Agenda item

1.

Question from Councillor Tim Harman to Cabinet Member Development and Safety, Councillor Andrew McKinlay

Can I welcome the recent leaflet raising awareness with regard to action to reduce the problems that residents have with Urban Gulls.

Can I ask if the Cabinet Member is aware of the experiment being carried out by Gloucester City Council and others using a Bird of Prey as a further deterrent. Would he look at this option and see if he would help the situation on Cheltenham?

Response from Cabinet Member

Yes we are aware the Contractors for Glos City did for the first time present a bird of prey during their gull control program this year. The theory being that the presence of the raptor re-enforces a message to the gulls that it is not a good place to nest.

The use of birds of prey is a more commonly utilized gull control method in open/rural areas such as landfill sites.  However, given the additional costs of this method along with the practicalities of their use in urban areas it has yet to be validated as a value for money exercise.  

In Cheltenham we did this year trial egg replacement as opposed to the egg oiling method of previous years.  As a member of the Severn Estuary Gull Group we receive feedback from other LAs on the 2015 program, this includes Gloucester who will report on any additional benefits of their use of a bird of prey.

I can confirm that all available methods and previous outcomes are considered during our annual review of the gull control program here in Cheltenham. 

In a supplementary question, Councillor Harman asked if there could be report back to Council on the outcome of the trial in Gloucester City.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged that the management of seagulls was an important issue for the town and therefore it was important to explore every option and understand the full implications of any proposed solution and how it could be implemented.  He looked forward to hearing back from Gloucester City and would keep Members informed of the results.

2.

Question from Councillor Andrew Chard to Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment, Councillor Chris Coleman

Could the Cabinet Member please tell me what facilities there are for disabled children to play in the Borough’s parks and play areas?”

Response from Cabinet Member

Cheltenham Borough Council’s adopted Greenspace Strategy includes the 10 principles to play design contained within the Play England document ‘Design for play; A guide to creating successful play spaces’.

The following paragraphs from that document are reflected in our approach to play provision:

‘Successful play spaces offer enjoyable play experience to disabled children and young people, and to those who are non-disabled, whilst accepting that not all elements of the play space can be accessible to everyone. Children with different abilities can play together in well-designed play spaces, and parents and carers who are themselves disabled should be able to gain access to play spaces if they are to accompany their children

‘Though many play providers focus on equipment that is wheelchair-accessible, it is important to recognise that there are many different types of disability or special need. Non-prescriptive equipment, which can be used flexibly – such as a nest swing – might be interesting to large numbers of children with different needs and abilities.’

The emphasis over the last five or so years has been to encourage inclusive play by installing equipment, where possible, that can be used by children, and in some cases adults and children, with a range of abilities playing together.

The nest swing cited above is a classic example of this. It can be used by several teenagers in the evening, ten or more young children as they leave school, by a parent or carer with a young child in their arms during quieter periods, and is secure enough for a less mobile or independent adult or child to be placed into it. These can be found in Hatherley, Pittville and Naunton Parks and other locations in the Borough.

Other examples of our approach to play areas are:

• the double width slides that will allow two to use it side by side as installed in Agg Gardner’s, King George V and Springfields.

• a specific request was received for a swing seat that could take a harness to secure the user and this was installed in Fairview Play Area. An additional one was later installed in the play area in Elmfield Playing Field in a unit designed to accommodate four children playing together.

• modern designs for multi or climbing play units offer a range of access points ranging from inclined ramps, inclined hand holds, scramble nets, ladders, climbing poles to steps and platforms to allow use by those with a wide range of abilities. Many of these also include panels, colour, sound and sensory elements together with moving parts to enhance the play experience.

• the movement towards Natural Play embodied in the report ‘Design for Play’ has encouraged a more naturalistic style of play set in a natural environment. This introduces a softer, more tactile and sensory play experience that is accessible and stimulating to those with a wide range of abilities. Sites such as Benhall Woods, Springfield’s Park and Agg Gardner’s are examples of this approach.

The Play England document mentions accessibility in several places and this became the cornerstone of our initial approach to inclusive play provision. If a child cannot gain access, they cannot play in the area.

So to ensure inclusion, most gates have been replaced with ‘Mono Hinge’ gates that have no latches, are wide and are in a contrasting colour and have a hydraulic unit incorporated that limits the closing speed. These are specifically designed to allow easy access to the less able. In addition, all play areas have a level approach and most of the surfaces are smooth as well as impact absorbing allowing access to all.

Over the course of the last five years, we have replaced in the order of 38 play units that can all be considered to be inclusive, together with carrying out extensive resurfacing in three sites. The annual expenditure that has allowed these improvements to be made is based on the allocated budgets of £80,000 Capital and £50,000 developer’s contribution together with lesser sums from revenue budgets to replace damaged components or units.

The proposed Pittville Park play area refurbishment project typifies our approach to modern play area design methodology. We have built in a stage in the design process to allow for an extensive consultation with individuals and groups representing users with a wide range of abilities to ensure we create an inclusive play experience for all the users.

I was delighted to join Council Officers from the Green Space Division and a representative from the Friends of Pittville recently in a visit to play areas in Broadway, Evesham and Slimbridge that were specifically referred to in the recent Pittville Park public consultation exercise. We saw the innovative approach that had been taken to incorporate the needs of children and carers of all abilities and we were particularly impressed with the inclusion of sensual experiences using water, sand, plants, sound and colour. The visit provided inspiration and many of the ideas have been used to inform the design brief that will be advertised as part of the tender process.

The Project Team has already established links with a local school catering for children with learning difficulties, and the successful tenderer will be holding design workshops that will inform the final proposal.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Chard asked whether the Cabinet Member would agree to meet with him and some of the parents of Bettridge School who may not agree with his response regarding the facilities available.

The Cabinet Member said that he had been very impressed by the officers’ commitment to this issue and the intention was to have meetings with parents and children from the Bettridge School as part of any consultation. He would be more than happy to meet with Councillor Chard and the parents as requested.

3.

Question from Councillor Anne Regan to the Leader, Councillor Steve Jordan

When these offices move into the new premises will there still be a Civic Mayor or is it this administrations aim to drop this role?

Will the new premises have a suitable reception room for the Mayor to greet and meet all our business and overseas visitors?

Where will Civic functions be held after the public days during the year i.e. Remembrance Sunday etc. where we would normally assemble in the Municipal Offices?

Response from the Leader

The cabinet’s view is that the role of the civic Mayor is very valuable to the town and there is no proposal to discontinue it.  In any case this would be a matter for the whole Council, not just the administration.

I can confirm that the new building would have suitable reception rooms for entertaining visitors, which are a basic requirement of any municipal headquarters. 

Members will be aware that the proposed new location for the council offices is in the central area, in walking distance of the Promenade, and equipped with on-site parking. Civic receptions after Remembrance Day and other major events could easily be held there.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Regan said that for some people walking from the Promenade to the proposed new building would be a considerable challenge and she asked the Cabinet Member if he had considered the needs of the disabled and the veterans.

The Leader advised that their needs would be taken on board in the planning of any event but this was still some years away.

4.

Question from Councillor Tim Harman to Cabinet Member Finance, Councillor John Rawson

Can the Cabinet Member assure that Council that as part of the plans for the relocation of the Borough Council Offices that he will take into account the need to provide Council/Committee rooms with adequate space and access for members of the public who have a right of access to our deliberations.

Response from

Councillor Harman should recall that £350,000 has been included in the financial modelling for fitting out a council chamber and committee suite. That said, the flexible layout of the new accommodation will make for more efficient use of space than the existing offices, including the creation of multi-purpose spaces. 

In regard to public access, I am delighted that Councillor Harman has highlighted one of the major benefits of the relocation that he so unwisely opposed.

He will surely recollect that an equality impact assessment was carried out as part of the due diligence work in the papers considered by Councillors on 14 April 2015. That assessment identified the relocation option as a positive impact, mainly because it is in a modern building compliant with the Equalities Act.

By contrast, the existing Municipal Offices offer poor access for the public, staff and fellow Councillors; a situation which is difficult to rectify because of heritage considerations and the layout of later additions to the building such as the Council chamber.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Harman asked whether the Cabinet Member would ensure that the council consults with disability groups so that they have the opportunity to input to the design.

The Cabinet Member was happy to confirm this.

5.

Question from Councillor Jacky Fletcher to Cabinet Member Finance, Councillor John Rawson

When the move to the new offices takes place can you tell me what will happen to the historic memorabilia in the Mayor’s Parlour?

Much of the Town’s heritage is displayed here. There are many gifts from our twin towns e.g. the Goose Girls from Göttingen, as well as presents from Annecy and many more from other parts of the World.

There is the wonderful tapestry donated to the Town, priceless silver, cut glass, the picture of Waterloo, the desk, the clock presented to me when I was mayor and of course The Mace which represents our Queen.

All of this is part and parcel of Cheltenham’s history and should be enjoyed by all visitors to our offices.

Response from Cabinet Member

Clearly the Mayor will need to be provided with suitable accommodation in the new council headquarters.  I see no reason why memorabilia and items of historic importance should not be displayed there. Better still, they could be displayed in public areas of the building for people to see, instead of being in the section of the building that is normally closed to the public, as they are at present.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Fletcher asked whether there was a firm commitment to maintaining a Mayor’s parlour.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that the role of Civic Mayor would be maintained and this would involve providing the appropriate accommodation for them. The move to modern offices did create new possibilities for shared space and therefore he would not be too prescriptive as there may be an option for the Mayor's office to be used for other purposes.