Issue - meetings

Questions on Notice

Meeting: 17/10/2022 - Council (Item 56)

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 30 minutes is allocated for the asking and answering of questions at this meeting. This may be extended at the discretion of the Chairman with the agreement of the majority of those present.

The Questions will be published in a supplementary pack.

Minutes:

The Chairman explained that nine Questions on Notice had been received in advance of the meeting. Due to recent changes to Council meeting arrangements, group leaders and the Chairman had agreed that the time dedicated to consideration of Questions on Notice at this meeting should be extended from the usual time of 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Question submitted by Councillor H. Rone-Clarke

“Many residents will already be aware that our MP holds an annual jobs fair in Bromsgrove. However, there are many young people seeking part-time employment in our town, in order to support themselves and their families. For these young people, it can be difficult to find part time roles that suit their school or college timetable.

In order to overcome this difficulty, will the leader support either a jobs fair tailored more towards younger people, or perhaps consider devoting a section of BDC's website/social media to advertising part time jobs that are better suited to this section of the population?”

The Leader responded by commenting thatthe Jobs Fair held by the local MP was always welcomed and important for those seeking employment opportunities. The last successful jobs fair took place in April 2022, and if the next was to be held in 2023, the Council would fully support the event, alongside the many businesses and agencies who could showcase and provide the opportunity and offer for people in the community, including young people, who were seeking both full time and part time employment.

Having been in contact with the MP’s office, the Leader explained that they had confirmed they always welcomed suggestions for the job fair and were aware of this matter being raised as a question at the Council meeting.

With regards to the use of the Council’s website and social media, whilst the authority advertised Council jobs, through West Midlands Employers, it would be unable to act as a ‘jobs hub’ as it would be difficult to both source ‘suitable jobs’ and thereafter promote links to individual employers or agencies in equitable terms without due regard to their suitability.

However, the Council’s website and social media would be used to fully promote the jobs fair in future, in line with practice in previous years.

Question submitted by Councillor R. Hunter

“Have all eligible households in Bromsgrove now received their April council tax rebate?

The Leader explained that the Government’s Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme provided a £150 payment to households that, on 1^st April 2022, occupied properties in Council Tax valuation bands A to D or valuation band E if the Council taxpayer was eligible for the Council Tax reduction for disabilities. If a home was unoccupied, classed as a second home, or the owner was liable for Council Tax but was not the occupier – for example houses in multiple occupation – then the property was not eligible for the payment.

The Council had identified 27,458 eligible households and had written to, emailed, or sent SMS messages to the households advising ... view the full minutes text for item 56