Issue - meetings

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public  received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on Tuesday 5 May 2015. Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Chairman reported the receipt of statements and questions from Mr Michael Sprules, Mrs Spickernell, Mr Ian James  and Mrs Iris Thompson details of which were circulated in the agenda supplement. This also included written responses from the relevant Cabinet member and verbal responses as appropriate were given at the meeting. The Chairman provided questioners with the opportunity to ask a supplementary question.  

Mrs Spickernell spoke in support of her question, expressing disappointment at the written response she had received, and stated that she felt that too much power was concentrated in the Cabinet at the expense of the wider community and other Councillors.

In response, the Leader, Councillor Jane Scott stated that the Council would take all views into account, but that she felt that the Council and the Cabinet was a good example of transparency in decision making and highly regarded as such. She referred to the openness of meetings of Cabinet where public participation was very much welcomed.  Area Board which centred on the consideration of issues considered as important by the local communities.

Councillor Sturgis, in response to a supplementary question from Mr Sprules, stated that the manifesto pledges to subject all social housing to the right-to-buy had yet to be drawn up for consideration by Parliament. The Council would respond at the time to any formal consultation on such proposals.

In response to a question from Mr James, Councillor Sturgis stated that the modelling work regarding flooding was still to be carried out by the Environment Agency.

In response to a question from Mrs Thompson, Councillor Sturgis stated that officers were satisfied that the design of the proposed scheme was satisfactory and that a road safety audit would take place upon its completion.

Mr McCall gave a statement on behalf of campaign to Better Trowbridge, in which concern was expressed about the division of responsibilities and gave a plea that all Councillors have an opportunity to debate how power should be distributed in the County.

Former Councillor Nick Watts attended the meeting to congratulate to new Councillor for his old division.

Mr Gowen gave a statement on behalf of Group 5. He expressed concern that the Council had withdrawn its grant to the organisation with insufficient consultation. He went on to extol the virtues of the organisation and stated that cancellation of the grant had tarnished its reputation.

Councillor Jon Hubbard, on a point of order, expressed concern that some answers given verbally should have been available in writing.

Councillor Sturgis, in response, stated answers had not been available in time to disseminate in writing and were therefore given verbally at the meeting as allowed for in the constitution.

A copy of questions received together with the written responses given are attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public  received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on Tuesday 6 May 2014. Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Chairman reported that Mr Bernard Aslett had registered to address the meeting. Mr Aslett spoke to draw Council’s attention to his concerns over the state of the highways in various parts of the County.  Councillor John Thomson, Cabinet member with responsibility for Highways responded to Mr Aslett’s concerns.