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Agenda item
Questions from Councillors Under Rule 12
Minutes:
A written question had been received from Councillor Patmore regarding the Let’s Start Letting scheme. Councillor Forward, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Housing, Communications and Equalities, answered the question. Copies of the question and reply were circulated at the meeting.
Councillor Patmore asked Councillor Forward a supplementary question about the potential impact on the cost of the scheme if the additional £60.00 subsidy paid to Local Authorities as part of the Temporary Accommodation Management Fee (TAMF) was withdrawn. Councillor Forward replied that the government was currently reviewing temporary accommodation funding streams, as a precaution the council was not taking on any further leases until the review is complete. Councillor Forward agreed to keep Councillor Patmore updated on future plans for the scheme.
A written question had been received from Councillor Beaver regarding the Hastings Trust. Councillor Chowney, the Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Finance, answered the question. Copies of the question and reply were circulated at the meeting.
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
Lee
Let’s Start Letting the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Housing, Communications and Equalities leases a property to the Let’s Start Letting Scheme. She declared a prejudicial interest in the matter at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 September 2016, but this is not reflected on her Register of Interest. Given this conflict of interest will she resign from her portfolio?
Councillor Forward replied that she would not resign from her portfolio and had taken legal advice with regard to managing any potential conflict of interest.
Forward
Street
Committee of Regions earlier this month a Committee of Regions seminar took place at St Mary in the Castle. The seminar included a number of excellent presentations by local speakers about initiatives taking place in the town. Will the Lead Member join with him in thanking Councillor Westley, who is a member of the Committee of Regions, for her efforts?
Councillor Poole thanked Councillor Westley for her efforts serving on the Committee of Regions. She added that excellent feedback had been received from the recent seminar, particularly from members of the local fishing community. The seminar attracted around 40 additional visitors to the town, which helped to support the local economy.
Poole
Rankin
Supporting Job Creation an article recently appeared in the local newspaper about a new factory unit the council was building for BD Foods. The Leader of the Council has previously stated that the council would pursue opportunities to create jobs locally. Therefore, why has the Leader not responded to an email from a software company, who is considering relocating to the area?
Councillor Chowney said that the council remained committed to supporting job creation opportunities in the town; he often met with companies who were considering moving to Hastings. Councillor Chowney added that he had not received the email Councillor Rankin referred to, but he would be happy to arrange a meeting with the company.
Chowney
Charman
Southern Rail workers have the right to withdraw their labour if they have been unfairly treated by their employer. Southern Rail is currently consulting on a revised timetable, which could see services reduced by up to 50% in some areas. Would the Leader of the Council comment on the impact of reduced rail services to Ore train station on the regeneration of the Ore Valley area?
Councillor Chowney said that the planned reductions would have a detrimental effect on the regeneration of the area, particularly as there were a number of sites in the Ore Valley that would be suitable for development. Currently, 4000 journeys per week take place from Ore train station, any reductions to this service would disproportionately affect residents living in some of the most deprived parts of the town. Councillor Chowney encouraged all members to respond to the consultation opposing the proposed reductions.
Chowney
Clarke
Seafront Improvements will the Leader of the Council provide an update on the ongoing improvements to the seafront outside the pier and advise when the cycle lane will be reinstated?
Councillor Chowney replied that the cycle lane markings would not be reinstated, as part of the seafront improvements, the promenade between the Pier and Rock-a-Nore had become a shared cycle route. This approach had approved successful elsewhere in the town, and was considered to be safer in busy areas.
Chowney
Turner
Nye Bevan Programme does the leader of the council agree that the Nye Bevan Programme, which was recently launched by the NHS as part of a strategy to develop leadership skills, covers up the reductions to funding many NHS Trusts are facing?
Councillor Chowney expressed concern at the reduction to funding for the NHS, adding that the NHS Trust for Hastings and Rother had recently been placed in special financial measures. He noted that only Trusts who operated without a budget deficit were eligible to participate in the Nye Bevan Programme. These Trusts tended to be based in areas with low levels of deprivation.
Chowney
Cooke
Labour Party in his letter of resignation from the Labour Group, Councillor Clark stated that the National Labour Party interfered too much in local matters. Will the Leader of the Council provide an assurance that this will not happen again?
Councillor Chowney replied that this was not a matter for Full Council to consider.
Chowney
Clark
Free Parking in Council Car Parks over Christmas will the Leader of the Council offer free parking in council-run car parks over the festive period, as in previous years?
Councillor Chowney agreed to look into this further and respond to Councillor Clark directly.
Chowney
Atkins
Footpath between Sandrock Park and St Helens Church a recent competition organised by the council and a local school to design new signage for the footpath between Sandrock Park and St Helens Church is to be welcomed. However, some residents have expressed concern at the wording included on the new signs, was legal advice sought before the project was completed?
Councillor Davies explained that the project had originally come about to help promote the safety of young people, who regularly use the footpath to travel to and from school. Legal advice had been taken on the wording to be included on the signs and no issues were raised. Further consideration would be given to the wording included on any new signage when the competition is re-run in the new year.
Davies
Sabetian
ROOT1066 Festival does the Leader of the Council agree that the ROOT1066 Festival was an exciting and imaginative celebration of the town’s history and pass the council’s thanks to all those involved?
Councillor Chowney noted that the festival had originally been the idea of the late Councillor Birch. Over 40 projects had taken place as part of the festival, ranging from a spectacular lazer light show on the seafront to a number of smaller community events around the town. The festival had been very successful and Councillor Chowney thanked all those involved in organising the events. Further analysis of visitor numbers and feedback would be undertaken over the coming months and reported back in due course.
Chowney
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