Agenda item

Councillor Kearon asked the Leader for an update on the review of planning enforcement.

The Leader confirmed that a review was being undertaken looking at the planning function as a whole.  Staffing was being looked into along with some outstanding issues.  The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth would write to Councillor Kearon with further details.

Councillor Robinson asked the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth when responses to certain petitions would be published?

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Northcott confirmed that the petitions were going through the process and once this was done a response would be submitted the,  At this stage it was not known when they would be going to Cabinet.

Councillor Robinson asked why there was no item for Clough Hall Playing Fields on this agenda, having received a letter saying that it would be.  Councillor Robinson asked if the petition procedure could be placed on the Council’s website.

Councillor Northcott agreed to meet with Councillor Robinson regarding the matters raised.

Councillor Robinson asked The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Councillor Holland why Clough Hall Park was no longer locked up in the evenings and why there was no formal consultation?  Councillor Robinson also asked if the Portfolio Holder could look into the matter to find a solution.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling, Councillor Trevor Johnson stated that due to staff reductions, there was no capacity to lock or unlock gates suggesting that local community volunteers could be given the task.

Councillor Shenton asked the  Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency for confirmation that adequate staffing and financial resources were available to carry out additional projects detailed in the Licensing Annual Performance Report?  In addition, Councillor Shenton pointed out that the name of an officer, who was currently suspended was still signing off licences.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Sweeney stated that there were four areas of further work:  a new sex establishment policy was needed; a review of the consultation on the licensing policy; a street café policy and fees and charges which was done annually.

Councillor Sweeney was unaware and asked Councillor Shenton to provide evidence outside of the meeting.

Councillor Fear asked the Leader if the funding for a new Sport and Leisure Centre in Kidsgrove referred to by the previous administration had been located?

Councillor Tagg stated that he hadn’t located the funding as uet but that a plan was being put into place and would be talking with the County Council and other partners in due course.

Councillor Paul Waring asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency for an update on the position regarding the Audit of Accounts in respect of a surplus figure against an anticipated overspend.

Councillor Sweeney advised Members that the Draft Audit Report was going to the Audit and Standards Committee on 30 July.

Councillor Horsfall asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling what arrangements had been made to reimburse the service department  for the time that vehicles had been used to prepare for Britain in Bloom.  In addition, how had the changes been communicated to residents?

Councillor Trevor Johnson stated that the Borough had been participating in Britain in Bloom for twenty years.  It was an all year round initiative and inevitably there would be a temporary diversion of staff with catching up taking place afterwards.