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The Council received eleven
questions from Members to Committee Chairs/Portfolio
Holders.  The responses to the eleven
questions had been published in the supplementary agenda for the
meeting.
 

(A)      
Question from Councillor Margaret Notley re:
Swingate House structure collapse
during demolition works
Supplementary question: “Has a report been prepared
detailing if the is a risk of RAAC in any of the buildings within
SBC’s Corporate Estate and, if so, when will it be shared
with councillors?”
 
The
Leader of the Council confirmed that no RAAC had been found within
the Council’s Corporate Estate and therefore no report had
been produced.
 

(B)      
Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness re:
enforcement action taken by the Council over the past 2
years
Supplementary question – “Please could the Portfolio
Holder provide details of the number of cases within the various
categories outlined the original question that resulted in
successful enforcement action?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Community Safety & Equalities
agreed to provide a written answer to this question.
 

(C)      
Question from Councillor Bret Facey re: fees charged
to owners of Council-managed garages
Supplementary question: “What performance management takes
place to ensure that residents are receiving the service they are
paying for?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing & Housing Development
replied that residents/garage owners would not witness site visits
unless they were present when the inspections took
place.  If any garage owner felt that an
inspection had not taken place then she
encouraged them to report this to the Council for follow up
action.
 

(D)      
Question from Councillor Alex Farquharson re: use of
land currently occupied by garages condemned due to asbestos
contamination
Supplementary question: “Will the Portfolio Holder commit
that the land on which the asbestos-contaminated garages were
situated on would remain dedicated to residential parking whatever
the long term fate of the current garage
structures?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing and Housing Development
replied that she was unable to give a firm commitment, as each
garage block would be looked at individually to determine the best
future use.  Options would include
providing ongoing parking; replacing the asbestos-contaminated
garages with new garages; disposal of the site; or demolition to
provide additional housing.
 

(E)      
Question from Councillor Tom Wren re: timescales for
responding to and dealing with issues raised by councillors
Supplementary question: “Would it be possible for the
complaints system to track when raised by councillors had been
resolved rather than simply responded to?
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure & Information
Technology replied that there was no central tracking mechanism,
although they could be tracked if Members used the “Your
Say” system.  However, she was
keen to explore opportunities to improve the current system and
associated processes and would take the matter up with appropriate
officers.
 

(F)      
Question from Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren re:
traffic enforcement around local schools
Supplementary question: “Would it be possible to receive
data from the Parking Enforcement agencies regarding the process
for the issuing of parking tickets?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Co-operative Council &
Neighbourhood Communities replied that she would arrange for a
written answer to be provided.  However,
she urged School Governing Boards to take up issues regarding
parking in the vicinity of their respective schools, including a
modal shift to provide more bicycle parking.
 

(G)     
Question from Councillor Stephen Booth re: use of
the Council’s Geographical Information System
(GIS)
Supplementary question: “Who was charged with updating
information on the GIS?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure & Information
Technology replied that she would arrange for a written answer to
be provided.
 

(H)      
Question from Councillor Graham Snell re: the
Christmas tree in the Town Centre
Supplementary question: “Is the Christmas tree SBC
property or is it on hire?”
 
The
Leader of the Council replied that the tree was owned by SBC and
feedback received this year would be considered ahead of next
Christmas.
 

(I)         
Question from Councillor Adam Mitchell CC re:
communications to tenants regarding asbestos-contaminated
garages
Supplementary question: “Due to conflicting information,
could it be confirmed whether or not asbestos in garages was
detrimental to health, and could she guarantee that more measured
and consistent communication to residents was given on this
matter?”
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing and Housing Development
replied that she would arrange for a written answer to be
provided.

 

(J)       
Question from Councillor Wendy Kerby re: plans for
the Bandley Hill Play Centre
site
Councillor Kerby was pleased that the Play Centre was to be used
as nursery for children.  She had no
supplementary question.
 
The
Executive Portfolio Holder for Co-operative Council &
Neighbourhood Communities was also pleased with the future use of
the Play Centre.
 

(K)      
Question from Councillor Robin Parker CC re:
cessation of live streaming of scrutiny meetings
Supplementary question: “Will the Leader look into the
possibility of an Opposition Member chairing a Scrutiny function or
Scrutiny Committee?”
 
The
Leader of the Council replied that he was aware that some councils
had Opposition Members chairing scrutiny committees.  He would give thought to this matter after the May
2024 Elections.