Agenda item

A 45-minute period in which members may ask questions of the Leader, Cabinet Members, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and opposition group leaders excluding the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Planning Committee, Licensing and Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committees and Governance and Audit Committee.

Question 1

Councillor Selby referred to recent redevelopment works that had affected the Council offices and the environment within which Council officers were working. He also asked at what point Members could expect the resumption of meetings in the Council’s Civic Suite. The Deputy Leader thanked all of the Council’s staff for the way they had responded to the building works. He explained how officers had been supported through the rollout of devices that allowed them to work agilely to try and reduce disruption. He added that the public realm works were due to be completed within two months and it was expected that Members would regain access to the Civic Suite in August 2019.

Question 2

Councillor Bisnauthsing referred to the charges for market stalls in the different towns across the district and asked why there were differences. The Leader explained that it was an economic decision. In Stamford there was demand for the limited number of pitches and so the charge was higher than the market in Grantham where price was being used as an incentive to traders in order to grow the market. He stated that each of the towns was different with different needs and challenges and that there could not be a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Question 3

Councillor Morgan referred to the lack of publicly accessible defibrillators in Grantham town centre, a matter about which she had spoken with the Chief Executive. She asked for a progress update. The Leader suggested that Councillor Morgan should raise the matter through the Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and to take the matter up with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Health and Wellbeing. Councillor Morgan was advised that an audit of current provision was underway, which would feed into a feasibility study to see what the Council might be able to do.

Question 4

Councillor Baxter asked about the post of Section 151 Officer following the resignation of the current incumbent. He asked about the arrangements that were in place to ensure that the Council was not left without one if there was a delay between the current S.151 Officer leave and any new appointee starting. The Leader stated that the Council was required to have a S.151 Officer and that the Employment Committee would be presented with a number of options, which it would consider and make recommendations to Council accordingly.

Question 5

Councillor Dilks asked whether the Council currently employed any officer who was qualified to be the S.151 Officer, and if so, how many people were suitably qualified. The Leader reiterated that the matter would be discussed by the Employment Committee and proposals for any appointment brought to Council.

Questions 6

Councillor Ray Wootten stated that it had been almost three years since the overnight closure of Grantham Hospital’s Accident Emergency Department. He stated that United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust’s (ULHT) 5-year vision proposed a 24/7 urgent treatment centre, but unlike Skegness, which had a walk-in provision, Grantham’s would only be accessible out of hours by calling 111. Councillor Wootten asked whether the Leader would join with the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council and local campaign groups to ensure that people in the area could access services 24/7 without having to call 111.

The Leader stated that ULHT’s proposals were incongruent with the planned growth of Grantham and that proposals reflected the past rather than future-focussed. He added that he was happy to stand with the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council and local communities to call on ULHT and the clinical commissioning group to re-think their strategy and develop proposals that were fit for purpose.

Question 7

Councillor Knowles referred to recent notices that had appeared at Bourne library, which had advertised changes to the opening hours, firstly stating that hours would be reduced, then stating that there would be no change to the hours of operation. He asked who had written and authorised the notices. The Leader asked the Chief Executive to look into the matter and promised that a response would be provided to Councillor Knowles. The Leader said that if any questions arose as a result of that response Councillor Knowles was welcome to discuss them directly with the Chief Executive.