Agenda item

Cabinet will receive any questions from Elected Members.

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 2.3 (2.3.1.6) a period of up to 30 minutes will be allocated.

Cabinet received the following questions in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 2.3;

Question from Councillor J C Lawson

“Following the media attention given to the controversial development at Westgate in Cleckheaton, I have been contacted by several residents in my ward who have similar concerns to those regarding Westgate.   Cabinet is aware of the development of 700 homes on former Black Cat Fireworks factory and associated land, a brownfield site. My residents want assurances that their health and wellbeing is not being put at risk by the planned building works that will take several years.  Will the relevant Cabinet member outline what tests and procedures are done on brownfield sites, known to be sites of former factories that relied heavily on chemicals and other carcinogenic substances, to ensure they are fit to build homes on? Can he assure residents that these were carried out on the site and is not a risk to their health and wellbeing, and that of future residents?

A response was provided by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration (Councillor Turner).

Question from Councillor Scott

“You stated that the burial land update would be brought back to Cabinet in October. Council adopted the burial land motion on 12 February 2025 and under CPR 14, CPR 13.9, motions agreed by council must be acted upon by Cabinet or the relevant portfolio holder.  You informed the Kirklees Bereavement Forum on 11 May 2025, that you would outline the short, medium, and long term solutions within three months ensuring the £500,000 remained ringfenced for Dewsbury.  You have failed to deliver on that commitment which is a clear breach of CPR 13.9 of Article 7 relating to the executive duty to implement the Council’s decision transparently.   Can you explain why you failed to honour this promise, and when you will find the burial land update and give it to the public?”

A response was provided by the Leader of the Council (Councillor Pattison)

 Question from Councillor Vickers

“Following on from Councillor Lawson’s concerns regarding the former Black Cat development site, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 GO environmental site assessment states on page 4 ‘this assessment has identified the presence of elevated heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asbestos and total petroleum hydrocarbons C16 and C21’.  It then states, ‘further chemical validation samples will be required’.  Could the Council confirm that this testing has been carried out, and that the samples have been received by planning?”

A response was provided by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration (Councillor Turner).

Question from Councillor Zaman

“The Council’s report relating to the Playing Pitch Strategy in January 2025, lists Sands Lane, Dewsbury as an established cricket ground and notes that the Council will work with the national governing bodies to explore the greatest potential at these sites.  Given that public statement of intent, why did the Council decide, just 10 days before the start of the 2025 cricket season, to prohibit cricket being played at Sands Lane without prior notice or consultation with long term users, such as Savile Stars Cricket Club, which has been using the ground since 1995?”

A response was provided by the Leader of the Council (Councillor Pattison).