Agenda item

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members provided that questions do not contravene the provisions set out Council Procedure Rule 10.01.

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 6^th December 2024 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

Questions and responses will be published at least 24 hours before the meeting. Supplementary questions may be put and answered during the meeting, subject to the relevant time limit.

In respect of question 1 the member of the public queried whether the costs of further artworks at the bus or train stations would come from a separate budget rather than from already limited Transport Hub funds.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure confirmed that they would be subject to the same principles as public art anywhere else in the City including review and the identification of funding as proposed in the Public Art report (Agenda item 12).

In respect of question 2 the member of the public informed Members that he had not seen any reference in Gloucester Docks to its role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade or to the merchants who benefited from it such as the Bakers and Philpotts after whom warehouses are named.  He asked if uncomfortable elements of history such as these would be targeted to promote a better understanding of the City’s past.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure stated that commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the opening of the Docks would be part of a programme of events in 2027 but that these were in a very early stage of planning.  She gave assurance that community groups and stakeholders would be involved in the process.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure further directed the member of the public to the resolutions and detailed research in the Monuments Review approved by Cabinet (9 February 2022 Agenda item 8).  She noted some recent relevant activities such as the revised blue plaque for George Whitefield, exhibition on Ukawsaw Gronniosaw at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the `Connected Lives’ research project at the Cathedral.  She advised that endeavours to inform the public via information panels, educational resources, public art and other methods were ongoing.  The Managing Director advised that the owners of Bakers Quay had apprised the former Head of Culture of their intention to not associate that name on the buildings or addresses on either the first or second phase of the development there.  He assured Members that he and the Head of Place would again raise the matter with them.

In respect of question 3 the member of the public made it clear that he believed planning permission had been granted for 1,000 car parking spaces and that he had a statement from the Leader of the Council in 2007 giving the impression that this was the case.  He queried why the Council maintains that this permission had not been granted.  The Cabinet Member for Resources stated that the 1,000 spaces had been in the outline application in 2007 but not enacted.  He confirmed that what is in the license tender documents, 178 spaces or thereabouts, is what is wanted now and is all that is relevant rather than what happened in the past.  He further gave assurance that the tendering process would be fair and transparent.

In respect of question 4 the member of the public sought clarification as to the amount of the service charge.  The Cabinet Member for Resources advised that the amount will negotiated with the bidder depending on the nature of the bid, there being no one size that fits all.