QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS TO COMMITTEE CHAIRS / PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
In accordance with Standing Orders, written responses to the following questions will be tabled at the Council meeting:
(A) Question from Councillor Stephen Booth
“How many homes/flats have been built in Stevenage that did not require planning permission i.e. under the government's legislation allowing office conversions?”
(B) Question from Councillor Robin Parker, CC
“What assistance is being offered to the developer in filling the empty new retail units in Park Place?”
(C) Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness
“Which members of the Executive have personally tested the use of the new proposed recycling bags before recommending them to be rolled out across Stevenage?”
(D) Question from Councillor Alex Farquharson
“How are you ensuring that the SG1 plans submitted by MACE are environmentally friendly?”
(E) Question from Councillor Jody Hanafin
“In support of our council's aim to become carbon neutral, will SBC follow the excellent examples set by Cambridge and Goldsmiths Universities and pledge to end the provision of red meat in catering at council and civic events?”
(F) Question from Councillor Adam Mitchell
“What is the Council doing to discourage the
blight of fly-tipping?”
(G) Question from Councillor Margaret Notley
“When will the Council introduce a paperless system for Council meetings, to reduce the amount of unnecessary paper consumed, thus contributing to the reduction in carbon?”
Decision:
Council received seven questions. The responses to the seven questions were circulated at the Meeting and are appended. Answers to the supplementary questions are set out below:
(B) Question from Councillor Robin Parker, CC
In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Parker, Councillor John Gardner advised that he was not aware of any formal request from the developer of Park Place to change the ground floor units from retail to residential.
(C) Question from Councillor McGuinness
In response to a supplementary question from Councillor McGuinness, Councillor John Gardner advised that the recycling bags had been provided in response to requests from the public to change the way recycling was collected. Councillor Gardner suggested that the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee could choose to monitor how the new arrangement was working.
(D) In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Farquharson, Councillor John Gardner advised that Members should follow the planning process for the SG1 plans and that the development would have a lower carbon impact than many other schemes.
(E) The Mayor advised that he would make a personal pledge to end the provision of red meat in catering at Council and civic events.
(F) In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Mitchell, Councillor John Gardner agreed to ask officers to provide a written response explaining why since 2012 this Council had the highest or second highest rate of fly tipping across the County.
(G) In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Notley, Councillor Rob Broom advised that the roll-out of the devices for Members was planned to commence after the start of the new Municipal Year in May and would include support for Members.