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 Andy Pickering asked the following question:-

 

“As it has been documented in the last few weeks, the Mexborough Ward Members have voiced concerns over the sale of the Mexborough Resource Centre, a deal which appears to put a valuable community resource in to private hands.  Should our concerns be realised and the processes of disposal were to be found invalid, could the Mayor assure us that DMBC would play a positive role in bringing the Centre back into the hands of the suitable community group?”

 

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

 

“If there are any discrepancies in the disposals process, I would ask you to put them in writing and of course, they will always be investigated to ensure that the correct procedures have been followed.”

 

Q. Councillor Jonathan Wood asked the following question:-

 

“More recently, in addition to private developers, we have noticed that Council departments have been supporting recommendations for green belt to be removed for the development of highways, facilities, assets and various things.  It seems like it is a continual progression of creep into the green belt.  This is a two part question. The first is, whether you genuinely support the green belt?  I appreciate that we have got the Local Plan and I appreciate that you are not necessarily responsible directly for that, as it is a Planning matter.  Can you just give us a commitment that you stand behind green belt first and foremost?

 

Secondly, as different departments in the Local Authority have to appraise the necessity to support or deny developers the opportunity to take chunks of land out of the green belt, can you assure us and recognise, as the Council departments that come under your control, that green belt is something very special?  It is enshrined in law and development on green belt should only be recommended in very special and exceptional circumstances.”

 

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

 

“I therefore take it that you are asking me whether I believe in green belt.  Of course I do, but we all know that sometimes there will be exceptional circumstances where green belt is put forward for development such as the iPort and the Great Yorkshire Way as examples.  You know we are declaring a green and cleaner environment for our Borough and this includes green belt.  The Local Plan approved by this Council, detailing our approach to green belt, is currently out for consultation and everyone will be making their representations.  So, in principle, of course I support green belt, but I do accept that there will be some exceptional circumstances and we would always ask that these exceptional circumstances be documented so that we ensure that we preserve what is our natural right to preserve.”

 

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

 

Q.  “I appreciate that I am on the Planning Committee and therefore, I am more familiar with these applications.  You have used a classic thing there to say exceptional circumstances dictate that green belt can be sacrificed and it is probably the terms and the detail that causes the problem.  There is a law that protects green belt and it says that it should only be compromised in very special circumstances.  Exceptional is not good enough.  Could you just remind Members of the Council and Officers that very special circumstances is not every time somebody applies, it should maybe be 1 in 10, or 1 in 20.  Currently, people are seeing it as exceptional when it is not.”

 

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

 

“As you know Councillor Wood, I am not able to comment on planning applications.  As a Member of the Planning Committee you are seeing all of these applications coming through and therefore, I expect that you will actually raise your concerns at the time.  I also acknowledge that each planning application is considered on its own merits.  Officers do not need reminding because as you have said, it is enshrined in law.”

 

 

 

 

Q.  Councillor Lani-Mae Ball asked the following question:-

 

“Ros, can you provide the Council with an update on the number of households and businesses that were affected by the floods back in November and an explanation of how the Council is supporting residents and communities whilst they are trying to recover from this?”

 

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

 

“The numbers I have been given are 708 households that have been affected and 141 businesses.  We have worked continually with our communities and continue to work with those blighted, in order to help them get back to some form of normality.  Our hearts go out to these communities.  I visited those areas affected by the floods as soon as I could and have seen the devastation it causes, and how families are still suffering through the trauma and all our staff that have had to live through it and be there.  So, first of all, I need to thank our staff for their continued support to all those areas that have been affected.  We continue to hold Gold Recovery meetings with staff and partners, and we are ensuring that we are doing everything we can to support our communities and residents, and we will continue to be there.  We are here when the cameras have gone because these are our residents who we want to assist all we can.  We have provided all the support that we are able to provide, and we will continue to support them out there in the communities.  It is not only Fishlake and Bentley that have suffered; we all forget that at times.  So, the drop in sessions are also continuing which have been arranged for Clay Lane, Intake, Conisbrough, Scawthorpe and Tickhill. Regarding everyone who has been affected by these horrendous floods, we are there to assist, by just giving advice, or pointing them in the right direction to make sure that we do all we can to get through this trauma. It is not just next week, or month, it could be years. Thank you for your question Councillor.”

 

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

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Trading Services.

 

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

 

There were no questions put to Councillor Nuala Fennelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools.

 

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 McGuinness should be submitted in writing to the Executive Office after the meeting, and a response would be provided accordingly.

 

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

 

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

 

“In my Ward, we are seeing an increasing number of planning applications which create additional traffic issues.  I genuinely have a problem with that because of what is going to be developed in Finningley.  I would ask Councillor Mordue to look at a particular application on Mosham Road regarding a crane service, to identify if a more appropriate site could be identified?  I believe that it would be better served by the roadway connections going to DN7.  I have nothing against the company with regards what it wants to do, but to take traffic through an area where we already have an issue is a problem.”

 

A. Councillor Bill Mordue gave the following response:-

 

“Thank you Councillor.  I cannot deal with planning issues or traffic issues, but I take on board what you are saying.  I believe the Airport may have put in an objection to the siting of the crane company that you are referring to?”

 

Q.   Councillor Richard Allan Jones responded as follows:-

 

“There is no objection by the Airport.  My concern is about the siting of the business and its impact on additional traffic on the local highway.  We do not want any more traffic going on Hurst Lane.  We will have 2 million cars going along that road.  I want the Council to consider giving some assistance to this company, if it is possible, to look at a better location with a motorway connection?”

 

A.  Councillor Bill Mordue gave the following response:-

 

“If the Council can assist the company to come to a sensible or an alternative arrangement, I am sure that we can do that, but surely, it is the Planning Committee which will determine whether that is an appropriate development or not.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.7, Councillor Richard Allan Jones asked the following supplementary question:-

 

Q.  “We are at the point of looking at how we can have a better community for this Council.  I do not support your response.  I want to raise a Point of Order.  I believe this is not a Planning issue.  Councillor Mordue is in charge of Business proposals and I ask him to look at this.  I ask the Council that it be sited elsewhere for the betterment of the community?”

 

A.   Scott Fawcus, Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer, gave the following response:-

 

“Councillor Jones, you have asked the question.  It has been answered by Councillor Mordue. You have encroached into planning matters and this is not the arena for that. Thank you.”

 

The Chair of Council also responded as follows:-

 

“Councillor Jones, you can put your question into the Executive Office and obtain an answer.  Thank you.”

 

A.     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.

 

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

 

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

 

C.     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.

 

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

 

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

 

E.     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.