a) Written questions to Cabinet Members
No written questions have been received.
b) Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time (45 minutes)
Any Member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:
· Any matter relating to the Council’s administration
· Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the Council’s summons
· A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities
Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.
c) Questions to Chairs of Meetings (15 Minutes)
Minutes:
Written questions to Cabinet Members
25a.1 There were no written questions.
Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time
25b.1 Councillor Haigh asked the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy whether the Administration misled the City over plans to clad ugly buildings in advance of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) or failed to deliver.
25b.2 Councillor James stated that the Council would deliver on the commitment made in respect of unattractive buildings; however, the decision had been made to take a cautious approach in respect of Kings Walk car park to ensure that the optimum result was achieved. He reported that the upper levels of the building had been cleaned and a test panel put in place to seek feedback before a final decision was made. He advised that the upper levels would be painted in advance of the RWC, but that building was not actually on any of the main routes associated with the RWC.
25b.3 Councillor Haigh asked if it was disappointing that the cladding would not be in place for the RWC despite previous assurances.
25b.4 Councillor James reiterated that a cautious approach was appropriate and would ensure that the right result was achieved.
25b.5 Councillor Haigh asked the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy what steps had been taken to ensure that there would be no repeat of the distribution of hate literature that occurred at Gloucester Carnival in 2014.
25b.6 Councillor James explained that new guidelines had been issued and stewards had been briefed to maintain a keen eye, but that the Council relied upon individuals to behave appropriately.
25b.7 Councillor Haigh asked whether relevant groups had been informed about the new guidelines.
25b.8 Councillor James advised that the new guidelines had been sent to all groups.
25b.9 Councillor Hilton asked the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy when Stanhope could be expected to submit a planning application for the Kings Quarter development.
25b.10 Councillor James highlighted the progress already made, including the acquisition of the land from Aviva and securing funding for the new bus station. He advised that development agreement required Stanhope to submit a planning application by 31 March 2016 and they were being pressed to meet the requirement.
25b.11 Councillor Hilton asked what the Council’s alternative plan for the development was in the event that Stanhope failed to submit a planning application within the required timescale.
25b.12 Councillor James advised that Stanhope had assured the Council of their commitment to the scheme and that discussing alternatives in a public forum would only serve to undermine the development, which needed to be given the best chance of succeeding.
25b.13 Councillor Hilton asked the Cabinet Member if he agreed that tenants in the private rented sector should be given the same right to buy their home as the government was giving to social housing tenants.
25b.14 Councillor Organ stated that private landlords should not be forced to sell to tenants and that it would cause the private rented sector to seize up; a balanced approach with choice was required for a healthy housing market.
25b.15 Councillor Hilton asked why the government was forcing registered social landlords to sell to tenants by giving them the right to buy their home when this would have a detrimental impact on the market and reduce the number amount of housing available for those in need.
25b.16 Councillor Organ stated that the government was committed to creating a balanced housing market with choice
25b.17 Councillor Chatterton asked the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy whether he could give assurances that the new Gloucester Rugby Superdry at Gloucester Quays was a one-off and that the outlet centre would not be welcoming any other A1 retail brands.
25b.18 Councillor James stated that Gloucester was an outlet centre and that it is obliged to comply with its planning consent; however, a small amount of A1 retail was permitted and the new store made use of this permission.
25b.19 Councillor Chatterton asked the Leader to confirm that no other non-outlet stores would open.
25b.20 Councillor James confirmed that 2000 square feet of A1 retail was permitted and that the Gloucester Rugby Superdry store occupied all of the permitted space.
25b.21 Councillor McLellan asked the Cabinet Member for Environment how may bins had been delivered during 2014-15, what the cause on non-delivery was and what the Council had done to resolve the issue.
25b.22 Councillor Porter (Cabinet Member for Environment) reported that 10,748 requests for new or replacement bins, boxes or caddies had been received in 2014-15 and that deliveries had been completed for all requests that had been deemed reasonable, however, delivery had not always met the optimum timescale. 482 complaints of late delivery had been received, a significant increase to the 112 complaints received during 2013-14 and the reason for the delays was due to a supply issue. He advised that the matter had been raised with Amey at the time and remained a priority issue.
25b.23 Councillor McLellan asked the Cabinet Member whether he was confident that issue was being resolved.
25b.24 Councillor Porter advised that he had received assurances that there was no longer a supply issue and that work was ongoing to catch up with delayed deliveries. He reported that 332 requests for new of replacement bins, boxes or caddies had been received in 2015-16 to date and that there had been 106 complaints regarding late delivery.
25b.25 Councillor Hobbs asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning what measures the Council was putting in place to prevent changes to the fundamental detail of existing planning approvals for brownfield sites being given automatic approval under changes announced to the planning process.
25b.26 Councillor Organ stated that once the Joint Core Strategy was approved there would be a plan in place for all development; this would ensure that development would be driven for the right reasons and protect the Council. He advised that it was necessary to reach agreement with Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council regarding the location of social housing and that the Housing Strategy would follow the approval of the JCS.
25b.27 Councillor Hobbs asked what the Council would do to stop developers ignoring the JCS and utilising the National Planning Policy Framework to obtain automatic approval.
25b.28 Councillor Organ stated that the JCS would be the Council’s main defence and that devolution would also help if local areas were given more decision-making powers.
25b.29 Councillor Brown asked the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure whether she was aware of the Gloucester Arts Council and if a dialogue had begun with the aim of improving the cultural offer in the City.
25b.30 Councillor Noakes advised that she was aware of the Gloucester Arts Council and that other groups and individuals had also contributed to the significant progress already made to the City’s cultural offering and the continued momentum. She explained that an Interim Culture Board has been established to begin work on a new Cultural Strategy; a formal Board requiring cross-party representation would follow and forum for practitioners would run in parallel. She advised that with a revised Cultural Strategy in place, the Council would be able to bid for funding.
25b.31 Councillor Brown asked the Cabinet Member to confirm the timescale for the creation of the formal Culture Board.
25b.32 Councillor Noakes advised that the timescale would be aggressive and that Members would be made aware of the full details as soon as possible.
25b.33 Councillor Pullen asked the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods whether any thought had been given to how the Council could limit the spread of fixed term betting in the City.
25b.34 Councillor Dallimore stated that it was an important issue and one that was being monitored, so that if it became a problem the Council could act.
25b.35 Councillor Pullen asked whether the Council could limit the number of terminals permitted on each premises.
25b.36 Councillor Dallimore undertook to discuss any relevant powers with the Licensing Team and consider whether any policies could be introduced to prevent the saturation of licences.