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.

Councillor J Legrys put the following question to Councillor A V Smith;

 

“Mantle Lane Rail Bridge Coalville – Improvement to Environment

I refer to the response to my question to for council on 12 September 2017.

I am grateful the work carried out so far by the council’s environmental teams.

I would appreciate an update to the suggested improvements made by Cllr Smith on 12 September 2017”. 

 

Councillor A V Smith gave the following response:

 

“As you will be aware Mantle Lane Bridge and associated areas are the responsibility of Network Rail however, colleagues from our Environmental Protection Team and Street Cleansing Team continue with their effects to keep on top of the improvements to the environment of this area.  These teams actively carry out the following duties to sustain this approach as follows:-

 

Big Spring Clean

 

We are again joining in with this initiative on 3rd March 2018 and will include the same areas as last year.

 

Street Cleansing

 

Street cleansing attend the area regularly and sweep where they can including the areas where there are bird droppings, they also litter pick the steps.

                              

East Midlands Housing

 

Our Enforcement Team have visited residents and discussed issues regarding bin/boxes being left out, they have confirmed this have proved successful and closed the case.

 

Traffic Management

 

Street Cleansing take every opportunity to ‘jump on’ to road closures to cleanse where they wouldn’t normally be able to.

 

The teams will continue to work together and proactively in maintaining these improvements. I would also reiterate my offer made in my response of Sept 2017 regarding the Government’s Litter Innovation Fund available through DEFRA. We would be happy to offer support to you with an application if you decided you wanted to apply for a grant”.

 

As a supplementary question, Councillor J Legrys requested that action be taken to clear the vegetation that was growing around the bridge when work was being undertaken there on 3 March. 

 

Councillor A V Smith agreed that Mantle Lane Bridge was an ongoing problem and she could see no reason why the vegetation could not be cleared.  She emphasised the importance of improving the area as it was viewed as a gateway to the town, particularly with the planned improvements to Marlborough Square. 

 

Councillor R Adams put the following question to Councillor R D Bayliss:

 

“For each of the years 2010/11 to 2016/17 please provide the number of NWLDC council houses sold under the right to buy, disposed of by other means, new build and acquisitions. Please also provide the latest projections for 2017/18 and for each year, show the net change to the housing stock.”

 

Councillor R D Bayliss gave the following response:

 

“Please find detailed in table 1 below the relevant figures as requested for the housing stock owned by NWLDC. Although the level of Right To Buys are largely outside the control of the Council, you will note that as part of the Council’s New Build programme at Linford and Verdon Crescent, Coalville the first new homes (6 in total) will be handed over before the end of March 2018.

 

A total of 26 new homes in 2017/18 at Ashby (across two sites) and Measham have also been added to the Council’s housing stock as part of s106 agreements with developers.

 

Whilst the disposals in 2017/18 included 10 flats at Westgates, Ibstock this site is being developed by East Midlands Homes to deliver 13 homes for affordable rent.

 

Table 1 - North West Leicestershire District Council – Changes in Housing Stock
	Year	RTB	Other Disposals	New Build	Acquisitions	Net change
	2010/11	4	8	0	0	-12
	2011/12	2	0	0	0	-2
	2012/13	15	0	0	0	-15
	2013/14	36	14	0	0	-50
	2014/15	23	0	0	0	-23
	2015/16	33	0	0	0	-33
	2016/17	45	1	0	1	-45
	2017/18*	47	11	6	26	-26

 

*2017/18 = forecast numbers

 

It should also be noted that housing associations continue to produce new homes which increase the supply of affordable housing as described in table 2 below.

 

Table 2 - Delivery of New Homes by Registered Providers

 

Year	Total Affordable homes delivered by Registered Providers
2010-11	63
2011-12	60
2012-13	91
2013-14	157
2014-15	117
2015-16	126
2016-17	140
2017-18 (to end of 3rd Quarter)	110

 

When these are combined with movements in the Council’s housing stock, table 3 below shows that in each of the last three years (2014/15, 2015/16, and 2016/17) the total supply of affordable homes in the district increased by 94 homes, 93 homes and 95 homes respectively.

 

Table 3 – Net Changes in Affordable Housing in North West Leicestershire 

 

Year	Number of Affordable Homes delivered by Registered Providers	Net change in Council Housing Stock	Increase in affordable housing within the district
2010-11	63	-12	51
2011-12	60	-2	58
2012-13	91	-15	76
2013-14	157	-50	107
2014-15	117	-23	94
2015-16	126	-33	93
2016-17	140	-45	95
2017-18 (to end of 3rd Quarter)	110	-26	84
TOTAL			658

 

Councillor R Adams stated that the Labour Group supported the building of social housing as long as it was suitable social housing.  He added that he would like to recognise and support people’s aspirations to own their homes.  As a supplementary question, he asked if the Portfolio Holder would agree that the right to buy scheme introduced by the Conservative government in 1980 and supported by successive governments, including Labour governments, was outdated and in desperate need of review being 38 years old.  He also asked if the Portfolio Holder would agree that as the figures from across the country showed that only one new property was being built for every 5 sold under right to buy, our housing stock was a valuable but dwindling resource and that meant there were longer waiting times for people in need of suitable social housing.  He asked that the Portfolio Holder provide details of the total market value of council houses sold in the district since 2011 under the right to buy scheme and the total amount of discounts given for the same period. 

 

Councillor R D Bayliss responded that he could not comment on the right to buy scheme.  He would seek verification on the figures relating to the build ratio and the market value and a response would be provided after the meeting. 

 

Councillor N Clarke put the following question to Councillor A V Smith:

 

“As you are probably aware, the inappropriate use of motorcycles on the recreational ground off Cropston Drive continues to be a problem. In recent time this issue has even meant disruption to football matches. It also creates considerable work for our parks and gardens department in repair and maintenance of the football pitches.

 

I understand the Community safety and Community focus teams together with the Police have been working hard to help resolve the situation. However, the problem continues and the present situation is not acceptable.

 

Can the portfolio holder please give assurances that;

 

1) Section 59 signs will be erected at the Cropston Drive site without delay.

2) The Council makes available proper time and resources in order to make the Cropston Drive recreational ground less accessible to motorcycles.

3) Continues to work with the Police, Football Club, local members and other agencies where appropriate in order to help find a solution to this problem”. 

 

Councillor A V Smith gave the following response:

 

“Controlling inappropriate access to this sportsground is problematic given the range of access points and paths and its vital role as local open space.

 

The problem with the inappropriate use of motorcycles is sadly an issue across the district in a number of areas.  The current issue at Cropston Drive is very much a policing issue and we are working in partnership with them and the football club to resolve the matter.  We will be erecting appropriate signage shortly which will enable swifter action to be taken by the police.  We are also encouraging the public to continue to report all incidents to 101(telephone or online) as this will help build a picture of the timing and regularity of the incidents which will help the police take action.

 

The council’s grounds maintenance team are also proactively maintaining the grounds to enable the football club’s matches to be played including repairing the fencing in a timely manner as and when any vandalism occurs. We will continue to work with the police and local stakeholders and prosecute offenders where appropriate.  We are also working with partner agencies including Warning Zone to educate local young people on the problems caused by off road motorcycling”.

 

As a supplementary question, Councillor N Clarke asked whether the Portfolio Holder believed that the significant reduction in police officers in North West Leicestershire due to cuts from government in recent years had had a detrimental effect on providing a resolution to this type of anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity. 

 

Councillor A V Smith responded that the motorcycles churning up our fields was a significant problem however she felt it was not appropriate for her to comment on police figures.  She added that officers were working on this issue and it was a case of working together.