Council Procedure Rule 10.6 provides for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under item 6 above; or
(ii) any other matter of a non operational character in relation to the powers and duties of the Council or which affects all or part of the District or some or all of its inhabitants.
Council Procedure Rule 10.7 provides that answers to questions without notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer from the Leader or, at the request of the Leader, from another member of the Cabinet;
(b) direct oral answer from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or, at their request, from another member dealing with that issue as part of an Overview and Scrutiny review;
(c) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(d) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(e) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or a member of the Cabinet will request that a response be given direct to the questioner by the relevant Chief Officer.
In accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 10.8, a time limit of twenty minutes is set for questions. Any question not dealt with within the time available will receive a written reply. The Chairman may extend this period by up to a further 10 minutes to ensure that all political groups and independent members may have their questions answered.
Minutes:
(a) Town Centre Manager
Councillor Spencer drew attention to the decision not to renew the contract for the Town Centre Manager after July 2011 and asked what assistance would be given to local traders after that time.
Councillor Whitbread advised that the decision regarding the Town Centre Manager was the subject of a call-in to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 February 2011. He pointed out that the post had been funded by Section 106 Agreement money which came to an end in July 2011 and that this had been a difficult decision for the Cabinet. He said he looked forward to a healthy debate at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting.
(b) Parking Review – Buckhurst Hill
Councillor Spencer pointed out that the Epping Parking Review was due to be completed by 31 July 2011 following which work would commence on the Buckhurst Hill Review. He asked if the Buckhurst Hill Review would start in August which was a holiday period or later.
Councillor Stavrou, Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder, advised that work on the Buckhurst Hill Review would commence as soon as possible after the Epping Review. She reported that the Epping Review was currently on target and she would keep members informed of progress.
(c) Sports Leisure Management Contract
Councillor R Brookes drew attention to the negotiations which were nearing completion regarding a contract extension from January 2013 to January 2016. She asked whether any major changes were being put forward especially in relation to the opening of facilities during Bank Holidays.
Councillor Rolfe, Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, advised that he was not yet in a position to provide details of the negotiations and that he would make these available to members as soon as possible.
(d) Safeguarding of Children
Councillor Boyce stated that he had recently attended a seminar on Safeguarding of Children with Councillor Wixley and 25 Council junior staff who came into contact with families and might need to liaise with Essex County Council Social Services on child protection concerns. He said that he had been impressed about the way in which the staff addressed this issue and drew attention to apparent difficulties they faced in getting satisfactory answers from Social Services when cases were referred. He asked the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates and the Council’s representative on the West Essex Area Children’s Trust Board what could be done to support front line officers to ensure that Social Services acted on such referrals promptly.
Councillor Wagland, Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates and the Council’s representative on the West Essex Area Children’s Trust Board, stated that she shared the concerns expressed by Councillor Boyce. She acknowledged that child protection was a particularly difficult area and drew attention to recent unsatisfactory Ofsted reports which had been made in relation to Essex Social Services. She emphasised the need for the County Council to adopt an outcomes process rather than a procedural approach and repeated concerns which she had made at previous Council meetings regarding the apparent lack of references in the County Council’s procedures to children. Councillor Wagland advised that a senior officer from the County Council would be addressing the Children Services Task and Finish Panel on 28 February 2010 and she encouraged all members to attend in order to express their views to that officer.
(e) Police Community Support Officers
Councillor Sutcliffe drew attention to the proposed reduction in funding for Police Community Support Officers and asked if this would affect the service currently being provided in Buckhurst Hill.
Councillor Smith, Safer and Greener Portfolio Holder, advised that the Cabinet had decided to reduce the funding from six officers to four officers. She stated that she was unable to comment on which particular officers would be affected by this decision but would obtain details for Councillor Sutcliffe if she wished.
(f) Decriminalised Parking Enforcement
Councillor Mrs J H Whitehouse drew attention to the County Council’s decision to cease the current On-Street Enforcement Agency with the District as from 1 April 2011. She continued that concerns about the County Council’s proposals for the future had been expressed at a recent Epping Forest Locality meeting between local County Councillors and County Council Officers. As a result she had made representations to the Leader of the County Council and he had agreed to review the proposals.
Councillor Stavrou, Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder advised that she was giving this matter a lot of attention and that a Group Leaders’ meeting had been arranged for 28 February 2011 to discuss the suggested approach to be taken by the District Council. She pointed out that she had already written to the County Council requesting clarification of the proposals and she confirmed that she would keep all Members of the Council involved of progress.
(g) Disasters in Australia and New Zealand
Councillor Richardson asked if the Council would be establishing a Disaster Fund for those affected by the recent flooding in Australia and the earthquake in New Zealand.
The Chairman of the Council pointed out that residents were encouraged to contribute to national funds which had been set up.
(h) Royal Wedding
Councillor Murray drew attention to the emphasis on communities being encouraged to do things for themselves and asked if the Council would be doing everything possible to assist local residents in running street parties on the day of the Royal Wedding.
Councillor Collins, Leader of the Council, drew attention to a report to be considered later in the meeting which was aimed at making things as easy as possible for residents to hold street parties at minimum cost.
(i) Information Centre – Loughton Library
Councillor Pond drew attention to the excellent sharing of services by the County Council and the District Council in Loughton Library and expressed concern that the decision to close the District Council Information Desk after 1.00 p.m. every day would have a detrimental effect on the provision of the services. She asked if the decision could be re-considered in line with the County Council’s current consultation on a potential reduction in hours of service at libraries.
Councillor Collins, Leader of the Council, advised that discussions were taking place with the County Council about how some afternoon information services might be provided in the future.
(j) Area Plans Sub-Committees
Councillor J H Whitehouse drew attention to the proposal to run Area Plans Sub?Committees on a four week cycle from May 2011 and asked if this would affect Development Control performance.
Councillor Collins, Leader of the Council, drew attention to the savings which would be achieved by introducing a four week cycle and pointed out that if necessary the performance targets could be relaxed as they were no longer a national performance indicator.
(k) Carpets in Communal Areas of Flats/Maisonettes
Councillor Knapman thanked the Housing Portfolio Holder for agreeing to review the decision to remove carpeting from communal areas. He drew attention to carpeting in a 20 storey building in another district.
Councillor Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder, thanked Councillor Knapman for his remarks and pointed out that when his letter was submitted to the Housing Minister it would be published and subject to call-in. He continued that when the call-in period had passed he would be happy to publish the letter in the Members’ Bulletin.
(l) Carpets in Communal Areas of Flats/Maisonettes
Councillor Ms J Hart agreed with Councillor Knapman’s comments and suggested it was unfortunate that a distinction had not been made between maisonettes and high rise flats.
Councillor Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder thanked Councillor Hart for her comments.