Agenda item

Questions on Notice (Procedure Rule 9)

Minutes:

The Leader responded to five questions that had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.2.

 

a)        Question from Ms A Drane to the Leader

 

Ms Drane asked the following question of the Leader:

 

I attended the Executive Committee last week.  It was awe-inspiring to hear of the innovative regeneration plans for Redditch Town Centre.

 

A considerable amount of time and obvious networking has gone into creating that vision and document.

 

Having been a disability consultant and a Trustee for Scope for over 15 years how will the council ensure that seamless accessibility is achieved in all aspects of the design of the regeneration ~ thus celebrating the culture and diversity that disabled people bring to any community ~ whether their impairments be physical sensory or intellectual?”

 

The Leader responded as follows:

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

Let me start by saying that these are only proposals and a concept at this stage; however, having said that I can say that I do agree with you about the importance of access for all to buildings. You will be aware we have an access group in Redditch.  One of the Borough’s strategic key priorities is ‘Help me to Live my Life Independently’.

 

The Council will ensure that seamless accessibility is achieved in all aspects of the design of the regeneration by compliance with legislation and through consultation with residents and negotiations with developers.

 

It should be noted that any new building developments relating to the regeneration of the town centre, like all similar developments, would be subject to the relevant requirements laid down in the building regulations.

 

The Council’s Building Control team will be involved in ensuring these standards are met thus providing a fully inclusive space.

 

In due course if there are planning applications received about town centre redevelopment proposals these will be the subject of public consultation for a minimum of three weeks.

 

If you would like to receive weekly details of planning applications received by the council please let Ruth Bamford, Head of Planning and Regeneration, know by emailing r.bamford@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk ”.

 

Ms Drane asked the a supplementary question about the Redditch Access Group which she noted met regularly at Redditch Town Hall at 10.30 am.  Ms Drane expressed concerns that the timing of these meetings might prevent many interested parties from attending and she asked for consideration to be given to changing the timing of these meetings.

 

The Leader responded as follows by noting that the Redditch Access Group was an independent body, though was currently chaired by a Councillor.  Ms Drane was advised that the Leader would notify the group of her concerns.

 

During consideration of this supplementary question Councillor Anita Clayton was provided with an opportunity to speak in her capacity as Chair of Disability Action Redditch.  Ms Drain was advised that this matter had been raised at a recent meeting of the group and would be reconsidered at their Annual Meeting.  The outcomes of these discussions would be reported back for Ms Drain’s consideration.

 

b)        Question from Mr L Beach to the Leader

 

Mr Beach asked the following question of the Leader:

 

“Will the town centre regeneration help young people like me to get on the housing ladder and allow for housing association involvement so that young people can benefit from decent housing at affordable rents?”

 

The Leader responded as follows:

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

Let me start by saying that these are only proposals and a concept at this stage; however, having said that I can say that for all new housing sites of 11 of or more dwellings, the Council aims to secure 30% of the housing as affordable housing. Affordable housing is defined as ‘Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision’.

 

The affordable housing element is usually provided by a Registered Provider (RP) (formally known as housing associations) that is very often a Registered Provider/ housing association.

 

Having housing in the town centre will assist with the housing supply in Redditch, and as town centre housing units are often smaller in size they could be more affordable than non town centre housing and more attractive to younger people.”

 

Mr Beach subsequently asked a supplementary question seeking clarification about the basis on which the public would be consulted on these plans?”

 

The Leader responded by noting that for any planning applications there would be a public notice and the item would go before the Planning Committee.  For general consultation the press would be invited to publicise opportunities to respond to the public and other stakeholders. 

 

c)         Question from Councillor Roger Bennett to the Leader

 

Councillor Roger Bennett asked the following question of the Leader:

 

“Following the failure of this Council to adequately control the contract for the annual certification of gas boilers can the Leader advise this Council and its residents the full cost incurred, in the emergency action taken in bringing this back to a Legal status, both in terms of additional resources employed and Officer time spent correcting this failure?”

 

The Leader responded as follows:

 

Thank you for your question.

 

The budget for gas heating servicing and repairs in 2015/2016 (2 years ago) was made up of service contract payments of £508k and repairs of £337k making a total budget for the year of £845k.

 

However, due to the early termination of the contract with the service provider, we only spent £378k on contract payments and £267k on repairs which totals £645k.

 

The total spends relating to the additional works undertaken for 2015/16 amounted to £207k.  This included all additional costs for the compliance of gas servicing.

 

The grand total spent on all gas servicing and repairs in 2015/16 therefore amounted to £852k which resulted in a small overspend of £7k against the total budget.”

 

Councillor Roger Bennett subsequently asked a supplementary question which sought clarification about the follow up action that had subsequently been taken in terms of staff, the relevant Portfolio Holder and the contractor?”

 

The Leader responded by explaining that the contract was withdrawn and the Portfolio Holder remained in place.

 

d)        Question from Councillor Jane Potter to the Leader

 

Councillor Brandon Clayton asked the following question of the Leader on behalf of Councillor Jane Potter:

 

“Housing Costs - Can the Leader advise this council and its residents whether the £1.2 million overspend in the HRA budget during the last year, and which was spent on repairs, maintenance, supervision and management, will continue to rise?”

 

The Leader responded as follows:

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

As requested the reasons for the £1.2m HRA variation in 2016/2017 as previously reported are:-

 

Reduced rental income due to an increase in the number of Right to Buy sales following relaxation of the discount rules and the government enforced 1% rent reduction regime for 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20

 

Repairs and maintenance:

 

       Extremely high demand for ad hoc and responsive property repairs.

       Debt write off of unpaid historic invoices to tenants for past repair works.

       A number of void properties requiring costly repair works.

 

 Supervision and Management:

 

       Redundancy costs.

       Job Evaluation implementation salary costs funded from the Job Evaluation provision of £300k.

       An increase in the allocation split between the General Fund and the HRA for pension costs and overhead recharges following a full review of cost share.

       Agency staff costs to cover vacant posts. 

 

With regard to the second part of the question as to whether the overspend will continue to rise, there is obviously significant pressure on the HRA income with further reductions in rent for the next two years together with inflationary pressures on things like salaries (possible 2% rises in 2018/19 and 2019/20 which is double the forecasted rate) and the additional costs of the ongoing HRA interim arrangements.  

 

e)        Question from Councillor Paul Swansborough for the Leader

 

Councillor Paul Swansborough asked the following question of the Leader:

 

Considering there are still serious concerns by the residents of Winyates ward over the impact of increased traffic and pollution being created by the proposed Redditch Eastern Gateway, would the council leader commit to carrying out air quality monitoring in the locality of the Winyates Green Triangle and commissioning an independent traffic assessment in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, Warwickshire County Council and Highways England?”

 

The Leader responded as follows:

 

Thank you for your Question.

 

You have not provided any evidence that the level of increased traffic will result in pollution being created. 

 

Generally it is stationary traffic and disrupted traffic flows in close proximity to residential buildings that can contribute to poor health from air pollution. 

 

Traffic flows well in the vicinity of the Redditch  Gateway site and the new development with its highway enhancements will not alter this situation.

 

It would be a poor use of public resources to undertake air quality monitoring or independent traffic assessments where there is no evidence that this needs to be done.” 

 

Councillor Paul Swansborough expressed disappointment in the response and noted that the Council had a responsibility under relevant air quality management legislation to review air quality where appropriate.  Councillor Swansborough also commented that a key officer at Stratford District Council has expressed concerns about the potential impact of the development on air quality.  With this in mind he questioned whether the Leader would reconsider his answer?”

 

The Leader responded by noting that air quality had been monitored and he stood by his answer.”

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