Agenda item

Members are reminded that under paragraph 11.1 of part 4 of the Constitution, questions can be asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members without notice about any matter contained in any address.  Questions shall be limited to five minutes in total for each announcement.

Councillor R Blunt made reference to the Whitwick Green Wedge and the recent success in defending an appeal against a refusal of a planning application relating to the site.  He felt that the defence of the Green Wedge should be celebrated.

Councillor R Blunt reminded members that Steve Bambrick had joined the Council in 2006 as Head of Planning and had been quickly promoted to Director of Environment within two years and again to Director of Services and Deputy Chief Executive within another two years.  He added that Steve had worked seamlessly with Christine Fisher for all of that time and had been the only director for a four year period during the recession, which was a testament to his dedication.  He commented that the Council had been transformed in recent years and Steve had been at the forefront of this change, which had been difficult and challenging.  He stated that at heart Steve was a planner and should feel great pride at the way in which he had transformed a poor performing planning service.  He wished him luck.

Councillor J Bridges commented that he had dealt with Steve on many occasions on various issues.  He agreed that Steve was a planner at heart, and felt that to become a good leader you needed to be able to plan.  He referred to the qualities that Steve had brought to the Council and the Planning Department, which he knew from first-hand experience was as good as it got.  He added that Steve had empowered people to make decisions, he had allowed talented staff to flourish and had got the best out of them.  He commented that the Council had been very lucky to have had someone like Steve and his leaving was a big loss for the authority.  He thanked Steve for all the exceptional work he had done for the Council.

Councillor S Sheahan thanked Steve for his service to the Council, particularly in his role in supporting members.  He commented that Steve had carried a lot of responsibility in his post as Director of Services, he had performed admirably and thoroughly deserved his new role.

Councillor N Smith thanked Steve for the changes he had made to the Planning Department and his dedication.  He thanked him for all he had done and wished him all the very best for the future. 

Councillor M Specht commented that as a new Councillor he had had cause to discuss an issue with Steve and he was ruthless in the efforts he undertook to resolve the issue.  He congratulated Steve on his new post and wished him all the best for the future. 

Councillor J Legrys stated that he was disappointed that Steve was leaving as he had been a friend, a mentor and an individual.  He thanked Steve for all he had done for him personally. 

Councillor T J Pendleton recalled the frank discussions he had had with Steve as a portfolio holder with new responsibility for planning.  He added that Steve had the measure of the landscape and had got the Local Plan by the scruff of the neck.  He made reference to the imminence of the adoption of the Local Plan which was down to Steve’s stewardship.  In reference to the Green Wedge, he commented that it was a team effort across the political spectrum to protect this.  He highlighted that the Planning Department now performed well above the national standard in terms of determining applications within 8 weeks which was a great legacy to leave.  He thanked Steve and had always found him to be approachable.

Councillor V Richichi commented that Steve was a good and honourable man and would be sorely missed.

Councillor A V Smith announced that the Council had received a bronze award for the Armed Forces Community Covenant employee recognition scheme.  She stated that the award recognised the Council’s commitment to support defence personnel in the workplace, including existing and prospective employees who were in the armed forces.  She advised that the Council had signed the covenant on 2 May 2014 and she was pleased to report that during this time, the Council had supported a number of initiatives including the Remembrance Day Parade, Armistice Day, Flying the Flag for Armed Forces, housing support to veterans in the district, access to leisure services through discounted membership schemes, health service information and support, war memorials and signposting.  She expressed a huge thank you to all members and officers for supporting this scheme.

Councillor A V Smith also thanked Steve for all the support he had given her in her portfolio and she commented that he had been superb and had always been accessible. She wished him good luck in his new role.

Councillor R D Bayliss made reference to the recent catastrophe at Grenfell Tower.  He stated that in the immediate aftermath he had contacted the Director of Housing to seek reassurance of the Council’s position with our own tenants.  He advised that there were no Council owned high rise properties in the district.  External wall insulation had been fitted to a number of tenants’ homes, however this was of a different type to that which was fitted to Grenfell Tower and it was permanently embedded  within concrete render.  He added that officers were confident having checked their records that the specifications for the insulation used met all fire safety regulations at the time.  He reported that updated fire risk assessments had recently been conducted on the Council’s seven sheltered schemes and the three three-story blocks, which had identified the need for some remedial works and a programme of works had been developed to complete this which would be approved by the end of June.  He advised that this had highlighted only one urgent requirement to upgrade four fire doors, which were currently being manufactured.  He explained that fire risk assessments were currently being commissioned for the remaining low rise blocks of flats with communal entrances and once the outcome was known, a programme of works would be developed and implemented promptly.  He reported that Cabinet had recently approved the commissioning of a range of improvement works to Marlborough Flats in Coalville.  He advised that the proposed works would include compliance with all current building regulations regarding fire safety.  He explained regarding the sheltered housing schemes, the fire alarms were tested weekly by the support officers and the results were recorded.  He added that fire evacuation tests were undertaken at least annually.  He advised that all tenants in sheltered housing had been written to in order to reassure them and to remind them of the arrangements in place.  He advised that there were no sprinkler systems in place and whilst these were effective, these were primarily designed for large blocks of flats and false alarms / activation had a significant impact.  He reiterated the close working arrangements with the fire and rescue service and the advice given to tenants.

Councillor N Clarke offered congratulations to all those involved with the Armed Forces Community Covenant bronze award.  He congratulated Steve on his new post, thanked him for his help over the last few years and wished him good luck for the future. 

Councillor J Bridges requested a copy of the report on the facades of the renovated buildings.

Councillor J Legrys thanked Councillor R D Bayliss for the statement and he agreed entirely.  He referred to the number of properties which had been sold under the Right to Buy scheme.  He asked if the Council could write to those former tenants whose houses had been fitted with external cladding to reassure them.  He felt it would be a prudent measure to reassure those people that the cladding was safe. 

Councillor R D Bayliss agreed that he would make enquiries insofar as what records existed and if it was practical to do so he would see what could be done.