Councillor Tim Hill’s January Report to Elstow Parish Council
I do a regular report for each of the Parish Councils covered by my ward and below is the latest one for Elstow Parish Council-
Village-wide Issues
a) Street lights in the old village that are more in keeping with its Conservation Area - An Officer Meeting was convened by an Assistant Director at the behest of the relevant Portfolio Holder - Cllr Charles Royden- to ensure progress following my request to him. A new Report on the issue that was prepared by a senior Highways Officer is going to Sustainability Committee on 25th January 2012. I am assured that money will be available for this Project and in time.
b) Dog fouling - especially at the south of the old village - No update.
c) Speeding in Abbey Fields/Elstow Lower Parking - No update.
Highways Programme 2012/13
- I have put the following in my bid for this Programme. I copied in the Clerk and the Chair when doing so:
a) High Street - in particular the old village part and outside the Pear Tree View estate. The road surfaces are in need of some tlc of some sort.
b) Medbury Laneoutside row of houses - Road surface needs levelling off in some way.
c) Abbey Fields - Rust coloured areas on road at bottom of decline/incline by bypass are beginning to break up. Need some pro-active action to stop it.
d) Progress Way roundabout - Some emergency work has been done at my request to remove loose brickwork and replace gaps but a more thorough examination needs to be done to see if a more comprehensive refurb is needed for this very busy roundabout.
Local Issues
- Since my last Parish Council Report, I have amongst other local issues progressed the following raised by residents:
a) Poor state of tree supports on green at entrance toWaltham Drive- I am told the requested work has been done.
b) Grass verge near 9, Bayham Close needs cutting -Borough Officers are clarifying if it is adopted. No update.
c) Speed checks - I have asked the local SNT for details. No update.
d) Progress Way roundabout - I am pleased to see that the urgent repairs to safety-related problems I asked for have been done. I am still chasing a proper, longer-term repair to roundabout.
e) Grass verge in Wigram Close needs cutting - No update.
f) Bunyans Mead footpath - Dropped kerb. No update.
g) Bunyans Mead footpath - General tidy up and weeding. See below.
h) Proposed development nearInterchangeRetailPark- No update.
i) Bus timetable inProgress Waybus shelter - Ted Bowen contacted me asking me to chase this. I have done so and am awaiting a response from the relevant Borough Officer.
BPHA Walkabout
- Attended summer "walk-about" with Graham Leach and Keith Hooson from BPHA, and Sue.
a) Medbury LaneGarages - In need of maintenance and repair.Cllr Charles Royden, the Executive Portfolio Holder for Highways asked Borough Councillors for examples of poor maintenance by BPHA of garages as it is a problem in his Ward as well. I gave theMedbury Laneones as a good example. No update.
b) Bunyans Mead footpath - Part of the problem is of course that BPHA is only responsible for the parts of the footpaths fronting BPHA properties. Graham noted down several areas where weeding and/or maintenance is required. I will be asking the Borough for confirmation of who "owns" the other parts. No update.
- Could not attend November one as it was during day.
Ward Fund
- I attended the re-arranged meeting for 1st December 2011 with the Council's Ward Fund Team Manager to review my bids.
- Street lights - See above and also may have an additional £1.7k available due to change in Stewartby Project.
- Wilstead Cllr Ward Fund donation for benches nearWixamsLake- Part of this area is in Elstow Parish. I was formally consulted and gave the OK to the Wilstead Cllr spending some of his Ward Fund on benches to be installed in this area.
Borough Council
- No update.
Covanta Incinerator
- I am very proud to report that Mayor Dave Hodgsonand my Liberal Democrat Group colleagues on the Council Executive have been instrumental in successfully pushing through an emergency item at the Mayor's Executive meeting on 7th Dec 11. The emergency item authorised the immediate engagement of very high-level legal Counsel at the joint cost of around £100k to challenge along with Central Beds Council the IPC decision, using a "Special Parliamentary Procedure" .