Reply

Dear Resident, Sewall Highway,

As you are probably aware The Lib-Dem Focus Team organised three petitions asking for something to be done about the Sewall highway grass verges (also Blackberry Lane). They were met with the usual response that funding was not available and there was a waiting list throughout the city of over 100.

As a result of the last petition, because the council wanted to experiment with a new system that involved recycling tarmac from resurfaced roads it was agreed that part of Sewall Highway would be used for the experiment. Unfortunately, the funding did not cover the whole of Sewall Highway, only the Ansty Road and some work on the roundabouts and outside The Devon.

We will continue to call for action on the remainder. We have obtained a promise action on the grass verges in Blackberry Lane. Who knows it may be the rest of Sewall Highway next.

Regards
Councillor Derek Benefield

Kind regards,
Loui.
(Coventry)

Reply

Dear Loui,

Thank you for your comment.

The former Wholesale Market Site has been earmarked for some years as Workshop Development by the Council, although I would rather have seen it used for housing and a Medical Centre.

A developer was eventually found and work has started recently.

The buildings appear to be much higher than residents, or myself, anticipated , but as no one objected at the time the plans were passed, there is little that can be done now.

The access to the site is to and from the North South Road and not Mercer Avenue.

I did request that a special surface should be put on the road to reduce the additional traffic noise on the North /South Road, but I have been unable to get confirmation that this will be done.

I hope this information is useful and thank you for taking an interest in the community.

Regards
Councillor Derek Benefield

Reply

Dear Gary,

The government brought in new laws regarding fireworks in 2004 , in our opinion these were not strong enough and there are loopholes. It will be difficult to enforce due to lack of police resources and proving who has actually let the offending firework off. The control must be at the source of supply.

We need a clear cut policy of licensed businesses supplying only to registered organised displays with a time restriction and possibly allowing small garden display type fireworks on sale to adults over 21.

Thankyou for your feedback.
Cllr. Russell Field

YOURS,
T.B.,
(Upper Stoke, Coventry)

Reply

Dear T.B,

I thank you for your comments.

Liberal Democrats have campaigned over the past few years on many issues on behalf residents. Some have met with success such as Road resurfacing & repairs, lighting, litter bins, road safety improvements and some, unfortunately, have not yet been successful.

There are constraints on what we can achieve because of Council resources. Extra spending means higher Council Taxes.

We have over the past four years tried to persuade the Council that the former wholesale market site should be used for housing/health centre/community centre as they seem to be unable to sell it for light industry as they would prefer it to be used for.

The Barrass Hotel is privately owned and at present there is a planning application for housing development.

The Valley Road Community centre is privately owned by residents and is probably the only community centre in Coventry that is actually successful, viable and paying it's way.

We are lobbying the Primary Care Trust to provide one of the new super Health Centres that are being built around the City, which Upper Stoke was left out of the original plans.

We are also pressing the Council to provide more play facilities in Upper Stoke.

Thank you again for your response and taking an interest in the community.

Regards
Cllr. Derek Benefield

Mr. Tony S.
(Courthouse , Coventry)

Reply

Hello Tony,

I am afraid your problem is a common one. There are obviously not sufficient police to cover the criminal activities that take place despite claims that the government is tough on crime. As a Liberal Democrat, I would increase the police numbers rather than the proposed spending of £3billion on the new identity cards.

However, if you can be more specific on where these problems are, I will try to get to get some action from the police. Sometimes we are able to, other times we are not.

We have a surgery at 12 noon at the Community room in Longfield House next Saturday, which the police have promised to attend. We would be pleased to see you there, or at one of our other surgeries.

I thank you for your comments and taking an interest in the community.

Regards,
Cllr Derek Benefield

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. B.M
(Radford, Coventry)

Reply

Dear Mrs B.M.

I am writing to advise you of the outcome of my investigations into the comment you raised regarding the payment of council tax at the Post Office.

I am sorry for any upset or inconvenience this is causing you and other senior citizens but I hope that this letter will help you to understand why the City Council will not pay the Post Office fee.

The fee you are referring to is imposed by the Post Office, it is a charge they set for customers who pay at the Post Office and are not Giro bank customers. Currently it is £1.45 per transaction and generally increases every January.

The City Council used to pay this fee on behalf of customers who paid their poll tax at the Post Office but when council tax was introduced in April 1993 a review was undertaken of the different types of payment methods available to customers and the cost of each method.

It was agreed by Elected Members that the City Council could no longer justify meeting the cost of payments made at the Post Office and therefore this option was withdrawn. I appreciate that for some people such as your-self this was not ideal but the decision was made with the primary intention of reducing costs in order to allow scarce resources to be re-directed to providing important services to all the citizens of Coventry.

The following alternative methods were introduced at the time: -

by Direct Debit. With two payment dates available;

by bank giro credit at your bank or building society;

by post;

by post office giro;

at the Council House by using the automated payment machines or the public payment counter.

Since 1993 the service has not stood still it is constantly looking at ways of improving, by self analysis and by listening to customer feedback from surveys, comments and complaints and as a result the following methods of payments have subsequently been introduced: -

Two further direct debit dates

Payment by debit card or credit card

Payment by using the Council's website or by automated phone service;

Council tax bills and payment documents provide information on all the above payment options and can be used at either facility.

In answer to your point about 'local housing can be paid at the Post Office', this is no doubt true but the City Council does not have any responsibility for housing stock as it was transferred to Whitefriars in 2002. Decisions about policies and procedures are theirs to make so I cannot comment on why you can pay rent free of charge.

In summary, whilst I appreciate that this may not be ideal for you, the payment methods identified to appear to:

offer a degree of flexibility for council tax payers with or without a bank or building society accounts;

allow for collection of council tax at a reasonable cost to the City Council and meet the needs of the majority of those customers surveyed.

The choice is the customers but we feel that there is sufficient choice to meet the needs of all of our customers. Customers with no bank or building society accounts have the choice of using the free payment facility at the Council House, which for senior citizens with bus passes will not add any extra cost. For those house bound or unable to walk to the Council House then facilities such as direct debit, paying by post (although never send cash in the post), via the website or by phone are ideal.

Regards,
Cllr Derek Benefield

Reply

Dear Mrs Miller

I have made enquiries with Whitefriars Housing, who are now responsible for the management of housing previously owned by Coventry Council.

They have confirmed that there are a number of over 55's bungalows they are unable to let due to lack of demand . They are termed bed-sit bungalows with 1 Lounge /bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen.

In an effort to create interest in these properties they will shortly be advertising them and will consider lowering the age criterea to 40.

The only boarded up houses are those awaiting repairs and new tennants.

Thank you for your response and taking an interest in the community, do not hesitate to contact us again should you need to on this or any other matter.

Regards,
Cllr Derek Benefield

Reply

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your response and positive support of the Lib-Dem policy on Local Income Tax.

Regarding high water rates bills presenting problems and financial hardship for pensioners, this was coincidently raised by a Lib-Dem M.P. in parliament at Prime Ministers questions today .

Thank you for taking an interest and visting our web site.

Regards,
Cllr Derek Benefield