep money in the bank, the interest from which is used to keep council tax bills down? | Geraint Morgan | If the Golf Course or part of it is sold, the proceeds will be put to financing other objectives (capital programme) of the Authority, which have been agreed in its Vision 2020 document. |
| Golf Course | Why destroy Meole Brace golf course, a perfectly good recreation facility that brings pleasure and enjoyment to many residents and visitors to Shrewsbury. If it ain't broke, don't mess with it! Why not focus on Ditherington and get the Malting building renovated, this will produce income from the restaurant and offices created there? I'm sure funding could be sourced from EU or Lottery |
Geraint Morgan | Questions are being raised as to whether or not there is now a requirement for a municipal golf course in Shrewsbury, bearing in mind the recent number of courses built within 10 miles of the town. The question is also being asked as to whether the current site is best used as a golf course, bearing in mind its significant value. Any receipt for example could be used to address other issues such as the Maltings. With regard to the Maltings, progress is being made along the lines indicated. |
| Golf Course | How did you arrive at the decision that a theatre is more important than a golf course or swimming pool? | Lezley Picton |
The Council has never made any reference to a Theatre being more important than either a swimming pool or golf course. In fact in the public document Shrewsbury 2010 it is made very clear the whole package is more important than the individual parts. The capital plans for both a new theatre and a new/refurbishment of the Quarry Swimming Pool have been in place for some considerable time. The Council see theatre provision as a very important part of the cultural offering in Shrewsbury and therefore the theatre was taken forwards as the Music Hall, the current facility, is struggling to keep up with Health & Safety legislation and its life as a theatre is limited. The design team has been appointed for the Quarry Pool project and work is underway. A thorough needs analysis will be undertaken before any decisions are made regarding the future of the golf course but as with all our services we are continually looking to improve the service. The Music Hall is currently very successful. It is unsuitable for any adaptations make it comply with the Disability discrimination Act. |
| Council Tax | What attention is given to controlling the council tax charged to us on a yearly basis, as a pensioner, the annual increase in pensions does not go anywhere near paying for council tax, water charges and utilities. What assurances can be given that charges might be shelved some years and not increased? | Campbell Thomson | The borough council puts the customer at the heart of the council and seeks to minimise the financial impact of council tax increases on council taxpayers of the Borough whilst at the same time delivering the Community Strategy. The Council is committed to delivering services as efficiently, effectively and economically as possible. Over the past three years efficiency savings in excess of £2m have been achieved which is significantly greater than the target set by central government. One of the major factors which will determine the level of Council Tax is the amount of Revenue Support Grant received from the Government. In 2007/08 the Borough Council received a cash increase of £70,000 or 1% compared to 2006/07 which is well below inflation. An inflationary increase in grant would have generated another £140,000.The loss of grant is equivalent to an increase in the region of 3% in Council Tax before service delivery issues are considered. Government grant for the future is predicted to reduce in real terms which will put further pressure on budgets and Council Tax .In 2007/08 in order to hold the Borough element of the Council Tax at 2006/07 levels further savings in the region of £150,000 would have been required which could have resulted in a reduction in service standards. Bearing in mind the economic circumstances in which authorities are operating together with a desire from the public for more and improved services to be provided no assurances can be given that there will be no increase in the Borough element of the Council Tax in the future. However the Borough Council will continue to strive to ensure that the financial impact of council tax increases on the public are minimised. |
| Concession-ary Bus Passes | Could one debate the question of funding for the concessionary bus pass scheme for the disabled and pensioners of the borough? | Campbell Thompson | From 1 April 2006 the Council by statute only had to provide Senior Citizens and people with disabilities a bus card providing free travel on local bus services in the Shrewsbury and Atcham area after 9.30a.m. Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. The Government has provided funding to meet the additional costs of the statutory scheme although it is by no means certain that this will be adequate. If the Council decided to provide any enhancements to the statutory scheme no grant would be received from the Government to meet these additional significant costs which would have to be funded from either an increase in Council Tax, reductions in expenditure or increases in charges for other council services. In 2007/08 the Council is budgeting to spend £865,000 on Concessionary Travel. |
| Congestion charging | Shrewsbury is rightly being promoted as a town of individual shops, will the needs of these shops be met when (if) the congestion charge is brought in? Will traders such as ourselves be given permits? Will there be a charge for permits? Will the charge apply all day or will our wholesalers who deliver early be exempt? | Eddie McGrath | These issues are being considered by Shropshire County Council as part of the ongoing Transport Innovation Fund Study. No proposals have yet been made, as the study is not complete. The queries have been passed to SCC for consideration and reply. |
| Congestion Charging | Can the panel say yes or no to congestion charging? | Panel | Please refer to BBC Radio Shropshire weblink above. |
| Congestion | In the light of Shrewsbury town centres' traffic problems at the weekends, what is the possibility of having a railway halt at Meole Brace adjacent to the new football ground to ferry people to football fixtures? | Eddie McGrath | This issue has previously been highlighted as a long-term proposal to form part of a cross-town service (Meole Brace to Harlescott). However it is currently at a very early stage. The comments have been passed to SCC as part of the TIF Study. |
| Congestion Charging | Will the congestion charge be a further boost to Tesco but damage town centre traders? | Eddie McGrath | SCC as part of the TIF Study have stated that any outcomes of the study will be predicated on preserving the vitality of the Town Centre. |
| Flooding | If the NW relief road were built would it reduce flooding? What other measures can be taken upstream to reduce flooding in Shrewsbury? |
Eddie McGrath | This issue is being considered by the EA as part of their ongoing studies into flood alleviation. The request has been passed to the EA for a detailed reply. |
| Bus Services | When will the council spare a thought, apart from occasional lip service, for those who don't have a car? How are they to access the new theatre or even the Guildhall without a bus service of any sorts? The footbridge, even after improvements won't be the complete answer and anyway it will be a long walk to there or even from Frankwell car park. The Welsh Bridge route in is not an option due to the lack of bus stops as Copthorne and Radbrook bus users know only too well. |
Eddie McGrath |
Public transport provision is a matter for SCC as Transport Authority. The comments will be raised with SCC at our next planned meeting on transport issues. |
| Congestion Charging | If congestion charging comes in will it exempt those that are disabled? If it does I can see Doctors Surgeries being deluged by people trying to get disabled blue car badges. From a recent documentary it seems to be a thriving trade in London where the badges are either stolen from cars or people have legally obtained one but have sold it on for very lucrative prices. | Eddie McGrath |
As regards exemptions if congestion charging is introduced, this query has been passed to SCC. As regards comments on abuse of the "blue badge" scheme, recent changes in legislation which permit Parking Attendants to inspect badges may help deter abuse of the system. |
| Dawin Gate | Darwin Gate Can an explanation be given to that awful construction at the top of Mardol? ' What a waste of money'. |
Dominic Wallace / David Griffiths / Geraint Morgan |
The Darwin Gate was commissioned by the West End Regeneration Group in 2004. The piece is a parallax form, which is a combination of stand alone structures that come together at a one specific angle to create a united impression - or image. The artists were inspired by the medieval (religious) architecture of Shrewsbury to create the columns and as the piece requires 'perspective' it's title is in homage to Charles Darwin. He was after all the man who was able to gain perspective on (society's) structures that had been in existence for centuries and present an impression to view the world afresh. This public art initiative originated from the West End Regeneration Group, a public / private sector partnership as a means of improving the public realm in what was once a declining part of Shrewsbury. The public art was chosen through a competitive process with artists and was supported by many local businesses. Public Art is very subjective and there are as many people who like it as dislike it. |
| External Investors | In your 'My Council' book you state private investors are committing around £880 million, 'driving forth the economic prosperity of the area', how much of that investment is actually creating employment for the people of Shrewsbury? Redevelopment of former industrial areas into housing estates in not viable without corresponding job creation. Out of town shopping areas are no good if people can't earn the money to spend in the! |
David Griffiths | Estimates of the level of investment have not been directly related to employment creation although unemployment has remained low relative to the regional and national averages. Building projects tend to create some employment for local people in the construction industry and new employment sites have been developed to replace the older industrial areas which have been developed for housing. |
| Public Conveniences | Why do councillors settle for a policy of second best? I am mindful of the difficulties of anti-social behaviour, but the council appears to have caved in to the problem, rather than using the innovative design solutions (made in Shropshire!) of other councils facing similar difficulties. Lavatories should be open when and where people need them. Fouled doorways at night in the town show the results of current policy. | Geraint Morgan |
SABC do consider toilet provision as an important service. It is attempting to focus its provision on 'the visitor' and in doing so will hopefully reduce the anti-social behaviour currently prevalent and provide a safe environment for the ordinary user. A review of the provision of public conveniences is underway which includes a proposed new facility in Frankwell. |
| Litter | SABC show great enthusiasm for getting the town ready for 'Britain in Bloom', which is fine. How about the same in getting Tesco to clear the litter strewn around their store? | Derek Caddy | There is consistent ongoing litter management by the council and our partners thought the year. We have more resources than ever to keep the community clean supported by the Tidy Shrewsbury Group and The Pride in Shrewsbury campaign. If we have complaints over private land we attempt to ensure that they clean up there own area ASAP. The level of customer satisfaction has improved in both the local and BVPI survey. We have more mechanical equipment cleaning the streets and very soon will have a greater ability to enforce against offenders for enforcement purposes. |
| Public Conveniences | With the councils commitment to tourism and the fact that it is worth in excess of £25m to the prosperity of Shrewsbury, when can we expect to see public toilet provision in or near Frankwell car park so that when people arrive they do not have to walk cross-legged until they find loos in the Quarry or the Pride Hill shopping centre. It is good to see another man around town collecting litter. | Geraint Morgan | A review of the provision of public conveniences is underway which includes a proposed new facility in Frankwell. |
| Elections | In the leaflet recently sent out with the council tax bills it says that while a little over 69% of the electorate voted in SABC elections last year, for this and successive years it is expected that only 45% will do so. This figure is appalling and suggests a lack of engagement by SABC with the people they act for. I would like to ask why this year's figure is as low as it is and why it is not expected to change in the future and also what steps are being taken to involve voters in local government. |
Gareth Owens | The turnout rate is higher than the national average, and the council continues to work to raise it still further. The council works with schools to raise awareness of voting amongst the younger generation. It also conducts voting pilots to make the voting process easier and more convenient. |