From

To

Subject

1

CouncillorMrs Beer

Leader (Councillor Mrs Pengelly)

What are the rules if a councillor has a permanent residence outside the UK?

The Leader responded that she was not aware of the specific rules but as far as she was concerned, councillors must be able to meet residents. 

2

CouncillorWildy

CouncillorWigens

At a meeting with Amey, and the utilities, with regard to road works in her ward, she was told that the road outside the Welcome Hall would take about one week to complete.  It had been dug up, to date, for three weeks.  What redress do residents have if roads are dug up for longer than advised?

CouncillorWigens responded that he was not familiar with the land and he was not aware of any redress in these circumstances.  Sometimes works were quicker than anticipated and sometimes they were longer.

3

CouncillorPenberthy

CouncillorRicketts

A Freedom of Information request made through the ‘what do you know’ website, showed that 30 per cent of the requests received by the Council had not been answered within the statutory 20 working days. What action was being taken to improve performance?

CouncillorRicketts undertook to investigate and provide a written response.

4

CouncillorMcDonald

CouncillorMichael Leaves

With regard to the West Hoe pier item in the capital report, clarity was sought on whether the sum was from supported or unsupported borrowing, whether it could be outlined more clearly and whether the money was ring fenced.

CouncillorMichael Leaves responded that he was waiting for the survey.  The money was in the capital receipts and in the budget to go forward this year.  It was ring fenced for the pier. 

5

CouncillorEvans

CouncillorBowyer

In May, Councillor Smith was replaced on the Devon Investment and Pension Fund Committee by Councillor Bowyer.  How many meetings had Councillor Bowyer attended and  would he like to resign?

CouncillorBowyer responded that he had attended all those where he had been available to do so and that he would not like to resign.

6

CouncillorRennie

CouncillorMichael Leaves

Was he planning to use the powers under the new Police and Reform Act, where there is provision for Councils to raise night time levies on nightclubs and pubs?  Further, the Bill stated that in the event of an elected Police Commissioner, the Commissioner would take away the powers of the Council and that person could propose a levy.

CouncillorMichael Leaves responded that he had no plans to put a levy on clubs or pubs and undertook to provide a written response.

7

CouncillorMcDonald

CouncillorFry

What action was going to be taken following the collapse of The Grand Theatre Hotel, with some brick work in the road and temporary traffic lights?

CouncillorFry responded that he would raise the issue at a meeting with Assistant Directors tomorrow and a written response would be provided.

8

CouncillorSingh

CouncillorWigens

As a result of the road works at Welcome Hall, the income at the hall had reduced.  Could he ask the manager to email Councillor Wigens to ascertain how long the works were going to take?

CouncillorWigens responded that he would ask Clive Perkin (Assistant Director for Transport) to contact the manager. 

9

CouncillorWilliams

CouncillorSam Leaves

She was concerned that there was no longer nursery provision in the north west of the City although one of the aspirations of the children’s centre was to get people back to work. What was Councillor Leaves’ doing about it?

CouncillorSam Leaves responded that if Councillor Williams contacted her by email, or discussed it with her, after the meeting, she would investigate and provide a response.  

10

CouncillorPenberthy

CouncillorSam Leaves

He felt that there was still some work to be done on the child poverty action plan re addressing gaps, timings,   resources and milestones.  Also there was no monitoring by scrutiny. When would this be addressed?

CouncillorSam Leaves responded that the report would be presented on an annual basis and that all councillors could feed into the process through a self assessment workshop.

11

CouncillorCoker

Leader (Councillor Mrs Pengelly)/ Councillor Michael Leaves

Was it correct that councillors were told that the monies given to them to spend on communities could not be spent on items with revenue implications? Further, Amey had said that were unaware of the provision and there was no money to fill the bins.

The Leader responded that they could spend the funding on grit bins and Councillor Michael Leaves indicated that the bins would be filled and funded from the community monies.

12

CouncillorEvans

Leader (Councillor Mrs Pengelly)

He understood that the capital environment fund could not be used in this way and asked for an investigation and remedy?

The Leader responded that she had asked for a grit bin, funded from the capital environment fund, and that it would be filled with monies from the fund.  She agreed to ask the law officer to provide a ruling.