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 from Cllr Julia Judd to Cllr Andrea Pellegram Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services
Gloucestershire County Council has approved a policy to introduce charges for excess DIY waste brought by residents to Household Recycling Centres, including rubble, soil, fixtures, fittings and building waste.
While I recognise that the policy is intended to contribute to the County Council’s financial savings, there is a clear concern that charging residents for disposing of legitimate DIY waste could create an unintended increase in fly-tipping. This is particularly concerning in rural areas of the Cotswolds, where illegal dumping can have a significant impact on our countryside, roadsides and National Landscape.
The County Council’s own report acknowledges the potential risk of increased fly-tipping, but states that there is no statistical evidence demonstrating a sustained increase as a result of charging for DIY waste. It also states that an Ecological Impact Assessment has not been undertaken.
Can the Leader confirm whether Cotswold District Council was formally consulted by Gloucestershire County Council before this policy was approved and, if so, what concerns or representations did CDC make?
Furthermore, given that CDC may ultimately face additional costs and pressure if fly-tipping increases as a consequence of the policy, what assessment has CDC made of the potential financial and environmental impact on the District, and what discussions has it had with GCC about monitoring fly-tipping and ensuring that any additional costs arising from the policy do not simply fall on Cotswold residents through CDC?
Question from Cllr David Cunningham to Cllr Patrick Coleman, Cabinet Member for Finance
With the LGR process now officially paused by central government, can the Cabinet Member for Finance confirm the precise amount of council funding spent on this program so far? Will he provide a detailed breakdown of that amount, including officer time, resources and outside consultants. Additionally, what portion of the work completed to date is now worthless, and what are the financial implications for the £2 million previously ring fenced in reserves for the LGR transition?
Question from Cllr Tom Stowe to Cllr Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council
When was the content of the recent issue of Cotswold’s Together magazine finalised and sent to print?
Question from Cllr Len Wilkins to Cllr Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
From 31st October "minor" residential developments (defined as under 10 properties or up to nine homes on sites under 0.5 hectares) cannot be called in for consideration by Planning Committee. This removes the local knowledge of District Councillors which can be invaluable to a planning officer. Can we amend our planning portal so that the comments of the ward Councillor can be added and differentiated to the comments of others?
Question from Cllr Laura Hall-Wilson to Cllr Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council
The Government has also made clear that its Full Dispersal policy is intended to achieve a fairer and more equitable geographical distribution of asylum accommodation, with the Home Office actively seeking additional accommodation in local authority areas where there is capacity.
The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have said this is about ensuring that wealthier and more affluent communities “play their part” in accommodating asylum seekers and achieving a fairer spread of asylum accommodation across the country.
Could the Leader therefore confirm whether Cotswold District Council has been contacted by the Home Office, or by any Home Office accommodation provider, regarding the provision or procurement of asylum accommodation within the Cotswold District, particularly following the identification of Cotswold as a local authority currently accommodating no supported asylum seekers?
Question from Cllr Daryl Corps to Cllr Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
The local plan update proposes over 4000 new homes for the North Cotswold’s including over 2000 for Moreton in Marsh, but no new employment land allocations, please can you set out where, potentially 10000 plus new residents, are expected to work, and how they will realistically get there given limited public transport?
Question from Cllr Gina Blomefield to Cllr Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council
Many of the warning and directional signs on roads across the Cotswold District are in a poor state whether they have panels missing; are partly illegible or obscured by foliage; their support poles completely collapsed or are even facing the wrong way due to being bashed by large vehicles. I have taken photographs of some of them and if I compiled a comprehensive collection across the District they would fill a substantial album.
Whilst I appreciate that many people now rely on satnav to direct them to their destinations this is not always the case for tourists and other non-locals who value signposts to find their way or get reassurance, they are on the right route.
Many of the warning signs such as STOP, Give Way, severe bend, children or elderly people crossing and so on are in a woeful state and these are essential for the safety of all drivers.
These poor signs detract from the attractiveness of the Cotswold’s as a special landscape.
In the same way that CDC encourages pothole repairs, are you also pushing GCC to maintain and keep their Cotswold road signage in good shape for the safety of all road users across the District?
Question from Cllr Daryl Corps to Cllr Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
On the new local plan map for Moreton-in-Marsh, land is highlighted which the council says has been put forward by landowners for development. However, local residents are questioning whether this is accurate, with concerns that some of the land shown has not actually been put forward by the landowners at all. Can the administration confirm that every site shown as having been put forward by a landowner has, in fact, been put forward by that landowner? And they are not just a wish list!