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 Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, Licensing and Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committees and Governance and Audit Committee.

Question 1 - Councillor Charmaine Morgan to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste (this role was a jobshare, and the question was answered by  Councillor Patsy Ellis)

Councillor Charmaine Morgan asked the Cabinet Member whether she would engage and work with Planning Officers on looking at the public consultation policy for trees protected by a Tree Preservation Orders.

The Cabinet Member was willing to support this and would work in liaison with Planning Officers.

Question 2 - Councillor Nick Robins to the Leader of the Council

Councillor Nick Robins asked the Leader of the Council to explain the reasons for an extraordinary high turnover of key staff and the impact of this on staff morale, SKDC as an employer and the costs to the Council on continuous recruitment.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the question and declared he was unaware that SKDC had an extraordinarily high turnover of staff. He referred to a recent meeting of the Employment Committee where it was report that the percentage of staff turnover was decreasing at present.

Question 3 - Councillor Paul Wood to the Deputy Leader of the Council

Councillor Paul Wood requested confirmation from the Deputy Leader of the Council on when the Future High Street Fund investment in Grantham Town Centre would begin and whether the Council would be handing back any of the money to Government. It was noted there was a tight timescale.

The Deputy Leader of the Council shared his concerns on the timescale to utilise the funding. Due to reasons outside of the Council’s control (Brexit, Covid etc) costs had increased and unfortunately the Council could not afford to complete the two schemes alluded to (Marketplace and five-way roundabout). The Council had reached an agreement with Lincolnshire County Council that the marketplace project would take priority, and the budget was in the process of being allocated. There had been an extension to utilise the funding, therefore, the Deputy Leader of the Council was confident that the money would not be handed back to Government.

Question 4 – Councillor Gareth Knight to the Deputy Leader of the Council

Councillor Gareth Knight asked the Deputy Leader of the Council for an update on the Grantham Town Team, particularly in terms of recent activity, forthcoming activity, budgetary position, the membership and how somebody may become a member.

The Deputy Leader of the Council shared the same concerns as Councillor Gareth Knight. The Town Team had been included within the bid for the Future High Street Funds. The transparency of the Town Team was an issue, therefore, a decision was made prior to 5 May 2023 regarding the membership of the Town Team. It was noted that the turnover of staff had delayed the process; the next meeting of Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny was due to review the issue on 28 November 2023.

Question 5 – Councillor David Bellamy to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Licensing

Councillor David Bellamy asked the Cabinet Member for Governance and Licensing whether he agreed with the proposals in the Government White Paper regarding taxi licensing.

The Cabinet Member declared he was not overly familiar with the White Paper, however, he was aware of the decision made three years ago regarding the Council’s policy in respect of the age of vehicles. Objections from Grantham taxi drivers were recognised and further investigations would take place in conjunction with Licensing Committee on whether there was a need for a change.

Question 6 – Councillor Helen Crawford to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste (this role was a jobshare, and the question was answered by Councillor Rhys Baker)

Councillor Helen Crawford asked the Cabinet Member to clarify a discussion held at a recent Bourne Town Council meeting and whether SKDC would stop maintaining closed churchyards, even though they have an obligation to do so. It was queried as to how many churchyards the District Council maintain and why were they no longer wishing to do it.

The Cabinet Member apologised that he had misspoken without his notes at a previous Bourne Town Council meeting. He confirmed that it was not the correct statement for the position of the Council.

Question 7 – Councillor Susan Sandall to the Leader of the Council

Coucillor Susan Sandall asked the Leader of the Council why the Internal Audit company withdrew their services from SKDC.

The Leader of the Council did not have the precise reasons of their withdrawal to hand and was unsure as to whether the reasons could be disclosed within an open meeting.

The Deputy Leader of the Council suggested that Members view the webcast from the previous Governance and Audit Committee meeting, which was in the public domain. 

Question 8 -  Councillor Zoe Lane to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

Councillor Zoe Lane stated that a number of Councillors expressed concerns via e-mail that local tradespeople were reluctant to work with the Council due to the Council not paying invoices in a timely fashion. She asked the Cabinet Member whether they were aware of these issues and if so, what steps were being taken to rectify them.

The Cabinet Member was not aware of the concerns raised and he would investigate and provide a full answer.

Question 9 – Councillor Graham Jeal to Leader of the Council

Councillor Charmaine Morgan had recently raised the idea of supporting businesses in Grantham town centre with free town centre parking on market day. Councillor Graham Jeal asked the Leader of the Council whether he would agree with others that Grantham town centre and its market required additional support over and above additional market towns of the district and free parking on Saturdays would be a welcome start.

The Leader of the Council stated that he very strongly supported markets across the District. A report on Council parking charges was being heard at the next Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where one recommendation was to provide one-hour parking in every council car park in Grantham. Free parking all day was currently not deliverable.

Question 10 – Councillor Sue Woolley to the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure

Councillor Sue Woolley stated that residents around Bourne and surrounding villages were keen to know the possible implications for them, if the Deepings Leisure Centre was reopened, it was likely to result in the loss of income for Bourne Leisure Centre that was run by Leisure SK Ltd. She asked the Cabinet Member what modelling had been undertaken to take this into account.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that modelling was currently being completed, however, papers were not quite ready for publication and the Council were awaiting further papers from the Deepings in order to explore proposals and assess the impact on other leisure facilities in the District.

Question 11 – Councillor Ben Green to the Deputy Leader of the Council

Councillor Ben Green asked the Deputy Leader of the Council whether the Cabinet would support him when he ran for the Leader position in January 2024.

The Deputy Leader of the Council was unable to answer the question.

Question 12 – Councillor Penny Robins to the Deputy Leader of the Council

Councillor Penny Robins asked the Deputy Leader of the Council why SKDC had not communicated with a wider audience on the fact it did not receive any money from the Levelling Up funding.

The Deputy Leader of the Council referred Councillor Penny Robins to the Leader’s comment at the beginning of the meeting, where he stated that the Council had not received any money from the latest tranche of the Levelling Up fund, and neither did any other Council in Lincolnshire.

Question 13 – Councillor Mark Whittington to the Cabinet Member of the Culture and Leisure.

Councillor Mark Whittington asked the Cabinet Member when the Joint Finance and Culture and Leisure OSC meeting to discuss Deepings Leisure Centre budget proposals would take place, as it had been postponed due to legal advice received or that giving any money to a third party organisation might be in contravention of the state subsidy legislation. It was hoped that a decision be made before the budget setting process for 2024/24 and there was a certain timeframe to be met.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that the Council were awaiting further information prior to having the Joint OSC meeting, so that Members could be properly informed. The meeting was expected to be arranged in the next few weeks and the Council were working hard in order to include it within the budget cycle.