Issue - meetings

Please note that Councillors are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) not later than noon Friday 19 February 2010.  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 receipt of questions from Cllrs Helen Osborn, Jeff Osborn, Clark, Carbin, Oldrieve, Packard, Caswill and Dalton.

Details of the questions and responses given were tabled at the meeting and are attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

 Supplementary questions were made in some cases summarised as follows:

Cllr Helen Osborn – youth development as referred to in Briefing Note No. 23 – sought an assurance that Area Boards would be involved in the process and considered that it would have been prudent to consult town councils and local members before a decision is made.

Cllr Gundy confirmed that the whole process could be considered by Area Boards.

Cllr Jeff Osborn – Youth Development as referred to in Briefing Note No. 23 – Asked the Leader if she was happy that a Member Briefing Note was the correct way for the new provisions to be dealt with given that it was in his opinion, a contentious issue.

Leader confirmed that if Area Boards were particularly unhappy with the changes, the Community Area Managers would be happy to discuss it with them. Whilst she appreciated there would be winners and losers, the changes were made to rationalise youth provision services across the County. The Briefing Note was issued as a mechanism to inform Councillors.

Cllr Jeff Osborn – Youth Development and consideration by Children’s Services Scrutiny Select Committee in the Autumn – asked whether consideration in the Autumn would not be too late.

In the absence of Cllr Soden, Chairman of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Select Committee, the Leader pointed out that it was up to that Committee on managing when it would consider this or any other item of business.

Cllr Clark – housing services as referred to in the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) – asked about the steps being taken to overcome concerns raised by the CAA.

Cllr Brady – explained that the Council’s Housing Strategy was currently being prepared. The Council was currently in the process of recruiting an Empty Homes Officer to overcome some of the concerns raised by the CAA and would review other resources needed within housing. Cllr Brady and Cllr Greenman as Portfolio Holder for Housing were looking at the issue of voids with a view to improving the situation and reducing the number of void properties.

Cllr Clark – SAP – sought information on the gross cost to date of SAP.

Cllr de Rhe Philipe undertook to provide Cllr Clark with a written response.

Cllr Carbin – deadline for submission of questions – Cllr Carbin suggested that the deadline for submission of questions by Councillors should be brought forward to allow for the preparation of responses and their circulation to Councillors in a timely manner.

Cllr Oldrieve – tendering for Children’s Centre provision – asked for reconsideration of the support available to schools on the tendering process.

Cllr Grundy undertook to look at how best the Council could provide the relevant expertise to schools and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10