Issue - meetings

To ask questions of Portfolio Holders. Questions received will be tabled at the meeting. (Members are reminded that questions must be submitted to the Chief Executive or to the Executive Head of Governance and Regulation by not later than noon on Friday, 6 July 2018.)

Question 1

Cllr Harrison asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services a question regarding the effect "Right to Buy" had had on the Council’s housing stock and the consequently effect on people, especially young people, being able to access affordable housing.  The Portfolio Holder agreed that right to buy had reduced the Council’s housing stock but that the position had already been raised with Government Ministers.  The Council was actively pursuing a range of measures to create affordable homes for families and young people.  

Question 2

Cllr O’Sullivan asked the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing to update the Council on the progress of the New Milton Free-Weights Room and the Applemore Studio Projects, the associated costs and payback time.  The Portfolio Holder responded that, despite some problems being encountered, both projects had been delivered on budget.  The, Applemore Studio Project had cost £44,500 and the New Milton Free-Weights Room, £34,000.  The payback time was 1 year for Applemore and 1 year and 3 months for New Milton.

Question 3

Cllr Harrison asked the Portfolio Holder for Community Affairs about the ability of Hampshire Constabulary to fulfil their community safety duties. He highlighted a recent incident in Lyndhurst when the Police had been unable to respond.  The Portfolio Holder spoke about the incident in question and said that, while it was regrettable that the Police had been unable to respond, it had to be appreciated that Police resources had been reduced.   She praised the Police for their involvement in wider community safety issues and the way they went about their work with limited resources.  Hampshire’s Chief Constable and the Police & Crime Commissioner were campaigning for improved national funding.   The matter was not one within the District Council’s control.

Councillor Harrison asked a supplementary question regarding the long Police response times and whether the reduction in staffing would cause further problems.  The Portfolio Holder hoped that the publicity over both local and national issues would bring about improved funding. 

Question 4

Cllr Harrison asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regulatory Services about the numberof successful prosecutions against people dropping litter in the New Forest District in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.  The Portfolio Holder reported there had been no prosecutions in 2016/17 but that there had been 15 in 2017/18, and 2 so far this year.  The Council was adopting powers that would make it easier to take action in cases of littering from motor vehicles, which was the highest cause of littering in the District.

Cllr Harrison asked a supplementary question regarding the target for prosecutions for dropping litter over the next 12 months.  The Portfolio Holder responded saying that there was no target but that work to educate the public would continue, coupled with enforcement action in appropriate circumstances 

Question 5

Cllr Harrison asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regulatory Services about the number of successful prosecutions there had been against people who had allowed a dog to mess without clearing up on pavements,  ...  view the full decision text for item 21

Question 1

From Cllr David Harrison, to Cllr Jill Cleary, Portfolio Holder for Housing Services:

“Whilst I applaud the collective efforts of staff and members of the authority in seeking to address the lack of affordable housing in the district, don't you agree that the policy of "Right to Buy" which means that we have effectively lost half our council housing in the last 20 years, coupled with the fact that most of the receipts go to central government for redistribution around the country, means that the prospects, especially for young people seeking local affordable rental accommodation are getting worse, not better?”

Answer

The Portfolio Holder agreed that right to buy had reduced Council housing stock.  Providing more homes for local people was one of the Council’s top priorities.   The Council was actively pursuing a range of measures to create affordable homes for families and young people.  The effect of right to buy had already been raised with Government Ministers.  The Portfolio Holder read part of a response received from Dominic Raab MP, at the time Minister of State for Housing.  This indicated that the Government appreciated that more needed to be done to help Council’s deliver replacement homes.  The Government was looking at flexibilities that could be offered to local authorities in their use of right to buy receipts in order to increase build out. The Government would be consulting the sector later in the year.

Question 2

From Cllr Alan O’Sullivan, to Cllr James Binns, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing:

"Will the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing please update the Council on the progress of the New Milton Free-Weights Room and Applemore Studio Projects, the associated costs and payback time?"

Answer

The Portfolio Holder said that excellent work had been carried out on both projects with tight budgets. The projects had been split into seven different elements, and a separate contract had been let for each.  The Applemore Studio Project had cost £44,500 and had been delivered on budget.  The Studio had opened and payback was expected in one year.

With regard to the free-weights room in New Milton Health & Leisure, initial tenders had come back too high, at £100,000.  Unfortunately damp was discovered underneath the squash courts which needed to be resolved, however the final cost of the project, including this additional work was £34,000.  It was expected that the payback time would be 1 year and 3 months.  Safety and security had been improved with the free-weights room being re-located opposite main reception.  A further benefit of moving the weights room from upstairs was that the maintenance of a ground floor weights room would be cheaper.

Cllr Binns congratulated the Council’s Graphics Team on the promotional material produced for both projects and paid tribute to the Health and Leisure Teams for their commitment and determination to make both projects a success.

Question 3

From Cllr David Harrison, to Cllr Diane Andrews, Portfolio Holder for Community Affairs:

"It has been reported that a suspected thief  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21