Agenda item

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

 

Written questions

 

To answer any written questions from a County Councillor, (or any person living or working in the county, or is affected by the work of the County Council), about any matter which relates to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

 

The closing date for the receipt of written questions was 4.00 pm on Thursday 4 October 2018

 

Urgent questions

 

An urgent written question may be asked by a member of the public about any item on the Cabinet agenda for that meeting which the Chairperson considers could not have been reasonably submitted by the deadline for the receipt of written questions, provided he or she gives notice of the question to the Chief Executive by 12 noon the day before the meeting.

 

A written answer will be provided for each written question and presented to the questioner and to Cabinet Members before the meeting. The questions and answers will be taken as read at the meeting and need not be read out. At the discretion of the Leader of Council, each questioner in attendance at the meeting will be allowed to ask one supplementary question in response to the answer to the original question.

 

A copy of all written questions and written answers circulated at the meeting will be attached to the signed copy of the minutes of the meeting.

Public Questions

 

No public questions were considered at the meeting.

 

Member Questions

 

A total of 17 member questions had been submitted for consideration prior to the meeting.

 

Please refer to the link below to view the responses to the questions: -

 

http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/documents/b14818/Cabinet%20Member%20Questions%20and%20Answers%20Wednesday%2010-Oct-2018%2010.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9

 

If unable to access the document at the link above, please go to the link below and select the ‘Cabinet Questions and Answers’ PDF document at the top of the web page: - 

 

http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=8901&Ver=4

 

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

 

Question 2: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 8: Agenda item 8: Replacement and refresh of firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 

Cllr Hilton supported the proposal to invest in providing new Personal Protective Equipment. Concerned that the only assessment to have been undertaken during the procurement process appeared to have been to consider whether or not to join the Kent Consortium, Cllr Hilton asked if this had been the only assessment or if other suppliers had been considered?

 

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman explained that the proposal sought to offer the best value for money and provide the best personal protection for Gloucestershire fire-fighters. Cllr Norman accepted more time could have been spent on the proposal but believed the Acting Chief Fire Officer had made the best decision.

 

Question 3: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 8: Agenda item 8: Replacement and refresh of firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 

Cllr Hilton raised concerns about the proposal to enter into a collaborative arrangement with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the possibility of a monopoly emerging from purchasing PPE from Bristol Uniforms PLC. Cllr Hilton asked if the Cabinet Member had concerns about potential price increases should Bristol Uniforms PLC become the supplier of PPE for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

 

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman stated ‘we are where we are’ and advocated that the proposal was the way forward in purchasing uniforms in the future. As a supplier for many years, Cllr Norman believed the Bristol Uniform Company offered good service and provided quality uniforms. 

 

Question 4: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

 

Cllr Hilton asked the Cabinet Member to provide a written report on complaints received from members of the public about poor enforcement due to APCOA not undertaking enforcement patrols? Cllr Hilton stated that the report gave no indication of performance in relation to this aspect and questioned what problems this might have created in the past and how the council might address the problem in the future.

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman agreed to liaise with officers and provide Cllr Hilton with a written report after the meeting.

 

Question 5: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

 

Cllr Hilton believed the number of Civil Enforcement Officers employed by APCOA was 50 with 10 current vacancies. Estimating a shortfall of 20% in the number of officers required by the council’s contract obligations, Cllr Hilton asked what impact the shortfall might have on enforcement officers carrying out enforcement patrols?

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman agreed to liaise with officers and provide Cllr Hilton with a written reply after the meeting.

 

Question 6: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

 

Cllr Hilton referred to the difference in the amount of income generated from on-street parking charges and residents parking permits and the cost of enforcement. Cllr Hilton believed income other than that referred to in the report was required and stressed the importance of reflecting the costs across the county and hoped the matter could be looked at in more detail.

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman accepted Cllr Hilton’s comments.

 

Question 7: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

 

Cllr Hilton requested a factual written response on the differences in the terms and conditions of an employee employed by APCOA in comparison to an employee employed directly by Gloucestershire County Council.

 

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

 

Cllr Norman agreed to provide a written response after the meeting.

 

Question 8: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 9: Consultation on the development of a Waste Tipping Away Policy

 

Cllr Hilton asked if the Javelin Park waste to energy incinerator would be fully operational by 31 August 2019?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning)

 

Cllr Moor confirmed that the waste incinerator project was on track and that a report presented to the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Committee on 9 October 2018 provided details of the information Cllr Hilton required. 

 

Question 9: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 9: Consultation on the development of a Waste Tipping Away Policy

 

Cllr Hilton asked if landfill sites would continue to receive commercial waste after the waste incinerator was opened and how much commercial waste would be delivered when the incinerator became operational?

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning)

 

Cllr Moor agreed to consult with officers and provide a written response after the meeting.

 

Question 10: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

 

Agenda item 9: Consultation on the development of a Waste Tipping Away Policy

 

Cllr Hilton referred to a statement in a radio interview given by the Leader of Council and the projection that the total savings from the incinerator would be £100m over 25 years.

 

Cllr Hilton asked what Cllr Moor’s view would be on the estimated additional cost to the County Council if the District Councils were paid to deliver waste to the incinerator over the same period?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning)

 

Cllr Moor explained he was unable to give a view on Cllr Hilton’s proposition until after the forthcoming consultation had ended and consultations with the District Councils complete. He added that the report to be considered later in the meeting, on the development of a waste tipping policy, included information on waste disposal. 

 

Question 13: Cllr Lesley Williams

 

Agenda item 6: Cheltenham Cyber Business Park – Transport Mitigation and M5 Junction 10 Business Case Development

 

Cllr Williams asked what consultation had been carried out by the main consultees, (including Cheltenham Borough Council), for the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park project?

 

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Economy, Skills and Growth)

 

Cllr Stowe agreed to provide a written response after the meeting.

 

Question 14: Cllr Kate Haigh

 

Agenda item 9: Consultation on the development of a Waste Tipping Away Policy

 

Cllr Haigh informed members that she had not questioned the technology used at the waste incinerator site but the additional costs Cabinet would be considering at the meeting that day. She also stated that, neither was her question enquiring if the district councils were aware of the costs involved, but rather, if the districts were aware of what such costs were.

 

Cllr Haigh suggested that the financial position of the district councils had changed during the lifetime of the waste incinerator project and enquired if the cabinet member would consider putting the respective costs of the project to the district councils and county council in the public domain?

 

Response by: Cllr Nigel Moor (Cabinet Member: Environment and Planning)

 

Cllr Moor confirmed Cabinet would be considering the Waste Tipping Away Policy at today’s meeting. He stated that the council had consulted with district councils on the policy, including a definition of the costs involved.