-
Agenda item
Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
Councillor Carr submitted a written question to Councillor Barnett regarding the sewage leak at Bulverhythe. A written response was received and published on the council’s website.
As a supplementary question Councillor Carr asked Councillor Barnett to consider further community engagement with Southern Water. Councillor Carr also asked if minutes of the Bathing Water Quality Group could be made available, and further details on membership of the group shared. Further to this Councillor Carr asked Councillor Barnett to commit to a review of the council’s emergency protocols.
Councillor Barnett said that transparency is vital and the way the council communicates with the public about meetings with Southern Water and the Environment Agency needs to be as comprehensive as possible. Additional signage along the seafront is also being looked into.
Councillor Hilton submitted a written question to Councillor Evans regarding Climate Scorecards. A written response was received and published on the council’s website.
As a supplementary question Councillor Hilton asked when the council would be publishing a climate adaptation strategy, as this doesn’t appear in the current Climate Action Plan.
Councillor Evans said the next Climate Action Plan update is due in March and the suggestion of including climate adaptions will be taken forward.
The Deputy Mayor took oral questions from councillors to the Leader and cabinet portfolio holders.
Questioner
Subject
Reply given by
Councillor Patmore
Harold Place Development – Why is the council deviating from building regulation best practice in relation to passenger lifts in the proposed Harold Place development, and will the council ask its architects to reconsider the design?
Councillor Barnett said he had been campaigning for improved disabled access for the poorest residents in the town. All public facilities should be fully accessible and the detail of the issues raised by Councillor Patmore will be looked into.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Hilton
The Lewes Model – Are you aware of thie ambitious Lewes Model retrofitting scheme which is bringing together eight local authorities and will the council lobby Optivo to join this collaboration and benefit from shared learning?
Councillor Evans replied that the project is an exciting prospect and the council will lobby Optivo to join the collaboration and take note of the learning.
Councillor Evans
Councillor Bishop
Town Centre vehicle access – Given the rise in vehicular activity in the town centre can you provide an update on pedestrian safety?
Councillor Rogers said there have been meetings with county council officers and Hastings Police to discuss the issue. There is the possibility of replacing the existing bollards, which are still down, and potentially installing an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera. County council wardens have the ability to issue tickets which they will now start doing. Hastings Borough Council is also looking to provide delivery drivers with a safe place to park in the town centre.
Councillor Rogers
Councillor Scott
Summer Events – As Covid restrictions lift can you give us an idea of events we will see in Hastings over the summer?
Councillor Barnett said that the festival season is now starting in earnest with Last Thursday, a new event in the town centre, beginning next week. The following day Fat Tuesday begins, which is the largest Mardi Gras event in the UK. We also have the Hastings International Piano Concerto coming up. Finally, there is the return of the Jack in the Green event on May Day.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Roark
Nationality and Borders Bill – In July we passed a motion reaffirming a commitment to be welcoming to refugees and those seeking asylum. The Nationality and Borders Bill is widely seen as anti-refugee. I ask the leadership of the council to write to Sally-Ann Hart MP and the Home Secretary to formally express our concerns and formal opposition to the Bill.
Councillor Barnett said that he would send the letter as requested and hoped to see changes.Councillor Barnett
Councillor Battley
Optivo - I welcome the recent walkabouts with representatives of Optivo. Can you give us an update of recent progress in our working relationship with Optivo?
Councillor Batsford thanked all Councillors who attended the recent walkabouts. Councillor Batsford explained that the council wrote to the Chief Executive of Optivo laying out key concerns. This has led to some positive discussions in terms of dealing with fly-tipping, retrofitting, litter picking and Disabled Facilities Grant.
Councillor Batsford
The Deputy Mayor called a vote on whether to extend the period of time set aside for oral questions.
RESOLVED (by 24 for, to 1 against): That the period of time set aside for oral questions by Councillors to the Leader, Deputy Leader and other Portfolio Holders be extended.Councillor Hay
In-house cleaning DSO – It was said previously that not all staff would want to, or would be able to, transfer their employment to the in-house cleaning DSO. In order to maintain full-time employment they may have to remain with their existing employer and be redeployed, possibly out of town. If these new arrangements do not suit them, they may have to leave their work. So how many hours will they be contracted to and would the increase in their hourly wage make up for any reduction in hours?
Councillor Evans said it was difficult to answer as she did not know the personal circumstances of current members of staff. The council will do all it can to keep the current cleaning staff.
Councillor Evans
Councillor Sinden
Airbnb - Can you provide an update on how many houses are available for use by people in the town? Many are residents are seeing rent increases and many properties are being turned into Airbnb’s.
Councillor Batsford replied that the rental market in Hastings was out of control as hundreds of homes have been removed from the rental market in the town. The council has lobbied the local MP on the issue of second homes and Airbnb’s. Councillor Batsford called for the introduction of fair rent reviews and rent caps.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Carr
Castle Ward crime rate – How are you implementing Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act and can you also tell us when councillors might get training on Section 17, equalities training, training on the budget and also carbon literacy training.
Councillor Rogers replied that there will be announcements shortly about how the police will manage the town centre. The council is fitting in as much as it can to its councillor training programme and equalities training is currently being organised. Carbon literacy is on the list of potential training sessions.
Councillor Rogers
Councillor Webb
Southern Water – Can you provide an update on the discussion with Southern Water regarding the Bulverhythe sewage leak?
Councillor Evans replied that the source of the leak has been identified as a 30-year-old pipe and the council were informed that it is the first time this type of pipe has failed. Southern Water were going to use a toxic chemical to clean up the beach but this was stopped after council officers raised concerns. There was also a failure to consult an ecologist on the clean-up process. Southern Water have reached out to all beach hut owners and offered compensation, however some owners have been put off by the compensation process. Councillor Evans also called for more regular testing of local bathing water by the Environment Agency.
Councillor Evans
Councillor Roberts
Covid Grants – Could you update us on the various grant schemes the council has been administering?
Councillor Chowney replied that there are still a lot of schemes running, although they will be coming to an end soon. Over £97,000 has been paid out in the Local Restrictions Grant Tranche 4. Just over £1 million has been distributed through the Omicron Hospitality Grant. Additionally, over £400,000 has been paid out via the Test and Trace Grant.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Marlow-Eastwood
Consultation on local NHS services – We have had a low take up of local residents having their say on the proposed relocation of NHS services from the Conquest Hospital. Will the council do more to encourage local engagement with the consultation process?
Councillor Barnett said that there is no clinical reason for the cardiology service to leave Hastings. The Leader of the Council and the local MP have discussed a joint campaign to try to raise the level of responses from local residents. The council is continually promoting the consultation via its social media and newsletter.
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Foster
Fly Tipping – Does the Deputy Leader agree that we should offer one free bulky waste collection to each resident in order to tackle fly tipping?
Councillor Barnett said that a review of the bulky waste collection service is included in the most recent Corporate Plan update.
Councillor Barnett
(The Deputy Mayor declared the meeting closed at 7.23pm)
-
My council
Contact
Contact us if you have a question about democratic services.
Content
The content on this page is the responsibility of our Democratic Services team.