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’s 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 M D Godfrey to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the wisdom of the decision to release agricultural land for the purposes of the Great Fen Project given the demands on future world food production, Councillor Bucknell invited the questioner to accompany him to an event to be hosted by the Environment Agency and National Farmers Union to discuss “food, fuel and wetlands” and recommended that Council Members listen to a BBC Radio 4 broadcast on the Great Fen Project.
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Question from Councillor P G Mitchell to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the arrangements being made to manage issues arising from the acquisition of land for the Great Fen Project, Councillor Bucknell replied that a meeting would take place with partners to the Project on 18th July 2008 at which it was intended to discuss governance arrangements, land purchase and communication and negotiation issues and that he would be in a position to supply further details after that date.
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Question from Councillor Mrs J A Dew to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the volume and estimated cost of concessionary bus passes, Councillor Bucknell reported that to date 20,894 concessionary bus passes had been issued representing 150 – 200 passes per week, that it was anticipated that a further 4,000 applications might be received – an increase of 20% over that forecasted and that it was estimated that the exercise would cost in the region of £803,000.
Question from Councillor J E Garner to the Leader, Councillor I C Bates
In response to a question regarding the use by the District Council of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, Councillor Bates referred Council Members to details of the recent covert surveillance activities which had been described in a paper circulated at the meeting and appended to these Minutes. Councillor Bates added that the account of activities had revealed that the Council had used the provisions sparingly since the inception of the Act.
Question from Councillor M G Baker to the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Councillor D B Dew
In response to a question regarding the future of the District Council’s Leisure Centres, Councillor Dew reported that although the future direction of the Leisure Centres was still under review, it was important to continue to develop and improve existing facilities. There was, however, no intention to privatise the Leisure Service but rather to continue to ensure that the Centres performed effectively and responded to the challenges set by the market.
Question from Councillor Mrs K E Cooper to the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, Councillor A Hansard
In response to a question regarding the Electoral Review of Parishes Councillor Hansard undertook to respond to the questioner in writing on the likelihood of the changes made being in place for the 2011 elections.
Question from Councillor Mrs B E Boddington to the Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the effect of the rise in world oil prices on the projected cost of the proposed scheme of improvements to the A14 in Cambridgeshire, Councillor Bucknell undertook to seek a response from experts in the field and to reply to the questioner in writing.
Question from Councillor P Godley to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the methodology for street naming in the event of new developments within a ward, Councillor Bucknell replied that it was common practice for a developer to select the name of new roads within a development drawing upon local characteristics or traditions but that town and parish councils could influence this process provided they made suggestions at an early stage.
Question from Councillor G S E Thorpe to the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, Councillor A Hansard
In response to a question regarding the accuracy of a suggestion made in a report by a study group of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) that the post of Town Centre Manager to St Neots was funded by the District Council, Councillor Hansard replied that each Town Centre Partnership was awarded annual funding of £19,200 and that, other than St Neots, the other Town Centre Initiatives had chosen to utilise part of these funds to support the employment of a Town Centre Manager.
Question from Councillor S J Criswell to the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Councillor D B Dew
In response to a question regarding the progress made by the Leisure Centres in achieving reductions in their budget, Councillor Dew reported that the service had increased income, made savings, reduced management and administration costs and utility bills all of which had amounted to a saving in the contribution made by the District Council to the running of the Leisure Centres in 2007/08 of £732,000.
Question from Councillor T D Sanderson to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the timescale for updating the Huntingdon and Godmanchester Market Town Transport Strategy, Councillor Bucknell replied that the Market Town Strategy would be updated in conjunction with the Northbridge, Huntingdon development but that he would write to the questioner to specify when this might be.
Question from Councillor J E Garner to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell
In response to a question regarding the Great Fen Project, Councillor Bucknell replied that whilst discussion on details of the Project were ongoing there was no doubt that it would continue to progress.