Questions raised by Members of the Public
Question
I find the difference in operational methods between Burwell Parish Council and other local Councils somewhat perplexing. In my experience it was always so in District Councils and to see it in Parishes is a shame. What opportunities are there for more communication given that joint working could need to happen more in the future, for example on environmental issues?
Response from the Council
Annually the Parish Council holds a Strategy Day where Council members and staff meet to discuss what it has done in over the past year and the plans for the future. Unfortunately, in 2020 due to Covid restrictions this could not be held. In terms of addressing environmental issues, Burwell Parish Council is further advanced than many Parish Councils. Climate Changes will be one of the topics discussed at the Strategy meeting this year. It is important that we work with the District Council, County Council and Government. We are already working with East Cambridgeshire District Council. We also intend to work with Burwell Environment Group.
Question
Earlier this year the County Council issued a press release describing the launch of an experimental approach to road verge management which will be trialled for the next two or three years, namely reducing cutting to once or twice a year and then removing the arisings, this to allow more wildflowers to grow and allow more opportunities for pollinators to survive and thrive. Given that Burwell Parish Council manage road verges on behalf of the County Council and District Council who may well follow the County lead has the Parish Council got any thoughts or views on how this could be implemented across the parish if it becomes mainstream verge management policy?
Response from the Council
The Council has met with Officers from Cambridgeshire County Council Highways Department and suggested five possible sites to be managed as wildflower verges in the village as part of a Pilot Scheme. Three of these were not possible at this point in time. The other two areas, the top of Bolton Close and the bottom of Hall Lane are now being managed to encourage wildflowers as part of the Pilot Scheme. An Officer from Highways is due to meet with Councillors later during the summer.
The County Council Road Verge Management focuses more on road verges outside of village developments.
Question
When mentioning BEG, is that Burwell Environment Group which I don’t think is constituted yet or Wild Burwell which is?
Response from the Council
BEG is Burwell Environment Group for which the Council has received a copy of their adopted constitution.
Question
I welcome Burwell Parish Council’s declaration of a climate emergency and adoption of a climate change policy. What plans does Burwell Parish Council have to implement all the actions listed at paragraph 6.1 of the climate change policy, ‘What we aim to do short term’ in 2021?
Response from the Council
The way forward with short term aims will be an item for discussion at the Council’s Strategy Day. However so far, the refurbishment and proposed extension for the Gardiner Memorial Hall has been designed to incorporate the Climate Change Policy. Members of the Council are involved with a liaison group with East Cambridgeshire County Council and members from other parish councils and the template for our Climate Change Policy is now being adopted by other parish councils in the area. In the short term we will be establishing the Council’s carbon footprint, encouraging tree planting, wildflowers and aim to work with the Burwell Environment Group to encourage residents to be aware of their own carbon footprint. Electric Charging Vehicle points are also being considered at the Gardiner Memorial Hall as part of the refurbishment.
Questions
1. These questions relate to the draft Burwell Parish Council Climate Emergency Action Plan dated January 2021, which provided detail on the provisional climate action plan dated 11 Feb 2020:
1a: I see that the timescale on the long-term aims is by 2030 (S. 6.3) - ie in nine years' time. However, there are no dates on the medium and short term aims (6.2 and 6.1). Please could Councillors set out the timeframes for the medium and short term aims, taking into consideration the statement in the introduction to the Action Plan to 'act now to reduce our carbon footprint'?
Response from the Council
This will be discussed at the next Strategy Day.
1b: Please could Councillors give a summary of progress against all the short term aims?
1c: Is there/will there be a named Councillor leading on the implementation of the Action Plan? Or will a sub-committee (or working group) be formed to ensure that meaningful action is taken and that progress is measured? How will the individual/sub-committee/full Council engage with and be accountable to residents on progress against the Plan?
Response from the Council
Again, this will be discussed at the Council’s Strategy Day likely to be held in July. The Strategy Day is not a public meeting. The refurbishment of the Gardiner Memorial Hall incorporates the Council’s Climate Change Policy.
1d: One of the goals in the Action Plan is to 'inform and educate the residents of Burwell' and the conclusion in the Action Plan states that ' it is [the Parish Council's] responsibility and primary objective to offer leadership and lead by example' - please could Councillors outline the communication plan?
Response from the Council
This will also be discussed as part of the Strategy Day. The Parish Council would like to involve the Burwell Environment Group with this. Three members of the Parish Council are members of Burwell Environment Group. This is a learning curve for all.
1e: When will the draft Action Plan be finalised?
Response from the Council
Timescales will be discussed at the Strategy Day. It is hoped that the final document will be much more user friendly.
2. This question is about Neighbourhood Plans: Has Burwell Parish Council given consideration to formulating a Neighbourhood Plan?
Response from the Council
The Council has previously considered carrying out a Neighbourhood Plan and could revisit in the future. A Neighbourhood Plan is expensive to put together and a referendum must be held before it can be adopted. It is a long-drawn-out process with involvement from the entire community. Many people believe that having a Neighbourhood plan will address future housing development in the village, but in the case of Burwell, the power of a Neighbourhood plan would be very limited. It was pointed out that the proposed developments on the edge of the village with access from Ness Road and Toyse Lane were refused consent by the Planning Inspectorate due to the Parish Council putting a strong case forward against the development.
Question
3. These questions are about involvement and engagement of Burwell residents in the deliberations and decision making of the Council:
3a: Presently, residents are given an opportunity to speak at the start of Council meetings. However, there is no opportunity to ask questions or comment later in the meeting when the content of the Councillors' discussion is known, making it difficult to engage with Councillors or ask questions about the content of the councillors' discussions; questions are permitted by email after the meeting, but responses are not timely. Would the Council consider allowing members of the public attending Council meetings to ask questions after each agenda item, thus promoting meaningful dialogue and engagement?
Response from the Council
Unfortunately, procedures are set by national rules and regulations. We allow time at the start of the meeting for members of the public to speak about any item on the agenda, but they are unable to contribute to the meeting after this time. We are a very approachable Council and are always happy to receive questions, comments etc. from members of the public.
3b: Some parish councils allow members of the public to attend meetings of their sub-committees (or working groups), however this is not the case in Burwell where these meetings are held in private. Would Councillors give their view on members of the public attending meetings of sub-committees (working groups) and being given the opportunity to ask questions?
Response from the Council
This has been discussed previously and could be revisited at the Strategy Day. The Working Groups are not Committees or Sub-Committees and therefore do not have to follow the same procedure such as advertising the meeting, allowing public attendance etc as Full Council, committees and sub-committees do. This allows for urgent matters to be raised easier and creates a less formal opportunity for matters to be discussed.
Question
Could residents be involved in the walk around with the Officer from Cambridgeshire County Council when they visit the village later in the Summer?
Response from the Council
This is a possibility which the Council will consider once the date is known. However, numbers will need to be limited.
Question
What interest, support and work is being done by Cambridgeshire County Council, especially into committing CIL funds for the Burwell to Exning Cycleway?
Response from the Council
The Newmarket Road Development and the proposed latest development in Exning are committed under Section 106 to provide funding in full for the cycleway. Cambridgeshire County Council are very supportive and have agreed for Suffolk County Council to take the lead on the delivery of the cycleway. Surveys have been carried out in preparation for the construction of the cycleway along the south side of the road. The timing of the construction of the cycleway depends on funding becoming available as set out in the Section 106 agreement. The cycleway will happen but may not for another few years.