Open letter to cllr David Wilburn, chairman of Stockton's Appeals and Complaints committee

Following the closure of the statutory consultation on Stockton Council's planned parking tax for Yarm, the council's Appeals and Complaints Committee is due to sit at 10:00 on Tuesday 10th September at the Baptist Tabernacle in Stockton to consider the thousands of representations from residents and traders.

Though not remotely surprising, it is disappointing Stockton Council has arranged the meeting at their convenience, ignoring the fact this will deny hundreds of residents from being able to attend the meeting and have their say.

I have copied the text of my open letter to the chairman of the Appeals and Complaints Committee, Labour councillor David Wilburn, below asking for the meeting to be rearranged to suit the thousands of concerned residents and traders, not just the dozen or so councillors and officers of Stockton Council.

Should you wish to forward your own thoughts to Councillor Wilburn, you can do so by e-mailing him at david.wilburn@stockton.gov.uk

Tuesday 20^th August 2013

Dear Mr Wilburn

I am writing to you in your capacity as chairman of the Council’s Appeals and Complaints Committee. 

As you will already be aware, a meeting of the Appeals and Complaints Committee has been arranged for Tuesday 10^th September at the Baptist Tabernacle in Stockton to consider the objections to the various Traffic Regulations Orders (TROs) proposed for Yarm High Street and the surrounding area. 

I am sure I need not describe the extent and depth of concern felt by many residents, traders and visitors to Yarm. Indeed, whilst consideration of parking matters (and even the possible imposition of parking charges) regarding Norton High Street are not as far advanced as here in Yarm, I am sure you will be able to empathize with our concerns. 

I am therefore extremely concerned that, given the number of people who will doubtless wish to attend and address the meeting, the committee is due to meet at a time and venue which seems tailored towards the convenience of councillors and council officers rather than that of residents. 

Given individuals’ work and/or childcare commitments, I fear large numbers of people are to be denied the opportunity to attend the meeting if it is held during the working day. Whilst ordinarily it may reasonably be suggested that individuals could take a day’s leave from work thereby allowing them to attend, coming so soon after the school holidays this may well not be possible for many (for example, those who have needed to utilise their annual leave in order to care for their children during the holidays). 

In addition, I was surprised that a venue closer to, or preferably within, Yarm was not secured. From both a convenience to residents and an environmental point of view, it would make infinitely more sense for 30 or so councillors and officers to commute to Yarm for the meeting rather than hundreds of individuals having to travel to Stockton Town Centre. 

I would therefore ask that you, as the committee chairman, have the meeting rearranged for a time more convenient to residents and at a venue in Yarm. 

It is not unusual for the venue of meetings to be set in order to accommodate members of the public – hence why the meeting was arranged to be held at the Tabernacle in the first place, as have many planning meetings recently which you and I have both attended. It is also typical for meetings relating only to a single ward to be held in that particular ward.

As for the time of the meeting, I see no reason why this could not be held either during the evening or on a weekend, thereby allowing individuals to attend who otherwise would not be able to due to work commitments.  Again, this is not unusual – many public consultation events are held at such a time with the sole aim being to maximise the attendance of those who wish to do so. 

I accept some may argue that the likely duration of the meeting means it is impractical to be held on an evening, but as there are three separate TROs to be considered it would be perfectly possible – perhaps even preferable – to hold two meetings to consider these. The most controversial TRO relating to parking charges could be considered at one meeting, and the remaining orders at the subsequent meeting. I appreciate this suggestion would be out of the ordinary, but as the committee has met on just 6 occasions during the past two years, I don’t consider I am asking for an intolerable burden to be brought to bear on committee members. 

I would cite just one recent example (though could provide many more if required) to demonstrate when the council has arranged a meeting that would meet both of my requests. A meeting was held at Levendale Primary School in Yarm between 19:00 and 21:00 to discuss the possibility of a new cycleway in Yarm – the time and venue were set as such purely to meet the needs of residents. 

I see no reason why similar arrangements could not be made to hold the meeting(s) on an evening in Yarm, with Conyers School appearing to be a suitable venue both in terms of size, ease of access and parking provision. 

I hope you will be able to accede to my request and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Cllr Mark Chatburn