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Agenda item
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
Subject
Reply given by
Councillor Lee
Harold Place public toilets – It has been over a year since the public toilets at Harold Place were demolished. Can the Leader provide an update on the situation at this site?
Councillor Chowney responded that the Council had put in an application to the Coastal Community Fund to develop the site but this wasn’t successful. The site has been on the market for some time and there has not been a lot interest recently. The Council are looking at other possibilities for the site.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Sabetian
Local Elections – In view of the current disorder in the Conservative party nationally how does the Leader view the outcome of the elections in Rother and their impact on Hastings?
Councillor Chowney responded that Hastings would like to do more in partnership with Rother. A change in leadership or philosophy could introduce more opportunities for partnership working.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor K Beaney
Bexhill Road development - Residents have noticed that there is not a lot of work on the Aldi development on Bexhill Road. Does the Leader have an update and will there be any cost implications for the Council if there is a delay?
Councillor Chowney responded that to his knowledge there are no delays to the development.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Bishop
Hastings Country Park - Can you provide an update on the Hastings Country Park visitor centre and whether the bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund was successful?
Councillor Fitzgerald responded that specialist straw build companies are in place and construction is anticipated to begin in late May. The Council has been successful in the National Lottery Heritage Fund bid. This grant will allow the Council to get school children and other groups up to the site to take part in heritage projects.
Councillor Fitzgerald
Councillor Edwards
Hastings Country Park – The Country Park Management Forum meeting on 4th March didn’t take place, on the agenda was a visit to the potential site of the ground mounted solar array. Can an alternative date be arranged?
Councillor Fitzgerald confirmed a visit to the site will go ahead at the next scheduled meeting, if colleagues can’t attend they can send substitutes. A date will also be arranged for all Councillors to attend the site with officers.
Councillor Fitzgerald
Councillor Barnett
Seaside regeneration – The House of Lords Regenerating Seaside Towns Committee published a report this month. What relevance does this report have to Hastings and how could the recommendations benefit the Borough?
Councillor Chowney responded that Hastings is mentioned in the report which outlines concerns around transport, educational attainment and employment opportunities for seaside towns. The report does recognise the way funding is offered to seaside towns is not sustainable.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Patmore
Litter in town – There was a lot of litter in town over the Easter weekend, can the Leader provide an update on the DSO, and when it will start?
Councillor Chowney responded that pictures of Bournemouth and Brighton over the Easter weekend were much worse than Hastings, but there is always more we can do. The new DSO will start in June and we will have more control over the service and more people working.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Turner
Personal Independence Payments – Research studies have criticised the Department for Work and Pensions handling of Personal Independence Payments. What does the Leader think about this and will he write to the Secretary of State to say this is not good enough?
Councillor Chowney confirmed he would be happy to write to the Secretary of State about Personal Independence Payments. There are a lot of case studies on this done by Sussex CAB’s.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor O’Callaghan
Section 21 notices – One of my residents recently had a Section 21 notice to quit their property. They have been moved to Eastbourne. Can the Council intervene, and what support can the Council provide?
Councillor Batsford replied that no fault Section 21 notices are becoming a national crisis. 27% of homelessness cases in the Borough are due to no fault Section 21 notices. The Government consultation on this issue is welcome. Scotland and Wales have already banned Section 21. A motion will be brought to Full Council in July on this issue.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Rankin
Hastings Housing Company – Could the Leader give an update on Hastings Housing Company (HHC) and specifically how many units does HHC own?
Councillor Chowney confirmed that the Council is mainly buying houses directly in order to reduce the spend on B&B’s. The most effective way to purchases houses currently is to buy directly and use them as temporary accommodation. It is estimated this will save £300,000 net this year.
Should the homelessness crisis diminish we could transfer units to Hastings Housing Company. There are a total of 16 units owned by Hastings Housing Company and 8 units acquired directly by the Council. A further 9 units are currently under offer.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Webb
Brexit - Does the Leader share my worries that Government confusion and resources directed to Brexit are harming the Borough?
Councillor Chowney responded that commercial property lettings have slowed and this may be due to uncertainty around Brexit. There is a lot of Brexit planning across East Sussex. Uncertainty is a worry and it is affecting businesses in Hastings.
Councillor Chowney
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