The Council Rules provide for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under the previous item; or
(ii) any other matter of a non operational character in relation to the powers and duties of the Council or which affects all or part of the District or some or all of its inhabitants.
Council Rules provide that answers to questions without notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer from the Leader or, at the request of the Leader, from another member of the Cabinet;
(b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(d) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader or a member of the Cabinet will request that a response be given direct to the questioner by the relevant Chief Officer.
In accordance with the Council Rules, a time limit of thirty minutes is set for questions. Any question not dealt with within the time available will receive a written reply. The Chairman may extend this period by up to a further 10 minutes at their discretion.
Minutes:
(a) Bring Banks/Biffa
Councillor C.C. Pond asked the Environment Portfolio Holder to report back to Council on the outcome of the recycling Bring Banks investigation and to pass on his thanks to Biffa for their efforts in the recent heatwave.
Councillor N. Avey advised that he would be reporting back on the recycling Bring Bank investigation and would pass on the Councils thanks to Biffa.
(b) Anti-Social Behaviour
Councillor H. Whitbread asked the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder to expand on how anti-social behaviour in the summer months would be tackled.
Councillor S. Kane advised that the summer months were the most difficult when it came to anti-social behaviour. Park guard had been tasked to patrol known problematic areas of the district and the additional Police would also be able to assist.
(c) Loughton Leisure Centre
Councillor R. Brookes asked the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder if the residents in Tycehurst Hill could be updated on the noise disturbance being experienced from Loughton Leisure Centre and whether any further disturbance could be moderated for the neighbouring properties.
Councillor H. Kane advised that there were two aspects to the noise complaints. Firstly, the construction noise experienced out of hours had been the result of several break ins, which had required replacement doors and steel shutters being installed late at night and the occasional over night work required to prevent the centre closing in the day time. She had spoken to the leisure management contractor and advised that they regretted the noise and impact on the surrounding properties and would undertake to minimise any further noise. The work was also scheduled to be completed at the end of August, which would help the situation. Furthermore, a contractor was in the progress of installing sound limiters and an acoustic engineer would be assessing the building, ceilings and wall materials. Although this may take some time and residents had been asked to keep noise diaries by the Environmental Health Officers.
The usage of the Leisure Centre has remained stable and the extension would allow for more residents to use the facilities.
(d) Knolly’s Nursery, Waltham Abbey
Councillor D. Dorrell asked the Housing Portfolio Holder about whether the stringent nomination requirements had been adhered to, and the ongoing issues with Thames Water had been resolved at the development on the former Knolly’s Nursery. He also raised concerns about the speed of traffic on Pick Hill.
Councillor S Stavrou advised that the development at Knights Wood, previously known as Knolly’s Nursery had been developed in close partnership with a locally based developer, Hill Partnerships and the housing association East Thames. The development contained 80% affordable housing, which comprised 38 affordable rented homes and 25 shared ownership homes. All of the rented properties had been let to households living within the District for at least 5 years and had been registered on the Council’s Housing Register. In addition to this, half were local residents from Waltham Abbey. Furthermore, Councillor S. Stavrou advised that the 79 homes were also contributing to the overall number of new homes required by the proposed Local Plan.
Councillor S. Kane advised that traffic issues at Pick Hill were being considered through the Local Highways Panel, who would determine the best course of action and consider other parking issues by the school in that area. It appeared that Thames Water were digging up and replacing water pipes in this area as well.
(e) Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre
Councillor D. Stocker asked the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder whether the Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool was on target to be completed in November 2018.
Councillor H Kane advised that the Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre was on schedule and may possibly be completed before this date. She had arranged for members and some residents to have a tour of the centre on Tuesday 11 September 2018 at 10 a.m.
(f) Nitrous Oxide Canisters
Councillor D Wixley asked the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder whether representation could be made to the District’s three MP’s regarding the controlled sale of nitrous oxide canisters and whether the Government should be lobbied to consider legislation on the vetting of the distribution. He advised that he was willing to put forward a motion to a future Council meeting and was looking for guidance and support from members initially.
Councillor H Kane advised that she would invite the Youth Council and Police to consider this issue, in the first instance, to discuss and recommend a way forward. If Councillor D. Wixley presented a motion to a future Council meeting, she said that she would be happy to discuss this with him beforehand.
Councillor S. Kane advised that there was nothing illegal about the canisters but they were a source of anti-social behaviour and lobbying local MP’s would be a sensible suggestion.
(g) Buckhurst Hill Outdoor Gym
Councillor A. Patel asked the Environment Portfolio Holder whether he could investigate the negotiations between the Council and Buckhurst Hill Parish Council regarding a piece of land in Buckhurst Hill, which had been suggested as becoming an outdoor gym.
Councillor N. Avey advised that he was very supportive of this and would look into the negotiations.
(h) Broadband
Councillor K. Chana asked the Technology and Support Services what was the Council’s current position on broadband and whether the super fast broadband would be available to all residents and businesses in the District and how it would benefit the community.
Councillor A. Lion advised that the District was part of an extensive programme for faster broadband in Essex and the Council’s intention was to be the best connected district in Essex. There was currently 96% broadband coverage in the District and within the next two years this would increase to 99.67%. Unfortunately, there would be approximately 210 houses that would not be serviced by this broadband service, but there were other ways they could receive the service.
(i) Fly Tipping
Councillor J. Share-Bernia asked the Environment Portfolio Holder whether there was an established time scale between the reporting of fly tipping and collection of the items.
Councillor N. Avey advised that the Council relied on residents reporting fly tipping and each case was logged with the Environment and Neighbourhoods Team, to be investigated. Once reported, action was taken as soon as possible, although each case had to be investigated to discover what the fly tipping contained and what disposal and action was required. There were also issues around the ownership of land which affected the issue.