In accordance with Standing Orders, written answers to the following questions will be circulated on a supplementary agenda.
(A) Question from Councillor Bret Facey
“Do you believe apprenticeships play an important role in the aspirations and future prospects of Stevenage’s young people?”
(B) Question from Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren
“Why has the Council not restarted its periodic leaseholders’ engagement forums?”
(C) Question from Councillor Graham Snell
“Does the Council have plans to raise revenue by selling advertising space in and around the New Bus Interchange, including the Walkway between the Town Centre and the Bus Interchange?”
(D) Question from Councillor Robin Parker CC
“SBC’s response to questions/queries/complaints on the Your Say system, for both Members and the public, has been a complete shambles now for at least 2 months. The new ‘system’ was started with no consultation about its design or requirements with either members or the public and no prior information was supplied to either. Responses from SBC bear no reference to the original issue and so get referred back by members to SMT for a proper answer. As they are meaningless, they are then deleted. All this is a complete waste of staff and Member time and resources. Responses to the public therefore are delayed or lost.
(a) Why was the new ‘system’ introduced by officers?
(b) Why was there no consultation with Members about it?
(c) Why was no prior information supplied to Members?
(d) When will managers revert to the previous system (which worked well) or consult with Members and the public on a new fit-for-purpose system and then introduce it?”
(E) Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness
“What plans do the Council have for working with the County Council to make the temporary positive changes to Lytton Way traffic flow permanent?”
(F) Question from Councillor Tom Wren
“Does the Council consider it acceptable for builders’ waste and rubble to be dumped on grass verges?”
(G) Question from Councillor Stephen Booth
“Why has the children's playground located at the north end of the town centre park between the swimming centre and Harrow Court been closed? Access is limited only by padlocks to the gates and a warning notice loosely on the ground advising "Safety First" and stating that the playground is closed for essential repairs. Children can easily climb over the low surrounding fence and do so regularly to access and use the play equipment. If there is a serious safety issue involving danger to children should the site not be properly secured? Please advise what action the Council proposes to take, how long the playground has been closed and when it will reopen.”
(H) Question from Councillor Chris Howells
“Why was the junction between Lytton Way and Swingate altered necessitating the traffic management system to be installed to avoid long queues exiting Tesco's?”
(I) Question from Councillor Adam Mitchell CC
“Given that the Council has taken hundreds of thousands of pounds out of its play services budget, does it intend to use some of that money to re-instate play areas in the wards?”
(J) Question from Councillor Alex Farquharson
“The long-awaited Community Centre for Bragbury End is expected to be funded using the proceeds of the Kenilworth development. Can SBC confirm that this funding will solely be used for the provision of a high quality Bragbury End Community Centre and not be diverted to other Wards?"
Decision:
The Council received ten questions from Members to Committee Chairs/Portfolio Holders. The responses to the ten questions had been published in the supplementary agenda for the meeting.
(A) Question from Councillor Bret Facey re: apprenticeships in Stevenage
Supplementary question – “Since 2010, 8,830 new apprenticeships have been created in Stevenage, and over £5.3Million had been created across England, as a large part due to the Conservative Government’s education priorities and reforms. Does the Portfolio Holder welcomes this achievement and the positive impact it is having on the town’s young people?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Resources, Transformation & ICT stated that she would not necessarily concur that the Conservative Government had impacted on the town’s apprenticeship rates. The Council had worked hard over a number of years to increase the number of apprentices both within SBC and across the town. It was vital for young people to have that outlet and receive practical support to boost jobs throughout the town.
(B) Question from Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren re: leaseholders’ engagement forums
Supplementary question – “Why during a time of massive change for leaseholders due to the refurbishment programme did the Council not provide opportunities for engagement with leaseholders?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing & Housing Development replied that the Council was still liaising with individual leaseholders, just not having the Forums. The reason was due to the Housing White Paper, which required resident (including leaseholder) engagement to be reviewed and a new engagement structure developed. However, there were ample opportunities for leaseholders to engage with both Members and officers.
(C) Question from Councillor Graham Snell re: advertising space in and around the new Bus Interchange
Supplementary question – “When will wi-fi services be available for users of the Bus Interchange?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Resources, Transformation & ICT agreed to investigate the issue and provide a written reply to the question.
(D) Question from Councillor Robin Parker CC re: Your Say complaints system
Supplementary question – “When will the errors on the Your Say system be corrected and, if so, when (the main one being replies with no title/name on them, only reference numbers)?
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Resources, Transformation & ICT replied that the system was in the process of being changed. Members would be informed once this work had been completed.
(E) Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness re: Lytton Way traffic flow
Supplementary question – “Please could I have a bit more detail of the nature of the arrangements and discussions with HCC and what is SBC’s position on those arrangements (does the Council wish them to be permanent)?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise & Transport drew attention to the answers he had given to similar questions on Lytton Way asked by Councillor Parker at the 20 July 2022 Council meeting, and Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren at the 19 October 2022 Council meeting, when he had agreed that the situation was frustrating for all concerned. He referred Councillor McGuinness to those previous answers, and added that SBC officers were working closely with HCC colleagues to effect a tangible solution to the issue.
(F) Question from Councillor Tom Wren re: builders’ waste and rubble dumped on grass verges
Supplementary question – “Does the Council consider builders’ waste on grass verges as fly tipping, and whether the Council could take action with Fixed Penalty Notices when such waste was not cleared?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Environment & Climate Change considered fly tipping to be an abomination. He had drawn the issue to the attention of the County Waste Partnership, and he agreed that the Council needed to do more to prevent fly tipping. He asked the Assistant Director (Stevenage Direct Services) to provide a written reply in respect of Fixed Penalty Notices.
(G) Question from Councillor Stephen Booth re: Playground between Swimming Centre and Harrow Court
Supplementary question – “If this site is dangerous, why is it not properly secured (as children are able to access it over the fence)?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Environment & Climate Change offered to join Councillor Booth, the relevant ward Councillors and officers from Stevenage Direct Services in a site visit to the play area to investigate with a view to resolving the issue.
(H) Question from Councillor Chris Howells re: Junction between Lytton Way and Swingate
Supplementary question – “Does the Executive Member agree that with all that is happening in the town, such as flat building, commercial development and traffic restrictions, both proposed and in place, traffic congestion will only get worse?”
The Executive Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise & Transport did not agree with the questioner. The work with the Highway Authority (HCC) on highway design was still being looked at as part of the Station Gateway consultation regarding the town centre.
(I) Question from Councillor Adam Mitchell CC re: Play services budget
Supplementary question – “In 2013, Spencer Way and surrounding streets were developed and those residents were given a promise that a play area would be provided in that area. Since then there had been a sign saying that a play area was coming soon. Is the Council still committed to building that play area?”
The Leader of the Council agreed to arrange for this matter to be investigated by officers, and to provide the questioner with a written answer.
(J) Question from Councillor Alex Farquharson re: Community Centre for Bragbury End
There was no supplementary question.