Agenda item

To deal with questions under Council Procedure Rule number 14.

(a)        Question from Councillor Walker to the Leader of Council

“Can the Leader confirm that HBBC kept the doors open right through the pandemic, unlike other district councils in Leicestershire?”

Response from Councillor Bray:

“I would like to thank Councillor Walker for his question. I can confirm we continued to support all of our customers throughout the pandemic by a variety of means including over the ‘phone, through the website and importantly we still saw those who requested in person advice at our offices.

I’m also pleased to confirm that during the pandemic the council invested in even more ways to help people by adding a new web chat service option to our award winning website, enabling more customers to find answers to their queries and at a time convenient to them. The web chat service was first installed late last year and since March over 2000 customers have already used it. This option frees up the customer service team to spend more dedicated one-to-one time with customers who have more complex queries or who need extra support”.

(b)        Question from Councillor Sheppard-Bools to the Executive member for Planning

“I would like to ask our Executive member for Planning what the current status is of the actions required to secure compliance with the outstanding works for completion of open space and landscaping scheme which were required by condition for the Bellway Paddock site at Desford?

Residents who have occupied the new development feel extremely let down by Bellway Homes and I would like matters regarding the landscaping to be resolved as soon as possible. This will enable them to live in an environment that they were promised when acquiring their new homes. I would like to know what actions the council has been taking regarding planning enforcement and what other measures the council can take to help with the speedy resolution of these outstanding matters”.

Response from Councillor Bill

“I would like to thank the local ward member for Desford for this question and I sympathise with his and the residents’ concerns and frustration over how long it has been taking to complete these outstanding landscaping works to a satisfactory standard, especially since the completion and occupation of the new homes.

I am aware that residents have been contacted recently by Greenbelt, the intended future management company and that this has caused further concern to residents regarding the satisfactory completion of the landscaping by Bellway before it is handed over.

I can advise that the council’s enforcement team are in current and active discussion with Bellway Homes to secure satisfactory compliance with the landscaping conditions on the site. I can clarify that the conditions have not been discharged as the works undertaken so far are not considered to be of a satisfactory standard to comply with the conditions. Whilst the developers have completed some works such as the clearing of the self-setting plants from the balancing ponds, they have still not resolved other outstanding landscaping works.

Whilst we will continue to pursue with vigour our enforcement of the conditions on this site, I have asked the Chief Executive to write directly to the Managing Director of Bellway Homes to seek assurance for the speedy resolution of the outstanding works for the benefit of the local residents.”

(c)        Question from Councillor R Allen to the Leader of Council

            In the absence of the questioner, the question was not put.