Agenda item

a)         Questions asked by Councillor DM Taylor and addressed to the Leader of Council

 

            “Can the Leader remind the Council what the proposals were for the Argents Mead area in the Masterplan published by the previous administration in 2006?”

 

            Response from Councillor SL Bray

 

            “Thank you Cllr Taylor for your question.

 

I would refer you to an extract of the adopted Hinckley Town Centre Renaissance Masterplan published in May 2006.  As you will see, extensive development was proposed. Two plans are attached.”

 

b)         Question asked by Councillor MS Hulbert and addressed to the Leader of Council

 

“A lot has been said in the Chamber and local press about the consultation that has taken place over the Barwell and Earl Shilton SUE’s.  Could the Leader put on record all the consultation that has taken place for the benefit of all Members, some of which appear to have missed it!”

 

Response from Councillor SL Bray

 

“You will recall at last Council, I highlighted the extensive consultation that has been carried out on the SUE’s for Barwell and Earl Shilton.  For the avoidance of doubt, I have listed below the details of the consultation exercises which demonstrate the ongoing and extensive nature of consultation carried out to date.  You will also be aware the Developers are planning further consultation early in the New Year, as well as a presentation to Scrutiny Commission.

 

Public Consultation Stages – Earl Shilton and Barwell SUEs/AAP

 

Masterplan

 

·         Pre-commencement consultation (July to September 2008)

 

 

·         Masterplan Options Consultation (from July 2009 to March 2010)

 

 

·         Masterplan Preferred Options Consultation (October 2010)

 

 

·         Earl Shilton and Barwell Area Action Plan – Preferred Options Consultation (January and February 2011)

 

 

In response to a supplementary question, the Leader assured Members that consultation had been undertaken and would continue to be carried out.

 

c)         Questions asked by Councillor MS Hulbert and addressed to the Leader of Council

 

“Can the Leader inform the Council how much Leicestershire County Council is planning to spend of its £5M Sustainable Transport Allocation, which it has bid to central government for, on Hinckley & Bosworth?”

 

            Response from Councillor SL Bray

 

“Leicestershire County Council has advised that its bid for £5M Local Sustainable Transport Fund will be focussed on Loughborough and Coalville.  Hinckley & Bosworth are unlikely to see any of this funding invested in the locality.  The County will start to investigate the second tranche of potential area based schemes in the next financial year (2012/13) and I will wish to be making a strong pitch for this Borough to be included as a priority due to the transport issues we experience and to gain commitment for this resource to support our regeneration initiatives.”

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Bray stated that the matter would continue to be a top priority.

 

d)         Question asked by Councillor DM Gould and addressed to the Deputy Leader of Council

 

“Could the Executive Member for the Local Strategic Partnership tell me what impact he thinks the electrification of the Midland Main Line near our Borough would have on our Businesses, and how such a scheme would interact with our projected growth in apprenticeships and employment opportunities?”

 

Response from Councillor DC Bill

 

“Thank you Cllr Gould for your question.  As you will be aware, Network Rail propose to upgrade the Midland Mainline running between London and Sheffield via Leicester, Derby and Nottingham through its national electrification programme.  As well as key benefits for passengers, in terms of faster and more frequent services, this also presents the opportunity for the rail operators to shift from diesel operated locomotives to more environmentally friendly electric trains which will produce up to 30% less CO2 emissions.  This also offers an opportunity for many of our local businesses and those employed in the locality to have better access to an improved national network from Hinckley.  I am pleased to confirm through the work of the Local Employment and Skills Partnership, that the number of apprenticeships in companies such as Caterpillar, MIRA and Triumph are increasing and any major improvement in the provision of public transport access in the vicinity of this Borough is to be welcomed.”

 

In response to a supplementary question, in which Councillor Gould asked why investment in the railway network was so important, Councillor Bill referred to the good connections to Nuneaton to all parts of the country and the importance of maintaining these links.

 

e)         Question asked by Councillor JS Moore and addressed to the Leader of Council

 

“Could the Leader outline the rationale behind the practice of allowing former employees who have either taken earlier retirement or enhanced payments in respect of voluntary redundancy, providing consultancy services to this council?

 

Additional could the leader also inform council of the sum total payments to former employees in respect of the consultancy services they have subsequently provided to the authority.”

 

In the absence of Councillor Moore this question was not put.

 

f)          Question asked by Councillor PS Bessant and addressed to the Leader of Council

 

“Given the financial challenges that this, and all authorities are facing at this time, would the Leader please let this chamber know his Administration’s current spend on Press Releases, especially as I noted with some dismay recently receiving 10 press releases in the space of eight days.”

 

            Response from Councillor SL Bray

 

“Can I thank Councillor Bessant for his question as it gives me an opportunity to highlight the amount of work which is required to ensure that the people of this Borough are kept informed of decisions and events and to ensure that they are consulted to make sure our services are accessible and responsive for all.

 

The costs associated with press releases are limited to a small proportion of salary costs, estimated at £4,300, made up of the time spent by two part time officers who also have responsibility for Media Relations, Graphic Design, Consultation (including the Citizens' Panel), the Council's website, the Borough Bulletin, internal communications and increasingly, social media.

 

Press releases are used proactively and usually in the alternative to paid for advertising space.  It is a cost-effective way to ensure that every council service area provides the residents of the borough as well as the media, with accurate and up-to-date information about council services and facilities. In some cases this is necessary because of a statutory duty to inform, consult and involve local people in decision making across all public functions. In others it is to enable people to get the greatest benefit from the services available and to know what they are entitled to.

 

Further I am pleased to say that the Communications team now provides comms support to the Crimestoppers charity in this area and Creative Hinckley as part of our partnership working and that we are actively pursuing joint working arrangements with neighbouring councils.

 

Member input into press releases is desired and being included in circulation is requested by Members, I am however happy to ask officers to remove Councillor Bessant from the circulation list should he prefer it.”

 

As a supplementary question, Councillor Bessant asked if the Communications team tracked who the press releases were sent to and whether they were used. It was confirmed that this was tracked and also reported to the Strategic Leadership Board. It was agreed that detail on tracking distribution and use of press releases would be sent to all Members following the meeting.