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Agenda item
Questions from Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
A written question had been received from Councillor Lee regarding consultancy costs to the council. Councillor Poole replied to the question. Copies of the question and response were circulated.
Questions to the Leader, Deputy Leader and other Lead Members were asked answered in accordance with Rule 12.1 as follows: -
Questioner and Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Lee
Funding by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) the DCLG recently announced a £300 million fund to help small and medium sized businesses who have been affected by increased business rates, following the recent re-valuation of business premises. Why was Hastings Borough Council not included on a published list of authorities who have taken up this offer?
Councillor Poole replied that she believed the council intended to take up this offer, and was in the process of adapting its software in order to administer the grant. She agreed to provide a full response in writing.
Poole
Patmore
Report by Federation of Small Businesses a report was recently published by the Federation of Small Businesses stating that small and medium sized businesses often miss out on the opportunity to bid for contracts from public sector organisations. What is the council doing to address this?
Councillor Chowney replied that the council undertook an overview and scrutiny review two years ago which also raised this issue and looked at possible options to encourage local businesses to bid for tenders. The council continues to work proactively with local businesses, including advertising opportunities to tender locally. He added that public sector contracts must comply with strict regulations, which may be off-putting to some small companies.
Chowney
Turner
Homelessness what is being done to address homelessness over the winter period?
Councillor Batsford acknowledged that winter can be a particularly difficult time for people living on the street. The council had developed protocols to enable it to work effectively with voluntary organisations to provide support to the street community. The Snowflake Centre would open from November to February; the council’s housing officers would visit the centre each week to provide advice on options to secure permanent accommodation. The council was also developing a protocol for severe weather conditions, including the use of school premises to provide emergency shelters. Councillor Batsford added that there had been a significant increase in the use of Bed and Breakfast accommodation, and officers were looking at opportunities to address this.
Batsford
Lee Clark
Parking Charges over Christmas will the council be offering free parking in its car parks in the run up to Christmas, as it has done in previous years?
Councillor Fitzgerald replied that there would be no charges in council-owned car parks each Thursday for the 4 weeks before Christmas. This coincided with late night shopping in the town. Council car parks will also be free on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Fitzgerald
Atkins
Hare Way Playground is there an update on progress to improve facilities at Hare Way playground?
Councillor Batsford replied that a report had been produced which assessed the repair and upkeep of all play facilities in the borough. He would consider the implications of the report with Councillor Fitzgerald and report back.
Batsford
Webb
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) petition the Leader of East Sussex County Council recently started a petition calling on the government to increase funding to local government. Does the Leader of the Council support the petition and has he signed it?
Councillor Chowney replied that he had signed the petition and supported its aim. A link to the petition had also been shared on the council’s social media sites.
Chowney
Edwards
Public Conveniences at a recent Cabinet meeting there was a report on the public conveniences cleaning contract. What was this report about?
Councillor Fitzgerald noted that matter could be discussed as a part II item later on the agenda.
Fitzgerald
Bacon
Summer Season in 2016 the town marked the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. What have the highlights of the 2017 summer season been?
Councillor Chowney replied that over 30 events had taken place on the Stade open space over the summer. The Stade Saturdays programme had run between June and October. Other successful events included Jack in the Green, Mid-Summer Fish Festival, Seafood and Wine Festival and the bonfire. Events would continue into the autumn and winter, with the Herring Fair due to take place in November. Councillor Chowney added that, whilst the council supported a number of events in the town, many were organised by community groups and volunteers.
Chowney
Martin Clarke
Hastings Pier it was sad to read in the local paper about the financial challenges facing Hastings Pier. What can the council do to support the pier and how will this impact projects it supports in the future?
Councillor Chowney advised that Hastings Pier was working with administrators and the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a rescue package and make the attraction more self-sustaining in the future. The council will continue to work with all partners; this includes exploring planning policy considerations which could help the pier operate on a more commercial basis.
Chowney
Sabetian
Energy Generation how can the town use its natural resources for sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy generation?
Councillor Chowney replied that the council was investigating the potential of solar and wind energy generation as part of its income generation activities. A report on these options would be brought to Cabinet later in the year.
Chowney
Beaver
Homelessness it has been reported that some local authorities are buying homeless people one-way train tickets to other areas to avoid having to fulfil their duties in respect of homelessness. Will the Lead Member give an assurance that this council has never and will never engage in this practice?
Councillor Batsford gave this assurance, he added that council officers worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to support the street community.
Batsford
Scott
Road works in St Helens Road while the road works are ongoing in St Helens Road, some motorists are using Alexandra Park as a thoroughfare. Will the lead member give an assurance that this will be stopped?
Councillor Fitzgerald agreed to raise this matter with the Police and the Safer Hastings and Rother Partnership.
Fitzgerald
Cooke
Openwide Limited would the Leader respond to an earlier question as to whether the council has received an contact from Openwide Limited about their reported plans to re-locate to the area?
Councillor Chowney confirmed that the council had not received any contact from Openwide Limited. He agreed to re-circulate his earlier written response to all members.
Chowney
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