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Agenda item
Questions from Councillors Under Rule 12
(a) Members of the public under Rule 11
(b) 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 and Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Atkins
Planning Department residents were disappointed when planning permission for the recent link road extension was withdrawn. Can the Lead Member confirm if the action plan of improvements for the planning department, recommended by Cabinet, has been agreed and implemented?
Councillor Poole replied that this matter fell within Councillor Forward’s portfolio of responsibilities. A written response to the question would be circulated to members.
Poole
Beaney
Alexandra Park Boating Lake a number of residents would like to see the boating lake in Alexandra Park returned to use, is this still possible now that the new islands have been installed?
Councillor Davies replied that it was still possible to use the boating lake for its original purpose, but as yet no one had come forward with a proposition to hire boats or pedalos on the lake. He commented that the park remained one of the town’s most popular attractions, achieving an 80% approval rating amongst residents. A consultation was currently ongoing regarding a potential cycle route within the park.
Davies
Beaver
Minimum Wage will the Leader of the Council join with me in welcoming the Government’s proposed increase in the minimum wage as a benefit for local residents?
Councillor Chowney responded that we would not welcome the proposed increase in the minimum wage, as it was offset by reductions to working tax credit and child tax credit so many households would not see their overall income increase.
Chowney
Edwards
Social Lettings Agency with five landlords joining the scheme in the first quarter, what are the prospects of this number increasing over the coming months?
Councillor Chowney replied that the council had anticipated that initial take-up of the scheme by landlords would be slow. However, he was confident that an increasing number of landlords would register with the agency over the coming months as the benefits of the scheme became clear. It had not been possible to accept all of the landlords that came forward for the scheme, as the council had set strict conditions on the standard of properties it would accept.
Chowney
Charlesworth
Queensway Gateway Planning Application the planning application for Queensway Gateway was due to be submitted to committee in July but has since been withdrawn. When will the application be submitted to Planning Committee?
Councillor Chowney replied that the planning application was due to be submitted to Planning Committee in August. The application had been withdrawn from the July meeting to allow more time to revise the report.
Chowney
Pragnell
White Rock Trust will the Lead Member join with him in congratulating the White Rock Trust on becoming a Coastal Communities Team, as part of the government scheme and provide details of how the council plans to support the Trust in the future?
Councillor Poole congratulated the White Rock Trust on becoming a Coastal Communities Team but explained that she felt the Trust should not have had to bid for this status. She added that the council was already in contact with the Trust on a range of issues and would meet with them to discuss their new accreditation.
Poole
Clarke
High Speed Rail Link what will the council do to support the local Member of Parliament in securing a high speed rail link from Hastings?
Councillor Chowney replied that a high speed rail link remained a long term ambition for the town. He added that he continued to meet with the Member of Parliament and would support efforts to bring a high speed rail link to the town.
Chowney
Clark
Spending Review does the Leader of the Council agree that the local Member of Parliament should speak out against the government’s planned spending review and the impact this could have on public services in the town?
Councillor Chowney expressed his disappointment at the government’s planned spending review, and the potential impact of reducing public services on this scale could have on the town. Hastings Borough Council would support East Sussex County Council in opposing further budget reductions, whilst continuing to explore alternative means of income generation.
Chowney
Cooke
Waste Collection and Streetscene recently, there has been a problem with litter in the streets around the town centre, particularly early in the morning. Will the Lead Member ensure that all residents in these areas are provided with seagull proof sacks and the the council’s contractors are taking action to improve the street scene?
Councillor Davies agreed that the streetscene in the town required improvement and had already raised this matter with the council’s contractor. The council and its contractor were in the process of developing a programme to address issues around litter and fly tipping, particularly in high profile areas of the town, which included re-educating residents on the use of seagull proof sacks.
Davies
Scott
Community Engagement how will the council develop its community engagement work in the future?
Councillor Chowney replied that the council had reduced the level of its community engagement work in recent years due to budget restrictions. He noted that much of the ongoing community engagement work was focused on the town centre, with the hope that this would improve the quality of life of residents in the whole town. Councillor Chowney continued that there may be scope to raise the profile of the council in other areas through existing festivals and events
Chowney
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My council
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