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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 member questions have been submitted for response:

 

Question 1:

Councillor Dilys Neill to Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

I have often raised concerns about the number of long-term empty properties across the district and in my own ward in particular (120) which I consider to be scandalous. The question I would like to ask today is about two specific properties, the Old Funeral Directors in Well Lane and the adjacent house, Shepherd's Cottage which are in the same ownership. These properties have been empty for over ten years and are in a state of disrepair and continuing to deteriorate. They have both been broken into and littered empty alcohol cans suggest that they may have been used for under-age drinking and possibly drug dealing. Windows have been broken with glass on the ground outside. Both properties have been repeatedly boarded up and then broken into. They are an eyesore in Stow and have attracted complaints from many residents. The latest concern is that they are infested with rats which are getting into the roof space of the house to which the properties are attached. The owner of the adjacent house has employed a pest control officer who is unable to gain access to the empty properties and so the rats are still present, causing a nuisance and health hazard. CDC know who owns the property but officers seem unable to take action. What can the Council do about this longstanding and worsening problem?

 

Question 2:

Councillor Tom Stowe to Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

Does the council monitor and record the number of Social Houses sold on the open market by Housing associations in the district?

 

Question 3:

Councillor David Fowles to Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

The current administration has frequently stated its commitment to building affordable houses and has appointed a very experienced officer to identify sites. Please could you confirm how many sites have been identified, how many houses these sites could deliver and if any of these sites have progressed to planning applications?

 

Question 4:

Councillor Tom Stowe to Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

At Full Council in November 2022, I proposed a motion on the “Provision of Community Public Access Defibrillators on New Developments”.

This motion was passed unanimously, and officers began work incorporating new policies into the local plan. Policy SD4.3 – relating to the provision of defibrillators on new developments - was

included in the draft local plan update.

Given the current situation with the Cotswold Local Plan and the work now being carried out to develop a new plan, please can you confirm that the Council remains committed to retaining these policies in the new Local Plan?

 

Question 5:

Councillor David Fowles to Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience

For several years I have monitored the use of the Cirencester Rugby Club car park. As I recall it cost over £300k to convert, since then it appears to have had little or no use. Could you confirm the

occupancy levels and income that CDC derives from this car park?

 

Question 6:

Councillor Len Wilkins to Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience

Bourton-on-the-Water has been overwhelmed by tourists this year. The superb weather has

encouraged them to stay until late with many remaining in Bourton until 9pm and 10pm. Bourton Parish Council has written to CDC some weeks ago requesting that public toilets stay open later and suggesting that car parking fees are charged beyond the current 6pm deadline. It is still awaiting a reply. Is there any information I can give them?

 

Question 7:

Councillor Gina Blomefield to Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

There are many areas across the Cotswold District where the current sewage systems are at or near full capacity.

With the likely increase in new development in the coming years, please can you confirm that the concerns of local communities raised during the planning application process will be given due

consideration and robust conditions will be applied to ensure local sewage networks are able to cope with the increased demand on their systems?

 

Question 8:

Councillor Laura Hall-Wilson to Councillor Tristan Wilkinson, Cabinet Member for Economy and Council Transformation

At the last meeting of Full Council I enquired about the process for distributing funds from UKSPF and the allocation to Tetbury through the Towns Centre Initiative being strange because there were no terms of reference for the initiative and the money was essentially being awarded by CDC to itself.

Is there any update on the progress of this Town Centre initiative and any detail as to what the money allocated is likely to be spent on?

 

Question 9:

Councillor Jon Wareing to Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council

Denying the existence of a problem is a well understood tactic to avoid having to develop a solution for it.

This is why it was pivotal that in July 2019 Cotswold District Council declared a climate emergency. CDC’s response to this meant the Council committed to a range of activities including taking leadership in developing a strategy to address the emergency.

Would the Leader of the Council agree with me and the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience, that we face another crisis in our District whereby Bourton-on-the-Water, and other iconic locations within the District, are suffering the burden of overtourism as defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation “the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitors experiences in a negative way."?

Would the Leader also therefore commit that the Council ensures that, going forward, the work of the Council acknowledge this crisis and demonstrates it's support, through sustainable tourism approaches, to reverse the degradation of the social, economic and natural environments of these special localities that define the unique character of the District?

By acknowledging the reality of overtourism for thousands of residents in the District you will give impetus for change, faith that local politicians do listen and optimism for restoring balance and harmony in our communities.

 

Minutes:

Members’ written questions, written responses, supplementary questions and supplementary responses can be found in Annex A attached.

 

18:41- Councillor David Fowles left the meeting and did not return.

Supporting documents:

 

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