A period of up to 40 minutes is allocated for questions to the Leader, Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
Minutes:
Question 1
Councillor Jonathan Chilvers to Councillor Heather Timms.
We all want to be able to do more tree planting, but we need to maintain public support by looking after our current trees well. How many trees owned by the authority are currently awaiting pruning works following inspection? Given the current rate of jobs being done and new trees added how long will it take to clear the current backlog?
Response from Councillor Heather Timms
Tree works are categorised between 1 and 5 based on the urgency of the work required. Dangerous works are priority 1 (within 2 hours) and priority 5 (aspirational works) are when budgets allow.
The county council keep on top of the Cat 1 and 2 priorities jobs, and any long-term backlog is generally more aspirational priority 5 works. Looking on the database the primary bulk of works for priority 3 to 5 are catching up from January 2020 and we would not classify this as a significant backlog of work.
WCC forestry have adopted a revised approach within the last 6 months to aim to reduce the backlog of the smaller category 3 and 4 works within the urban highway by having a dedicated team working through the backlog. The team will also address any priority 5 works if it is reasonable to do so (for example they are already on the street with traffic management) however we do not want to slow the team too much by doing Priority 5 works.
Cllr Chilvers raises an important point as it is critical that when we bid for additional funding for tree planting that we also ensure that sufficient provision is made for maintaining the trees into the future.
Question 2
Councillor Bill Gifford to Councillor Margaret Bell.
The County Council’s Dementia Strategy should have been refreshed or renewed in 2019. I fully understand the strain that officers have been under since the start of the Pandemic, but when do you expect the strategy to be refreshed?
Response from Councillor Margaret Bell
Councillor Margaret Bell stated that officers of the council are currently working with colleagues in Coventry and Warwickshire on a refreshed strategy. This is being carried out through the Health Care Partnership. With consultation being carried out in August it is expected that the strategy will be presented to Cabinet by the end of the calendar year.
As a supplementary question Councillor Bill Gifford asked that social media pages be checked as they are out of date. This was agreed.
Question 3
Councillor Jenny Fradgley to Councillor Heather Timms
British agriculture is currently facing many challenges, (Climate Change, fragility of food systems, new trade deals, shortage of workers, an aging population-to list but some), and I'm sure that, Cllr Kam Kaur, whose portfolio covers viability in agriculture, is as keen as I am that this council does all it can to support our local farmers through encouraging the purchase of local produce wherever possible.
This council has a number of contractual arrangements where it might be possible to have an impact in this area, including the provision of meals in schools, the meals on wheels service and in care homes.
Would the Portfolio Holder support my request that the appropriate overview and scrutiny committee examines what steps this council can take to support local agricultural producers through its purchasing policies and contractual arrangements.
Consideration should also be given to developing a Food and Growing Strategy to ensure food production in Warwickshire continues its current high standards and viability into the future?
Response from Councillor Heather Timms
Councillor Heather Timms reminded council that it is for each overview and scrutiny committee to determine its work programme.
The council has a strong focus on social value and its policy is to support local jobs. In this there is a desire to focus on food production. Councillor Timms stated that she is the Chair of the “Food Forum” which was set up in 2020 to consider food procurement.