Questioner
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Subject
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Response
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Pre-notified questions
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Councillor Warnes
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I am concerned by the reported admission by the Chief Executive of Colchester Hospital, Nick Hulme,published by the BBC on 30th of January this year that,delayed transfers of patients is a "growing problem".Given that this has led to 240 hospital beds in Essex unable to be released allegedly fuelled by the ongoing financial squeeze on local Councils,is it not time that Cllr Davies responds positively to this call and those made in previous Full Council meetings by my colleague Councillor Chris Pearson to set a date upon which the issue of delayed patient discharge back into the community from Colchester General Hospital can be adequately scrutinised by fellow Councillors on behalf of the residents of Colchester they represent?
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A written answer provided by Councillor Davies to Councillor Warnes was circulated to Council
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Verbal Questions
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Councillor Barton
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During the consultation on the new waste collection arrangements the Shrub End ward councillors had provided information about the suitability of areas of the ward for the introduction of wheeled bins. These views had not been reflected in the proposals put forward to ward councillors. Would the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability confirm that the views as originally put forward would be implemented?
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Councillor Graham, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, indicated that further discussions would be held and the views of ward councillors would be taken into account.
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Councillor Bentley
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In view of the importance of issues of housing and homelessness, would the Leader of the Council consider the submission of a motion agreed by all the Group Leaders which would enable Council to debate the issues in a non-partisan way?
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Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, indicated that he would consider the submission of an agreed motion.
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Councillor Graham
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Would the Chairman of Scrutiny agree that it was important for members of the Scrutiny Panel to accurately maintain their register of interests and that if a member of the Scrutiny Panel had failed to update their register of interests for five years then they should reflect on their continued membership?
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Councillor Davies, Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel, agreed that it was important that members kept their register of interests up to date. She could not comment on individual cases until she had the full details and a written response would be sent.
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Councillor J. Scott-Boutell
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What action could the Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Licensing take to tackle the problem of vehicles parking halfway on the footway. This blocked the footway for wheelchair users and those with buggies, and was inconsiderate and dangerous. Would the Portfolio Holder write to local supermarkets and ask their drivers not to park in this way?
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Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Licensing and Safer Communities, indicated that he was an aware that this was an issue in many parts of the borough, particularly where schools had recently expanded. He had raised the issue with Essex County Council. However enforcement was difficult, as parking on the verge could only be enforced if there were double yellow lines. Enforcement of obstructions to the highway was for the police but he had approached the police to see if the North Essex Parking Partnership could take over enforcement. He would write to local supermarkets on the issue.
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Councillor Davies
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Would the Leader of the Council provide a response to the question previously asked about data breaches arising from the break-in at Rowan House?
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Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, indicated that he would arrange for a response to be sent.
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Councillor Hazell
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Could the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability explain why the views of the Shrub End ward councillors had not been taken into consideration in the allocation of areas for wheeled bins, and could he give an assurance that the proposals would be changed in line with their views.
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Councillor Graham, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, explained that there had been no intention to mislead. This was an early stage in the process and he provided a reassurance that ward councillors views would be taken into consideration.
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Councillor Hazell
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Would the Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Licensing ensure that Shrub End was included in the list of sites to be provided with CCTV (which had been referred to at a recent Local Community Action Panel), and also ensure that Monkwick remained on the list.
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Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Licensing, indicated that he would look into the mater.
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Councillor Hazell
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Would the Portfolio Holder for Business, Leisure and Opportunities respond to her recent queries about the maintenance of the West End Tennis Centre?
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Councillor Feltham, Portfolio Holder for Business, Leisure and Opportunities provided a detailed response to her questions and confirmed that:-
- The tennis courts needed to be mowed in winter as the grass continued to grow, but were only cut during suitable weather conditions;
- Moss treatments were applied during the autumn;
- The condition of the nets had been checked and they were in good condition.
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Councillor Barber
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How did increasing car park charges help town centre businesses?
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Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Licensing, indicated that a written response would be sent.
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Councillor Jarvis
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Was the cancellation of the Revolving Investment Fund Committee meeting on 1 March indicative of a lack of funding or a lack of ideas?
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Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, and Councillor T. Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Regeneration, explained that the Revolving Investment Fund was being used to fund a number of projects such as the Housing Development Company and Northern Gateway. There were a number of other schemes in the pipeline. However, the meeting schedule did not always fit with the project timetables and therefore meetings occasionally needed to be cancelled.
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Councillor Laws
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Could the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability provide reassurance that no wheeled bins would be introduced in Castle ward?
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Councillor Graham, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, stated that there were no plans to introduce wheeled bins in Castle ward.
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Councillor Laws
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Following the announcement by the Co-op that it would provide £20,000 for public realm improvements outside its department store site, would the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Regeneration confirm he would work with interested parties to develop a public open space that would be open day and night
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Councillor T. Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Regeneration, confirmed that he and Councillor Jarvis had met with the Co-op. There plans were exciting and were worthy of support. He would involve ward councillors in discussions on how the project would be taken forward.
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Councillor Chapman
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Could the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability indicate whether bags for food waste receptacles could be provided free of charge, as he had said he would consider at a recent Scrutiny panel meeting.
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Councillor Graham, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, explained that he would provide a written answer.
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Councillor Scordis
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When Essex County Council Highways were scrutinised by the Scrutiny Panel, should Ringway Jacobs also be scrutinised? Did she believe that Essex County Council scrutinised highways effectively?
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Councillor Davies, Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel, indicated that it was the responsibility of Essex County Council to scrutinise the work of ECC Highways and its contractors. She had not seen their scrutiny so could not comment on its effectiveness. However, it was also on the work programme for the Council’s Scrutiny Panel and she was sure that they would involve their partners.
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Councillor Pearson
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Did the Chair of the Scrutiny Panel agree that members elected to Council were best placed to represent and monitor the interests of the residents of Colchester? The hospital was of utmost interest to the residents of Colchester and it should be scrutinised by Colchester Borough Council’s Scrutiny Panel at the earliest opportunity.
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Councillor Davies, Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel explained that this depended on whether this was a matter on which they had the jurisdiction and knowledge. In terms of scrutiny of Colchester hospital, this would only be worthwhile if a new specific issue could be found that was not covered by the other organisations’ scrutiny and monitoring.
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Councillor Goss
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Would the Leader of the Council join him in congratulating Councillor Bentley in taking a different approach and meeting other Councillors in their wards to discuss their infrastructure needs?
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Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, indicated that he would support any councillor who would help others with their ward issues.
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