Agenda item

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

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

In response to the questioner and whilst he could not predict the outcome of any future local government review, Councillor Ablewhite was of the opinion that the current three tier arrangement comprising the County, District and Parish authorities worked well in Cambridgeshire.

Question from Councillor S Greenall to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe

In response to a question regarding the potential for review of the introduction of a charge for the collection of a second green bin after twelve months of operation, Councillor Tysoe considered that such a review was not necessary as the issue had not been raised with him during election canvassing and he was also aware that, due to its success,Cambridge City Council also had decided to implement a similar scheme.

Question from Councillor J P Morris to the Executive Councillor for Resources, Councillor J A Gray

Having regard to the proposal to raise capital receipts from the disposal of potential development sites included as an option in the “facing the future” exercise and the need for new homes in the District, the Executive Councillor was requested to comment the extent to which these sites could be used to develop affordable housing or shared ownership schemes.  In response, the Executive Councillor re-affirmed that it was the Council’s desire to maximise capital receipts and to use the funds made available, if appropriate, to meet the demand for affordable housing.  It would also be the intention to invest in property to provide bed and breakfast accommodation, reduce the budget spent on expensive bed and breakfast provision and thus provide for those in vulnerable and difficult situations.  Councillor Morris added that he would like to be involved in discussions which would help to move these proposals forward in a positive way.

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

Although difficult to avoid some clashes, Councillor Ablewhite assured the questioner that every effort was made to ensure that meetings of the District Council did not coincide with those programmed by Town and Parish Councils in order to alleviate the impact on dual-hatted Councillors and to help those members of the public who wished to attend Council meetings.

Question from Councillor P Kadeware to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe

In terms of the management of trees in public spaces, Councillor Tysoe undertook to discuss the District Council’s policy in this respect with the questioner after the meeting.

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

Regarding the proposed changes to the Senior Management structure of the District Council, Councillor Ablewhite advised Members that the recruitment exercise presented an opportunity to introduce new and different experiences to the organisation the impact of which, in terms of employee retention and morale would continue to be monitored on a quarterly basis by the Employment Panel.

Question from Councillor K J Churchill to the Executive Councillor for Resources, Councillor J A Gray

Regarding the District Council’s decision not to allocate grants to Town and Parish Councils to mitigate the impact of any increase in Council Tax, Councillor Gray emphasized that whilst he respected the views of NALC and the work of Town and Parish Councils, this decision had been taken formally at meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Cabinet and Council as part of the Council’s final budget process.