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Agenda item
Questions (if any) from:
Minutes:
199a) Members of the public under Rule 11
No public questions were received.
199b) Councillors under Rule 12
Councillor Hilton submitted a written question to the Leader of the Council, a written response was received and shared with Councillors prior to the meeting.
In a supplementary question Councillor Hilton thanked officers for the detailed response to the original question, but asked that the council commit to some carbon reduction targets so that progress towards carbon neutrality could be tracked.
Councillor Barnett, Deputy Leader of the Council, responded. Councillor Barnett noted that at the next meeting of cabinet in September there will be an update on the climate change plan which will include some targets. If they are not the targets which Councillor Hilton thinks should be in the plan, Councillor Barnett said he would be happy to discuss the issue further.
The Mayor took oral questions from Councillors to the Leader and cabinet portfolio holders as follows:
Questioner
Subject
Reply given by
Councillor Patmore
Public questions – I have received complaints from a number of concerned residents who wanted to submit a written question but were refused. To put the proposed questions succinctly, given the council’s formal adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism, will the Deputy Leader condemn any form of anti-Semitism on the streets of Hastings and reaffirm to councillors and residents that it is council policy that every residents feels safe, protected and comfortable.
Council Barnett said he would refer the matter to the Chief Legal Officer and respond once he knows why the questions were refused.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Sinden
Transformation - Can you update us on the transformation programme?
Councillor Rogers replied that the council should be praising the Transformation team for their work. We are now feeling the benefits of using Smart Sheets and dashboards to track performance across the council. Officers recently presented their work to 15 other local authorities who were very impressed with our ways of working. There is also the possibility do develop a commercial opportunity in the future.
Councillor Rogers
Councillor Rankin
School Attendance - Many of our schools in Hastings have below national average rates of attendance and higher than average rates of long-term absence. Our schools persistently fail to ensure above average grades in key subjects and have some of the highest rates for permanent and fixed term exclusions in the country. Does the Deputy Leader agree that these levels of education are one of the single biggest drivers of deprivation in our Borough and we should do everything in our powers to changes this?
Councillor Barnett said he shared Councillor Rankin’s views on education provision in Hastings. Councillor Barnett said these issues have been coming for many years because of the privatisation of the education system.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Arthur
Covid-19 Restrictions - Many people are feeling anxious about restrictions being lifted. What can we do to support and protect residents including those who are vulnerable and from Black and Asian communities who have been disproportionately affected?
Councillor Barnett replied that we are beginning to see the local health authorities working together alongside partners to address some these issues. There have been a series of meetings between Hastings Borough Council, the Clinical Commissioning Group, the Primary Care Trust, and voluntary sector representatives to put in place a series of community-based pop-up vaccine centres.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor K Beaney
Bathing Pool Site - Can you provide an update on the bathing pool site?
Councillor Chowney responded that the council had received and signed the development agreement. The developer is still to sign but this is a formality.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Carr
Traffic - Can you update us on the traffic situation in Wellington Place and Wellington Square?
Councillor Rogers replied that the bike rack in Wellington Square would be installed next week and at the same time posts will go up with no-parking signage. It will soon be illegal to park on the grass or anywhere off road in Wellington Square. Once the signage is in place the enforcement team will begin issuing tickets. In relation to the Town Centre it has been agreed that the bollards will be switched on again and the pass code will be changed on a regular basis and only given to businesses who have a need to enter the pedestrianised area.
Councillor Rogers
Councillor Cooke
Hastings Housing Company – When the company was setup I believe it was a requirement that a councillor be on the board, yet we currently have no councillor on the board. Can you update us?
Councillor Batsford said the company is not currently operating as the main need in the town is to find temporary accommodation and the quickest means of doing this is for the council to purchase property directly.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Roark
Active Hastings - Can you give an update on what Active Hastings provision will be available to children over this summer?
Councillor Barnett praised the Active Hastings team and shared feedback from users of the service.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Beaver
Bulverhythe Lower Tier - The Environment Agency in their submission in February stated that the Lower Tier site sits within Flood Zone 3B. However, the lead member for housing in an online article stated, ‘this site is not a flood plain’. Whom does the Leader of the Council believe?
Councillor Forward replied that money has been received from Homes England to develop flood mitigation. A planning application has been submitted and when this comes to the planning committee all relevant information will be in the officer’s report.
Councillor Forward
Councillor Roberts
Hastings Museum - As lock down ends can you update us on what is happening at the museum?
Councillor Barnett said the museum is open again and operating safely with a well-designed one-way system. The museum has secured national funding and national attention with a series of new projects which have connected the museum to national and international audiences over lockdown.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Pragnell
Council Debate – Since I was last at the council I notice the opportunity for debate has been cut by 25% and without consultation we have had 10-minute breaks at the last meeting cutting into debating time. Did cabinet decide this?
Councillor Rogers replied that this was not decided by cabinet. A working group meets weekly to discuss how to manage covid safe meetings. It is recommended that you not look at your screen for too long so it was decided to include regular 5-minute screen breaks during the meeting. Changes to the debating times were approved by Full Council some years ago.
Councillor Rogers
Councillor Cox
Disabled Beach Access - Can you give an update on disabled access to the beach?
Councillor Webb replied that repair work to the groynes, funded by the Environment Agency, had gone very well. The contractor has now been instructed to construct the new disabled beach access.
Councillor Webb
Councillor Hilton
Queensway Business Park – You will be aware of the current planning application from Sea Change for a business park at North Queensway which threatens Marline Valley Nature Reserve. There has been no scrutiny of Sea Change. As is allowed by paragraph 29.8 of the Constitution will you call on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to conduct a long overdue inquiry into Sea Change?
Councillor Evans replied that she would need to seek advice on what she can call on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to do. However, Councillor Evans said she would like to see a consultation paper on the impact of the potential development on the surrounding area before commenting.
Councillor Evans
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