South Gloucestershire Council’s state-of-the-art fleet of new snow ploughs are being readied for the first serious snowfall of the winter.

With weather forecasts showing an increased likelihood of snow through Saturday night and Sunday morning, the council’s winter maintenance team are preparing for all-night operation on Saturday night to grit the district’s roads and plough where snow settles.

Head of Street Care Mark King will be among the team behind the wheel of a snowplough on Saturday night. He said:

“The vehicles have already been out regularly this winter to salt South Gloucestershire’s roads and keep our highways safe and clear of ice.”

“However this will be the first time we have used the vehicles to deal with snow and the winter maintenance team have been working hard to ready the ploughs for a busy weekend.”

“The procedure we follow is to pre-salt roads as soon as icy conditions are forecast, and then return to plough if the snow begins to settle. At the same time, we re-salt the roads to make sure that they remain safe.”

The eleven new vehicles, each of which has been named by primary school children from the district, replaced the council’s ageing gritting fleet last autumn. The vehicles are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the winter months, to keep schools open, businesses running and emergency services on the road.

South Gloucestershire has one of the highest-performing gritting services in the region and recently won an Association of Public Service Excellence award in recognition of its efficient operation.

The winter maintenance team treat approximately 14,000 miles of South Gloucestershire’s roads each year, and the new vehicles use state-of-the-art technology to ensure fast and effective gritting coupled with lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and more effective use of road salt.

More than 6,000 tonnes of salt – enough for an entire winter’s gritting in South Gloucestershire and sufficient to cover more than 40,000 miles of roads – are currently held in storage and the winter maintenance team uses a sophisticated forecasting system to anticipate weather conditions and plan salt runs.

Council plans to promote access to high-speed broadband throughout South Gloucestershire have taken a crucial step forward with the launch of a new exercise to confirm the areas where internet access should be improved.

The council has teamed up with Wiltshire and Swindon councils to progress its plans and the three councils will be asking broadband suppliers to confirm areas where connection speeds are low and unlikely to be improved by planned commercial investment within the next three years.

Once these so-called ‘white’ areas have been confirmed, the three councils will invite companies to bid to upgrade the areas’ broadband infrastructure, supported by local and central government funding via the national Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme.

South Gloucestershire has been allocated £710,000 through BDUK to support the project, and the council’s Cabinet will be meeting on Monday to make recommendations to allocate £2.2m to the project.

It is hoped that a contract can be awarded to a successful supplier by this summer, with work to upgrade the infrastructure beginning in winter 2012.

South Gloucestershire Executive Councillor for Corporate Affairs John Goddard said:

“South Gloucestershire Council is committed to ensuring that all residents and businesses have access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband.”

“By 2015, we want all properties to be able to access at least 2Mbps broadband, and a minimum of 90 per cent of properties to be able to access superfast broadband with speeds of at least 24Mbps.”

“This consultation with providers is a vital step in our plans with Wiltshire and Swindon councils, and will allow us to move on to the next phase of identifying and commissioning a commercial provider to begin the important work of upgrading the broadband infrastructure across the three local authority areas.”

South Gloucestershire is on track to be one of the first districts in the country to begin inviting commercial bids for its scheme, after entering the partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon councils last month.

As well as helping to ‘fast track’ South Gloucestershire’s plans, the partnership will help deliver greater value for money through shared resources and a joint procurement approach.

The provider consultation was launched on 1st February and runs until 16th March. It complements the ongoing business and residents’ survey currently running in South Gloucestershire, which aims to gauge demand for superfast broadband in South Gloucestershire as well as helping to confirm connection speeds experienced by residents and businesses.

Further information, including details of broadband ‘white areas’ in South Gloucestershire, is available from: www.southglos.gov.uk/broadband

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Plans to freeze South Gloucestershire’s Council Tax for a second year running will be considered by Cabinet at its next meeting on Monday 6th February.

If agreed, the proposals will have saved the average household over £50 per year over the two years.

The revenue budget and Council Tax proposals for 2012/13 aim to keep costs as low as possible for local taxpayers, while delivering savings through greater efficiency, reducing duplication and waste and transforming the way that the council works.

The Council Tax freeze would be achieved by taking advantage of a Government grant of £2.8m in 2012/13.

Other key features of this year’s budget proposals include:

• Extra funding of £5.6m over the next three years for community care services to meet additional demand
• Additional council funding to maintain planned school improvements first set out last year, as well as support for school energy efficiency improvements
• Plans to use the district’s New Homes Bonus allocation to support additional investment in infrastructure, protect front line services and support new initiatives in communities that have seen new housing growth
• A total of £43m of efficiency and transformation savings to be achieved by 2014/15, of which over £24m over the next three years have already been agreed

The council’s Cabinet is continuing to assure residents that the authority is better placed than many others to deal with its as-expected reduction of government funding.

This is because the council started drawing up plans as far back as 2008 to deal this expected fall in funding and so – over the past year – there has been a continuing reduction of senior management and reviews of support services and how the authority buys goods and services

Executive Councillor for Corporate Affairs John Goddard said:

“As a council, we are continuing to rise to the challenge of contributing towards balancing this country’s books and our earlier work in preparing for this has meant that we are much better placed than many other authorities.”

“Our budget consultation this year showed us that residents and businesses want us to protect front line services as much as possible while delivering the maximum value for money to taxpayers.”

“Our proposals aim to achieve this through a balanced budget that includes a freeze on council tax for a second year, coupled with ongoing efficiency and transformation measures that are set to deliver a further £19m of savings by 2015.”

“We also heard loud and clear from local people that schools and caring for the vulnerable are their two highest priorities and our budget proposals do just that.”

This year’s proposals reflect extensive consultation with local residents and businesses. Some 3,000 people have responded to the council’s budget consultation to date, with the majority of respondents (51 per cent) supporting proposals for a council tax freeze in 2012/13 followed by a 2.5 per cent increase the year after.

Other highlights from the consultation include:

• The top three services which respondents think the council should prioritise are care for the elderly; schools; and care for the disabled and those with learning difficulties
• The majority of respondents (53 per cent) believe the council continues to provide good value for money

The proposals will be considered at a Cabinet meeting on Monday 6th February and then presented to Full Council on Wednesday 22nd February.

Every home and business in South Gloucestershire will potentially be able to access broadband by 2015 with nine out of ten enjoying superfast speeds of up to 24 Mbps, thanks to nearly £3m of public investment.

South Gloucestershire Council has drawn up plans to invest £2.2m of its own money in providing broadband infrastructure capable of delivering much faster speeds, which will be added to a £710k grant from the government body Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK).

In line with the ambition in South Gloucestershire’s recently refreshed Sustainable Community Strategy to improve access to broadband for all, this project’s aim is to achieve access to a minimum of 2 Mbps broadband speeds for all premises in South Gloucestershire by 2015 and superfast broadband to be available to a target of 90 per cent of premises – also by 2015.

Work to install the superfast broadband infrastructure could start as early as this December because the new tie-up with Wiltshire Council – confirmed earlier this month by South Gloucestershire’s Conservative Cabinet – ensures that the district’s broadband project is one of the most advanced in the country.

It’s estimated that around 82 per cent of premises in South Gloucestershire will be able to benefit from improved broadband infrastructure funded by broadband suppliers themselves, resulting in the availability of a faster and more reliable service by 2014.

The remaining 18 per cent (approx 21,000) of premises – where there are currently no plans by broadband suppliers to invest – will benefit from this public investment in order to make the provision of faster broadband commercially viable.

During last year and prior to the Wiltshire tie-up, South Gloucestershire Council had been working with Bath & North East Somerset Council (BANES) and Bristol City Council until BANES decided to pull out of the joint project.

Speaking ahead of the budget report’s official publication confirming the funding, Cllr John Goddard, Conservative Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, said:

“Following our recent tie-up with Wiltshire Council, the proposed £3m of public investment that we will be setting out is yet more evidence of our commitment to tackle the ‘digital divide’ in South Gloucestershire and ensure that we are in the superfast lane of the superfast broadband roll-out.”

“We recognise that improving access to faster broadband is really important for communities and for promoting a business environment that creates jobs and economic prosperity, particularly in our rural areas.”

“That’s why we’re doing more than simply matching the BDUK funding, but actually investing substantially more.”

“For the fifth of all premises that stand currently to be left in the broadband slow lane because they are in areas where there are no plans by broadband suppliers to invest in improved infrastructure, this combined council and BDUK funding will make a huge difference towards ensuring that they are not left behind.”

He added:

“The financial savings generated through sharing resources and project costs by jointly procuring with Wiltshire mean even better value for money for council taxpayers by making every pound go much further.”

A full Cabinet report on the broadband project will be published on the Council’s website on Friday 27th January. The Cabinet meeting will be held on Monday 6th February with the final sign off expected at the Budget Full Council meeting being held on Wednesday 22nd February.

Local campaigners have expressed their delight after a planning inspector backed a council refusal to build a wind farm near Oldbury-on-Severn, South Gloucestershire.

Widely known as the ‘Stoneyard Lane Wind Farm‘ because of a public right of way accessing the site, the proposed development involved the construction of four 127m (to blade tip) wind turbines, one 80m ‘anemometry mast’ and other associated infrastructure.

Last year South Gloucestershire Council refused permission for the scheme, but the developer – Wind Prospect Developments Limited – then appealed to the independent Planning Inspectorate.

But in his concluding remarks, the inspector backed the council’s refusal, saying:

“the proposed development would have serious implications for the character and appearance of the rural surroundings in terms of landscape, the historic environment and the amenity of public rights of way, so serious in my opinion that they outweigh the benefits of renewable energy production.”

Local campaigners believe this ruling has significant implications for another proposed wind farm development at the nearby village of Ingst, which is in the Green Belt.

Conservative councillor for Severn ward, Matthew Riddle, said:

“I am delighted with this result because it represents a victory for common sense and people power.”

“Local people put in a huge amount of effort into resisting this development and protecting the landscape and so they can be really pleased that their hard work has paid off.”

He added:

“This ruling also has huge implications for the proposed wind farm development at Ingst because not only do you have the same serious implications for the local landscape that you had at Oldbury, but the Ingst site would also be in the Green Belt.”

Related link:

• Planning application for Stoneyard Lane Wind Farm (SGC)

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) and the Highways Authority will discuss the future use of the Tormarton rest area on the A46 this Wednesday (18th January).

The rest area is an important facility for both drivers on the A46, and long-distance hikers on the Cotswold Way.

The Highways Agency has proposed to remove the toilet facilities, and to leave the limited ‘park & share’ site as it is, rather than expand.

Cllr Sue Hope (Liberal Democrat, Cotswold Edge) said:

“We’ve were promised an expansion of the land available for Park and Share many years ago and nothing’s ever been done – it would reduce congestion, reduce pollution, remove parking from the surrounding verges; if we can bite the bullet now, and spend a small amount of money, it would be a win for everybody involved.”

“It’s a popular, well-used site, and we have the ability to expand to meet demand. Together with Tormarton Parish Council, we are going to push hard to have this done.”

“The toilet facilities in the same area are crucial to comfort and convenience – this isn’t just a car park, it’s a stop on the beautiful Cotswold Way, where hikers can refresh themselves.”

The toilet facilities have been closed for some time, and we are looking at rebuilding a proper facility in the most cost-effective way. It’s ludicrously unrealistic to tell hikers they can go to Bath to use a toilet. Anything other than a proper block will be unsanitary and unpleasant.”

Related link: Agenda for the meeting of SGC’s Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Select Committee on Wednesday

A local government spending watchdog has warned South Gloucestershire Council that failures in the way it managed grant applications from disabled people could mean central government will cut its funding.

The Audit Commission has published a critical account of the way in which Conservative-run South Gloucestershire Council managed its process for awarding Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). Councils are obliged by law to fund DFGs and they are awarded to residents on low incomes to help with the installation of aids such as walk-in-showers, stair-lifts and widening of doorways.

In its report, the Commission criticises the Council’s Community Care & Housing department for failing to ensure enough estimates of the cost of works were obtained prior to awarding grants. The Council is required by central government to see at least two estimates before a grant can be awarded. However, according to managers, it “became the norm” for only one estimate to be sought from applicants. The Council’s total spend on DFGs for 2010/11 was £2million of which £600,000 was paid to one company alone.

Cllr Pat Apps (Labour, Kings Chase) who chairs the Council committee which scrutinises the Community Care & Housing Department said she was shocked to hear about the Audit Commission’s findings. She said:

“At a time when council finances are being stretched due to government cuts, and we are being told that every penny has to count, I am shocked to hear that the Conservative administration has been awarding grants based on just one estimate.”

The council can be reimbursed by up to £700,000 per year from central government to help pay for DFGs, but this payment is conditional on the auditors confirming that the authority is abiding by its processes. According to the auditor’s report, the failures of the Community Care & Housing Department means there is “some doubt whether the Council will receive the full amount that it would otherwise receive”.

Cllr Apps added:

“If South Gloucestershire Council ends up not receiving its full entitlement from central government, the blame will lie firmly at the door of the Conservatives running the authority.  The council is already having to use money that it receives from the sale of former council houses to pay for DFGs, so if central government does not fund us in full, the Conservatives will have to find yet more savings.”

Related link: Annual Audit Letter 2010/2011 [PDF]

Council plans to boost access to high-speed broadband in partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon councils have been officially approved by South Gloucestershire’s Cabinet.

The partnership, first revealed last month, means that South Gloucestershire will now be among the first councils in the country to begin signing up a commercial provider under the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme.

The BDUK scheme uses central and local government funding to ensure that areas not usually attractive to commercial providers can access the economic and social benefits of high-speed broadband.

South Gloucestershire Council Executive Member for Corporate Affairs John Goddard said:

“Residents and businesses will be encouraged to know that the council is forging ahead with plans to boost access to these vital technologies across South Gloucestershire.”

“High-speed broadband brings a wealth of economic and social benefits for communities and businesses alike and the partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon means these benefits will be available even sooner than first hoped.”

Cabinet approval for the BDUK partnership comes as new figures show that more than 3,000 residents and businesses have already responded to a council survey set up to gauge demand for high-speed broadband in South Gloucestershire.

The online survey – which closes on Wednesday 29th February – will be used to support the business case for the BDUK investment in South Gloucestershire and can be accessed at www.southglos.gov.uk/broadband.

Related link: Report to Cabinet meeting on 9th January 2012 [PDF]

Rail campaigners have welcomed new figures showing dramatic increases in the use of local train services, particularly from Severn Beach station

Figures published as part of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership’s (SCRP’s) 2011 Annual Report from the weekday passenger count carried out in November show that passenger numbers have increased from 135 to 201 – or by 49 per cent – at Severn Beach station between 2009 and 2011.

The same count found increases at other South Gloucestershire stations over the same 2 year period:

• Filton Abbey Wood has seen a 12 per cent increase – from 3,102 to 3,461
• Patchway has seen a 26 per cent increase – from 234 up to 295
• Yate has seen a 5 per cent increase – from 931 up to 974

Cllr Robert Griffin (Con, Pilning & Severn Beach) said:

“The Severnside Community Rail Partnership does a tremendous amount of good work and this whopping 49 per cent in passenger numbers is testament to these marvellous efforts.”

“All we can do is encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transport and it’s great to see this being done in ever increasing numbers on the Severn Beach line.”

“And there’s always more we can do to keep this trend heading in the right direction, particularly improving reliability.”

Cllr Brian Allinson (Con, Stoke Gifford), Conservative Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport at South Gloucestershire Council, which is a sponsor authority of the SCRP, added:

“I’m delighted that these figures highlight the increasing use of our local train services because, as a council, we have regular discussions with the rail industry about how we can work together to make travelling by train as attractive as possible.”

“This has included successfully lobbying for extra carriages, which were added at the end of last year to help ease overcrowding on a number of local services.”

“And we have already worked with First Great Western to fund a Sunday rail service to and from Severn Beach for the last couple of years.”

Related link more: SCRP 2011 Annual Report [PDF, 466kB]

Last year’s inaugural festival was a big hit with jazz fans and featured Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen as the main headline act.

“It was so well received by residents and supported by local businesses that the 2012 Festival will be a little more ambitious,”

commented Mark Lloyd, Chair of organisers Sodbury Chamber of Commerce.

The 2012 line up all ready includes jazz legend Acker Bilk, who will play with his Paramount Jazz Band; Jacqui Dankworth, considered to be one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing and daughter of Dame Cleo Lane, and the late Sir John Dankworth; and Terry Lightfoot, internationally acclaimed clarinettist, saxophonist and vocalist and prominent ever since the traditional jazz revival in Britain in the 1950s.

The Sodbury Jazz Festival will take place from 28th – 30th September, but jazz fans won’t have to wait until then to enjoy their favourite music.

“We are holding two concerts earlier in the year to raise awareness and support for the main Festival,”

explained Mark Lloyd.

Our 10th March concert will feature the celebrated dixieland clarinettist Pete Allen. Regarded as one of jazz’s most exciting masters of the clarinet, vocals and saxophones, Pete has starred in the USA and throughout Europe, plus numerous television broadcasts and jazz festivals.

Opening the concert will be an excellent young band, the South Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra (SOGY JO Big Band). Aged between 14 and 18 they are an inspiration to all young players.

The second concert, on May 7th, is another treat for jazz fans in the shape of Brian Carricks’s International New Orleans Band. Featuring special guests Patrick Tevlin (trumpet) from Canada and Frank Oxley (drums) from New Orleans, it is a rare opportunity for local fans to hear and meet international players on tour in the UK.

Tickets for these concerts, priced £10.50 and £12.50 respectively, will be on sale from early January 2012 and can be purchased from Swagger in Chipping Sodbury High Street and at Rounceval House in Rounceval Street.