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Agenda item
Questions from Councillors Under Rule 12
Minutes:
No written questions had been received.
Questions to the Leader, Deputy Leader or other Lead Members were asked and answered in accordance with Rule 12.1 as follows:-
Questioner and Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Atkins
Social Lettings Agency the social lettings agency is currently behind its target for the number of privately rented properties participating in the scheme. How will the lead member ensure these targets are met, to prevent any additional costs being passed on to council tax payers?
Councillor Forward explained that the scheme was a two year pilot project and the team had proactively engaged with a range of landlords throughout. Interest in the initiative was now growing, although in some cases there had been an unavoidable delay in the transfer of privately rented properties to the scheme. Councillor Forward invited Councillor Atkins to schedule a separate meeting with her, so she could update him fully on progress.
Forward
Rogers
Source BMX Skate Park is there an update on when the new Source BMX and Skate Park will be opening to the public?
Councillor Poole replied that the Source would open to the public on 13 February 2016. She added that she was proud of the council’s support for an innovative local business, which would transform a previously neglected area of the seafront and become a significant cultural resource. The new facility was already receiving positive coverage in the media and attracting attention from riders who compete at an international level.
Poole
Charlesworth
Hastings Fishery will the Leader of the Council encourage a debate on the impact of fishing quotas on Hastings fishery, before a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union (EU)?
Councillor Chowney responded that the Hastings fishery had received support from the EU-funded Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) project. This had included £1 million worth of investment in projects related to the fishery, including improved equipment and materials. Funding opportunities from the FLAG 2 project were currently being explored. He added that the fishery had been adversely impacted by the UK government’s interpretation of fishing quotas for vessels under 10 meters. Councillor Chowney continued that the fishery remained an essential part of the town’s identity and tourist offer, but it was not necessary to debate it in relation to the EU referendum.
Chowney
Scott
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) budget reductions given the reductions to ESCC services, many of which support vulnerable groups, does this council fully understand the impact of funding reductions to the Seaview project?
Councillor Forward said that she was saddened by the reductions to ESCC’s services. She explained that the budget for the Seaview project had been reduced by £48,000. The project carried out very valuable work with vulnerable people with complex needs, supporting around 800 people in 2014/15. Service users were also signposted to a range of other agencies and support. Seaview relied heavily on volunteers to deliver its services. Councillor Forward had asked the manager of the Seaview project to outline the likely impact of its budget reductions.
Forward
Cooke
Rocklands Caravan Park will the Leader of the Council provide the information which was previously requested by Councillor Edwards on the cost of dealing with issues at Rocklands Caravan Park to the council?
Councillor Chowney agreed to circulate this information.
Chowney
Charman
Business Mentoring Scheme will the Lead Member provide an update on the new Business Mentoring Scheme?
Councillor Poole explained that the scheme was part of a Coastal Communities Funded project to support businesses in the tourism and creative sector. An officer had been appointed to provide one to one support to new businesses in the sector. It was hoped that up to 27 new jobs may be created by the scheme.
Poole
Pragnell
Caravan Licenses will the Leader of the Council allow a representative of the Save Ecclesbourne Glen Group or a Borough Councillor to attend while the distances between caravans at Rocklands Caravan Park are measured?
Councillor Chowney replied that the preparation of caravan licences was a matter for professional officers and it would not be appropriate for Councillors or members of the public to be involved in this way.
Chowney
Dowling
Bottle Alley it is pleasing to see works beginning on Bottle Alley, what is the timescale for the project?
Councillor Poole welcomed the improvements to Bottle Alley, it was anticipated that the works would be completed in March. Additional funding of £50,000 had been received from the coastal revival fund, which would be invested in a new lighting scheme for the area. Plans were also being developed for community events taking place in Bottle Alley. However, in the long term, it would be necessary to explore funding opportunities to support a more comprehensive restoration of the structure. Councillor Poole noted a number of other improvements in the area including the Source BMX and Skate Park and the restoration of Hastings Pier.
Poole
Lee
White Rock Theatre will the target for audience figures at the White Rock Theatre be increased this year?
Councillor Poole replied that the council monitored attendance figures closely, holding quarterly meetings with the theatre’s operators. Attendance figures varied significantly each month, depending on the productions being staged. Councillor Poole commented that the council would need to consider the longer term management options for the theatre carefully.
Poole
Sabetian
Funding Reductions does the Leader of the Council agree with the Leader of East Sussex County Council, Councillor Keith Glazier, in his letter to the Guardian newspaper that the level of cuts to local government funding will damage public services?
Councillor Chowney said that he supported the comments made by Councillor Glazier, adding that the issues he identified in terms of the sustainability of funding reductions to local government affected all local authorities. He commented that the changes ESCC were making to children and adult social services as a result of their funding reductions would impact on vulnerable groups in the community.
Chowney
Westley
Hastings County Park Interpretation Centre following discussion at Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Services, does the Lead Member agree that delays to the original timescale for the Hastings Country Park Interpretation Centre are justified in order to achieve a better result?
Councillor Davies explained that the council was seeking to achieve best value from its investment of £250,000 in the new interpretation centre. It was continuing to explore external funding opportunities with its partner, Ground Work South, which would ensure the new building was of a high standard.
Davies
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