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Agenda item
Questions from Councillors under Rule 12
(a) Members of the public under Rule 11
(b) Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
Questions to the Leader, Deputy Leader and other Lead Members were asked and answered in accordance with rule 12.1 as follows: -
Questioner and Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Atkins
Quarterly Targets for Social Lettings Agency at a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting members were advised that quarterly performance monitoring information would not be made available for the social lettings agency pilot. However, appendix 3 of the report to Cabinet states that this information would be made available? Were Cabinet members misled on this matter?
Councillor Forward replied that Cabinet members were not misled on this matter and that the social lettings agency pilot is subject to regular review. A target figure for the number of properties the council intended to acquire by the end of the pilot had been set. The council had recently received additional enquiries from landlords looking to participate in the scheme, and efforts would continue to generate interest in the initiative. Indeed, the social lettings agency would be the subject of a news item for Radio Sussex. Councillor Forward agreed to schedule a meeting with Councillor Atkins and the relevant officers to discuss this matter further.
Forward
Street
Hastings Country Park there has been lots of coverage in the media about the clearance of gorse at Hastings Country Park. Will the lead member explain what is going on at the country park and why?
Councillor Davies explained that the clearance of gorse was part of the council’s Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Agreement for Hastings Country Park. The council had taken advice on measures to create a more diverse coastal habitat. Following concerns raised by the local community, the council’s contractor had moved away from burning the gorse to chipping the plants and recycling them in the country park. Councillor Turner had previously identified some health and safety issues with the works, which have since been addressed.
Davies
Lee
Visitor numbers at the White Rock Theatre the target for visitor to numbers to the White Rock Theatre was not increased this year. Will the lead member confirm how the council plans to increase visitor numbers to the theatre?
Councillor Chowney responded that these activities were the responsibility of the contractor who operated the theatre on behalf of the council. The council did not receive an increase in revenue if visitor numbers to the theatre increased. In the long term, the council was considering options for the wider regeneration of the White Rock area. This may include the creation of a new entertainment venue with improved facilities.
Chowney
Charlesworth
Regeneration of White Rock and Summerfields will the lead member provide an assurance that all existing users of the land at White Rock and Summerfields will be consulted on any future plans for the regeneration of the area?
Councillor Chowney confirmed that any specific plans for the regeneration of this area would be subject to a thorough public consultation, which would include all existing users of the sites affected. A working group of stakeholders had been set up to consider the potential long term use of the area.
Chowney
Clarke
Communication with local businesses how does the council communicate with local employers and what can be done to support this in the future?
Councillor Chowney replied that the council was in regular contact with local employers, mainly through the work of the regeneration team. The council was also a member of Locate East Sussex, which encouraged business to relocate to the area. SeaChange Sussex had also recently developed new office space in the town centre, as well as new out of town facilities at Queensway Business Park North and South. Initiatives had also been developed to support particular sectors of industry, such as the Tech66 group which worked closely with businesses in the vacuum technology and photonics industry. Councillor Chowney welcomed suggestions from members on how the council could continue to proactively engage with the business community in the future.
Chowney
Turner
Feed-in Tariff does the Leader of the Council agree that recent reductions to the feed-in tariff will reduce the production of electricity from renewable sources and increase the risk of fuel poverty, will he also raise this matter with the local Member of Parliament?
Councillor Chowney noted that there had been a reduction of 87% to the feed in tariff, which may result in the loss of jobs in the renewable energy sector. The reduction may deter businesses and residents from installing solar panels on their premises. Councillor Chowney agreed to raise this matter with the local Member of Parliament, as he did not believe the policy supported the development of renewable energy sources.
Chowney
Dowling
Hastings Youth Council will the Leader of the Council join with her in supporting Hastings Youth Council’s recent campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues?
Councillor Chowney congratulated Hastings Youth Council on their excellent campaign to address the important, but often over-looked, issue of mental health. He added that mental health issues were often linked to other problems such as homelessness and problem-drinking and it was therefore essential that campaigns such as this were supported.
Chowney
Batsford
Number 7 Bus Route will the lead member join with him in congratulating residents in St Helens ward and users of the number 7 bus in securing a rescheduled service, which takes better account of the needs of users?
Councillor Davies congratulated the residents and users, as well as the local borough and county councillors in securing the improved service.
Davies
Beaver
Parking spaces on Bexhill Road the new bus lane on Bexhill Road, which will be introduced when the link road is opened, will result in the loss of parking spaces on Bexhill Road causing disruption for residents and business in that area. Will the Leader of the Council raise this matter with East Sussex County Council and ask them to reinstate extra parking spaces?
Councillor Chowney agreed to raise this matter with East Sussex County Council, but requested further details from Councillor Beaver before doing so.
Chowney
Sabetian
Review of Council Tax Liabilities for Caravans will the Leader of the Council advise of the outcome of a recent review of council tax liabilities in respect of caravans?
Councillor Chowney advised that Hastings Borough Council and Rother District Council had recently undertaken a review of council tax liabilities in respect of caravans. The review found that an additional 27 caravans were eligible to pay council tax, which would result in an increase in revenue of up to £30,000.
Chowney
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