Agenda item

Members' Question Time

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:

54.1                Councillor Pullen (Leader of the Labour Group) stated that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had expressed concerns regarding borrowing by local authorities to invest in property and he understood that the Department was preparing guidelines. He asked for an assurance that no negotiations would take place until the outcome of the consultation was known. Councillor David Norman (Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources) replied that he had previously made that promise.

 

54.2                Councillor Pullen believed that the DCLG would only consider local initiatives that would benefit local people. Councillor David Norman replied that there were a number of documents out for consultation and he had previously stated that his preference would be to make-any such investments within the City boundaries.

 

54.3                Councillor Pullen stated that he had written to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning requesting that a recently issued poster suggesting that people should not give money to homeless people on the street be withdrawn. He asked if the Cabinet Member had authorised the poster; what had been the cost and whether the campaign had been abandoned. Councillor James (Leader of the Council) stated that the matter came within the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods. In the absence of the Cabinet Member he replied that all posters been taken down except one which would be removed as planned in February. He stated that the cost had been £253.34p.

 

54.4                The Leader of the Council did not believe that the poster had demonised homeless people and that public reaction had been broadly positive. He noted that the number of rough sleepers in the City had fallen by 35 per cent while the national trend had been an increase of 15 per cent. He noted that the message had been used elsewhere, including Ipswich which was a Labour controlled authority, and believed that giving cash on the streets would result in homeless people not contacting the agencies that could help them.

 

54.5                Councillor Pullen understood that there were plans to re-issue the poster with the same message. He noted that Richard Graham MP had said that the message may not be appropriate and had called for a more sympathetic approach to tackling homelessness. The Leader of the Council noted that the original poster had included details of Street Link and he displayed the poster for the next stage of the campaign which gave more details of how homeless people could find support. He noted that the Council had committed huge resources to tackling rough sleeping which had been reflected in the fall in numbersof those sleeping on the streets.

 

54.6                Councillor Hilton (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) welcomed the latest recycling figures but asked the Cabinet Member for Environment if he would apologise to the Council and to the people of Gloucester for the number of missed refuse collections over the Christmas period. Councillor Cook (Cabinet Member for Environment) replied that apologies had already been made. He explained that the snowfall had occurred at the worst possible time over three Bank Holidays. He was holding discussions with Amey about handling similar situations in the future.

 

54.7                Councillor Hilton believed that the contract with Amey should be terminated and referred to problems with both grass cutting and shortage of drivers.  He noted that Councillor Cook had previously referred to the Amey contract as the worst he had ever seen and he asked if Councillor Cook would consider establishing a Direct Labour Organisation to avoid problems such as those recently experienced by Carillion. Councillor Cook stated that Councillor Hilton would recall the recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting where he had stated that all options were open and requested that Councillors put any ideas to him. He reiterated that nothing was ruled out.

 

54.8                Councillor Hilton noted that the number of empty homes in the City had increased by 132 in the last five years and asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning what was being done to address the problem. Councillor Organ noted that the Council did not own these homes and there were many reasons why they were empty including being on the market; divorce settlements and awaiting probate.  He stated that few people now leave properties completely unattended and stated that the Council had exercised its powers of compulsory purchase in some cases although he advised that the fluidity of the housing market depended on the availability of a number of empty properties. He advised that the Council could take action if there was a specific problem such as vermin infestation.

 

54.9                Councillor Hilton noted that the Council had failed to make use of the empty homes management legislation to tackle long term empty properties in the last five years. Councillor Organ asked Councillors to let him know of any long term empty properties in their wards.

 

54.10              Councillor Stephens referred to the consultation on the proposed Public Space Protection Order and noted that it would not apply to rough sleepers and he sought an assurance that it would not be used against homeless people. The Leader of the Council stated that the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods had already given that assurance.

 

54.11              Councillor Joanne Brown asked if the Cabinet Member for Environment was aware that Amey had stopped locking the gates of The Oaks and Barnwood Arboretum at dusk. Councillor Cook stated that he had not been aware of the situation and would ensure that Officers looked into the matter.

 

54.12              Councillor Joanne Brown asked if this was another instance of Amey dictating to the Council and Councillor Cook stated that the Council was a customer of Amey and would expect to be treated as such.

 

54.13              Councillor Fearn asked for an update on the emergency repairs to Gloucester Life Museum. Councillor Noakes (Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure) stated that scaffolding had been erected as soon as the Council had been able due to restrictions in Westgate Street over the holiday period and repairs were underway. She advised that the condition of the building was not as bad as had been feared and no further water was entering the building.

 

54.14              Councillor Hyman stated that complaints about dog fouling had increased in his ward and noted the dangers this presented to children’s health. He asked what measures were being taken to address the problem. Councillor Cook replied that Amey dealt with reported incidents of fouling and if complainants could provide evidence the owner would be contacted and, if appropriate, the matter taken further.

 

54.15              Councillor Hyman noted Section 89 of the Environment Protection Act and believed that the Council should take a more proactive stance employing more staff on the ground if necessary.

 

54.16              Councillor Coole advised that February was LGBT History Month and asked if the Council would be flying the Rainbow Flag. The Leader of the Council confirmed that the flag would be flown.

 

54.17              Councillor Coole advised that Pride in Gloucestershire was under threat and asked if Cabinet Members would meet with him to ensure that Pride remained in the City. The Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure both agreed to meet with Councillor Coole.

 

54.18              Councillor David Brown advised that a resident had seen a stray dog and had visited the Council’s website for information. They had been referred to Worcester Regulatory Services and could not receive an answer to their telephone calls. He asked the Cabinet Member for Environment for his views on the stray dog contract. Councillor Cook undertook to investigate the incident and provide Councillor Brown with an answer.

 

54.19              Councillor Hampson referred to the work on Houses in Multiple Occupation undertaken by the Private Sector Housing Officer and asked how the work would be delivered following the recent restructure. Councillor Organ (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning) stated that the section was still undergoing change and he would provide Councillor Hampson with an answer.

 

54.20              Councillor Tracey referred to a recent visit to Westgate Street and The Dukeries where she saw a large amount of litter. She called 396396 which was not answered but called another floor and the litter had been collected within the hour. The Leader of the Council noted that the contract would run until 2022 but if litter was collected within an hour of being reported it provided a pretty good service.