Issue - meetings

(A)    Dr Hill asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:

 

“Can the Leader or his nominee supply the following:

 

1.         A list of holdings in terms of acreage and the capital value of County farms?

 

2.         The value of farm land sold in the last 3 years and details of what these capital receipts were spent on?

 

3.         Confirmation that the farm rental revenue is still used for re-investment in the farms or, if not, what it is used for?

 

4.         What the County’s strategy is for County farm holdings in terms of delivering LCC/LAA priorities?”

 

Dr Feltham replied as follows:

 

“1.        The County Farms Estate comprises 82 County Farms extending to 2909 hectares, one cottage and 67 hectares of woodland and other land. The Estate has an asset value of £7.2 million.

 

2.         In the past 3 years the value of sales of County Farms property was £5.98 million. The proceeds of sale accrued to the General Pool of Capital Receipts from which £468k was reinvested in the County Farms Capital Improvement Programme; the balance being used to fund other elements of the County Council’s overall Capital Programme, e.g. the library refurbishment programme.

 

3.         The revenue surpluses of the County Farms Trading Account, to which rents contribute, are used to fund the general revenue expenditure of the County Council and cannot be identified as having been spent on anything specific.  

 

4.         Whilst the primary aim of the farm strategy is to support an effective and efficient estate making a positive contribution to the Authority, it also supports a wide range of LAA/LCC priorities in the form of safer environment, thriving towns and villages, stronger communities and the economy. Examples include community benefit such as affordable housing, rural businesses and direct and indirect employment.”

 

(B)       Mr Bailey asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:

 

“1.        How many of Leicestershire County Council's School Crossing Patrol posts are currently vacant?

 

2.         How many of these posts have been unfilled for over three months?

 

               3.   (i)      Is the Leader aware that a School Crossing Patrol post at Grove Road, Blaby has been vacant for over a year, and that another Crossing Patrol post on Leicester Road, Glen Parva has been vacant since September, 2006?

 

                  (ii)     What measures does the Leader intend to take to fill these posts, since their continued vacancy leaves young children and their families at risk on a daily basis?"

 

Mr Ould replied as follows:

 

“1.        There are currently 48 vacant posts, from a total number of 152 approved sites.  However, 5 of these have patrols appointed but are awaiting CRB clearance before being allowed to take up their duties.

 

2.         All 48 have been vacant for over 3 months.

 

3.   (i)      I would like to thank Mr Bailey for bringing this information to my attention.  I was not previously aware of this.  The 2 posts have indeed been vacant for the periods stated by Mr Bailey.

 

(ii)     There have already been recruitment leaflet drops in the local vicinities of the crossing sites.  Newsletters and individual letters have been sent by the relevant schools directly to parents seeking volunteers but with no success. 

 

                           A survey of the Council’s current patrols was recently undertaken to ascertain what attracted them to the post. Many responded that their children attended the school and the hours suited their lifestyle.  This is why parents are being targeted.

 

                           Officers are planning to visit schools with patrol vacancies to speak to parents and offer information about the post of Crossing Patrol.”

 

Mr Bailey asked the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102