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 Committees.

A.     Questions on Notice

 

There were no questions from Elected Members for the 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 the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

 

Q. Councillor Dave Shaw asked the following question:-

 

“In recent days, there has been a lot in the press regarding the Prime Minister and the parties held in the garden at 10 Downing Street, and it seems he was guilty of breaking his own rules which other people followed to protect the NHS. Will you join me and the people of Doncaster, to call out the Prime Minister for breaking his own rules?”

 

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

 

“Thank you for your question Councillor Shaw. I would like to thank the people of Doncaster who did follow the rules. Sue Gray is investigating these events and she will establish if the law has been broken.  If he did break the law, then the Prime Minister should resign for breaking the Ministerial Code, but I will wait to see the outcome.  Our Leader however, should lead by example and follow the rules set.”

 

Q.   Councillor Nick Allen asked the following question:-

 

“Would the Mayor release a brief statement regarding the ongoing sale of land at Rose Hill to Miller Homes?”

 

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

 

“This land is still in the early stages of a planning application and it is inappropriate for me to comment on this matter. This site was identified for housing in 1998 when the land was reallocated for housing. When I know more on this, I will let you know.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.7, Councillor Nick Allen asked the following supplementary question:-

 

Q.   “I understand that Miller Homes promised they would make a statement in the New Year, but still no statement has been made and that the application would be submitted in a few weeks.  In due course is not acceptable.  When will a statement be made?”

 

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

 

       “I will repeat what I have just said. The Planning application is in the very early stages. A statement will be released in due course.”

 

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

 

Q.      Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Last Saturday lunchtime, I sat in a Town Centre restaurant with some friends.  The restaurant was empty and we were seated in the window. We were feet away from a full rubbish bin and next to it was a young beggar. Five people stopped and gave him money. Someone drove up and gave him a package.  How can we encourage people to return to the Town Centre if this is what they are faced with?”

 

A.        The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Business, gave the following response:-

 

“People persistently beg in the Town Centre and it is up to us to try and get communities to engage, and get people back on the straight and narrow. This question however is not just within my remit, and falls under Public Health. We need input from businesses to let us know where and when this is happening, and it would be helpful if people could call through to the Central Control to see if they can help. I know the litter bins are emptied regularly so if they are overflowing, this also needs reporting.  In terms of helping businesses, the levelling up fund, Doncaster Town Deals, have lots of initiatives to help businesses recover and help them thrive, and the use of these initiatives are to be encouraged.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.7, Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following supplementary question:-

 

Q.      “My main point of the question was that this restaurant is usually busy, and it was not.  These businesses are paying rates, but if they are not busy they will not thrive; do you agree?”

 

A.      The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Business, gave the following response:-

 

          “I agree; we have got to encourage businesses and people to come back into the Town Centre.  I do not know why the restaurant was not full, most I see are full.  All these initiatives individually matter and play a part in the whole situation.  It is important that we continue to report any issues; it will encourage people to come back into the Town Centre who might be disillusioned.  So if we all report these issues then we stand a better chance of getting people to use our local businesses.”

 

C.     Questions to Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Young People

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Young People.

 

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

 

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

 

E.     Questions to Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Enforcement

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Enforcement.

 

F.     Questions to Councillor Rachael Blake, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Communities and Equalities

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Rachael Blake, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Communities and Equalities.

 

G.    Questions to Councillor Phil Cole, Cabinet Member for Finance and Trading Services

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Phil Cole, Cabinet Member for Finance and Trading Services.

 

H.     Questions to Councillor Mark Houlbrook, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Waste

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Mark Houlbrook, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Waste.

 

I.       Questions to Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources.

 

J.    Questions to Councillor Andrea Robinson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Andrea Robinson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Austen White, Members were asked to submit their questions in writing and a written response would be provided.

 

L.      Questions to Councillor Ian Pearson, Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee

 

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

 

M.    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.

 

N.     Questions to Councillor Jane Kidd, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

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