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 accepted the following questions from Elected Members during Question Time:-

 

A.      Questions to Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster

 

Q.  Councillor Jonathan Wood asked the following question:-

 

“It is a question regarding something that happened during the summer months at Skelbrooke and the quarry there.  We heard a statement from Councillor Nigel Ball that we should not as a Council, let multi-nationals, the words he used, ‘rip things up and move along without any consequence’.  We have in Skelbrooke, a large lagoon that was the result of quarrying operations.  Quarry operators are typically granted under a 25 year temporary permission, usually with an obligation that the land was going to return to the state from whence it came.  The reality is that there is a large hole there which is filled with water and has been for some time.

 

Sadly, we had a death this summer; a young man who did nothing more than tried to cool off and go swimming in the lake.  A sad loss of life and very avoidable.  Avoidable simply because if we hold companies and operators like this to account, we have the ability to return the land to whence it came and restore the land, and make it into a park or something of that nature.

 

We would like your support Mayor to return things like this to whence they came and I hope you will endorse this?”

 

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

 

“I am quite shocked that this has not been brought up before because really it should be dealt with by Planning Enforcement.  Therefore, if Planning Enforcement is not pursuing it, you can quite easily email Councillor Chris McGuinness and ask him to take it up as the Planning Portfolio Holder.”

 

Q.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.7, Councillor Jonathan Wood asked the following supplementary question:-

 

“Thank you Mayor, but it has been raised many times by the local community.  You are absolutely right that it does sit in Planning and Enforcement, but unfortunately, it seems to get stuck in the ‘quagmire’.  If you are going to support us could you possibly ‘chivvy’ Chris along and if you could give some support, it would certainly be very welcome.  Hopefully, you will give me a commitment that you will give Chris a ‘nudge’?”

 

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

 

“Councillor Wood, I would ask you to put it in an email, copy me in and we will always pursue and answer questions.”

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Regarding the question I asked you last month regarding the film studio in my Ward; your response was totally inadequate.  I still have no information.  It may satisfy you spending tax payers money, but it does not satisfy me.  Why am I being denied an adequate answer?”

 

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

 

“That is your perception of it not satisfying you.   I believe in actually encouraging jobs, growth and training.  360 Degrees will certainly facilitate all of this.  If you require any further information, I am sure we could get them to give you further information.”

 

Q.  Councillor John Cooke asked the following question:-

 

“With regard to the facade we took off the old Gaumont building that is now by the side of the Museum, are we going to incorporate them in the new Cultural Learning building next door as a display rather than leave them there, next to what will ultimately be another stock room when complete?”

 

The Mayor, Ros Jones, referred the question to Councillor Nigel Ball as the subject fell within his Portfolio responsibilities.

 

A.      Councillor Nigel Ball gave the following response:-

 

“Thank you Mayor and Councillor Cooke.  What we have done with the facade at the moment is that they are at the Museum.  We have professionally cleaned them and they look fantastic; there is no doubt about it.  We are in consultation and discussion with the new build around the Savoy Cinema because effectively, what we thought would be appropriate would be to bring the facades that were on the old Gaumont Cinema and incorporate them into the new build on the Savoy Cinema; quite a nice touch I think.  So, that is what we are looking to do at the moment, but I will keep you informed.  Clearly, we need to see if it is practical; I am sure it will be, but I think it would be a fitting memorial place for them.”

 

Q.  Councillor Nick Allen asked the following question:-

 

“How do we plan to bring the level of persistent absences in our Secondary Schools into line with the average for England; I think it is almost a fifth in Doncaster, but it is just over 10% in England?”

 

The Mayor, Ros Jones, referred the question to Councillor Nuala Fennelly as the subject fell within her Portfolio responsibilities.

 

A.      Councillor Nuala Fennelly gave the following response:-

 

“We have a plan in place with the Regional Schools Director for Academies and obviously we have part of the plan in Doncaster Council.  We cannot enforce everything through an Academy, but all Schools in Doncaster have signed up to an agreement that we will all work together so that we can get absences down and find out why these children are absent, and see what we can do through all our different systems that we are putting together, to ensure that when a child is absent, we know why.  Sometimes with the systems we have in Schools, they do not always know why the child is absent.  So, the new systems that we are putting in place will be through the Heads of Secondary and Junior Schools, because they have all signed up to it.  It will be brought to Council eventually, but obviously it is in the planning stage; we have an outline agreement with all Schools that it will happen.  We need to stop children being absent from School; they will not progress if we do not.”

 

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

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“A quick question please; the Government is giving £26 billion for social housing.  Will Doncaster be applying for this grant funding?

 

A.    The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, gave the following response:-

 

“Yes.”

 

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 informed Members that any questions for Councillor Blackham 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

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Councillor Fennelly, when Education in Doncaster is sufficiently below the national average, why do we need training days tagged on to every school holiday considering they have 12 weeks off each year?”

 

A.      Councillor Nuala Fennelly gave the following response:-

 

“A good question and this is actually something that is enforced by the DfE in that there are so many training days per year that schools and teachers have to participate in.  Whether these are school days or twilight sessions they do have to have them. It was part of the Baker Deering Institute years ago, and I don’t think they have ever been changed.  It is not optional in schools and I think maybe this is something we need to pick up at a later date and write to the Government, and ask why there are so many.  They actually have 13 weeks off school too through the year, not 12.”

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“In some Doncaster schools, it is common practice to reward pupils with confectionery for doing well.  At a time when we are trying to control obesity, do you think that this is good practice?”

 

A.  Councillor Nuala Fennelly gave the following response:-

“I do not know which schools do that, but I will pick it up.  Under the Health and Wellbeing Board that I sit on, it is wrong and I don’t agree with it. Children should be rewarded in better ways than that.  I know a lot of private dance schools and places do it as well.  If you have a word with me about this outside the Chamber and tell me where this practice is, I will discuss this with Damian Allen and get in touch with the schools.  I personally do not think it is right and I can bring this up at the Health and Wellbeing Board so we can get the message across that we will not accept that.”

 

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 informed Members that any questions for Councillor McGuinness 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

 

Q.  Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

 

“Making an enquiry by telephone can be a lengthy process to get through to Doncaster Council.  If we are to encourage the reporting of issues and offer a service, surely this process can be made quicker?”

 

A.      Councillor Jane Nightingale gave the following response:-

 

“Yes it can and yes it should be.  What we are currently doing at the moment is getting more services online to become digital, encouraging more people to sign up online and report digitally.  We are providing more computers in Reception which can be used so if a person does not have access at home, they can come in and use the computers downstairs.  The more people that we can encourage to use ‘Apps’ and online services, it will then free up the phone lines.  It just needs to get better.  We are aware of the issues; it just needs to improve.”

 

Q. Councillor Richard Allan Jones asked the following question:-

 

“It’s good to hear a question from somewhere else about the same problems we have in a different area.  One of my residents complained regarding their bin not being emptied, but when they checked on the website what had been done, it said the case was closed.  They spent a lot of time initially on the phone, queuing and waiting and when they followed it up, they were told it is cleared when actually the bin was still sat full of rubbish in the garden.  What’s happening?”

 

A.  Councillor Jane Nightingale gave the following response:-

 

“All I can do is speak to Councillor Chris McGuinness and ask him.  SITA can close the jobs off themselves too so it may be that it’s not been closed off by us and may be the partner company, and not the Council that’s done it.  I will have a chat with him when he gets back from his holiday and find out what’s happening.”

 

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

 

In the absence of Councillor Phil Cole, Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee, the Chair informed Members that any questions for Councillor Cole be submitted in writing after the meeting and a response would be provided.

 

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 Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

In the absence of Councillor Kevin Rodgers, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, the Chair informed Members that any questions for Councillor Rodgers be submitted in writing to the Scrutiny Team after the meeting and a response would be provided.