The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Minutes:
Question from Councillor Gavin Wright
Owing to the growing controversy in the local newspaper and on social media regarding the traffic wands on Wimborne Road, Poole. As well as the unwanted difficulties these impediments cause to the residents where the wands have been installed.
I would like to ask what consultation process had been carried out specifically regarding the wands. How were the residents directly affected consulted, before the wands were installed. If more of these wands are going to be installed around BCP how the council consult and engage with the residence that are going to be affected.
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
Councillor Wright. Thank you for your question.
As Ward Councillor for the area, I understand that residents at 8 properties along this road complained about the location of the wands outside their homes. The positioning was reviewed and adjusted by the team as a result. That does not constitute a controversy on this topic, and there have been no further concerns raised in the last 7 weeks.
The Councillor knows very well that there was an in-person consultation with the public, he was at the meeting and gave me his view on the scheme at some length. In addition, there were online materials and multiple letter-drops to the residents along the road. The letter was sent on 7th September 2023.
The design was adjusted to reduce the risk of flooding into residents gardens and homes.
A few people continue to park inside the wands, across the cycleway and pavement. This is illegal. Double yellow line restrictions apply to the back of the highway boundary.
Given the increasing width of vehicles, and the manner of driving by some, the use of measures like wands to protect schoolchildren in particular, is an important tool, and where officers recommend their use, they will form part of the consultation process on future schemes.
Wands are a cost- effective measure of installing some form of physical barrier to protect vulnerable road users. Re-aligning kerbs and drainage is preferable, but more expensive.
Supplementary Question from Councillor Gavin Wright
As you mentioned about vehicles using their cycle lanes, I'd like to know what the correct procedure is, or advice for cars, vans and lorries delivering to the addresses along Wimbledon Road. There's now no room to stop on the highway as it's too narrow so that packages from cars, vans and lorries can't safely be delivered. Are delivery vehicles supposed to negotiate their way down the cycle lane which they wouldn't be able to do in the case of lorries anyway because the bollards are too close together? Or are they supposed to stop in the driving lane which would block it completely on one side? This is a particular problem for building materials as has been mentioned by a couple of residents as they're delivered by HIAPs, lorry mounted cranes. They can't reach over the cycle lane and path to their houses and probably shouldn't be parking on the cycle lane. It would seem that these bollards have not been sufficiently thought through and should be removed and replaced with less obstructive solutions such as white lines or cats eyes. Any advice would be welcome so I can pass it on to transport managers who have asked me or sat in their offices scratching their heads at this what the correct procedure is for delivering to Wimbledon Road where these bollards are. Thank you.
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
A written response will follow once I have consulted with the relevant officers.
This response has now been provided and is set out below.
There are three schools in the vicinity of the Wimborne Road scheme, and if you travel the route at times when the schools are active, you will see the pavements and lanes being well used. Encouraging trips by walking and cycling is good for reducing traffic congestion for all, and we have a responsibility to make that safe, especially for children and those with limited mobility.
Delivery vans can either stop on driveways which remain fully accessible, or stop in the road to load/unload, or on side roads and walk the final few metres to complete their deliveries. Emergency vehicles including ambulances can again stop in the road, or on driveways.
Prior to the wands being installed delivery vehicles would straddle the pavement and cycle lane forcing vulnerable highway users into the carriageway putting them at greater risk of being struck by a passing vehicle. The wands not only provide better protection for cyclists but also keep the footway clear for pedestrians. This is especially beneficial for people with disabilities, or parents with pushchairs.
Wands were selected for this route to overcome drainage related challenges that would have been created if a stepped cycle track had been pursued. If a stepped cycle track had been pursued it would have likely been complemented with wands to prevent vehicles mounting it. Most properties have driveways and/or rear accesses along Wimborne Road and can therefore be served by deliveries - builder’s merchants have smaller vehicles i.e., Transit flatbeds that can deliver items onto driveways and to properties with tight accesses. Delivery vehicles can also park along nearby side roads (which were surveyed for capacity prior to the delivery of the scheme) and walk deliveries to properties – if items are too heavy, they could use a sack trolley. They could of course also deliver goods by bike or cargo bike. If being close to the property is necessary, then a vehicle could stop in the road outside of the wands treating it like any other 2-way road with double yellow lines. The double yellow lines universally apply to the back of the public highway ie to the back of the footway.
Wands are not new; they are commonplace across the country. If any residents are struggling with specific issues, they can of course contact the Council.
Question from Councillor Patrick Canavan
The Labour Government has given BCP Council £9.2m to help prevent homelessness and support rough sleepers. An additional £509,000 has been awarded for this financial year specifically to support those who are at risk of sleeping on the street.
Could the Portfolio Holder outline details of how this money will be spent, what recovery intervention work will be delivered, what additional accommodation will be acquired, and what actions will be taken to deliver long term housing options for those at risk or experiencing homelessness?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor Kieron Wilson
Thank you, Councillor Canavan, for your question.
We are grateful to the government for the grant they have allocated BCP to support local homelessness and rough sleeping services. The additional grant represents over a £1 million uplift in the grant received in this financial year. Like the majority of councils across the country, this grant provides critical support to subsidise the cost of almost all types of temporary accommodation.
We have around 500 households in temporary accommodation across BCP, because caps on housing benefits subsidy remain inadequate to cover the true cost of temporary housing. The grant also resources around half of our officers in our Housing Options team who deliver the council's statutory responsibilities to prevent and relieve homelessness. A service which has seen a 13% increase in demand in the past year, whilst improving the rate in which we've prevented homelessness for residents by 30%. The most tangible impact being our recent achievement in assuring no families and children in BNB.
This week, last year, there were 93. The grant has also used commission a number of supported housing providers to deliver housing and support to people who find themselves homeless and require additional support. In particular, our successful Housing First service, which we can now continue for a further year. The additional grant specifically received this year has been critical in providing an increase in outreach workers for St. Mungo's, increase in our homeless social work team capacity, and provided more best spaces in hotel rooms to provide additional support workers to help people move on from our silted supported housing system.
I’m pleased to confirm this has resulted in a 38% reduction in single night rough sleeping count from the previous month for January, and the lowest recorded count in almost two years. We are keen, where the additional resources have demonstrated positive outcomes, that these are continued into the following financial year. We look forward to the government confirming a multi-year settlement for ring-faced events grants as part of the forthcoming spending review. And this will give us great protection to our workforce and also our long-term vision for ending homelessness.
In summary, our priority will be to continue to fund what works to prevent homelessness, ensure good quality and appropriate temporary accommodation is available when needed, and protect local services that support people's long-term recovery from homelessness. Our local priorities will be reviewed as part of our strategic review with an updated homelessness strategy due to be published early next year.
Supplementary Question from Councillor Patrick Canavan
Can I just ask if, and you don't necessarily need to do it now, but if you could respond to the point about recovery intervention, because that whole aspect of health and recovery for rough sleepers, I think is something which we need to address specifically. Thank you
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor Kieron Wilson
Yes, I’m happy to answer you now. In terms of that, that is something we're looking at. There are partners across the conurbation who provide services in terms of providing health to those who are suffering from homelessness or rough sleeping. We have still a little bit of grant to be allocated, so we're having a review meeting in the next week with officers to establish where that goes. So I think I'll take that point on board in terms of where the allocation goes, thank you.
Question from Cllr Peter Cooper
Could you confirm that funding for the replacement of the malfunctioning bridge signs has been fully secured, as stated in the officers’ reply to residents’ enquiries? Additionally, can you provide a clear timeline for when the new LED signs will be installed, given that Blandford Road is a main arterial route and must be treated as a high priority? Residents in Hamworthy are at the end of their tether with the ongoing issues.
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
Councillor Cooper, thank you for your query, which relates to a question the resident asked earlier.
I have only very recently had sight of the response to the resident, but that answer clearly states that the work is intended to be completed in the 2025/26 financial year “subject to financial approvals and successful procurement”. This needs to go through due process.
The Transport budget attempts to respond to many high priority items. We hope to commence the procurement early in the coming financial year.
Supplementary Question from Councillor Peter Cooper
Can I ask what is the commitment and where are we going to get the money from?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
It does depend on a couple of things. So, we haven't agreed our strategic CIL as yet. That is one potential source to tie in with the works that need to be done on the bridges themselves. And if not that, then the local transport plan would be the route. So those are the two routes that we're looking at for funding, which of those it will be does depend on decisions that are yet to be made. Thank you.
Question from Councillor Michelle Dower
I have received 15 complaints in the past 10 days from various residents of Brooke Road and Cartwright Close who feel that their road has been abandoned and forgotten by BCP. Many of the issues raised impact the residents of West Howe and Kinson because this road is used to access Kinson Road from East Howe Lane.
The issues raised are:
1. Rat Run; The road is being used as a rat run, causing concern for children's safety due to speeding traffic.
2. Neglected Road Surface; The road surface is severely neglected with multiple potholes, making it resemble a farm track rather than a regular cut-through.
3. Litter; Despite a recent ticket raised for litter clearance, it remains a recurring issue, exacerbated by litter being released from bins during emptying.
4. Unauthorized Car Business; A resident is running a car business from their privately owned home, resulting in multiple cars parked along the roads and in the residents’ flats car park.
5. Overgrown Shrubbery; Neglected and overgrown shrubbery is obscuring visibility for drivers, particularly at the junction of Brook Road and East Howe Lane, making it difficult and dangerous to turn right.
Additionally, there is a BCP pathway at the side of 60 Brook Road that has not been maintained in the memory of the residents. It appears to have been forgotten due to its hidden location. A BCP Homes resident had to privately pay to cut back overgrown trees that damaged her cable, and to pay to cut back overgrown bushes. The ground is slippery from moss, and there is no lighting at all. One of the residents regularly sweeps and jet washes the public path to clear the moss and leaves buildup.
Would the Portfolio Holder commit to looking at these issues and providing me with a timetable for resolving them that I can share with the residents to ensure their safety and well-being?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
Councillor Dower. Thank you for your question.
You highlight the challenges we face with increasing traffic flows on many of our minor routes that were not built to take the number of vehicles attempting to use them.
I am happy to look at the issues you raise. Some of them are likely to be more intractable than others.
I have made enquiries since receipt of this question at the weekend.
Both roads are subject to annual highway safety inspections with the last ones completed on 19th February 2025. Two locations for safety repairs were identified for repair on Brooke Road.
On planned maintenance and resurfacing, our Unclassified Roads are subject to a SCANNER survey on a 4 yearly rota and the results used to help form a forward programme of works.
Brook Road was last subjected to SCANNER on the 13 January 2023, It is already deemed beyond a stage where a simple surface treatment would be an appropriate solution although that may still be practical for Cartwright Close.
Regarding the footways, they were last subject to a Footway Maintenance Survey on the 24 November 2022, following the same 4 yearly rota regime as the carriageways. Both sites, given a moderate presence of minor defects – mostly from utility reinstatements, seem suitable for a future footway slurry scheme within the next 5 years.
I am grateful to the residents who are sweeping and looking after the path.
I note that in addition to the overgrown pavement issues that you raise, there is part of the road with no pavement at all on one side. I have asked the team to attend to the vegetation, and they have advised that this is underway.
We would encourage all residents and fellow Councillors to use the BCP Report-it tool to raise issues requiring attention, as this is the most streamlined way to get them logged and acted upon.
I am always receptive to Councillors bringing unresolved matters to my attention. This is however, a very detailed and localised query to be raising at full council. I will attempt to get you further answers outside of the meeting.
Question from Councillor Sharon Carr-Brown
Like many of my colleagues, I’ve been contacted by several residents asking about delays in the renewal of blue badges. This is a vital service we carry out for some of our most vulnerable citizens and is the difference between their being able to get out and about and carry on their lives, and not.
In October 2024, the Overview and Scrutiny Board looked at this service and found that we were missing our 12-week processing target and the average time was 14 weeks. This is as a result of an entirely predictable spike in renewals three years after the pandemic. We were told that service improvements were underway to improve this situation. BCP’s website currently says that new badges are being processed in 12 weeks and renewals in 9; yet the phone line says all badges are taking 14-16 weeks.
• So, which is correct?
• What measures have been taken, such as staff recruitment or training, to improve the service?
• What measures are still to be taken?
• When will we reach our 12-week target and then progress to the 6-8 weeks that was the medium-term goal?
• Are we now consistently informing people of the 3-month grace period for BCP parking for people whose renewal is delayed? I can’t find this information on our website. How do we inform them?
The grace period is only of limited use. As one of my residents put it to me; “It helps a little, but of course not with hospital and doctor appointments or places like Castlepoint or Littledown where I go to the gym.” But it’s no use at all if we don’t inform people and, of course, it only applies to renewals.
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Custmer, Communications and Culture, Councillor Andy Martin
Thank you to the Councillor for her question.
I am as aware as anyone of the worry and frustration caused by delays in the Blue Service having dealt directly with a number of residents from across BCP and of course our own ward. Indeed, only this afternoon I visited a resident aged 90 to collect her form and assist her as she cares for her elderly husband, in fact a former Christchurch councillor.
Since we discussed the Blue Badge service at Scrutiny late last year, I have been receiving weekly reports on renewal and new application times and regular updates on staffing levels.
In order to drive progress on processing times, additional staff have been redirected from within the wider customer service team to assist the Blue Badge service, and a streamlined assessment process has been adopted for renewal applications.
This has led to a significant improvement in decision times, currently 8 weeks for new applications, and 7 weeks for renewals, as you will be aware, both well within the Department of Transport guideline of up to 12 weeks.
The additional staff that are supporting the improvement currently taking place will nevertheless have to return to their core function of Council tax and benefit customer enquiries for the month of March to provide support when the new Council tax bills are issued.
However, to mitigate the impact of this an apprentice has been recruited to work alongside the team and started in post on the 10 February.
The existing Blue Badge team have also been undertaking extra hours to work through applications which will continue where possible.
Work also continues reviewing our processes, including visiting neighbouring authorities to understand how they operate and what we can learn from them.
The current grace period where expired badges are not enforced for 3 months is not widely advertised, as it is not a permanent arrangement and only applies to council operated car parks and roadside parking.
The website and the council’s telephone line has been providing notice to applicants that processing times were more than 12 weeks but given recent improvements that is no longer necessary. Consequently, messaging has now been updated.
I would like to thank the Blue Badge team and wider customer services for their efforts.
Question from Councillor Peter Cooper
Can the Council provide a full breakdown of where our recycled waste is sent, including which companies or organisations it is outsourced to?
Additionally, do we have full traceability of what happens to the materials further up the chain, including their final destinations and carbon footprint? If this information is not currently available, will the Council commit to investigating and providing a full report on the end-to-end journey of our recycling?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
I will need to provide you with a written response.
Supplementary Question from Councillor Peter Cooper
Can you confirm the number of contractors we are working with?
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
This will be included in my written response.