In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Section 8.3) of the Council’s Constitution to receive oral questions from Members of the Council.
Minutes:
In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Section 8.3) of the Council’s Constitution, the Chairman proceeded to conduct a period for oral questions addressed to Executive Councillors and Panel Chairmen as follows:-
Question from Councillor Mrs M Banerjee to the Executive Councillor for Housing Strategy, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding the future funding of affordable housing, Councillor Bates announced that following a joint bid for resources by the District Council and registered social landlords, the Government had awarded a sum of £6.1 million towards affordable housing schemes in the District over the next two years. He added that this award would not affect any future opportunities for the provision of affordable housing in the District via Section 106 Agreements.
Question from Councillor M G Rainer to the Executive Councillor for Resources, Welfare and IT, Councillor L M Simpson
In response to a question regarding the level of District Council expenditure on Microsoft software and licences during the last financial year and over recent years, Councillor Simpson undertook to respond to the questioner in writing.
Question from Councillor R E Barnes to the Executive Councillor for Service Delivery, Councillor R L Clarke
In response to a question regarding the outcome of consultation with Town and Parish Councils on the provision of public conveniences in their communities, Councillor Clarke explained that this had been deferred pending the outcome of the public consultation exercise on service and council tax levels to be undertaken later in the year.
Question from Councillor M G Baker to the Executive Councillor for Resources, Welfare and IT, Councillor L M Simpson
In response to a question regarding the activities planned for the visit of representatives from Marburg-Biedenkopf to Huntingdonshire in September, Councillor Simpson explained that a programme for the twinning visit would be devised with the Executive Councillor following the local elections on June 10th.
Question from Councillor W T Clough to the Leader of the Council, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding the measures in place to secure the safety of Members, Officers and visitors to Pathfinder House following a recent violent incident involving damage to the building, the Leader replied that whilst every precaution was taken, Pathfinder House was a public building and it was impossible to plan for every eventuality.
Question from Councillor D A Giles to the Leader of the Council, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding the selection and attendance of Members at a recent meeting arranged by the Team undertaking the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, the Leader was of the view that the number of Members present would not reflect adversely on the Team’s assessment, given the conflicting demands of Members and the opportunity for Members to submit comments to them via e-mail. In addition, the Leader reported that the initial feedback had been positive and the Team had applauded the level of commitment shown by Members and Officers.
Question from Councillor J S Watt to the Executive Councillor for Housing Strategy, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding possible hardship caused by the reduction in grant assistance for adaptations to the homes of disabled persons, Councillor Bates replied that the Government had capped the grant budget at the previous year’s level of £332,000 for statutory improvements to enable the elderly and disabled to continue to live in their own homes. Councillor Bates acknowledged the significance of the situation and added that a report would be submitted to the Cabinet shortly on the implications.
Question from Councillor J Taylor to the Leader, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding the cost of recent changes to the District Council’s corporate identity/colour with particular reference to District-Wide, security and business cards and the Council’s livery, the Leader emphasised that items had been replaced only when necessary and that he would reply to the Councillor in writing on the detailed cost after the meeting.
Question from Councillor P G Mitchell to the Leader, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding the costs associated with the change in refuse collection arrangements from the use of black bags to wheeled bins, the level of grant received from central Government and the potential for a reduction in landfill, the Leader explained that much of the information requested was available within the previous Medium Term Plan programme but that he would undertake to forward details to the questioner after the meeting.
Question from Councillor J M Souter to the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Councillor Mrs J Chandler
In response to a question requesting details of the level of non-Huntingdonshire residents using the District’s Leisure Centres and the possibility of establishing a differential scale of charges for residents and non-residents, Councillor Mrs Chandler indicated that surveys of usage were undertaken by the Centres but that the question of differential charging had not been discussed previously. She added that such information that was available would be forwarded to the questioner.
Question from Councillor P J Downes to the Leader of the Council, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding progress of the Member-led review of the District Council’s base budget approved by the Council in December, the Leader explained that initial consideration had been given to the process to be adopted for the review and that once agreed with the Chief Officers’ Management Team, discussions as to how to proceed would ensue with the Executive Councillor for Finance, the Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and the questioner.
Question from Councillor D Harty to the Leader of the Council, Councillor D P Holley
In response to a question regarding the operation of the mobile CCTV unit, the Leader explained that, directed by the Police, the unit would be present in locations where there currently was no camera provision in the District, particularly villages and the outskirts of towns where anti-social behaviour was occurring. It would also be used to monitor events and demonstrations. The question of the unit’s effectiveness would be reviewed at the end of the summer and any concerns that Members might have relating to its use should be directed towards the Director of Operational Services.