Agenda item

(1)          Question by Councillor Andrew Cooper to the Deputy Leader of the Council

(Councillor Shabir Pandor)

“How much influence do you have on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?”

The Deputy Leader to replied thereto.

(2)          Question by Councillor Andrew Cooper to the Cabinet Member for Corporate

(Councillor Khan)

“Will you review your decision not to allow permit parking for residents in Lockwood?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(3)          Question by Councillor Andrew Cooper to the Cabinet Member for Economy

(Councillor Naheed Mather)

“Since our last Full Council meeting, what action have you taken to ensure the Council’s policy on flying lanterns is properly promoted?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(4)          Question by Councillor Andrew Cooper to the Cabinet Member for Economy

(Councillor Naheed Mather)

“A number of Council’s have introduced policies to end the use of single use plastic.  Is this a policy the administration would support?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(5)          Question by Councillor A Pinnock to the Cabinet Member for Economy

(Councillor Peter McBride)

“In your role as a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, what is the importance of the Upgrade of the Trans-Pennine railway route, either for Kirklees or the Region as a whole?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(6)          Question by Councillor Jean Calvert to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Councillor Viv Kendrick)

“Could Councillor Kendrick remind Council when the Child Sexual Exploitation Multi Party Panel was first set up and when was its first meeting?’

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(7)          Question by Councillor Bill Armer to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“Certain residents of Bedford Avenue, Grange Moor, were offered an option of purchasing (a) the land between their houses and Bedford Avenue or (b) an easement to allow their passage over this land.

What are the all-in costs (legal/admin fees plus cost of land/easement) of each of these options?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(8)          Question by Councillor Bill Armer to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“In relation to 25-30 Bedford Avenue Grange Moor, it was reported in the Huddersfield Examiner that ‘the option to consider alternative sources of funding was offered to ward councillor’.

What alternative sources of funding were identified, and to which councillors was the offer made?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(9)          Question by Councillor Michael Watson to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Councillor Viv Kendrick )

“The letter written on 8 December 2017 by Rachel Holden, the OFSTED inspector, following the Monitoring visit of Kirklees Children’s services reports:

“The focus of this visit was agreed with the director of children’s services, six weeks prior to fieldwork, as an area in which it was hoped that progress could be demonstrated, as plans were already being actioned in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, which was identified as ineffective in the inspection in 2016. However, the action taken during this time has not led to the improvements anticipated, and children are being left in situations of unacceptable and unassessed risk. The pace of change in Kirklees is too slow, and widespread and serious failures remain in the first response to children in need of help and protection. Inspectors identified a deterioration in the management of risk to vulnerable children and in the quality of decision-making and assessment.”

Does the Cabinet Member accept that the inspectors identification of a deterioration in the management of risk to vulnerable children indicates that matters are getting worse rather than better so far as our children’s services are concerned with the consequence that children are more at risk now than they were at the time of the original damning OFSTED report in November of 2016?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(10)       Question by Michael Watson to the Cabinet Member for Economy

(Councillor Peter McBride)

“In the Huddersfield Examiner from 2013 Cllr McBride is quoted as saying:

‘I am delighted to announce this year’s parking concessions to tempt Christmas shoppers to spend more time in local town centres during the festive season.We have provided this in previous years and it is appreciated by both shoppers and town centre businesses alike and will help to provide a boost for the local economy.’

Were parking concessions put in place this year for the same reasons and if so did they achieve the aim?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(11)       Question by Councillor Michael Watson to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Naheed Mather)

“In relation to glass recycling sites in the area;

Which Ward has the most, and how many?

Which ward has the fewest, and how many?

What is the average number per ward?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(12)       Question by Councillor David Hall to the Deputy Leader of the Council

(Councillor Shabir Pandor)

“Have you read the Deloittes report into council savings?”

The Deputy Leader replied thereto.

Question by Councillor David Hall to the Deputy Leader of the Council

(Councillor Shabir Pandor)

“Are you happy with this year’s budget process?”

The Deputy Leader replied thereto.

(13)       Question by Councillor Robert Light to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“The Kirklees Help and support service provides essential support for rape victims. How long do victims have to wait for full counselling support?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(14)       Question by Councillor Robert Light to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Viv Kendrick)

“This December the Council received its third monitoring report since Ofsted first judged Kirklees Children’s Services as inadequate in 2016.  Two years on Ofsted still judged Kirklees Children's Services as inadequate.

Given that all opposition Groups lent their support to the Children's Services improvement plan will the Cabinet member inform this Council when we will see quantifiable improvement in Kirklees Children's Services?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(15)       Question by Councillor Robert Light to the Deputy Leader of the Council

(Councillor Shabir Pandor)

“Will the Deputy Leader outline his priorities for the next years Council Budget and the Medium Term Financial Plan?”

The Deputy Leader replied thereto.

(16)       Question by Councillor Robert Light to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Peter McBride)

“As an important member of the WYCA investment panel the Deputy Leader will be aware that economies of Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford are now showing significant growth and this is also clear in the retail sector (even in Bradford).  Yet in Kirklees our economy is not thriving and our retail sector in our town centres are in significant decline. Why is Kirklees different?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(17)       Question by Councillor Gemma Wilson to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Peter McBride)

“Do you think the letters that have gone to residents in the Birchencliffe and Edgerton area regarding compulsory purchases have been thought through properly. In my view they are heavy handed, have scared residents for whom many this has come out of the blue, and the language and tone is very distressing and has left some of the Lindley residents I represent, and some Greenhead residents distressed and worried about their home, any effects on the value of their homes and whether the compensation will take this into account and be adequate to fully recompense these residents?”

The Cabinet Member  replied thereto.

(18)       Question by Councillor Andrew Marchington to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Peter McBride)

“Recent figures have shown that there are over 2000 properties across Kirklees which have been empty for 6 months or more. There are 722 properties which have been empty for 2 years or more. However, the Council has declined to make to use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders in the last 5 years, despite a rise in the number of homeless. Can the Cabinet member advise what actions the Council is taking to bring empty homes back in to use?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(19)       Question by Councillor Nicola Turner to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Peter McBride)

“What do you think is the best devolution deal for Kirklees?”

The Cabinet Member replied thereto.

(20)       Question by Councillor Nicola Turner to the Nominated Spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Joint Advisory Group and West Yorkshire Pension Fund Investment Panel (Councillor Hilary Richards)

“What actions has the Council taken to implement the recommendations of the fossil fuel divestment pension motion, which was passed at Council in October 2015?”

The Nominated Spokesperson replied thereto.

(21)       Question by Councillor Nicola Turner to the Deputy Leader of the Council (Councillor Shabir Pandor)

“What further support could this Council give to the HRI campaign?”

The Deputy Leader replied thereto.

(22)       Question by Councillor Nicola Turner to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Councillor Viv Kendrick)

“What reassurance can the Cabinet Member give us about Children’s Services in light of the recent interim Ofsted report?”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(23)       Question by Councillor Nicola Turner to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“Many residents in Kirklees are struggling to fight an NHS dentist for routine NHS treatment. Unequal access across Kirklees may be contributing to the wider issue of health inequalities, with patients in North Kirklees, in particular, receiving different experiences, outcomes and level of access when they use the NHS. In light of this, what steps is the Council taking to reduce the differences in health provision across the borough?”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(24)       Question by Councillor Cahal Burke to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“What actions are being undertaken to address the rise of homelessness across Kirklees?”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(25)       Question by Councillor Edgar Holroyd-Doveton to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Peter McBride)

“Can the Cabinet Member inform us about plans for improving the availability of housing particularly for young people, either on their own or those starting a family.”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(26)       Question by Councillor Habiban Zaman to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“Inequalities and disparity to access  NHS dental care is faced by some residents of Kirklees.

Are you able to tell us how many people are currently unable to access treatment, how many are using A&E?

How effective has Dentaid been in bridging the gap?

Are you able to provide a breakdown of people who have accessed this service?  ie, gender, age, background”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(27)       Question by Councillor Bernard McGuin to the Cabinet Member for Corporate (Councillor Graham Turner)

“Will Ward Councillors be able to carry forward any unused moneys from their Ward Budgets from the current year? Having raised this question with Council Officers I am awaiting confirmation as to whether or not this will be the case.”

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(28)       Question by Councillor Bernard McGuin to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“What does the Council do to encourage rough sleepers in and around Huddersfield Town Centre, and indeed across Kirklees, to get help finding accommodation?

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(29)       Question by Councillor Bernard McGuin to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health (Councillor Cathy Scott)

“Can the Cabinet Member elaborate on the reasons why people should or shouldn’t be giving money and/or food to people who are begging in our town centres?

The question was not put, due to time constraints.

(30)       Question by Councillor Bernard McGuin to the Cabinet Member for Economy (Councillor Naheed Mather)

“Does the responsible Cabinet Member think that Kingdom’s business model means that it is not in their interests to issue warnings, but to go straight to issuing a penalty notice?

The question was not put, due to time constraints.