Answers to Questions

At the last full Council meeting, myself and other members of the Liberal Democrat Group asked the following questions of notice to the Council Leader and Executive. Here are the questions and full responses:

From Councillor Pickstone to Councillor Southward – Could the Portfolio Holder inform members how the Council will work with telecoms providers to ensure that vulnerable people will not be left unsupported as a result of the ‘copper wire’ switch off before the end of 2025?

Answer: The Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) retirement by BT Openreach is an issue which the Connecting Cumbria team are continuing to monitor from an infrastructure point of view. The 40-year-old PSTN is increasingly fragile and Openreach reports that it needs to work at pace to fully replace the network to ensure that they can provide reliable voice services. Customers using the Openreach network are being encouraged to voluntarily switch, when they order a new service or make other service upgrades, away from the PTSN system onto newer infrastructure. However, due to the time required to expand digital landline access and migrate customers off PSTN services, the switch off of the PSTN has been delayed to January 2027.

In line with the industry charter, agreed in 2023, there is a pause on non-voluntary moves to digital landlines. We also understand that for BT customers that don’t or can’t yet access broadband at home alongside their voice services, a new dedicated landline service is being introduced in October 2024. This product will continue to provide a powered line but isn’t available for broadband customers as the technology cannot support both services on the same line. BT have stated that this interim solution will be provided until 2030 at the latest.
To support vulnerable telecoms users, such as telehealth users, we understand that BT is seeking to work with Local Authorities to identify those with additional needs. The Connecting Cumbria team will support colleagues in the Adult Social Care service and other teams to consider the best way to be part of this process.

From Councillor Pickstone to the Leader- Could the Leader inform members what discussions have been with the new owners of Carlisle Lake District Airport about maintaining the potential for a return of commercial aviation and wheth

Answer: The Council owns the freehold of the airport and surrounding land and leased it on a long lease to a company in 2001. That company remains the tenant of the airport, but the owners of that company has changed. The Council remains the Landlord and is required to act in accordance with the lease. The Lease states that if the tenant is able to demonstrate that the property is not capable of economic operations as a commercial airport by a reasonably competent operator then they may close it and any dispute may be referred to resolution in accordance with the lease. The Council’s Local Plan sets out the Council’s planning policy for this area. The new owners have confirmed that the site will continue to operate as an aerodrome and it is intended that, subject to planning permission, at least £5m of investment will be made into the site, creating quality sustainable jobs and providing the site with a long-term economic purpose, which also addresses the grant previously received by the airport pre-COVID.

From Councillor Dobson to Councillor Rollo – A year ago, residents in my Ward were informed that the C1026 road between Heads Nook and Faugh would be closed for seven weeks so that subsidence on the approach to Cairn Bridge could be rectified and three years of one way working brought to an end. On the 24th of July this road will have been closed for exactly one year to the huge inconvenience of residents and significant cost to local businesses.

Will Councillor Rollo share with the Council:-

1. When do you expect that the road will reopen?

2. Given that you and Highways Officers have been remarkably reluctant to explain what has gone wrong, by hiding behind a smoke screen of legal privilege. Will Councillor Rollo commit to initiate a thorough investigation of this unfortunate episode which identifies any failures of process, procedure or personnel so that lessons can be learned such that other communities are not unnecessarily subjected to a similar experience.

3. In June 2023 I was informed that the estimated costs of the works would be £187,000 excluding the three-year cost of temporary traffic lights. Will Councillor Rollo please arrange for a revised estimate to be produced that includes the cost of idle plant and what I assume are now significant legal costs.

Answer: As Cllr Dobson is aware from the previous feedback from Officers and updates at the Highway board, this is a complex legal issue which our legal department are dealing with. At this moment in time we are waiting for legal advice back from Counsel as to what the next steps will be. Once we have this information I will ask officer to share it with the relevant members. In relation to the costs of this scheme, this will be visible in the Capital programme that is report to the Highway board, and then on to full council.

From Councillor Dobson to Councillor Rollo – Will Councillor Rollo update the Council on the status of negotiations to de-trunk the A69 between Brampton and the M6 Junction 43. Will this be achieved before the end of the current PFI contract in March 2026?

Answer: Due to the announcement of the General Election 6 weeks ago, discussions on this scheme were put on hold with National Highways/Dft. These will now restart and be brought to a suitable conclusion to be agreed at the Highways Board. In relation to the PFI, I am not sure which PFI this refers to as the only one that I have responsibility for is Connect Roads and that runs way past 2026.

From Councillor Wills to Councillor Rollo – In October last year the Council received funding from the DfT to enhance bus services in the area, either by reintroducing evening services, increasing the frequency of buses on busy routes, or introducing new services to connect areas. Could the Portfolio Holder inform members how many tenders have been successfully placed with bus operators and when are they due to start?

Answer: The Council has now come to the end of the procurement process and should be in a position to communicate the outcome by the end of July to the Highways board once awards have been approved. It is possible that contracts may not be awarded for all routes advertised due to lack of interest by contractors.

The Council is due the next round of funding this month (£2,018,743) and will be exploring how to provide ‘sustainable bus services’ in rural areas. A Communication Plan is being developed with the following engagement planned over the summer to shape the Council’s approach:-

Continued engagement with Community Panels
3 member workshops are planned for July
Attendance at Community Network Events throughout the summer
Drop in events
Online survey / social media
Continued engagement with stakeholders and operators

From Councillor Wills to the Leader – Can the Leader explain what implications the judgement by the Supreme Court on the Horse Hill case, where they deemed the council’s decision to take account of only the operational emissions from the process of digging up oil from the ground meant the Environmental Impact Assessment was defective, has for the proposed new coal mine near Whitehaven, and what representations the Council will be making?

Answer: Further to the Supreme Court ruling in R (on application of Finch on behalf of Weald Action Group) v Surrey County Council and others, it is the case that this decision is relevant to the ongoing High Court challenge and that the Claimants and Defendants in that action will be addressing this within those proceedings. The hearing of the statutory challenges – against the Secretary of State’s grant of planning permission- are scheduled to take place between 16-18 July 2024. The Council will not be making representations prior to or at this hearing.

July 16, 2024