Council Procedure Rule 12.6 provides for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under item 7 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 12.7 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) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(d) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader 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 12.8, a time limit of thirty 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 at his discretion.
Minutes:
(a) Litter at Oldshire Lane, Waltham Abbey
Councillor Butler congratulated the Environment Portfolio Holder on the new waste contract and advised the Portfolio Holder about Oldshire Lane, Waltham Abbey, where a litter problem had occurred owing to drivers using this area to park and deposit rubbish on to the kerbside.
Councillor Breare-Hall advised that he was not aware of the problem at Oldshire Lane and he would investigate the problem.
(b) Countrycare
Councillor Wixley wanted to congratulate and thank Countrycare and the Volunteers for the work they provide around the District, in particular the hedgerows and trees that were planted in Loughton recently and would like a note of appreciation recorded.
Councillor Waller agreed that Countrycare provide a welcomed service and noted Councillor Wixley’s sentiments.
(c) Electoral Registration Figures
Councillor Neville asked the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Performance Management whether he could advise on a comparison between how many people were registered this year compared to last year and whether he thought the same figures could be achieved this year or the figure would fall short?
Councillor Philip advised that he would get back to Councillor Neville with the exact figures on the register and an extensive data matching exercise had taken place with the last years register and other data sources which provided a 96% result. A further 5,000 changes had recently taken place, so the figures should hopefully be similar to the previous year. Councillor Philip did advise there had been a push to register 16/17 year olds at schools and at the college and hoped to have a similar level of people registered.
(d) Benefits Processing
Councillor J H Whitehouse asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance whether the time for benefits to be processed could be reduced from 21 days because of the majority of food bank users were people on benefits.
Councillor Stavrou advised that she believed that all the targets for benefits to be processed were being met and if Councillor J H Whitehouse felt that these could be improved, she would investigate.
(e) Accident & Emergency
Councillor Murray asked the Leader whether he shared his concerns of the latest waiting times for Accident and Emergency services at the Princess Alexander in Harlow, with 77.6% of patients being seen within four hours compared to a Government target of 95% and a national average of 90.5% and whether he had been in contact with the hospital authorities and whether he could exercise what influence he has to try and improve the situation?
Councillor Whitbread advised that he shared Councillor Murray’s concerns and would discuss this further with him. He suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could look at this issue as well.
(f) Stepping up Roadshow
Councillor Gadsby asked the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Community Wellbeing whether she had received any successful feedback on the Stepping Up roadshow provided by Essex County Council and whether any volunteering had been followed up?
Councillor Kane advised that she had not received any feedback on the event but would follow it up and advise Councillor Gadsby.
(g) Wheelie Bins
Councillor J M Whitehouse asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment what the requirements were between residents and Biffa with regards to place of return of wheelie bins by Biffa?
Councillor Breare-Hall advised that Biffa were required to return the wheelie bin to the boundary of the property where residents are requested to leave them for collection. Councillor Breare-Hall was aware of some cases where this was not happening and would be happy to take the details from Councillor J M Whitehouse and raise the issue with Biffa.
(h) Cornmill Car Park, Waltham Abbey
Councillor Lea asked the Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener and Transport whether a pedestrian path could be provided for at the edge of the Cornmill car park, Waltham Abbey to allow wheelchair or pushchair access to the bridge?
Councillor Waller advised that he was aware of the problem and that the carpark was to be resurfaced so that the lines could accommodate the path.
(i) Appreciation for Information Provided
Councillor Surtees thanked the Portfolio Holder for Finance for her reply to a previous question at Council regarding Child Services.
(j) Housing
Councillor Shiell thanked the Portfolio Holder for Housing for the consideration of allocated parking for the Roundhills House building programme and asked whether other Council House Building schemes would have allocated parking?
Councillor Stallan advised that Councillor Shiell and Councillor Watts had raised their concerns at the Plans West committee that considered the Council Housebuilding scheme at Roundhills, which resulted in the sites being included in the off street parking programme. He confirmed that the areas which include the Council Housebuilding schemes would work together with the off street parking programmes.