Agenda item
Public Questions
To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than one minute each and relate to issues under the Council’s remit. At any one meeting no person may submit more than two questions and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation.
The Chair will ask whether any members of the public present at the meeting wish to ask a question and will decide on the order of questioners.
The response may take the form of:
a) a direct oral answer;
b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or
c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner.
Minutes:
There were two public questions:
Question 1
Mrs Sylvia Shepherd, a resident of Mayfield Park drew attention to the difficulties experienced by herself and fellow residents in getting her bins to the waste collection site by the road. Mrs Shepherd asked what support was available to assist herself and other older residents in the same position? She also asked whether a closer collection point could be provided for their use?
In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment, Councillor Juliet Layton responded. She declared that she knew Mrs Shepherd’s daughter and confirmed that she had no pecuniary interest in the waste service.
In response to a question from Mrs Shepherd regarding bin collections, it was reported that Ubico had advised officers that residents should not have individual bins, as waste facilities were provided at a communal collection point. However, it was noted that Mrs Shepherd and other residents on the site had individual waste provisions. Mrs Shepherd had a full set of recycling containers, a grey wheelie bin for residual waste, and a green garden waste wheelie bin, for which an annual licence fee was paid. Other residents had similar arrangements.
It was further noted that on 29 December 2025 Mrs Shepherd was issued with a replacement set of recycling bins, which she had not requested, indicating that individual waste provision was recognised in practice. Officers had previously provided Ubico with verbal and written information regarding Mrs Shepherd’s request for the reinstatement of assisted collection, which she had received prior to Covid due to a back condition.
The matter was noted as ongoing. The ward member, Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, was aware of the situation, and it was acknowledged that a resolution had not yet been reached. Further discussions with officers and, if necessary, the site manager would continue.
Question 2
A second question was raised by Mrs Shepherd regarding decking installed by her neighbour shortly after they had moved in. After a visit from the enforcement team, the neighbour had also erected a wooden fence which was actually attached to Mrs Shepherd’s garage and which left no boundary. The effect was to prevent repairs to Mrs Shepherd’s garage being carried out. Mrs Shepherd asked how the installation could be considered compliant with planning regulations, given that it obstructed access and affected her property, she reported that she had been advised by LEASE (the Lease Advisory Service) to write to the Council to seek clarification as to why this was not deemed a planning breach?
Mrs Shepherd asked what her options were and sought advice as to what she needed to do to resolve the situation.
Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning responded that the Council’s enforcement team had inspected the site and confirmed that the decking complied with planning regulations, including fire-safety requirements. However, because the decking was so close to the resident’s garage and prevented access, it would be considered a civil matter rather than a planning or enforcement issue. Councillor Layton advised that the resident could seek legal guidance.
Councillor Layton confirmed that the matter appeared to be civil in nature and the Chair suggested that the resident contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for advice. Mrs Shepherd was encouraged to keep the Council informed of progress, noting that Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, her ward member, would also be in contact.