Agenda item

Public Question Time (15 Minutes)

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.

 

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 21 January 2022 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

Minutes:

59.1      A Gloucester resident submitted the following question:

 

Would it be possible to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment with regards to the recent change of requiring that questions to any committee or full council be made in writing to allow for reasonable adjustments? For example, BBC Radio allows questions to be asked by email, by post or by phone call, where the question is written down and passed on in writing.

 

          The Leader of the Council, Councillor Cook, responded:

 

A People Impact Assessment (screening stage) was carried out. The changes we have put in place allow submission by post and by email, and we are no longer requiring residents to attend in person in order for their question to be put, as we considered this would be beneficial to many residents, but primarily those with disabilities. While it is not explicit in the wording of the Constitution, we will also accept questions by phone. A new web page dedicated to advising residents on how they can get involved in the democratic process went live in November, and on that page we have encouraged residents to get in touch if they need any support to participate in our meetings. The same encouragement is also published on each agenda.

 

59.2      A Gloucester resident submitted the following question:

 

Why is the MP group suggesting closing the tennis courts to low-income families who cannot afford fees, putting in a costly booking system prohibiting children and young people who don’t have bank accounts from accessing the courts if their parents are unable to facilitate due to work commitments and/or finances and causing parking issues in a quiet residential area with children and young people at risk from excessive parking, when there are excellent facilities at plock court Oxstalls, Gloucester business park and Cheltenham tennis club for those that can afford to pay and the friends of the oval have already demonstrated that the area can easily be improved and maintained through grants and fundraising? This is robbing the poor to benefit the rich - why?

 

          Councillor Cook responded:

 

No decision has yet been made by Gloucester City Council in respect of the introduction of a pay to play system at the Oval.  The Council will take into consideration the impact of any changes to the current arrangements, and the requirements attached to Government grants before reaching any decision, including any concessionary arrangements that might be applicable.

 

59.3      A Gloucester resident submitted the following question:

 

In times of rising inflation, utility bills and general cost of living, and considering the area the oval courts are situated, do you really think by implementing a fee and booking system is beneficial to the people within the social and economic banding as those residents in the oval? Or is the proposal for the benefit of those individuals in the photo of the survey, the polar opposite of what you see in the oval?

 

Councillor Cook responded:

 

No decision has yet been made by Gloucester City Council in respect of the introduction of a pay to play system at the Oval.  The Council will take into consideration the impact of any changes to the current arrangements, and the requirements attached to Government grants before reaching any decision, including any concessionary arrangements that might be applicable.