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 K J Churchill to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe

The Executive Councillor acknowledged the appreciation expressed by the questioner for the manner in which the Operations Division had responded to the problem and given advice on the issue of frozen waste in the green recycling bins which had made them difficult to empty.  The Executive Councillor was made aware of similar incidents in Brampton and undertook to establish whether these also had been dealt with in a satisfactory way.

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

In response to a question regarding District Council membership of the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel, the Executive Leader reported that he had been appointed by the Cabinet as the District Council’s representative on the Panel and that the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) would act as a substitute in the event that he was unable to attend meetings.

Question from Councillor D A Giles to the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, Councillor N J Guyatt

In response to a question regarding the impact on footfall in town centres of proposed increases to charges for car parking and the suggestion that these were likely to encourage shoppers to visit out of town supermarkets more so than shop in town, the Executive Councillor reported that car parking issues could be a subject for debate at a future meeting, that Members had the opportunity to respond to recent consultation on proposed changes and that it was the intention of the proposals to encourage visitors to remain in town to shop and frequent coffee/food outlets to add vibrancy and vitality to town centres. 

Question from Councillor R Harrison to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe

In response to a question regarding the difficulty experienced by the Council’s refuse vehicles in accessing un-adopted roads on the Loves Farm development in St. Neots, Councillor Tysoe informed the questioner that the Operations Division recently had purchased seven new smaller vehicles which were able to access the development and thus overcome the problems to which the questioner had referred.

Question from Councillor C R Hyams to the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, Councillor T D Sanderson

In response to a question regarding the possibility of broadcasting the local community radio station in the District Council’s One Leisure Centres and specifically, the gym, swimming pool and changing rooms given the opportunities this may offer to promote local businesses, the Executive Councillor undertook to look into this option and respond directly to the questioner.

Question from Councillor R J West to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe

In response to a question regarding the opportunities that might exist to increase revenue from the collection of trade waste, Councillor Tysoe explained that the Council currently collected some trade waste but because the market locally was relatively small and already covered by the private sector it would not currently be cost-effective for the District Council to take on this function.  However, the opportunity to introduce a County Wide Scheme was under investigation and this could make the service more viable.