Agenda item

To note the list of questions asked under Council procedure rule 11.1 as circulated at the start of the meeting and their reference to the relevant Policy Development Group.

Two questions without discussion had been received and referred to the relevant Policy Development Groups for a response.

Question 1

To:       Councillor Terl Bryant, Good Housing for All Portfolio Holder

From: Councillor Ian Selby

I wish to raise a question on an issue that I have no doubt affects other councillors in their ward.

Back in April 2007 I was contacted by some of my constituents regarding contributions by residents on the warden scheme towards community centre costs.  I subsequently submitted a question to Councillor Cartwright at that time and the reply stated that the matter would be discussed by the DSP Working Group.  Further to this a letter from a council officer (name can be provided but unnamed for the purpose of this public question) in October 2007 stated that the Service Improvement Plan that was being developed would allow for the carrying out of a full review of the situation.

In Feb 2010 my constituents raised the question again and received a reply from the officer with an assurance that a 'Review of Supported Housing Services would tackle the issue'.

In 2011 I then contacted another officer for a progress report and the reply stated that, 'the use and funding of the community rooms will be reviewed as part of the extensive supported housing review which is ongoing. However this particular part of the review is unlikely to be started until after the summer of 2012 as it ties in with other key pieces of work involving fees and charges'.

My constituents feel that this issue is constantly being pushed back they think it is time that a decision was finally made, particularly in the light of yet another rise in the amount that they are having to pay, the present cost being £5.60 a week. 

Also my constituents community centre in Belton Avenue is in use by at least seven different groups at various times of the day and evening and so it is not available for use by tenants at these times unless they are part of one of the groups. 

My constituents have recently carried out a survey on the use of the community centre in Belton Avenue and have found out that the majority of the groups are not charged at this present time for use of the facilities and my constituents ask the question; “why are we being charged to pay for their use of electricity etc”.

This issue is long overdue being addressed for fairness for all concerned. Personally I don’t think it’s fair that a small minority of people should pay for a facility that the whole community has the use of.  May I therefore respectfully ask; Can you give me a definitive answer as to when will this issue be finally addressed by the council?

In anticipation of a positive response, Thank You.

This question was referred to the Resources Policy Development Group. Following consideration by the PDG, the Good Housing Portfolio Holder agreed to a formal meeting with Councillor Selby and the Head of Housing to discuss any outstanding areas of concern.

Question 2

To:       Councillor Mrs Linda Neal, Leader

From:  Councillor Ian Selby

If freedom of speech and democracy have any meaningful value to any of us, then as a local councillor I wish to express the view that after a period of mature reflection, and after a period of genuine, honest and open debate (in the interests of freedom of speech), especially for the younger generation to enable them to form their own opinion, and despite the fact that it is against the wishes of Mrs Thatcher who expressed the view that she did not want a statue of herself erected here in Grantham, I therefore ask if the leader of the council agrees with me that the erection of any statue here in Grantham should not be imposed upon a section of the community who suffered at the expense of Mrs Thatcher’s policies but instead it should be put to the vote in a local referendum (in the interests of democracy), for local people to decide on whether or not a statue should be erected?

This question was referred to the Engagement Policy Development Group.