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Agenda item
Questions (if any) from: -
- Meeting of Full Council, Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014 6.00 pm (Item 10.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 10.
(a) members of the public under Rule 11
(b) councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
No written questions had been received.
Questions to the Leader, Deputy Leader or other Lead Members were asked and answered in accordance with Rule 12.1 as follows: -
Questioner
and
Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Cooke
950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings would the Lead Member give an update on plans to mark the 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 2016?
Councillor Poole replied that efforts were continuing to develop a programme of events to mark the anniversary. She agreed to provide a more detailed response in writing.
Councillor Chowney added that a cultural specialist had been recruited to co-ordinate these activities. The planned events may include an international collaboration between Denmark, Normandy and Hastings. Funding opportunities were being explored from the arts council and private sector. A conference event, to be held at the De La Warr Pavilion, was planned to bring key partners together and further develop the programme.
Poole
Turner
New Doctors Surgery in Ore Valley last year the council wrote to NHS England in support of a proposed new Doctor’s surgery in the Ore Valley area. The council had since been advised by NHS England that the proposal would not be progressed due to lack of funding. Would the Leader of the Council write to NHS England again to reaffirm the council’s support for a new surgery in the area?
Councillor Birch confirmed that he had written to NHS England to support the proposal, in response to a question raised at an earlier council meeting. He commented that Hastings currently had a lack of GP’s. A new centre would improve healthcare provision in the town and may attract new GP’s to the area. Councillor Birch agreed to write to NHS England and the local Member of Parliament in support a new health centre in Ore Valley.
Birch
Lock
Rocklands Caravan Park will the Lead Member advise if a deadline has been set for a new planning application to be submitted by Rocklands Caravan Park, before enforcement action Is taken by the council?
Councillor Birch commented that there was already a live planning permission in relation to Rocklands Caravan Park. The council had commissioned an independent survey of the site, which had found that the new building was of a different size and orientation to the planned structure. The applicant intended to submit a new planning application for the building by the end of November 2014, which would then be considered by the Planning Committee. The council had been advised by an independent consultant to defer any enforcement action until after the outcome of the second planning application was known. The council had also commissioned an independent report, which made recommendations on the council’s performance regarding planning matters. A copy of the report would be published on the council’s website and the recommendations would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting in December.
Birch
Wincott
Hastings Bonfire Effigy the Hastings Bonfire weekend was extremely successful, would the Leader of the Council comment on the bonfire societies’ choice of effigy?
Councillor Birch said that an estimated twenty five thousand had watched the procession and firework display. All of the town’s hotel rooms were also fully occupied. He added that this successful community lead event helped to create a positive image of the town for residents and visitors. Hastings Bonfire Society had chosen the proposed cuts to bus services as the subject for the effigy. Councillor Birch commented that the bonfire societies’ choice reflected the strength of community feeling on this issue, and the concern of residents about the impact of a reduced bus service on the town. Councillor Birch added that the campaign had led to plans to operate certain bus routes within the town on a commercial basis, however, some routes to the surrounding villages were still under threat.
Birch
Lee
White Rock Theatre will the new manager of the White Rock Theatre be following a similar plan for improvement as the previous manager outlined at an earlier meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Resources?
Councillor Poole agreed to circulate theatre attendance figures to Members. There had recently been an effort to reduce the number of shows, to enable the theatre to attract higher quality acts. Councillor Poole commented that the previous manager had made a valuable contribution to the theatre, and she was positive about the efforts of the new manager.
Poole
Howard
Hastings Week 2014 would the leader of the Council give an update on the events which had taken place over Hastings Week?
Councillor Birch commented that a number of successful events had taken place over Hastings Week. He added that many of the events were organised by the local community, with support from the council. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor had attended a number of engagements across the week, including a concert for Hastings’ twin town in Sierra Leone. Councillor Birch also congratulated Owen Thompson on receiving the Order of 1066 Award which recognised his efforts to support community cohesion in the town.
Birch
Pragnell
Landslip in Ecclesbourne Glen when will the results of the geotechnical survey of Ecclesbourne Glen be available?
Councillor Birch explained that the council had commissioned a geotechnical survey to examine a landslip which had impacted on council-owned land at Ecclesbourne Glen. A second survey had been commissioned to understand how best to arrest the landslip and prevent a reoccurrence. Councillor Birch commented that significant engineering works may not be possible, given the environmental significance of Ecclesbourne Glen. However, it was intended to re-open the public footpaths in the area.
Birch
Rogers
Hastings Pier could the Lead Member provide an update on the refurbishment of the pier?
Councillor Chowney responded that significant progress had been made towards the refurbishment of the pier, ahead of the planned re-opening next year. The demolition of the former ballroom had been completed ahead of schedule. The council had also recently submitted a bid to Coastal Communites Fund, to support the improvement of the area at the entrance to the pier.
Chowney
Atkins
Rocklands Caravan Site Inspection Report when will the Rocklands Caravan Site inspection report, carried out by environmental consultants, be available?
Councillor Birch replied that the report would be published by Friday, 24 October 2014.
Charlesworth
Photographs of previous Mayors will the photographs of previous Mayors be re-hung at the Town Hall, once the works to the new lift have been completed?
Councillor Cartwright agreed to reply to Councillor Charlesworth’s question in writing.
Cartwright
Charman
Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has all the FLAG funding now been committed, what are the outcomes of the projects and how will these be progressed in the future?
Councillor Chowney replied that the FLAG initiative had generated over one million pounds in funding to support the local fishing industry and associated projects for tourism and the arts. All of the FLAG funds have now been committed. The initiative had brought together a variety of partners from the fishing community, education sector and the council and it was intended to further develop these links in the future.
Chowney
Beaver
Hastings Credit Union given the recent drop in the number of residents using pay day loan companies, does the Leader of the Council agree that more should be done to support the Hastings Credit Union?
Councillor Birch welcomed the work of Hastings Credit Union, he added that the council supports this activity by making meeting space available at Town Hall every Friday. The credit union also carried out outreach work around the town. Councillor Birch encouraged people to open an account with the credit union.
Birch
Fitzgerald
White Ribbon Day could the Lead member provide an update on arrangements for White Ribbon Day?
Councillor Cartwright explained that the council was seeking to achieve the white ribbon town award, which aimed to tackle issues associated with domestic violence. A number of events were planned for white ribbon day, including information stalls around the town and public speeches by the Mayor, Police and members. Residents would also be invited to sign a pledge not to commit or remain silent about domestic violence.
Cartwright
Edwards
White Rock Theatre the White Rock Theatre receives a subsidy towards running costs from the council. The theatre is due to host a promotional event for Sarah Owen, the Labour Party candidate in next year’s parliamentary election, would the Lead Member confirm that correct booking procedures have been followed?
Councillor Poole confirmed that the booking between the Labour Party and HQ Theatres, the management company for the White Rock Theatre, was a purely commercial matter and subject to the usual booking procedures.
Poole
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