Issue - meetings

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.

Each elected member due to ask a question, may ask up to one supplementary question which must be based on the origial question or the answer provided to that question.

The Chairman advised that there had been five Questions on Notice received for this meeting.

Question submitted by Councillor H. Rone-Clarke

“We have previously passed a motion at Full-Council encouraging multi-agency meetings to resolve land disputes, how can we also ensure that residents get resolutions to local issues when County Council functions fail? - A key example being the shocking state that the trees at Shepherds Walk have been left in and the problems this is causing residents on Avon Close and Fairoak Drive.”

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Community Safety responded that the Council adopted a very positive multi-agency approach to the management of land disputes and that it was understood that Councillor H. Rone-Clarke was now working with Officers to resolve this issue.

Question submitted by Councillor P. McDonald

“The Overview and Scrutiny Board are concerned about the extensive use of consultants in recent months to support the work of the Cabinet and the services of external professionals in the day-to-day delivery of Council business. We would ask the Leader to ensure that the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny is advised in circumstances where the use of a consultant is being proposed to formulate strategic items so that consideration can be given to the value for money in these circumstances. 

Whilst we understand that there is a need to procure the services of external professionals in the day-to-day delivery of Council business and services, a quarterly report of these services are presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.”

The Leader responded that in line with best practice, there was a procurement pipeline published on the Council’s website which detailed spend in excess of £25,000 and that other spend details were included in the quarterly monitoring reports. It was agreed that the Section 151 Officer would make these available to Members and colleagues on the Overview and Scrutiny Board moving forward. In addition, the Leader explained that she would be happy to liaise with Councillor P. McDonald directly when the Cabinet considered the use of consultants in support of the formulation of Council Policy so that he could be made aware.

Question submitted by Councillor D. Nicholl

“Given the recent problems where the 145a bus service was to be cut and the 145 bus was due to have significant route changes in Stoke Prior. This only became apparent via residents Facebook posts. Can the Leader please contact Worcestershire County Council to get assurance that Bromsgrove District Council is informed of the consultation process on route changes through their wards in the future by notifying Assistant Director Community and Housing Services?”

The Leader responded that Officers had raised this with responsible Officers at Worcestershire County Council, and they had advised that as part of the Worcestershire Enhanced Bus Partnership, which was the mechanism for delivering the Bus Service Improvement Plan, they were in the process of considering how best to inform and consult on work with stakeholders including District Councils on the improvements and changes to bus services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86