Malcolm
Hanney (Cllr.), Deputy Group Leader, Conservative Group, Bath
& North East Somerset Council, provided
the following response to the questionnaire on behalf of all
Conservative Party candidates.
We
feel that the multiple choice answers to the questions raised in your
questionnaire would not have enabled Conservative Councillors and
Candidates to give appropriately informative answers to your members
and at worst our responses may have been misleading. We are therefore
grateful that you have given us an opportunity to state the B&NES
Conservative position in respect of each question.
A1
B&NES
Conservatives have made a manifesto commitment to reduce the Council's
carbon emissions by at least 2% pa over the next ten years. We believe
this to be a critical commitment which can be delivered without
reducing key services and against a background of capping and needing
to ensure affordable levels of Council tax increase.
A2
B&NES
Conservatives are committed to a zero waste policy. It makes sense in
terms of environmental, economic and social considerations. The Council
is also seeking to work with other Councils in the West of England
(Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire - all LibDem led)
in a Joint Waste Strategy. These Councils have made it clear that they
are not at this stage (i.e. prior to full consultation and considering
all options) prepared to commit to a zero waste policy or to rule out
incineration. Unless B&NES Council is to go it alone with
significant cost and other strategic and operational consequences, it
has no option other than to make a decision on sign-up when a Joint
Strategy is finalised. It has, however, made its position clear that it
is committed to zero waste and opposed to mass burn incineration.
A3
We
believe the issue of carbon-neutral home building should be part of our
developing local development framework. It is important to recognise,
however, that in the absence of compulsion from central government,
developers and local Councils will, in many cases, be faced with a
choice of alternative potential planning gain. To the extent that
carbon neutral homes have up-front costs, the choice may be to
have less affordable housing - this will raise alternative views
as to sustainability and the balance of economic, environmental and
social considerations.
A4
School
transport and the balance of choice and cost to users vs. cost to
Council Tax payers is a major issue facing the Council. The cost to the
Council for the provision of school transport has increased
dramatically in recent years reflecting the increasing fuel and
wage costs of contractors. These costs (which are related to statutory
provision) have to be absorbed by the Council or passed on as
Council Tax increases - school budgets are ringfenced. Conservatives
support additional bus usage by residents and less use of cars.
However, in the absence of direct government funding, there is little
prospect of being able to generate within the Council's revenue budget
the level of funds necessary to support say a yellow bus scheme.
Indeed, the Council is already short over £700,000 plus per annum from
Government in terms of the costs of free bus passes for the elderly
which government was meant to be fully funding. This has added to
pressure on transport and Council budgets.
A5
B&NES
Conservatives recognise the importance of Bristol Airport in the
context of a robust regional economy but are very concerned at the
rapid expansion in recent years, the planned further expansion, and the
consequential environmental impact. From a practical perspective,
B&NES is able to review and comment (to North Somerset Council) on
planning issues related to Bristol Airport such as building in green
belt, potential flood impact, night noise etc, and traffic
impact - all of which cause concern.
Decisions
on airport expansion and air travel taxation are made by
central government. David Cameron has made the Conservative
national position fairly clear in recent months.
A6
In
developing a Vision for Bath (and Bath & NE Somerset),
Conservatives insisted on an accompanying dynamic business plan that
will consider the potential viablity gaps on major developments and
cumulatively. This enables the Council to seek appropriate levels of
funding support from government bodies to enable developments to
proceed - SW Regional Development Agency, Housing Corporation, English
Partnerships, Department of Transport funding - in addition
to planning gain from developers directly. The Council may, however,
have to use elements of its significant property resources to ensure
that over the next twenty years or so the redevelopment that takes
place is of appropriate overall quality and with the necessary
infrastructure - this may have an impact on services but
is essential to protect the long-term future.
So
the Council will be faced with having to achieve a sustainable balance
between competing objectives such as additional green space,
infrastructure, affordable housing, possibly having to accept lower
land values for some its assets in order to deliver the overall vision
etc.
Green
spaces are important to quality of life so they must figure high
on the agenda. However, residents must also be given information to
understand (as we move forward) what they will not have in respect
of their other priorities if the percentage requirement for
green space is increased beyond the current 4%.
