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

 

No questions on Notice from Elected Members 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 the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Mayor Jones, firstly I would like to pass on my thanks to you and all the staff involved in the excellent organisation of the King’s visit.  It was splendid.

 

My apologies, I was unable to attend last night’s briefing, but would the Mayor support the call for a Public Enquiry if the Airport was closed?”

 

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

 

“Thank you, but it was our Officers who did all the work and the back office staff who picked up their work.  It is greatly appreciated by all concerned, especially our residents and local businesses.  I will ensure it is recorded and passed on to those concerned.

 

In terms of the enquiry, I am very keen to progress all the instruments we have at our disposal to retain a working Airport.  The Judicial Review will delay the closure and ensure that Peel have done due diligence, and undertaken the proper consultation.  I will support all we can within our remit to enhance Doncaster and the wider economy to retain an aviation hub which can expand our economy.”

 

Q.   Councillor Thomas Noon asked the following question:-

 

“I am led to believe that we have been given a total of 25 new Police Officers out of 707 Borough-wide.  Doncaster’s crime rate is 149/1000 compared to Sheffield of 91/1000.  Will you be lobbying the Police and Crime Commissioner for our fair share of Police Officers?”

 

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

 

“The increase has been brought about by lobbying the Police and Crime Commissioner, but I will continue to lobby for more Police Officers to tackle organised crime within our Borough.”

 

Q.   Councillor Nick Allen asked the following question:-

 

“I have been contacted by residents in my Ward with regard to illegal fishing going on at Lakeside.  This is an ongoing problem and the Council has taken Enforcement Action, but we need a more regular approach to Enforcement.  It could be the jewel in the crown for central Doncaster, but it is not.  We have ongoing issues with fishing as well as litter, so can we have more Enforcement Action around the Lakeside and Retail Park?”

 

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

 

“You have put your question to the wrong person as Enforcement is in Councillor Joe Blackham’s Portfolio.  We have a certain number of Enforcement Officers and what you have mentioned will be passed to them.  We will look at everything available to us including CCTV, but I cannot create more Enforcement Officers when I know we will be faced with difficult decisions regarding the amount of money the Council will need to save over the next few years.  I cannot single out one specific area.  For me, the jewel in the crown is our Mansion House.”

 

Q.   Councillor Steve Cox asked the following question:-

 

“I would like to raise a question regarding footfall in the City Centre.  Will the Mayor be welcoming staff back into the Civic Office because it has had an effect on the shops in the City Centre?”

 

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

 

“I welcome all staff when I see them.  The arrangements of how the staff are organised falls under the remit of the Chief Executive.  He knows that I support Council staff coming into the building.  However, consultation is taking place with our staff and I am sure the Chief Executive has noted what you have said.”

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Young People, Members were asked to submit their questions in writing to the Executive Office and a written response would be provided.

 

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

 

Q.   Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“In June of this year, Sprotbrough Parish Council organised and financed the lighting of a beacon at Cusworth which was well attended.  Can we have assurances that Cusworth Hall will be used for more events and the opening times increased?”

 

A.    Councillor Nigel Ball gave the following response:-

 

“I can assure you that Cusworth Hall is going down that avenue to be more commercialised.  As you are aware, Heritage and Cultural Services have gone through a restructure and I assure you that there is an action plan for Cusworth Hall and we are looking to open it up for weddings, events and other occasions in twin with the Mansion House.”

 

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

 

Q.  Councillor Thomas Noon asked the following question:-

 

“My Ward has loads of tractors as it is rural and the roads are suffering with pot holes.  I have noticed that this Council has a small Team who undertake the repairs, but we give a lot of work to private companies.  This work does not get checked and the pot holes are falling out after two weeks.  The edges are not being sealed and we are wasting money.  Can we look at bringing more of this work in-house or get photographic evidence of the work undertaken to check that the work is up to standard?”

 

A.    Councillor Joe Blackham gave the following response:-

 

“We have already had a conversation about this topic and I have copied you into emails where I have told the Highway Department to improve the way they treat pot holes.  Potholes are an increasing problem.  The mechanisms for dealing with them are not the best.  They are repaired manually and in an ideal world, we would not have as many as we do.  We would cut them out and fill them properly, and get 5-10 years out of each repair.  It is not the best solution to the problem.  I have informed the Highway Department that the quality needs to be improved.”

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Rachael Blake, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Communities and Equalities, Members were asked to submit their questions in writing to the Executive Office and a written response would be provided.

 

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

 

Q.   Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Councillor, I would like to ask a question in relation to the financial impact and cost relating to the transfer of Doncaster Children’s Services Trust in-house.  We were told that there would be no cost for this to us as a Council, but then we hear it will cost us £4.6 million?”

 

A.    Councillor Phil Cole gave the following reply:-

 

“I will confer with Councillor Lani-Mae Ball on this issue and provide you with a written reply.”

 

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

 

Q.  Councillor Thomas Noon asked the following question:-

 

“I would like to ask some information with regard to the Public Consultation on waste and recycling centres.”

 

A.    Councillor Mark Houlbrook gave the following reply:-

 

“I don’t have that information to hand so I will provide you with a written reply.”

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, Members were asked to submit their questions in writing to the Executive Office and a written response would be provided.

 

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

 

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

 

L.     Questions to Councillor Julie Grace, Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee

 

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

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Rachael Blake, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, Members were asked to submit their questions in writing to the Executive Office and a written response would be provided.

 

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.