Agenda item

Please note that Councillors are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the first page of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) not later than 5pm on Tuesday 3 July. 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 Councillors Jon Hubbard, Brian Dalton and Chris Caswill, details of which were circulated and attached as Appendix A to these minutes together with the responses given.

Questioners agreed to take their questions as read and were given an opportunity to ask a relevant supplementary question to which the relevant Cabinet member responded. Supplementary questions are summarised as follows and should be read in conjunction with the questions and responses:

Cllr Jon Hubbard – the size of any backlog for Housing Benefit and comparisons with the last eight quarters – Cllr Hubbard asked what steps were being taken to reduce the processing times. Cllr John Brady gave details of improved performance in this area. He also referred to the universal credit system whereby rent would be paid direct to the tenant who would be responsible for paying their landlord on time. Arrangements could be made to pay a landlord direct in the case of vulnerable members of society.  

Cllr Jon Hubbard – assurances that no residents would sign an agreement to reduce the number of visits by Housing Support Officers without a full understanding of the implications; and how the cost savings would be passed back to the Council – Cllr Jemima Milton responded on behalf of Cllr John Thomson.  Cllr Milton explained that it was too soon to realise the cost savings to the Council at this time but once the numbers of residents signing the agreement was known then the savings to the Council would be known.

Cllr Brian Dalton – Highway maintenance issues for the roads in south Wiltshire – Cllr Dick Tonge spoke referred to the levels of investment for this service. He explained that a criteria was used for prioritising highway maintenance in the County and that the overriding aim was one of road safety. All requests for highway maintenance were treated equally in accordance with the agreed priority criteria.

Cllr Jon Hubbard – the steps being taken to compensate for the loss of the Education Maintenance Allowance – Cllr Lionel Grundy agreed that it was very unfortunate that the Allowance had been withdrawn nationally but that he was not aware that this had affected the education of children in the County.

Cllr Chris Caswill – when would an agreement be reached in relation to the redevelopment of the Bath Road site in Chippenham and was there any risks associated with the delay – Cllr Toby Sturgis reassured that nothing was being put at risk.

Cllr Chris Caswill – the charge on the Council for this year’s carbons emissions – Cllr Toby Sturgis reported that for the current year it was anticipated that the charge would be £400,000. The reduction for this year was mainly due to energy efficiency savings and a reduction in the Council’s estate.

Cllr Chris Caswill – legal representation at the public examination of the core strategy – Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe confirmed that the Council would be making its own case.

Cllr Chris Caswill – If the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s latest national review of learning disability services report could also be reviewed by the Health Select Committee – on behalf of Clllr John Thomson, Cllr Jemima Milton agreed that it would be helpful for the Health Select Committee to also review the report’s findings, subject to the Committee being able to accommodate this within its work plan.