Agenda item

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (paragraph 8.3 of the Rules), the Chairman proceeded to conduct a period of oral questions addressed to Executive Councillors and Panel Chairmen as follows:-

Question from Councillor R Harrison to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

In response to a question regarding the progress of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, Councillor Ablewhite advised Members that Cambridgeshire County Council, as Lead Authority, had set up a Working Group to consider practical ways in which to support the covenant and that he understood from his discussions with the Deputy Leader of the County Council that consultation on the way forward would begin shortly.

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Question from Councillor C R Hyams to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

Following a question regarding support for Huntingdon Community Radio and a suggestion that the station might be broadcast in the Leisure Centres and other appropriate places, Councillor Ablewhite asked the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, Councillor T D Sanderson to look into this possibility.

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Question from Councillor M F Shellens to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

In response to a question which highlighted that visitor displays had not been updated to reflect recent changes in Huntingdon Town Centre, Councillor Ablewhite commented that this only served to illustrate how much the District Council had committed to the Town over the year in terms of new and planned development.  Whilst it was disappointing that the Town had lost certain retail chains, he was aware that the Town Centre Manager worked hard to ensure all shop units remained full.

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Question from Councillor Mrs M Banerjee to the Executive Councillor for Customer Services, Councillor B S Chapman

In response to a question regarding staffing issues at the Yaxley Community Information Centre, Councillor Chapman confirmed that a new member of staff had been appointed and it was expected that the Centre in Yaxley would operate from the beginning of April on Wednesday and Friday between 9.00am – 4.30pm and on Tuesday and Thursday in Ramsey.  The Centres would be closed over lunch from 12 – 1pm.  Councillor Chapman undertook to respond to the questioner in writing on the savings which had been achieved from the reduction in the service.

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Question from Councillor M F Shellens to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

In response to a question regarding the future of the development of Huntingdon Town Centre in the event that Churchmanor Estates chose to withdraw its support for the scheme, Councillor Ablewhite assured the Council that the benefits of the project overwhelmingly outweighed the minimal risk associated with the scheme, that he was confident that pro-active investment in the Town Centres would bring longevity and generate increased business and that the relocation of Sainsburys and improvements to the Huntingdon link road were key to encouraging other development to take place.

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Question from Councillor M G Baker to the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, Councillor N J Guyatt

In response to a question regarding the potential for land in Brington and Bythorn to be used as an alternative location for former residents of Dale Farm, Councillor Guyatt assured the questioner that the Enforcement Section in the Planning Division would monitor the sites in question to ensure that no unauthorised occupation would occur and that in the absence of new National Planning Guidance on Gypsies and Travellers any applications for the extension of temporary or permanent positions would be determined by the District Council in the light of current District Council policy and Planning Regulations.

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Question from Councillor R J West to the Executive Councillor for Customer Services, Councillor B S Chapman

In response to a question regarding the intention of the District Council to develop a protocol for the distribution of the new homes bonus, Councillor Chapman replied that he was aware that one District Council had embarked upon a consultation process with Parish Councils whereby such authorities could apply to them for a percentage of the new homes bonus for use towards infrastructure in their communities but that other authorities appeared to have adopted the same practice as Huntingdonshire and were using funds for the benefit of the District as a whole.  Councillor Chapman was of the view that the model used was not one that Huntingdonshire should follow.

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Question from Councillor P D Reeve to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

In response to a question regarding the improvement of communications with Members, Councillor Ablewhite reported that, whilst there were many opportunities for Members to access information, it was the role of the new Corporate Team to improve communications with local Members.

Question from Councillor R S Farrer to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite

Further to an earlier question, Councillor Ablewhite undertook to discuss the possibility of District Council support for local radio stations. 

The meeting ended at 10.05pm.