Agenda item

(i)        Questions on Notice to the Executive:-

 

None received for this meeting.

 

(ii)        Questions without Notice to the Executive and the Chairs of the Audit Committee, Elections and Democratic Structures Committee, Health and Wellbeing Board and Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

A.     Questions on Notice

 

No questions on notice had been received for this meeting.

 

B.     Questions Without Notice

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.2, the Chair of Council sought questions from Elected Members during Question Time:-

 

A.     Questions to Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster

 

Councillor Andy Pickering asked the following Question:-

 

(Q)    “Following Councillor Julie Dore's intemperate remarks in relation to our Chief Executive Jo Miller, Councillor Dore used words like ‘betrayal’... ‘a serious failure of trust’... ‘we do deals together’... ‘we don't go behind closed doors’...and most surprisingly... ‘the worst case of political vandalism in her 17 years in Local Government’.

 

Would the Mayor agree with our view that Jo Miller is guilty of none of the scurrilous allegations and that in fact, the HS2 manoeuvrings by Sheffield City Council surrounding the Meadowhall route suggests that those allegations appear to be the stock in trade of Councillor Dore herself and in fact, Jo Miller simply has done the right thing by the people of Doncaster in removing the grip of Sheffield and a discredited Leader?”

 

                   The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones gave the following response:-

 

(A)      “Thank you for your question Councillor Pickering. The Chief Executive has always acted in a professional manner; Jo Miller has always acted in the best interests of the people of Doncaster, helping to drive the Borough forward.  It is inappropriate to try and bring someone into disrepute and Jo Miller will continue to take Doncaster further forward as she already has.”

 

Councillor Phil Cole asked the following Question:-

 

(Q)     “Mayor Jones, if we’re talking about discredited Leaders, can I refer to our Prime Minister, Teresa May, who has sadly continued the pay cap on Public Service workers that has been in place since 2010.  Do you agree that this pay cap should be scrapped and people in the Public Services finally be fairly paid?”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following response:-

 

(A)      “Thank you Councillor Cole.  I absolutely agree with you that our hard working Public Service staff deserve to be fairly paid. They have carried the burden of austerity personally through the below inflation salary cap, and also in their everyday roles, as the Government cuts budgets for delivering services. Through all of this, they continue to work tirelessly and provide vital services for local people.

 

The 1% pay cap has now been in place for seven years. Between 2010 and 2016, Public Service workers had seen their pay rise by just 4.1%, but the cost of goods and services had increased by 17.7% in that period.

 

The average Public Service worker is now thousands of pounds worse off than if their pay had matched inflation. So I agree that the Government should lift the pay cap for all workers and stop tying the hands of the pay review bodies.

 

However, I must stress they should also promise to meet pay increases with additional funding, to avoid imposing further cuts to our vital Public Services.”

 

B.     Questions to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities

 

There were no questions put to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities.

 

C.     Questions to Councillor Nigel Ball, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure and Culture

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Nigel Ball, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure and Culture.

 

D.     Questions to Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Trading Services

 

In the absence of Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Trading Services, the Chair of Council informed Members that any questions for Councillor Joe Blackham should be submitted in writing to the Executive Office after the meeting and a response would be provided.

 

E.     Questions to Councillor Rachael Blake, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Rachael Blake, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

 

F.     Questions to Councillor Nuala Fennelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools

 

Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following Question:-

 

(Q)    “I’d like to ask a question in terms of education, particularly in relation to our Secondary Schools.  How is it acceptable for them to finish at 2.30 pm in the afternoon?  Are they getting a good standard of education by doing this and how are we preparing our young people for their working lives?”

 

Councillor Nuala Fennelly gave the following response:-

 

(A)      “Thank you for your question Councillor Ransome; I totally agree with you, but we don’t have a lot of control over the Academies as they set their own timetables. I will however write to the Regional Schools Director of the Academies and put this question to him.”

 

G.     Questions to Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, Voluntary Sector and the Environment

 

In the absence of Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, Voluntary Sector and the Environment, the Chair of Council informed Members that any questions for Councillor Chris McGuinness should be submitted in writing to the Executive Office after the meeting and a response would be provided.

 

H.     Questions to Councillor Bill Mordue, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Economic Development

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Bill Mordue, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Economic Development.

 

I.       Questions to Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Customer and Corporate Services

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Customer and Corporate Services.

 

J.      Questions to Councillor Austen White, Chair of the Audit Committee

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Austen White, Chair of the Audit Committee.

 

K.     Questions to Councillor Phil Cole, Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Phil Cole, Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee.

 

L.      Questions to Councillor Rachael Blake, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Rachael Blake, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

 

M.    Questions to Councillor Kevin Rodgers, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Kevin Rodgers, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.