Agenda item

Question by Councillor J Taylor to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills, Transportation and Planning (Cllr McBride)

“Please can you let me know how the Council plans to save £550,000 from the Policy, Strategy & Commissioning area in the current financial year 2017/18”

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor J Taylor to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills, Transportation & Planning (Cllr McBride)

“What proposals does the Council have to improve public engagement with the planning process in line with the Democracy Commission objectives?”

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor Smith to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills, Transportation & Planning (Cllr McBride)

“What is the average number of comments received on Planning Applications?”

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor B Armer to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills, Transportation & Planning (Cllr McBride)

“Does the Cabinet Member agree, in line with the Council Leader's support for devolution of functions to, for example, District Committees, that this Council should do all in its power to bring democratic decision-making on important matters relating to the future shape and economic performance of their communities nearer to the residents of Kirklees?"

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor B Armer to the Cabinet Member for Family Support and Child Protection (Cllr Hill)

“Does the Cabinet Member believe that it is important for the balanced development of our children that they have out of school access to safe spaces where they can learn to interact with peers, improve their cognitive skills and develop their abilities  in reasoning and literacy?"

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor B Armer to the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Activity to Improve Health (Cllr Kendrick)

“The Cabinet Member is well aware of the challenges facing our ageing population, including the threat of dementia. Does she agree with me, in the context of her portfolio duty to promote "Health & Activity to Improve Health" that it is important that this Council should provide as much mental stimulus, in a social setting, as is possible for older people?"

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor Armer to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement Management (Cllr Mather)

“Will the Cabinet Member please explain why the six-foot long limit on trailer size at Household Waste Recycling Centres was chosen, and is rigorously enforced, regardless of the fact that most manufacturers now only offer two metre long models?"

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor Watson to the Leader of the Council (Cllr Sheard)

“I have recently had cause to raise with the Chief Executive my concerns as to the Standards of preparation and quality of presentations given by officers at public meetings of the Kirklees District Committee.  I believe that every single officer and elected member of the Council is a representative of the council and should adopt the highest standards in everything they do but in particular when appearing in front of the members of the public we all serve.

Does the leader support this view and if so what can he / will he do in order to improve standards across the council?”

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor Watson to the Deputy Leader of the Council (Cllr Pandor)

“I have attended a number of events with the Leeds Enterprise Partnership recently and have heard some very positive messages about our region.  I have seen the Chief Executives of a number of Local Authorities speaking out and promoting not only their own council areas but the region as a whole.  I have seen political leaders campaigning for the region and articulating very eloquently the many positives offered by our region to those who might choose to live here, to invest here and to do business here.  Unfortunately the name “Kirklees” has been rarely mentioned and we just do not seem to be part of this process of marketing the region to the rest of the world. 

Does the Cabinet Member believe that Kirklees is a key player in the team that is seeking to promote our region nationally and internationally? If so could he explain how we are?”

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.

Question by Councillor Watson to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods (Cllr Khan)

“The streetscape in Huddersfield Town Centre is poor with, in many instances, poorly kept buildings which contribute to an overall impression of a lack of care and attention to the neighbourhood and a lack of pride in our town.  Some buildings have plants growing out of the gutters and are unpainted and scruffy.  Even McDonalds – a highly successful and well respected corporation conscious of its image and brand operates from a building in Huddersfield that is covered with flaking paint. 

Does the Cabinet Member consider the streetscape to be satisfactory and if not what plans does she have to improve the town centre neighbourhood?

The Cabinet Member responded thereto.