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 on notice received from Elected Members for this meeting.

B.  Questions without Notice

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.2, the Chair accepted the following questions from Elected Members during “Question Time”:-

A. Questions to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones

Q. From Councillor Glenn Bluff to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“Since 2019 there have been several flood warnings in place in lower Sprotbrough  with many residents displaced and the Pub is now closed.  Some of the EA pumps during this time failed and the flood waters had skirted around the flood defences. I would like to thank Dan Swaine and his Team for all they have done, and also thank Councillor Cole for his support.  With regard to the Government Scheme for Flood Recovery, can the Mayor please investigate and provide clarification on how the funding framework operates in terms of how the Council can claim back this money from Government and assist the local residents to access the necessary support and funding from this Scheme?”

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

“I shall forward a detailed report to Councillor Bluff with this information.”

Q. From Councillor Jane Cox to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“In April 2023, a resident passed away in Finningley, and following this money was raised to provide a defibrillator for the area as previously there had been none. Since May 2023 we have been trying to find a solution to this but have been thwarted by Council bureaucracy. We can put Christmas decorations on our lampposts but there is no place to put a defibrillator. The Council has now decided that it needs to put a policy in place regarding the siting of defibrillators, which will further delay the situation.  Will the Mayor please commit to investigating this matter and finding a solution to the situation immediately?”

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

“Councillor Cox if you could please provide me with more information in writing, I will ensure that a full response be provided from the appropriate Portfolio Holder.”

Q.  Councillor Nick Allen asked the Mayor of Doncaster the following question:-

  “The LTA has recently announced a partnership funding agreement with the Council to improve tennis facilities in the area, with funding given to renovate the tennis courts at Haslam Park in Bessacarr and Hexthorpe Park. However, will this affect spending on other parks elsewhere, particularly in the Bessacarr area, as they are also in need of remedial works?

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

“Councillor Allen, if you provide me with more information in writing in relation to this matter, I will provide you with a written response.”

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

Q. Councillor Nick Allen asked the following question:-

  “Are you allowed to reveal how many residents of Doncaster are on a SPOC (Single Point of Contact)?”

A.  On behalf of the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones Scott Fawcus Monitoring Officer agreed to provide further information to Councillor Allen outside of the meeting.

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

In the absence of Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Early Help, Skills and People, Members were requested to put 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, Communities, Leisure and Culture

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

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

Q. Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

“Thank you for the update regarding Marr and Hickleton, would you be able to forward this information to me in writing after the meeting?”

A.  Councillor Joe Blackham agreed to forward the information.

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

Q. Councillor Tracey Moran Asked the following question:-

“Why do we have Choose Kindness in Doncaster”

A.   Councillor Rachael Blake gave the following response:-

“We need to celebrate people in communities and make the invisible, visible, show compassion and this includes standing up to defamatory comments. Choose Kindness isn’t my idea, it’s what people want to do and we need to challenge attitudes that exist, because if we don’t challenge, things never change. Its important to be inclusive, kind, compassionate and work with communities to celebrate what a wonderful place we live in. it allows people to work on what is important to them and if Choose Kindness isn’t your view, then Doncaster is not the place for you.” 

Q. Councillor Jane Cox asked the following question:-

“I have sat in this Chamber for seven years and I have been called many different nasty terms based on differing political views. I would never dream of calling other people the names I have been called.”

A.   Councillor Rachael Blake gave the following response:-

“Any right minded person would agree that these are deeply offensive terms. As the equalities lead I will challenge and call it out if I witness anything like this. Regardless of political views, if I see it I will challenge it and I wont tolerate it.

Q. Councillor Nick Allen asked the following question:-

“What about the people who have been excluded due to a SPOC? People who cant communicate and may have worries regarding such things as racism? Its quite hypocritical if an individual can’t even meet with someone to discuss their concerns?”

A.   Councillor Rachael Blake gave the following response:-

“I take this incredibly seriously and we are benchmarking where we are and where we want to be. We are working with a range of groups and we have bid to host a huge Windrush celebration to celebrate the diversity of our society. Anti racism is very high on my agenda and we as a Council are championing this moving forward.” 

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

Q. Councillor Cynthia Ransom asked the following question:-

         “Following the floods, a lady in Sprotbrough has been placed in temporary accommodation. However, she is being charged double rates. She has tried to sort this out with the Council but has had no joy with the communications system and spent over 2 hours on the phone trying to sort this out. I am happy to discuss this outside the meeting, but I feel that this needs raising as an issue.”

A.   Councillor Phil Cole gave the following response:-

“I will make sure you are provided with an appropriate written response.”

Councillor Jane Nightingale also responded to this question and gave the following response:-

“I am happy to chat with you outside this meeting and talk about these issues further.”

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

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

I.  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.

J. Questions to Councillor Sarah Smith, Cabinet Member for Adult  Social Care

There were no questions put to Councillor Sarah Smith, 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

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.