Minutes:
Question to: Portfolio Holder for Place
Question From: Councillor Newton
Subject: Paper and Cardboard Waste Trial Scheme
Councillor Newton asked why members were not informed about the scheme and were only aware of the trial via local news publications. Councillor Newton requested that in future Members be told before any announcement in the local press.
Councillor Gambba-Jones stated that unfortunately Lincolnshire County Council, via the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, released the information. This was done before the Council confirmed its participation in the scheme, as it was still reviewing all aspects surrounding the Council’s involvement, such as logistics, impact on the public, numbers, understanding what the requirements were, support required and full funding availability. The release of information had been picked up County-wide and broadcast before the Council knew it had happened. Councillor Gambba-Jones apologised to all members.
Question to: Portfolio Holder for Place
Question From: Councillor Alcock
Subject: Pride in South Holland Programme
Councillor Alcock asked Councillor Gammba-Jones if the Pride of South Holland programme would pick up the following, or whether an alternative approach would be necessary:
· The site of The Bull and Monkie in Spalding - this was once again looking untidy and the Pride signage was now lying on the floor.
· The area between the bridge and the Water Taxi landing stage needed attention and there was a potential trip hazard.
Councillor Gambba-Jones stated that the area around the bridge and the Water Taxi landing stage was normally treated as a Zone 1 routine cleaning zone. If a deeper clean was needed this would be picked up by the cleaning team and arrangements made.
In respect of the Bull and Monkie site, the Council would need to go through the normal process as it had previously done. This would firstly be through contacting the owner to have the work carried out at their expense, if necessary by using legislation and serving notice. If this failed, the Council could do the work and recover the costs from the owner; however the Council would not be able to recover full costs for the work and administrative costs being incurred. There needed to be caution in doing this as it was not possible to recover all tax payers’ costs.
Question to: Leader of the Council
Question From: Councillor Alcock
Subject: Resourcing of Projects
Councillor Alcock referred to the various projects which were in the newspapers and the underspending and slippage on programmes and asked whether the Leader was satisfied that there were sufficient human resources and expertise on board to carry these forward.
The Leader agreed that projects needed to be correctly resourced. The Leader noted that there were gaps in staffing but these were being addressed to make sure there was sufficient resource to deliver projects.
Question to: Portfolio Holder for Place
Question From: Councillor Tennant
Subject: Saturday Morning Waste Collections and Derelict Buildings in District
Saturday Morning Waste Collections
Councillor Tennant asked Councillor Gambba-Jones if it was now time for
renewed discussions with Lincolnshire County Council regarding what could be offered in terms of a Saturday morning waste collection.
Councillor Gambba-Jones responded that providing such a service was very expensive and the criteria for providing a household waste collection based on distance had been changed by Lincolnshire County Council.
Derelict Buildings in Long Sutton
Councillor Tennant stated there was a new development in Long Sutton which had been opened on a previously reported “grot spot”. It was noted that this had resulted in an improvement to the Town Centre and these efforts were helping to remove the magnets for anti social behaviour in the parish as well as improving the look of the area. Councillor Tennant asked if the District Council was doing enough to address the issues regarding derelict buildings and if there was a possibility refurbishing them through purchasing the empty buildings.
Councillor Gambba-Jones stated that the District Council was trying to be proactive in getting owners to improve derelict buildings in South Holland. The cost of refurbishment works was too much for the Council to undertake on its own and targeting a specific amount in one area would mean that the rest of the district would be deprived.