Agenda item
Member Questions
A Member of the Council may ask the Chair, the Leader, a Cabinet Member or the Chair of any Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Cotswold District. A maximum period of fifteen minutes shall be allowed at any such meeting for Member questions.
A Member may only ask a question if:
a) the question has been delivered in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than 5.00 p.m. on the working day before the day of the meeting; or
b) the question relates to an urgent matter, they have the consent of the Chair to whom the question is to be put and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 9.30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
An answer 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.
The following questions were submitted prior to the publication of the agenda:
Question 1: Councillor Blomefield to Councillor Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
Despite increasingly wet weather, this country faces growing water shortages making it essential to better conserve this precious resource.
Currently, per capita water consumption is approximately 150 litres per day but could be reduced to 100 litres by using new technology, like Danish Flowloop and Dutch Hydroloop shower systems, as well as rainwater harvesting.
In Belgium, where rainwater harvesting is mandatory, the water is used for laundry and toilets.
New properties are now fitted with water meters, even better are smart meters which offer live usage tracking and leak detection—particularly important since 30% of leaks occur within properties. Reducing mains water consumption and increasing rainwater harvesting would not only help the environment but also lessen the load on the sewage system, reducing overflows into rivers and onto streets during heavy rainfall.
Given this, can the council provide an update on the progress and actions taken in response to Cllr Judd’s motion on Grey Water, approved in September 2023?
Additionally, what steps is CDC taking to encourage water-saving plumbing fixtures, smart water meters, and rainwater harvesting systems in all new homes?
Question 2: Councillor Stowe to Councillor Harris, Leader of the Council
Has CDC stopped installing new street signs?
Question 3: Councillor Daryl Corps to Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
Many new, unadopted housing developments in the district are experiencing ongoing and often drawn-out problems with management companies regarding open spaces on new developments.
These include the quality of the maintenance work carried out and the lack of transparency over charges which can change every year and are unlimited.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council have adopted a new “Open Space Supplementary Planning Document” whereby all future Public Open Space as part of new developments will ultimately be adopted by either the local Town/Parish Council or by the District Council.
As CDC is planning 1000’s of new houses in Moreton and across the district, getting this right now will protect important green spaces across the district while ensuring a more certain future for residents.
Is CDC looking to adopt a similar approach?