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 (Paragraph 8.3 of the Council’s Constitution), the Chairman proceeded to conduct a period of oral questions addressed to Executive Councillors and Panel Chairmen as follows:-
Question from Councillor P J Downes to the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery), Councillor S J Criswell
In response to a question regarding a suggestion that the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership should lobby the Government for Cambridgeshire to become an English for speakers of other languages targeted area, Councillor Criswell replied that the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Board would consider the matter at their meeting on 28th May 2008.
Question from Councillor J D Sadler to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding the potential for the District Council to benefit from an award from the Big Lottery Fund, the Leader, Councillor Bates referred to three schemes locally where external funding might be achieved.
Question from Councillor M G Baker to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding the rationale for the decision by Cambridgeshire County Council to transfer waste from Buckden recycling centre to Waterbeach as part of a PFI waste contract, the Leader, Councillor Bates replied that, whilst he was unable to comment in detail on the matter, he was aware that the decision had been taken following discussions over many years and meetings of the County Council’s Scrutiny and Cabinet bodies and that the decision would also affect other Districts in the County. He therefore suggested that Councillor Baker draw his concerns to the Officers and Members of the County Council.
Question from Councillor G S E Thorpe to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question which suggested that Cambridgeshire County Council was considering the granting of a subsidy for a new bus service between Cambourne and St Neots, subject to a contribution also being forthcoming from the District Council, Councillor Bates explained that he did not have sufficient information available to be able to answer the question directly but he undertook to provide a written response to the questioner on the issue.
Question from Councillor Mrs K E Cooper to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, Environment and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question requesting an indication of the steps being taken by the District Council to make provision for allotments in the Local Development Framework in accordance with Government guidance, Councillor Bucknell replied that the provision and maintenance of allotments was a function for town and parish Councils and an area over which the District Council had no direct control.
Question from Councillor D A Giles to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question requesting an indication of the timescale for the signing of a parish charter with town and parish councils, the Leader, Councillor Bates replied that as far as he was aware, neither the County nor other District Councils in Cambridgeshire had yet to sign a charter and that given the mixed response received thus far to a questionnaire sent to all parish councils in this respect, there appeared little interest from the local councils to pursue this matter further.
Question from Councillor R W J Eaton to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding the District Council’s support of a campaign to support the Bargroves Resource Centre in St Neots as a public amenity and whether the Council also would offer financial assistance to the Town Council and community groups in St Neots to enable them to support the campaign, Councillor Bates explained that he had insufficient information to hand to respond to the questioner at the meeting but that he would raise the issue with Cambridgeshire County Council and reply in due course.
Question from Councillor R Powell to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, Environment and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the difficulties experienced by concessionary bus pass holders in Ramsey who were unable to use their passes for the service leaving Ramsey at 9.15am, Councillor Bucknell replied that whilst bus timetables were outside the control of the District Council he would seek to encourage Stagecoach Buses to consider rescheduling their Ramsey service so it left at 9.30am or later. Councillor Bucknell also reported that 19,200 concessionary bus passes had been issued to date by the District Council.