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Agenda item
Questions from 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
Lee
Change of Parking Arrangements will the Leader of the Council agree to investigate changes to parking arrangements at Pelham Place car park? Charges in the car park have been extended from 6.00pm until 9.00pm and this has adversely affected volunteers working at St Mary in the Castle.
Councillor Chowney replied that the changes to the parking arrangements had been included as part of the budget proposals approved by Full Council in February. No comments had been made objecting to the proposals at the time the budget was set. He added that it would not be possible to reinstate the previous arrangements, without achieving savings elsewhere, which would affect council services.
Chowney
Wincott
Stade Saturdays what events will be taking place in Hastings over the summer on Saturday evenings?
Councillor Poole replied that the Stade Staurdays programme would begin again on Saturday, 3 June. The ambitious programme of events included live music, a jazz festival, circus acts and a range of other performances. The team had compiled the programme using very little funding from the council. A range of other events would also be taking place across the summer, in addition to the Stade Staurdays programme, including the Seafood and Wine Festival and Fish Fair.
Poole
Patmore
Rock-a-Nore Road the car parking arrangements at Rock-a-Nore Road are chaotic and causing disruption to people using the car park. Will the Leader of the Council agree to work with all stakeholders to find a solution?
Councillor Chowney replied that work was already underway to find a solution to the delays on Rock-a-Nore Road. He explained that traffic management and dealing with illegally parked cars was primarily the responsibility of East Sussex County Council and the Police. Councillor Chowney had written to the District Commander regarding this matter and arranged for a site visit from a senior officer at East Sussex County Council.
Chowney
Cooke
Heritage Strategy many aspects of the council’s new Heritage Strategy are to be welcomed, but will the lead member provide an assurance that no parking spaces will be lost in the seafront car parks?
Councillor Poole replied that there was no intention to remove any car parking spaces from the seafront car parks as a result of the new Heritage Strategy. She added that many of the seafront car parks were owned by the Foreshore Trust, not the council.
Poole
Lee Clark
Fresh Water Tap in the response to a previous question, the Leader of the Council advised that a fresh water tap located at Harold Place public toilets would be relocated if the conveniences were closed. Now the toilets have been closed, will the Leader of the Council confirm where this well-used resource will be relocated to?
Councillor Chowney confirmed that the tap could be relocated. He suggested that it may be possible to site the tap on Highways land, with a smart meter.
Chowney
Street
Hastings Country Park Visitor Centre following the excellent news of a successful external funding bid to support the development of a new visitor centre at Hastings Country Park, will the lead member advise of the timescale for the works?
Councillor Fitzgerald said that was an excellent example of partnership working between the council and Groundwork South, learning from the project would also be shared with other authorities and partners. Funding of £1.5 million had been secured via EU Interreg and National Heritage Grant to develop a suitable visitor and interpretive centre at Hastings Country Park. The new building would be sympathetic to the surrounding countryside and around 40 volunteers would be involved in the construction project. Local school and nursery children would also be involved in developing the interpretive facilities. The project also included additional pathways through the park. Councillor Fitzgerald paid tribute to the work of Councillor Davies and Poole, the previous portfolio holders and the council’s Environment and Natural Resources Manager. He added the project highlighted the council’s commitment to effective stewardship of the country park.
Fitzgerald
Rankin
Council Budget the council’s budget expenditure is listed as £15,000,000. However, actual expenditure on the town is likely to be in the region of £30,000,000, can the Leader of the Council explain this?
Councillor Chowney explained that the difference between the council’s actual expenditure and the figures reported in the budget was due to the requirements for the accounting of public money. Income from grants, fees and charges and rates are used to offset the cost of services. The council complied with the guidelines set out by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Councillor Chowney commented that these guidelines may need to be revised as councils generate more income for themselves and are less reliant on funding from central government.
Chowney
Batsford
Street Cleansing how are the arrangements for street cleansing likely to change at the end of the present contract?
Councillor Fitzgerald said that the joint waste partnership authorities had recently agreed an early mutual termination of the current waste and street cleansing contract in June 2019. The council will continue to work with its contractor for the remainder of the contract to ensure high standards for waste collection and street cleansing are maintained. Consideration is already being given to a variety of options for street cleansing, bulky waste collection and fly tipping, after the existing contact has come to an end. Councillor Fitzgerald thanked the previous portfolio holder, Councillor Davies, for his work on this matter.
Fitzgerald
Martin Clarke
Hastings Embroidery the Hastings Embroidery, which was made in 1965, is currently in storage and not available for the public to view. How much is the cost of storage to the council and how can the tapestry be made available for the public to enjoy?
Councillor Chowney replied that the cost of storing the tapestry was £1,800 per year. The tapestry had originally been displayed in the Sussex Room at the White Rock Theatre, however, it had been placed in storage after concerns that its condition was deteriorating. Two panels of the tapestry are currently on display in the Town Hall, but the council would be keen to find a venue to display the entire piece. Discussion has taken place with a number of potential venues in the past, but unfortunately none had been able to accommodate the piece. However, the council would still be willing to explore potential alternative options in the future.
Chowney
Atkins
Missed Brown Bin Collections a number of residents in Conquest ward have reported repeated missed collections of their brown bins. What is being done to address this?
Councillor Fitzgerald said that this matter had recently been brought to his attention. He agreed to contact officers for advice and respond in writing to Councillor Atkins’ question.
Fitzgerald
Bacon
Coastal Communities Fund it is excellent news that the council’s recent bid to the Coast Communities Fund (CCF) was successful. How will the funding be spent?
Councillor Poole welcomed the news that the council’s bid for CCF had been successful. She explained that funding would be used for a range of improvements on the seafront, including the refurbishment of the dis-used fountain at White Rock. A new project would also take place the Source, based on the theme of the Battle of Hastings. Funding had also been allocated to develop a community space at Rock House and in the alley way at the side of the building. The funding could support up to 180 local jobs and introduce 12 new events to the town.
Poole
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