a) Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time (30 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:
Cabinet Members’ Question Time
19.1 Councillor Haigh asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning whether, in light of the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group on standards in the private rented sector, consideration had been given to introducing special licensing powers for HMOs and other properties in the private rented sector where there were issues.
19.2 Councillor Organ congratulated those involved in the Task and Finish Group and the subsequent prosecutions. He advised that careful consideration would be given to a forthcoming government directive about licensing such properties.
19.3 Councillor Haigh stated that seven months had already passed and asked whether, if the directive was not published soon, the Cabinet Member would consider using existing powers to ensure that homes were safe and decent.
19.4 Councillor Organ advised that he would consider using existing powers.
19.5 Councillor Haigh asked the Leader of the Council to brief Members on the impact of Brexit on devolution proposals.
19.6 Councillor James advised that Councillor D. Norman was the lead Member for devolution and that Members would be briefed as soon as there was information available to be shared.
19.7 Councillor Haigh asked whether it was more likely that a devolution deal would be linked to a requirement for a directly-elected Mayor.
19.8 Councillor James stated that it was not possible to speculate about the likely governance arrangements, but agreed to address the matter when more information became available.
19.9 Councillor Hilton asked the Leader of the Council if he agreed about the importance of ensuring that EU nationals resident in Gloucester would be allowed to remain in the UK following the EU referendum result.
19.10 Councillor James advised that he shared the view of the Prime Minister that the rights of EU nationals to remain in the UK and the rights of UK nationals living in the EU needed to be respected.
19.11 Councillor Hilton asked if the Leader would write to the Prime Minister to seek a guarantee that EU nationals living in Gloucester would be able to stay in the City.
19.12 Councillor James advised that he would raise the matter with the City’s MP, Richard Graham.
19.13 Councillor Hilton asked the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure whether the agendas and minutes of the Interim Culture Board would be made public.
19.14 Councillor Noakes stated that there were currently no formal papers to publish as work was focused on formally recruiting to the Board. She reported that the agenda for the last meeting of the Interim Board was concerned with ensuring that the recruitment process proceeded in an engaging manner in order to attract suitable applicants. She stated that, once the Board was formally constituted, papers could be made available for publication.
19.15 Councillor Hilton asked the Cabinet Member to provide Members with a written account of the recruitment process.
19.16 Councillor Noakes advised that the recruitment pack and dates for roadshows would be shared with all Members and asked Members to encourage suitable individuals to apply.
19.17 Councillor Wilson asked the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods what the Council was doing to ensure that Gloucester Park was safer at night.
19.18 Councillor Dallimore stated that she was horrified to hear of the recent incident in the park and advised that a number of improvements had been made recently, including CCTV and environmental work to make the areas more open. She advised that there would be a general increase in police patrols and that the principles of the recently approved Safe and Attractive Streets Policy applied equally to the park. She stated that she did not want people to stop using the park and highlighted the events and facilities available; she pledged to continue working with partners to further improve safety.
19.19 Councillor Pullen asked the Cabinet Member for Environment if it was acceptable for shredded metal to have been left behind when the grass was recently cut at Parry Field, preventing the local children’s football team from using the pitch.
19.20 On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor James stated that it was not acceptable. He undertook to raise it with Amey, the Council’s service provider and provide a written response. He asked Councillor Pullen to pass on his apologies to those affected.
19.21 Councillor Pullen advised of a further incident that resulted in a young person twisting their ankle due to the nature in which the grass had been cut and he asked the Leader if he agreed that the contract was being delivered poorly by poorly trained staff.
19.22 Councillor James advised that he did know the detail of the incidents raised and that he provide a full written response after further investigation.
19.23 Councillor J. Brown asked the Cabinet Member for Environment way, more than two weeks after the sign in Barnwood Park that identified the ‘dogs on leads’ area had been vandalised, it had not been replaced.
19.24 On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Noakes explained that she had requested that the sign not be replaced in order for proper consultation on the designation of a ‘dogs on leads’ area to take place. She advised that Councillor J. Brown had been invited to attend a meeting with officers and that she hoped to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
19.25 Councillor J. Brown stated that she was not able to attend the meeting and asked why, if the proper legal process had been followed, was consultation now necessary, or why, if consultation was required, had it not taken place.
19.26 Councillor Noakes advised that normal practice was to consult on such matters irrespective of the legal requirements and that she could not comment on why consultation was not undertaken. She stated that it was necessary to ensure that enforcement was possible before making such a designation.
19.27 Councillor Stephens asked the Cabinet Member for Environment to carry out an urgent review of the seagull menace in the City and update the Council’s website with the current advice to residents. He added that the current programme had resulted in success for commercial areas causing an adverse effect on residential areas and that the Council should review the need for practical help for residents in tackling the issue.
19.28 On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor James noted that the budget for gull control work had been substantially increased and that a new contract had been in place for a year. He agreed that it was right to review its success and look at the specific issues raised whilst keeping in mind the practical and financial limitations. He undertook to instruct officers to update the Council’s website.
19.29 Councillor Stephens asked for details of the timescales for a review.
19.30 Councillor James advised that he would ask officers to provide Councillor Stephens with the timescales.
19.31 Councillor Morgan asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure what steps he planned to take in respect of prolonged inaction on development sites across the City.
19.32 Councillor Organ stated that there was no easy solution because, although it was in no one’s interest to leave sites undeveloped, developers were subject to a number of challenging factors in respect of finance and changes in the market. He advised that there was no single solution, but that maintaining communication on both sides was key to encouraging progress.
19.33 Councillor Morgan asked the Cabinet Member to consider how to communicate with the public in respect of sites that remain undeveloped.
19.34 Councillor Organ advised that there were some issues of confidentiality, but that it was desirable to keep the public informed and provide opportunities to comment where possible; he explained that work with the Planning team on such matters was ongoing.
19.35 Councillor Fearn asked the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources to give assurances that jobs would be protected in light of the Council’s £1 million savings target.
19.36 Councillor D. Norman (Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources) advised that he could not give any guarantees about jobs because all non-statutory services would be scrutinised in the pursuit of the required savings in order to identify ways of doing things differently.
19.37 Councillor Fearn asked whether Members’ Allowances should be considered as part of the savings exercise.
19.38 Councillor D. Norman responded that Members should consider how they might contribute to the savings required and think about opportunities for maximising income.
Questions to Chairs of Committees
19.39 There were no questions to Chairs of Committees.