Agenda item

Questions to Members of the Cabinet.

Arising from a question by Councillor P Kadewere from residents of Kings Ripton Road, Huntingdon, the Executive Leader, Councillor R B Howe undertook to obtain further detail from Councillor Kadewere outside of the meeting and address the issues.

In response to a question by Councillor D B Dew on the inclusiveness of public involvement of the Local Plan review, Councillor R Harrison explained that the Council had been working to a tight timetable and an announcement would be forthcoming later that week on the Strategic Transport Strategy (STS) that would be communicated to all Members. Councillor Harrison also undertook to circulate the full technical details, as well as the STS to all Members.

Councillor T Hayward referred to two motions that had been presented to the Council over the past 18 months on the A1 and the level crossing at Buckden and asked for assurance that correspondence had been sent to the highest Minister in Central Government, not the Members of Parliament, in relation to these issues. Whereby, Councillor Harrison reported upon a forthcoming meeting in Milton Keynes the following week to discuss the A1 with Highways England and J Djanogly, Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon. It was further reported that discussions on the level crossings were at a crucial stage and the Council had been awaiting a report from Network Rail before responding further and Councillor Harrison undertook to ensure that the appropriate correspondence was communicated to the MP and Minister.

Arising from a question by Councillor R Fuller in relation to breaches of planning and enforcement issues with the access road from Hemingford Road to the old golf course site in St Ives, Councillor G J Bull had explained that he had been made aware of the breaches and undertook to investigate the use of enforcement powers with the potential breach of conditions in this location.

Councillor B S Chapman referred to the growth in the District and the ensuing problem with the increase in litter and questioned what action was being taken to address the problem. In response Councillor J White explained that it was a national problem and drew Members attention to a Keep Britain Tidy campaign that was being run on the 4th/5th March 2017 that was designed to encourage local communities to tackle the problem of littering. It was further reported that the Operations Division had invested in new equipment to help address the issue and a Street Cleansing Plan had been developed to tackle such problem areas.

Councillor S Greenall reported upon the recent decision to consult on the closure of Waitrose in Huntingdon and his subsequent petition and questioned what the Cabinet was doing to assist the retention of such retail outlets in the market towns as well as encouraging new businesses. Whereby, the Executive Leader, Councillor R B Howe, explained that the welfare of the market towns was a strategic priority of the work of the Combined Authority and the St Neots Masterplan would be developed as a template for use in other market towns. He further reported that there had been engagement with stakeholders in the towns and had met with Huntingdon BID to address support for retail at a higher level, of which the Council had assisted with the decision not to increase car parking charges this year and would continue to engage and develop strategies to enable market towns to continue to flourish.

In response to a question from Councillor M F Shellens on the reported cuts to the National Health Service with the closure of smaller hospitals and measures taken to ensure such facilities remain in our community, Councillor Howe undertook to take up this issue outside of the meeting.

Arising from a question from Councillor P D Reeve on the lack of regular comment from Cambridgeshire County Council on planning applications and requested that the matter be explored with Senior Officers, Councillor Bull undertook to pursue this issue with Officers at the County Council.

Councillor D A Giles raised a question in relation to the delay in replacement of a road sign in Eaton Socon following damage, whereby Councillor White undertook to investigate the issue and provide a written response.

Arising from concerns raised by Councillor Ms S L Taylor in relation to overhanging trees located near Hen Brook, St Neots, Councillor White reported that the debris from the trees had been assessed for flood risk and there was a programme in place for removal within the next few weeks.