Agenda item

The Mayor advised that five questions had been received from members and a member of the public and that the questions and answers had been tabled in accordance with the Constitution.  She advised that she would take the questions in the order in which they had been received.

Mr Jwanczuk asked Councillor Woods as Leader of the Council what progress had been made in making the Birdcage alleyway in Delapre accessible to all that wished to use it and in particular those who are disabled?

Councillor Woods reported that officers had visited Birdcage Walk and were now estimating the cost of works so that a capital bid could be made as part of the Council’s capital programme.  He further commented that he would be happy to meet with Mr Jwanczuk to discuss the situation.

Mr Jwanczuk asked a supplementary question concerning the length of time it had taken to get this far and for the residents to get a response to their original petition submitted to Cabinet on 2 July 2007.

Councillor Woods apologised for the delay and indicated that he would try to get the situation moving.

Councillor Clarke then asked a question of Councillor Beardsworth as the relevant Portfolio Holder in terms of the completion date for the installation of new heating system for St Marks, St Lukes, St Stephens, St Johns and St Barnabas’ houses within Spring Boroughs, the total cost of temporary heating provision for those properties since the failure of the old system and compensation to tenants for the additional cost to them of providing alternative electric heating and for the boiling of water when the supply had been interrupted.  Councillor Clarke noted the response as tabled and asked a supplementary question seeking an assurance that funding was available for the installation of the new heating system and that there was a commitment to complete the project and that the issue of compensation to tenants be reconsidered.

Councillor Beardsworth stated that there was sufficient funding to complete the project and the work was due to start in April and be completed by September.  Ex-gratia payments of £25 per tenant had been agreed by the Leaders of the three political groups based on information supplied by Powergen.

Councillor Malpas asked a question of Councillor Woods as the appropriate Portfolio Holder in respect of a list of outside bodies to which Cabinet members had been appointed.  Councillor Malpas noted the response as tabled and asked a supplementary question concerning Councillor Glynane’s attendance at one particular body.  Councillor Woods commented that Councillor Glynane had missed one meeting but would make every effort to attend in future.

Councillor Clarke then asked a question of Councillor Crake as the relevant Portfolio Holder.  He noted that the Abbey Street toilets in St James had been open during the Christmas of 2007 and asked whether the toilets would be opened for other religious festivals during 2008.  Councillor Clarke noted the response as tabled and further queried why these toilets had only been opened for Christmas.

Councillor Crake commented that the Abbey Street toilets had not been re-opened specifically for the Christmas festival but had been opened for residents and shoppers at St James at a particularly busy time of year.

Councillor Choudary asked a question of Councillor Beardsworth as the relevant Portfolio Holder.  He referred to a letter in the Chronicle and Echo on 7 December 2007 from Councillor Beardsworth indicating that the previous administration had been sitting on £5.8m and he asked how this money would be used to meet the Decent Homes Standard by the Government target date of 2010.  Councillor Choudary noted the response as tabled and asked a supplementary question that the stock condition survey be reported to Council once it became available.

Councillor Beardsworth indicated that the results of the stock condition survey would be reported to Council.