Agenda item

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg submitted a report which provided an update to Members on the activities and decisions of the Cabinet together with the Forward Plan.

 

The Statement was taken a paragraph at a time to allow for questions to be asked.

 

Councillor Robinson raised a point from the 7 November Cabinet meeting regarding the underperforming of the Planning function and asked if this was the result of a lack of staffing.

 

The Leader agreed that there was a long term shortage of staff and a deal was currently being put together in relation to market supplements.   The Leader stated that the section had recently acquired a new member of staff.

 

With regard to the Council Plan, Councillor Holland said he was happy that one of the Council’s Corporate Priorities had changed from being a ‘Co-operative Council’ to ‘Council Services Working for Local People’.

 

Councillor Panter was pleased to see that this Council was committed to working with the County Council and Councillor Jones suggested working with the County Council to find a solution regarding the loss of school crossing patrols across the Borough.

 

The Leader agreed that the corporate priority – Council Services Working for Local People  was what this Council was all about.  In addition, it removed a costing as the Council no longer needed to pay a subscription to a related organisation.

 

The Council Plan  sets our working with the County Council to enhance the two-tier system.  The two Authorities were working together on the growth and regeneration of the Borough which included Kidsgrove, Knutton and the University site.

 

Councillor Olszewski asked, in relation to the future recycling strategy – which had been called-in, what changes had been made to the scheme following the scrutiny process.

 

Councillor Robinson asked the Leader if consideration had been given regarding the impact that charging for garden waste collection on low income families.

 

Councillor Fox-Hewitt asked if a Quality Impact Assessment had been undertaken and if so, could this be circulated.

 

The Leader stated that the call-in had been listened to and felt that it was clear that there was to be more member involvement.  Changes to the recycling service would take between eighteen and twenty-four months to implement and the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s) would be involved in the process. 

 

Regarding the garden waste collection, the public would all be informed on the Council’s Recycling Collection’s ‘Christmas Card’ giving charges and full terms and conditions.

 

Concerns had been raised about the introduction of a charge for collecting garden waste resulting in fly tipping.  Councillor Proctor stated that he had contacted other local authorities who already charged for this service and it had not resulted in any fly tipping of garden waste.

 

Councillor Brian Johnson had been contacted by residents within his ward – many of whom were on low incomes, who had concerns about the charge. Councillor Johnson asked if it was a fair charge – being the same for families on low/high incomes.

 

Councillor Kearon asked whether any consultation had taken place with Aspire Housing before the plan was introduced as there were a large number of Aspire properties with large gardens.

 

Councillor Trevor Johnson, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling pointed out that there had only been twenty one letters of concern received and that 5000 households had registered an interest in the scheme.

 

Councillor Jones raised a question on the University Growth Corridor, stating that the majority of the golf course fell within the Silverdale ward.  The development would almost double the population of the village and asked how would any affects be mitigated.

 

Councillor Harrison asked if removal of this land from the Green Belt would put all Green Belt land at risk.

 

Councillor Kearon said that it was an ambitious plan that would create growth and jobs.  The average cost of the houses in the development would be beyond the price range of university staff and would put more traffic on the roads.

 

The Leader Stated that the County Council/Keele University and the Local Enterprise Partnership were all signed up to this.  The views of Parish councils and transport impacts on the wider area not just Keele and Silverdale would be included in future discussions on this site.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth said that this was an exciting opportunity and the Local Authority planning process would look at the infrastructure for the site.  The process of removing the land from the Green Belt would not affect other Green Belt land in the Borough as each was considered on its own merits.  To remove such land has to satisfy various criteria such as would it create high quality jobs or be of economic benefit.

 

Councillor Stubbs enquired about the new version of the Pilot that the Council’s yield would fall and what was the reason for this.

Councillor Sweeney stated that the figure had always been £200,000.

 

Councillor Julie Cooper asked the Leader if he felt that the free parking on Saturday 17^th November after midday had contributed towards the success of the Christmas Lights switch on event.

 

Councillor Kearon welcomed any reduction in parking charges and asked if the former Civic offices car park could be charge free every Saturday and Sunday.

 

Councillor Sweeney agreed that it did help the event which had been highly successful bringing thousands of people into the town. 

 

With regard to free parking on the former Civic Offices, making it free on a Saturday would lose £300 income per Saturday.  The carpark was free of Charge on a Sunday already.

 

Referring to the Ryecroft –Future Development Options,  Councillor Reddish asked about the cost of keeping the former Civic Offices site and asked if a written report could be done to all Members detailing these costings.

 

Councillor Paul Waring was pleased that the site would be used for short term events and asked what sort of events could be held on the site.

 

Councillor John Cooper asked if the small car park at the front of the former 

Civic Offices could be used as a pay and display car park in the short term.  Members were advised that this was currently in progress.

 

Councillor Sweeney agreed that the building looked awful boarded up.  He advised Members that Gandey’s Circus would be using the site of the former Sainsbury’s for a short period and other events which could be attracted are fairgrounds etc.

 

Councillor Kearon was pleased that the land was to be made use of in the short term and asked if there were any plans for use of the building.

 

The Leader advised that a report was going to the relevant Scrutiny Committee in respect of car parking.  With regard to use of the Civic Offices building, it had been decommissioned of all services  and it was not therefore useable.  The new Chief Executive  would be working closely with Members on proposals for the site.

 

Councillor Sweeney stated that the rough figure for maintaining the former Civic Offices for this year had been approximately £300,000  with £200,000 of that being for Business Rates.  The possibility of paying empty building business rates was currently being investigated.

 

Councillor Wright asked what the long term vision for the town centre market was.

 

Councillor Sweeney advised that the Council’s communications team were currently doing a survey for people’s ideas.  People who did not use the market could be asked for their reasons why.

 

Councillor Brian Johnson asked if any recreational use was planned on the former recreation site in Knutton.

 

 The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, Councillor Northcott stated that  a joint approach between the County and Borough Council would unlock land for new homes and recreational facilities if appropriate and if the bid was successful.

 

Regarding Kidsgrove Sports Centre, Councillor Robinson welcomed the investment from the County Council and the recent report regarding transfer of the freehold from the County Council to the Borough Council.

 

Councillor Burnett said that the commitment between the County and Borough meant that things could get underway and thanked the Leader for taking this forward.  Councillor Waring said that all groups needed to find some common ground to take this forward.

 

The Leader said that it was good news that the site would be given to the Borough for a ‘peppercorn’ fee.  An officer from the County council would advise on community involvement and volunteering.  The scheme required all Kidsgrove Councillors to get behind the scheme.

 

Councillor Dymond asked about the Sports Centre Business Plan.  The Leader said that it had been publicly available online but that he would ask the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group to contact all Members from the Kidsgrove area to offer a meeting to discuss the business plan..

 

Members thanked and congratulated the Executive Director for Operations and his staff for their input and hard work in the recent success at the Britain in Bloom National Finals.

 

Councillor Shenton congratulated the Mayor on the success of her Christmas Craft Fayre held at the Guildhall stating that it was important use of an historic building.   

 

Councillor Shenton asked for fuller details of the community and voluntary groups that had applied for short term use of the Guildhall for up to twelve months.

 

Councillor Kearon suggested that the Newcastle Housing Advisory Service could use the Guildhall to provide a central and appropriate service to clients.

 

The Leader stated that the Craft Fayre at the Guildhall on 17 November had attracted 1000 people.  Councillor Tagg would send the details requested by Councillor Shenton.  Ten organisations were looking to go in, including the Friends of the Guildhall and Philip Astley Project.

 

Councillor John Cooper, the Chair of Bradwell Lodge  was willing to offer advice to any community groups that wanted to use the Guildhall.

 

Councillor Burgess asked about the possibility of holding further craft fayres/ workshops in there.

 

The Leader paid tribute to Councillor John Cooper and former Councillor Trevor Hambleton for getting Bradwell Lodge to where it is today.  Councillor Cooper’s offer of help and advice would be passed on.

 

In the short and long term, space should be given over for craft type events and it was assured that the building would have capacity for fundraising events.

 

Councillor Moffat asked the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jill Waring , in respect of Universal Credit what reserves provision had been made for vulnerable people in the Borough.

 

Councillor Kearon asked Councillor Sweeney if the management company that had previously been interested in taking over the markets had pulled out or if it had been the Council’s decision.

 

The Leader referred to the presentation that Members had received on Universal Credit.  A handout of the presentation held on 21^st November would be forwarded to all Members.

 

The decision regarding the management company not taking on the market was a mutual one.  The new Chief Executive would be working with Members to focus on the future of Newcastle’s market.