Agenda item

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 13 July.

There were 16 questions received from councillors. The questions and responses provided by Cabinet Members are attached at appendix 3 to these minutes.

Supplementary questions were received as follows:

Question 1 – Councillor D Sowry-House

Councillor Sowry-House raised a question with regard to whether there were any cumulative budget overspends during the previous council term and the impacts of this. In response, the Cabinet Member for Resources and Finance noted that based on decisions at the time, the combined overspend was in the region of £25m which would be funded from reserves and was in part related to setting up the new unitary council.

Question 2 – Councillor S Flower

Councillor Flower noted the experience in Verwood relating to missed collections, issues with grass verge cutting and reports of highways works requested that had not been resolved. Concern was expressed about the level of service being provided. In response, the Cabinet Member for Place Services requested the details of the issues so that he could investigate.

Question 3 – Councillor A Brenton

Councillor Brenton asked about claims made that council officers were acting politically in some specific circumstances. The Cabinet Member for Resources and Finance flagged that officers should not be criticised in public where there was no opportunity for them to respond. Any concerns should be discussed with the relevant senior officer.

A point of order was raised by Councillor L O’Leary with regard to the number of questions submitted by the councillor. The Chair of Council reminded all councillors that they should only include one question within each submission.

Question 4 – Councillor M Parkes

Councillor Parkes questioned whether the council had failed to comply with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, in not providing requested information on assessments undertaken, which it had been stated were in place. The Cabinet Member for Place Services noted that he would need to provide a written response.

Question 5 – Councillor M Parkes

Councillor Parkes indicated that he would like to see the evidence as part of the Freedom of Information request.

Question 7 – Councillor C Lugg

Councillor Lugg requested that Church Road Ferndown be considered for an ANPR enforcement system, once a trial had been undertaken at Upton Junior School. The Cabinet Member for Place Services confirmed this could be looked into.

Question 8 – Councillor J Vitali

Councillor Vitali asked if the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education would visit the school to see if the issue could be expedited. The Cabinet Member indicated that she would visit but was unable to offer any commitment until the proposals had been looked at and required surveys undertaken.

Question 12 – Councillor P Brown

Councillor Brown expressed concern with the response and noted that the question was about data led decision making and how the methodology was being implemented by the traffic safety team. He questioned the actions that were looked at and whether it was the methodology that was not right or that the council did not have the right funding in place. The Cabinet Member for Place Services indicated that he would ask for an officer response.

Question 13 – Councillor R Legg

Councillor Legg asked that the response from the Leader be copied to all Members of Parliament in Dorset.

Question 16 – Councillor B Bawden

In response to a supplementary question, the Leader confirmed that councillors could contact either him, the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention and Communities or the council’s Climate Resilience Officer regarding community resilience planning issues and the identification of vulnerable communities.