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) Rue De St Lawrence – Parking Issues
Councillor R Gadsby asked the Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder whether he could investigate the possibility of implementing yellow lines in Rue De St Lawrence, Waltham Abbey to prevent parked cars blocking the access of refuse and emergency vehicles, which had been an ongoing problem.
Councillor G Waller advised he was unable to given precise information on this scheme, although there were a great number of schemes still awaiting implementation and with a petition it would be prioritised higher in the list.
(b) Brooker Road – Parking Issues
Councillor R Gadsby asked the Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder whether Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey could also be added to the list of Highway schemes as parking was also an issue.
Councillor G Waller advised that he would investigate this scheme.
(c) Oakwood Hill Environment task Force
Councillor C Roberts asked the Housing Portfolio Holder about the progress of the Oakwood Hill Environmental Task Force, which included housing improvements and service enhancements funding. He advised that progress had been delayed due to ECC highways and would she support the council’s officers to get the project back on track?
Councillor S Stavrou advised that she had no details of this scheme but she would investigate and report back to him via the Council Bulletin.
(d) Anti-Social Behaviour
Councillor H Whitbread asked the Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder, what was the council doing in partnership with Essex Police to reduce anti-social behaviour in the District.
Councillor G Waller advised that the police had rescinded its previous decision to not deal with anti–social behaviour (ASB) and the council continued to work very closely with the police on ASB cases within the district. With regards to Epping, around the Christmas period PCSO were fitted with body cameras that recorded young people using nitrous oxide, resulting in anti social behaviour. After action involving the police, council officers and parents, reports of anti social behaviour had been reduced.
(e) St John’s Development, Epping
Councillor N Avey asked the Leader for a progress report on the St John’s Road, Epping development.
The Leader advised that progress had been made following the completion of the purchase from Essex County Council and he looked forward to reporting further information shortly.
(f) Electric Charging Points
Councillor J H Whitehouse asked the Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder to update members on the progress of electric vehicle charging points.
Councillor G Waller advised that he regarded these as a priority, as a green council. The Retail Park at Langston Road would have up to 20 electric charging points and once the usage had been assessed, the council could move towards the installing them within their own carparks.
(g) Development Forum
Councillor J M Whitehouse asked the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder whether the agendas and minutes of the Development Forum would be made available to the public and what opportunities would be available for other stake holders to discuss the issues raised from the Development Forum.
Councillor J Philip advised that the Development Forum was there to make sure that the council got the best possible developments for the sites identified and as part of that the council would be looking at where members and town/parish members could be involved. He would bring forward further details to the March 2017 Cabinet meeting. The agendas and minutes from the Development Forum would not be published as they were merely discussions like pre-application discussions but where appropriate the council would hold discussion with the relevant town/parish councils.
(h) Homeless Issues – The Broadway, Loughton
Councillor C C Pond enquired about progress with the homelessness person camped out near the Debden tube station, Loughton following the Council Officers interventions before Christmas.
Councillor S Stavrou advised that the Housing Officers had visited the individual before Christmas and all offers of help with the exception of food had been refused and they still remained. She advised the officers in the Communities Directorate had passed on issue to the Neighbourhood directorate who would now be dealing with it.
(i) Food in School Holidays Scheme
Councillor B Surtees asked Councillor H Kane whether they would be extending the Food in School Holidays scheme.
Councillor H Kane advised that there would be discussions with the appropriate organisations to extend the scheme.
(j) Recycling Rewards Scheme
Councillor S Neville asked the Environment Portfolio Holder if he could publish the identified 100 flats that would benefit from the Recycling Rewards scheme.
Councillor G Waller advised that he would ask Councillor W Breare-Hall to respond to Councillor S Neville with the information requested.