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 5 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) Council Properties - Thermostats
By Councillor S Murray to Councillor D Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder
In the light of the recent well publicised coroner's inquest regarding faulty thermostats in Council properties, what action are Housing Services proposing to take in relation to properties in this District.
Response by Councillor D Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder
We have not yet received any formal Government or Health and Safety Executive advice regarding this incident. However, I would like to thank members and officers for the pro-active work which has been undertaken. We have met with the two gas servicing contractors to assess the risk and extent of the problem in this District. There are properties with thermostats of the type which may fail and approximately 5,000 properties have been identified on the gas service contract. Approximately 1,000 of those properties do not have hot water cylinders in the property and they are not therefore an issue. There remains approximately 4,000 properties which may have the immersion heaters which have caused problems. We need to survey the properties to confirm the numbers and we are proposing to link this to the gas servicing programme. Approximately 1,000 properties will be serviced and surveyed in the coming year and replacement thermostats have been acquired for these properties. Depending on what is found when these properties are surveyed we will purchase more thermostats and aim to complete surveys and work in all properties by October 2008. We expect to undertake this exercise within existing budgets.
(b) Site Provision for Gypsies and Travellers
By Councillor Mrs A Cooper to Councillor Mrs A Grigg, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder
Currently in Nazeing there is a planning application awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State for a temporary site for 12 pitches. There is an application for another four pitches being considered by Area Plans Sub-Committee West tomorrow evening which is recommended for approval by officers. In addition there is an appeal to be heard in April for a further 22 pitches. If all of these additional pitches are allowed will they be offset against the requirement for this District to provide an additional 49 pitches. Within this District there are 117 pitches, 97 of which are in Nazeing. Can the Portfolio Holder give an assurance that in considering future site provision the existing sites will be taken into account. I understand that the Council's Forward Planning officers are currently working on identifying new sites. Can the Portfolio Holder advise if this work will be completed by April 2008, if not it would appear that we may have sites imposed upon us.
Response by Councillor Mrs A Grigg, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder
It is my understanding that if the outstanding planning applications are approved, those pitches will be set against the numbers which we are required to provide. I think that April 2008 is ambitious in relation to identifying new sites. A report is to be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting recommending the setting up of a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group to deal with the Local Development Framework Core Strategy. This will include the identification of sites for gypsies and travellers. The Government has recommended a sequential approach to the provision of such sites looking first at urban sites. However, in view of the expense of urban sites it is likely that we will have to identify sites in the Green Belt and we are likely to be looking in the main to sites coming forward in the East of England Plan.
(c) Traffic Regulation Orders
By Councillor Mrs J H Whitehouse to Councillor A Green, Civil Engineering and Maintenance Portfolio Holder
At a recent Environment and Planning Services Scrutiny Panel meeting, members were shocked to learn that £25,000 had been spent on advertising Traffic Regulation Orders in the local newspaper. This is currently a statutory requirement but we agreed that officers should make representations to Government with a view to seeking a relaxation of this requirement. Has any response been received from the Government and would you arrange for any reply to be published in the Members' Bulletin.
Response by Councillor A Green, Civil Engineering and Maintenance Portfolio Holder
No response has yet been received. When a response is received I will ensure that it is published in the Members' Bulletin.
(d) 2012 Olympic Games - Mountain Biking Event
By Councillor S Murray to Councillor Mrs D Collins, Leader of the Council
Members are aware from the press of the decision that Weald Park in Brentwood is no longer considered suitable for the mountain bike event at the 2012 Olympics. Is there any possibility of part of Epping Forest (the Forest itself) being considered as an alternative location.
Response by Councillor Mrs D Collins, Leader of the Council
Brentwood Borough Council are very upset at this late decision because they have undertaken a lot of work in progressing this matter. However, the Mountain Bike Association now consider that from 2012 the mountain bike site must have a 300 metre drop in order to make it sufficiently challenging. No part of the forest has such a drop and it is most unlikely that the event will be held in this District. We are awaiting further developments.
(e) Bottled Water
By Councillor Mrs S Clapp to Councillor Mrs M Sartin, Environmental Protection Portfolio Holder
How much does the Council spend on bottled water per year and would tap water in dispensers be less expensive and lessen our carbon footprint.
Response by Councillor Mrs M Sartin, Environmental Protection Portfolio Holder
I do not have that information readily available. I will find out and let you have a written answer.
(f) Composter/Water Butt Campaign
By Councillor T Frankland to Councillor Mrs M Sartin, Environmental Protection Portfolio Holder
Approximately six years ago the Council organised a composter campaign whereby members of the public could obtain a voucher from the Council which could be exchanged at designated garden centres for a composter. Is it time to re-run that campaign and could the campaign be extended to the provision of water butts as water is becoming expensive.
Response by Councillor Mrs M Sartin, Environmental Protection Portfolio Holder
I was not on the Council six years ago but I believe this may have been a County Council Scheme and not a District Council scheme. I will establish if the County Council are still running such a scheme. In relation to water butts I agree that we should encourage means of conserving water. A scheme of providing water butts would need to be costed and I am not sure if it will be more appropriate for the Council or water companies to run such a scheme. I will find out more information on both issues and I will make this known in due course.
(g) Epping Parking Review
By Councillor J M Whitehouse to Councillor A Green, Civil Engineering and Maintenance Portfolio Holder
I note the Portfolio Holder’s circulated report but I understand there have been further discussions since that report was written. Can the Portfolio Holder advise us of the latest position.
Response by Councillor A Green, Civil Engineering and Maintenance Portfolio Holder
There was a meeting yesterday with County Council Highways officers. It is proposed to divide Epping into areas for the purposes of the review and publicity will be given to the order in which those parts are considered. The County Council Highways Officers will take into account all of the comments which have been made and initially proposals for revisions will be considered by ward members and myself. The views of ward members will be taken into account and then the proposed changes will be published. In relation to a timescale the County Council officers have said that they will be commencing work on the review immediately.
(h) Bus Stopping Arrangements in The Broadway, Loughton
By Councillor Mrs C Pond to Councillor Mrs A Grigg, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder
What progress has been made in re-locating bus stopping places from Vere Road to Burton Road.
Response by Councillor Mrs A Grigg, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder
The decision made by the Housing Portfolio Holder to approve the short-term usage of the garage forecourts in Burton Road as locations for bus waiting has taken effect. The bus companies have been made aware of this decision but I understand they are not necessarily using the garage forecourts.
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