Agenda item

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 1

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Ron Brown, will ask the Portfolio Holder Entertainment and Leisure, Councillor A Cooper, the following question:-

 

What were the legal and organisational explanations, given at the time, for the expense of the addition of concrete bollards and a padlocked gate at the top of Moor Lane Bolehall?"

 

Answer:

 

As the legal landowner the council is within its right to protect the site from any illegal encampments. The Council has had previous experience and cost of the gates being vandalised.

The council have been keen to protect the access to the green open space and this has not been compromised.

 

Supplementary

 

Quiet simply what changed since then because despite the Council’s obligations under the relevant act of parliament the gate is no longer padlocked and is now left perpetually open to vehicular traffic which wasn’t allowed before and which is already been taken advantage of many times in that new open always situation. 

 

Answer

 

So what has changed the council obviously had a bit of damage to the gate it is an historical issue with some of damage done to the gate and land and so they have decided to act and be proactive and put some protective measures in place to stop that damage happening again.

 

In terms of the gate being unpadlocked thank you for bringing to our attention and I will ensure I will take that up with street scene and make sure that gate gets secured and I will make a plea to the public that should we have any gates that are unsecure and unpadlocked and they belong or they believe they belong to the council please get in touch use the facilities on line and make the report and will  ensure we get someone down to investigate.  

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 2

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Mark Hopkins, will ask the Portfolio Holder Housing and Planning, Councillor S Smith, the following question:-

 

Are Tamworth council and/or its councillors turning a blind eye to breaches of planning and/or false declarations to obtain planning permission?

 

Answer:

I am not aware of any instances where council or Councillors have ignored breaches of planning or false declarations. 

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 3

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Mark Hopkins, will ask the Portfolio Holder Housing and Planning, Councillor S Smith, the following question:

 

Can anyone now create a road on public land like what seems to have happened on the Warwickshire Moors?

Answer:

 

The Planning teams as been looking into the issue raised by residents regarding the track and vehicles used on it.  Planning officers and the Planning enforcement officer have conducted several site visits.  Currently the landowner as submitted an application to regularize the situation, however, this does not guarantee approval.  The Officers will not be able to proceed until they have consulted with various statutory bodies among others and complete the necessary consultations.

 

Supplementary  

 

Why does it seems that the planning department apply different rules or law to different people. 

 

Answer

 

I am not aware of that but what I would say just on this issue in general is if you believe there is any unfairness or deviation of the regulations let us know and be as specific as you on the situation.  

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 4

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mrs Vicky Dickenson, will ask The Leader of the Council, Councillor T Jay, the following question:

 

What performance measurements does the Council employ and publish, to ensure that questions asked by Residents, and commitments made by Councillors in their replies, are completed in a timely manner?

 

Answer:

 

The answer is there is no set measure for councillor performance, what I will say is that  if a councillor hasn’t replied to you go back to them in the first instance if they then don’t get back to you there are three councillors per ward try another councillor and if you are not getting what you want in here you will see there are several group leaders you can always contact the group Leader. 

 

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 5

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Simon Thompson, will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, the following question:

 

What steps can I take to be certain that I can see, online, every single Planning Application, including those determined as "Prior Approved", so that I have as much time as every other person to review them all?

 

Answer:

 

All prior approvals can be accessed with the other planning applications via the following weblink: https://planning.tamworth.gov.uk/northgate/planningexplorer/generalsearch.aspx

 

If you know the application number, you can insert this or go to ‘prior approval notification’ in the Application type dropdown.

 

We will forward you the link after the meeting.

 

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

 

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor R Pritchard will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor T Jay, the following question:

 

When care leavers move into independent accommodation, they begin to manage their own budget fully for the first time. Research has found that care leavers can find this extremely challenging. With no family to support them and little financial education, some care leavers are falling into debt and financial difficulty.  A number of local authorities have introduced a council tax exemption or discount for care leavers up to the age of 25.

 

Will the leader consider introducing a council tax exemption or discount for care leavers up to the age of 25.

 

Answer:

 

This has been considered in the past but has not implemented because it is a very sensitive subject for care leavers.

 

Some prefer to forget about their previous circumstances and start a new life as it were. Many do not share their past with new partners and do not want it highlighting on their Council Tax Invoice.

 

Staffordshire County Council (SCC) have a representative who can assist care leavers if they request financial support in paying their Council Tax. If so, SCC will make a contribution of up to 100% towards the persons Council Tax, meaning that those who feel they need assistance in this area can get the help that they need without having it identified on their Council Tax Invoice.

 

This approach is in line with other Staffordshire Local Authorities.

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 2

 

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor J Wade will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, Councillor S Smith, the following question:-

 

In the wake of the Council Increasing leaseholders’ insurance by 100 percent, has the time arrived now to stop the monopolisation of leaseholders?

 

Answer

 

I don’t believe that is the case if we look at the last tow years premium it was lower that years prior to that the new premium will be more aligned with what it was 3, 4 or five years ago. 

 

Supplementary

 

He says that it is line, how can 100% be in line?

 

Answer

 

If you average out what it was 3, 4, 5 years ago it’s in line that is the general average of what it is this year.  The last two years were almost half of what it was prior to that and what it’s going to be for this year.  I don’t think it’s necessarily a huge increase based on historical data.