Issue - meetings
Questions on Notice
Meeting: 26/02/2020 - Council (Item 91)
91 Questions on Notice 
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To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.
A period of up to 15 minutes is allocated for the asking and answering of questions. This may be extended at the discretion of the Chairman with the agreement of the majority of those present.
Minutes:
Question Submitted by Councillor S. Hughes
“What is this council doing to protect the Grade II listed URC Congregational Church on Windsor Street? The 350 year old church and much loved heritage asset has been allowed to fall into a complete state of disrepair, will the Leader provide reassurance that the council will do everything in its power to reverse this decline?”
The Leader responded that planning permission and listed building consent had been granted in 2016 to convert the Chapel and neighbouring Sunday School building to offices. Work commenced, but unfortunately was then halted and the owner had now put the Chapel up for sale. The Conservation Officer was meeting the owner on 26th February at the property to check that both buildings were still wind and watertight. It had been suggested that the Council serve an Urgent Works Notice, however this would only require the owner to make the building wind and watertight, which he was currently doing. The Conservation Officer was trying to work with the owner to ensure that the buildings did not deteriorate further whilst a new owner was being sought.
Question Submitted by Councillor R. Hunter
“The Government recently pledged £5billion to improve bus and cycle routes in every region outside of London. This is to pay for new zero carbon buses, more frequent services and more affordable fares. It will also fund 250 miles of new separated cycle routes. What will this council do to make sure Bromsgrove gets its fair share of this funding to deliver the public transport and cycling improvements we need?”
The Leader responded that at this stage no arrangements had been made concerning the detailed process to access this funding. It was expected that this would be done as part of the National Bus Strategy, to be published later this year at the Comprehensive Spending Review. The Council would ensure it worked closely with Worcestershire County Council and where relevant, other adjoining local transport authorities, to ensure that the Council had the best chance to access what was likely to be high in demand funding. As soon as the Leader had more detail, she would update Members.