Issue - meetings

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

·       Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·       Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

If you would like to ask a question at this meeting, please contact democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk as soon as possible and by 12^th June at the latest.

The Democratic and Electoral Services Officer read the following question on behalf of a member of the public who submitted it in writing in lieu of participating in the virtual meeting.

The member of the public apprised Members of his experience as an advocate for people living on the street, in temporary and in supported accommodation and what he perceived to be the dire need for the most vulnerable to be represented in disputes, appeals and other matters with individuals, agencies and authorities.  He asked if the Council would consider recognition of a community union to represent such people.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods replied that although the Council had developed both good working relationships with a broad range of advocacy services across the county and robust complaints procedures, it was nonetheless vital to strive for additional ways to support vulnerable people to overcome obstacles.  She gave reassurance that this suggestion alongside others would be raised within the cell of partner agencies set up to explore ways of assisting people to achieve and sustain housing.

The Democratic and Electoral Services Officer read the following two questions on behalf of another member of the public unable to participate in the virtual meeting.

The member of the public informed Members that Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID) sponsored flower displays had been noisily replaced after 11pm.  He asked if work of this nature could be carried out at a more reasonable hour given the many residential properties in the city centre.  The Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Growth responded that a complaint from a resident had already been received and immediately acted on.  She reassured Members that the parties concerned, including Gloucester BID who had arranged the work in question, would be reminded again to avoid such activities at unsociable times.

Regarding the COVID-19 lockdown the member of the public advised Members that he believed many city centre shops could have opened legally and safely prior to June 15^th 2020 but did not.  He asked what the Council and its funded organisations such as Gloucester BID could have done better to encourage local businesses to have reopened faster.  The Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Growth stated that officers, Gloucester BID and the Federation of Small Businesses had been engaging with and keeping local businesses up to date with government advice.  She summarised the timescale of what was permitted when and pointed out that the broad range of retailers were only allowed to open from the 15^th June and only if they could clearly demonstrate compliance with the social contact guidelines.  The Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Growth commented that although the Council offered support, any decision to open or not was made by the businesses themselves.