Agenda item

To receive members’ questions under procedure rule no.11.  The procedure rule provides that any member may ask the Chairman of a board or group any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Support Services.

There were three questions asked which are set out below together with the responses.  Each Member who asked a question was invited by the Chair to ask a supplementary question which is also set out together with the response.

Question from Councillor T Eynon

“In the light the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, what progress has the Local Plan Committee made towards dealing with the unfairness of Freehold Estate Charges and preparing an Open Space Policy which presumes developers will transfer all public open green spaces to the relevant Parish or District Council?”

Response from Councillor N Rushton

“There is no reason that would currently preclude Parish and Town Councils from accepting the transfer of public open space on new developments subject to receipt of an appropriate commuted sum for maintenance, secured by S106 Agreement.

The new Local Plan will have a policy on public open space (Policy IF4 – Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities). Wording could be added to the policy to state that the preference in the first instance is for Parish and Town Councils to accept the transfer of public open space with the payment of a commuted sum for maintenance secured through S106 Agreement. If a Parish or Town Council did not want to accept transfer of the public open space, it would fall to be maintained by a management company.

This is a matter that will be considered by the Local Plan Committee in due course.”

Supplementary question and response

Councillor T Eynon asked, that as officers had been assisting residents to take responsibility for their own land management, how the Council was intending to support residents from other areas in the district to do the same.  Councillor N Rushton responded that all leaseholders had a right to take over land management, but it was not the responsibility of the Council to encourage residents to do so.  He explained it was an arduous process but suggested that the best way to approach the matter was for residents to work together to address it.

Question from Councillor D Bigby

“In 2019 the council declared a Climate Emergency and subsequently agreed a Zero Carbon Roadmap and Action Plan. The Council Delivery Plan 2023-2028 identifies one of its four priorities as “clean, green and Zero Carbon…..looking after the environment we live in”.  A key aim is ”We will aim to be carbon neutral as a council by 2030 and a district by 2050”.  The council’s Annual Zero Carbon Roadmap Update is an important document which provides evidence of this council’s record in implementing its Zero Carbon Action Plan. For the three years to August 2024 this report has been presented annually to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee to allow thorough examination of progress, or lack of progress, against the Council’s net zero goals. Until recently, a Year 5 report on progress was timetabled to go to Corporate Scrutiny this summer.

Could the portfolio holder please explain why and by whom the decision has been made to withdraw this report from the scrutiny process?”

Response from Councillor M Wyatt

“The report has not been withdrawn. As part of the Scrutiny Working Group meeting on the 18 June, all annual reports including the one on Net Zero, are a topic of discussion. This will ensure that annual reports being made to either committee align with the Scrutiny Principles. Once this is completed, the reports agreed will then be programmed through the agenda of the scrutiny meetings to ensure members are updated in line with the agreed protocols. As a Council Delivery Plan target quarterly reporting on the progress on Net Zero, is also taking place.

The report was removed from the agenda due to a combination of officer availability and work that was being undertaken in the background to inform such a report not being available for that date. Equally the agenda for the Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting in September (there is no meeting of that Committee in August) has a number of other sizable agenda items.”

Supplementary question and response

Councillor D Bigby asked how the Cabinet was going to support the resource of scrutiny to allow reports to be provided to Committee on time as planned.  Councillor M Wyatt agreed to provide a response outside of the meeting.

Question from Councillor J Legrys

“What progress has this authority made towards updating the 2017 Playing Pitch Strategy and using the emerging data to identify a site in Ashby de la Zouch for a 4G sports pitch and support its funding through s106 contributions?”

Response from Councillor M Wyatt

“The Council commissioned consultants KKP to undertake a review of its sports and community facilities and assess future need.  The final report is due to be published in October.  The report will provide an evidence base to support the new Local Plan and unlock contributions from developers in the future as well as funding from other external sources. Several early engagement sessions have been undertaken across the district, including in Ashby, to explore early findings to inform the final plan but no final decisions have as yet been made.” 

Supplementary question and response

Councillor J Legrys asked why the Council was delaying the important sporting improvements to Ashby when there were funds available.  Councillor M Wyatt noted the comments and agreed to provide a response outside of the meeting.