Meeting documents

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet members must be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 11 July 2016. Questions shall be taken first from the Group Leaders of the political parties who shall be entitled to ask one initial Leader’s question each, including the right to adopt another Member’s question from his/her Group, of which written notice shall have been given to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services prior to the meeting.

 

The order of questions shall then permit the first question from each other Councillor to be asked before any subsequent questions from the same Councillor. One question will be taken in turn from each Councillor and there shall be no consecutive questions from the same Councillor unless there are no other questions to be asked.

 

Every Member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it not substantially the same as a question that was put to a Council meeting during the past six months.

 

The appropriate member will respond to any questions remaining unanswered at the expiry of 30 minutes in writing. Any question remaining unanswered after 30 minutes will be answered within 10 working days in writing after the meeting by the appropriate Member and appended to the minutes of the meeting. 

 

 

 

 

(a) Question from Councillor M Knight to the Leader of the Council

 

"How do you anticipate the EU referendum result, and the subsequent withdrawal of the UK from the EU, will impact on local government finances and what contingencies and plans have WDC put in place to help us through this period of uncertainty?"

 

Response from Councillor Ms K wood (Leader of the Council)

 

"The historic decision taken on the 23^rd June to leave the EU will have significant impacts for our district, many which we cannot yet comprehend.  The media have focused on the likely short term implications, of which many are financial. The decision has created a lot of uncertainty in the short term and unsurprisingly resulted in market volatility and a focus on the downside risks.  The political situation and ultimate negotiations that will take place both with the EU and the global markets will shape our futures in the medium to longer term.

 

Some of the more immediate short term impacts are expected to include a reduction to base rates, (which didn`t happen in the end last week), rising inflation at or slightly above the BoE inflation target and a reduction to growth as businesses take stock of the changes and what this means for them.  There are of course wider political and social impacts that will emerge over the coming months and years. There is naturally a lot of uncertainty and it is important for the Council to act responsibly in supporting its local community and economy in dealing with both the challenges but also in identifying and seizing new opportunities that may emerge.

 

In the short term we expect there to be continued turbulence due the uncertainty a change of this magnitude presents.  The Council is well placed to manage the short term financial pressures that might arise from this in terms of lower base rates, increases in inflation and therefore our costs.  As we have in the past and will continue to do so moving forward we will continue to invest in our district for the medium to longer term in projects and infrastructure which support economic growth, help those in greatest need in terms of housing and continue to support the Council’s overall financial sustainability. We will be sticking to the course we have set. This is not the time to pull up the drawbridge but to show confidence and invest in the future of our district and economy."

 

 

Supplementary Question

 

"I am glad to hear that the Leader is positive about longer term opportunities as we leave the EU. However would you not agree that in the short to medium term the greatest impact will be upon the most vulnerable, including those on benefits, and those in low paid jobs?"

 

What is WDC doing to ensure greater provision for those who are pushed into greater financial turmoil?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"The Council has been asked tonight to confirm its agreement to the 4 year Local Government Finance deal, which commits the Council to delivering a further £2.5m in cost savings and income growth over this period. It remains to be seen whether this deal will be reopened by Government, regardless we will continue to work on optimizing savings and revenue growth whilst protecting valued public services as we have always done.

 

The impact of Brexit cannot yet be known but I am sure that our Government and this Council will steer our way through to ensure a brighter better future for all our residents"

 

(b) Question from Councillor B Pearce to the Cabinet Member for Planning

 

"Does the Cabinet Member for Planning realise that the Tesco express store at Turnpike which replaced the old Turnpike public house is a victim of its own success, causing chaos to the local roads in the vicinity of the store.

 

As you know the store is located near a very heavily congested 4 point roundabout on the A4010 and a major T junction leading into Cressex industrial estate.

 

I was absolutely astonished to find a vacant area at the rear of the store totally fenced in, cannot be seen by members of the public, which could hold possibly 20 or more cars and also ease the congestion caused by lorries making deliveries to the store.

 

Can this vacant area be opened up?"

 

Response from Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet member for Planning)

 

"Planning permission was not required for the change of use from a public house to a shop.  However, at the time that the pub was converted to a shop, planning permission was also granted for the conversion of the upper first floor to 3x 2 bed flats with associated external alterations and the construction of two storey side extension. I believe that the area to which you refer is the garden and car parking area for the flats. 

 

As the flats are unoccupied, the area has been fenced off as you note.  However, as we have no control over the use of this space, perhaps your question should be directed in the first instance to Tesco.

 

All that said, I am aware of the congestion issues in this area and i also know that the county council has submitted a bid for funding to address these.  I am asking my officers to forward your comments to the relevant officers at County to inform any proposals that are being developed for this area."

 

Supplementary Question

"I have asked Tesco on numerous occasions, only to receive the reply that it is down to the Planning Authority at WDC. The situation is bound to get worse because more traffic will be encouraged by new post office counter."

 

There was no supplementary response as no question was put.

 

© Question from Councillor M Hanif to the Leader of the Council

 

"The County Council had taken a decision in early May to look at options for developing a business case for a new, single unitary council. District councils were invited to work with the county in the interests of residents and evaluating options based on common methodology and shared evidence base.

 

Wycombe District Council had declined that offer and may have to spend up to £200,000 tax payers’ money on external management consultants to carry out the review instead of working with the County Council.

 

What was the logic behind this decision that gives complete disregard to the tax payer’s money?"

 

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

"Thank you for your question, which now gives me the opportunity to correct some of the misconceptions printed by the press and to provide the correct information to the public.

 

Wycombe District Council, working in partnership with Aylesbury, Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils, is commissioning an independent review so that a range of options for modernising local government in Buckinghamshire can be considered.

 

You are quite right in saying that Buckinghamshire County Council are also working on a review. The difference with their review is that the County Council have been quite clear in their intention of working up a business case for a single unitary council for the geographical area of Bucks. This was agreed at a county council cabinet meeting in May.

 

Following that decision, the district councils were approached by the county council to join in with the single unitary business case. While the county council proposal came without advance warning, we did want to give the offer of joining in this work careful consideration.

 

Along with our other district council colleagues, we reflected on the work of the county council and were concerned about funding a study in which the outcome appeared to be pre-determined. Instead, we are in favour of an impartial, objective and totally independent study - after all, this is an extremely important piece of work which will inform how local government in Bucks could look in the future.

 

We have decided to commission the review, rather than do the work ourselves, because we do not have the resources in-house to undertake this specialist piece of work. We also want to ensure the review is independent and objective. And I will reiterate that this review will mean that a range of options for modernising local government in Buckinghamshire can be considered. And as we have offered to share data and information with BCC, we are hopeful that the review that the district councils are commissioning will complement the county council’s work on a single unitary authority.

 

In commissioning the review, we will be seeking the best value for money we can and will share the costs across the districts. And of course the funding will not only cover the study, but the equally important work of engaging with our communities."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"Authorities throughout the country are working together to achieve more for less. Please could you reassure us that the taxpayers will be looked after and receive value for money?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"Yes of course we will ensure that we do that.  We are looking at a range of options to ensure that we can achieve the best outcome for our residents. The following is a quote from the Chairman of the District Councils Network.

 

Districts are positive in their capacity and ability to embrace change. This is because District Councils are the most efficient valued and trusted part of Government. We are flexible and adaptable, able to move and change at speed and the strand of local Government that is closest to its communities while having the scale, leadership and influence to make a real difference where it counts."

 

(d) Question from Councillor T Green to the Cabinet Member for Community

 

"Please could the Cabinet Member update me on the progress towards building a new crematorium in Bierton by the Chilterns Crematorium Joint Committee?"

 

Response from Councillor S K Raja (Deputy Cabinet Member for Community in the absence of Cabinet Member for Community: Councillor Mrs J Adey).

 

"The Westerleigh Group (developers of the crematorium at Watermead, Aylesbury) are seeking the Court's permission to challenge Aylesbury Vale DC's decision last Autumn to grant planning permission for the crematorium at Bierton. They have failed to obtain permission from the High Court so are now applying to the Court of Appeal.

 

 The process of obtaining permission could take until the end of this year and, if successful, will lead to a full hearing sometime next year. If Westerleigh fail to obtain permission, work at Bierton will start as soon as the necessary licence from Natural England is obtained. Natural England will consider the licence application once the planning permission is no longer subject to challenge."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"Would you agree that it is outrageous that a commercial organisation wants to undermine a much needed service in the area? This is not in the public interest.

 

Supplementary Response

 

"Yes I agree with you."

 

(e) Question from Councillor A Hashmi to the Cabinet Member for   Community

 

"The Cabinet would be aware that following the referendum result there has been a rise in hate crime especially directed at recent EU residents; would the Cabinet Member condemn this hate crime and does the Member have details of any reported hate crime in the District following the Brexit vote?"

 

Response from Ms K S Wood (Leader of the Council)

 

"Hate crime will not be tolerated in our district, which has a proud history of being a diverse and cohesive community. I know Thames Valley Police are determined to tackle hate crime and Wycombe District Council will do all it can to support them.

 

The message sent out to Members late last month was based on the information made available to us the time - but as you will have now read in the local media, our police colleagues have in fact noted an increase in the number of hate crimes reported across the Thames Valley during the last week of June.

 

The reported crimes were not in a specific area of the Thames Valley region, nor were they committed against people from a particular group, race or religion.

 

In terms of here in Wycombe, there have been 212 hate crimes reported in the Wycombe Local Police Area for the 12 month period from 14 July 2015 to 12 July this year, which is an increase of 54 hate-related crimes in comparison to 2014/15.

 

Since the EU Referendum, there have been a total of 21 reported hate crimes  but only one was directly related to the Brexit result.

 

The police are encouraged that the national debate has given greater exposure to the nature of hate crime and the ways in which people should respond to it.

 

I know the police will treat any report of hate crime seriously and vigorously investigate any incident reported to them as a priority – this approach will in turn help to breed confidence and encourage more people to come forward.

 

I would, therefore, encourage my fellow councillors and members of the public to report any hate incident or intolerance they witness or experience to police by calling 101.

 

Alternatively, contact the Hate Crime Network on 0300 1234 148 or the Crime stoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"What is WDC doing to assure residents that their future in the District is un- affected."

 

Supplementary Response

 

"That question was answered in the first part of my original answer to you."

 

(f) Question from Councillor Ms J Wassell to the Cabinet Member for Planning

 

"I am very pleased to learn that the Lynton House Surgery will have a temporary reprieve whilst options for a new Health Centre are appraised.

 

 Can you assure me that Wycombe District Council is working closely with NHS Commissioners and developers to ensure that an appropriate Health Centre is provided?

 

  It has been said for some time now that Lynton House is 'not fit for purpose'. East Wycombe desperately needs modern facilities for patients in view of population growth and significant pockets of health inequality and deprivation."

 

Response from Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet Member for Planning).

 

"As you say Lynton House will be kept open for at least another 6 months whilst the NHS explores short and long term options for surgery provision in east Wycombe. It is recognised there is a bit of a spatial gap in the provision of GP practices in the east and south east of High Wycombe which would obviously be exacerbated if and when Lynton House were to close.

 

I can assure you we are working closely with the NHS particularly in relation to our new Local Plan informing them of the potential housing allocations, rates of development and population growth.  Whilst it will be NHS England and the Chiltern CCG who will ultimately be responsible for bringing forward new proposals in east Wycombe, we are assisting them in highlighting potential sites and we may also assist through developer funding at an appropriate time.  Members will be kept updated on progress."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"NHS England and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) seem committed to a new health centre for East Wycombe, particularly in view of the high level of deprivation and ill health in Totteridge and Micklefield.

 

Can you assure me that the CCG will be fully involved in developing new facilities?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"We are actively working together and will continue to ensure that we achieve a good outcome."

 

(g) Question from Councillor K Ahmed to the Leader of the Council

 

"The Leader recently sent an email assuring councillors and members of the public alike that WDC and its partner agencies have not seen an increase in reported hate crime or an increase in community tension since the EU referendum result.

 

According media reports, it is suggested that reported hate crime has increased fivefold since the EU referendum result. Could this be because most hate crimes taking place in Wycombe are going unreported?"

 

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

"Your question was answered in the previous answer provided to Councillor Hashmi. However I will reiterate it.

 

The reported crimes were not in a specific area of the Thames Valley region, nor were they committed against people from a particular group, race or religion.

 

In terms of here in Wycombe, there have been 212 hate crimes reported in the Wycombe Local Police Area for the 12 month period from 14 July 2015 to 12 July this year, which is an increase of 54 hate-related crimes in comparison to 2014/15.

 

I would, therefore, encourage my fellow councillors and members of the public to report any hate incident or intolerance they witness or experience to police by calling 101.

 

Alternatively, contact the Hate Crime Network on 0300 1234 148 or the Crime stoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"I have established that there is no easy way of reporting hate crime via the TVP and /or WDC website unless you are willing to navigate through an unending amount of links, which are confusing and do not always work.

 

It would appear that both the TVP and WDC operate third party reporting mechanisms, and would you therefore agree that the figures you quoted are inaccurate?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"I have given you 3 separate numbers on which people can report hate crimes."

 

(h) Question from Councillor B Pearce to the Cabinet Member for Planning

 

"Does the Cabinet Member for Planning realise that the new Lidl store which was constructed on a large car park is a victim of its own success, because there are not enough car parking spaces for the supermarket and this causes absolute chaos in the vicinity of Desborough Avenue?

 

This sometimes causes complete gridlock in the Richardson Street and Desborough Avenue vicinity because cars are queuing to find a parking space."

 

Response from Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet Member for Planning)

 

"I am aware that this car park is well used and that it is able to be used by visitors to both the store and to the Desborough Road. It is of course managed by the operator Lidl who are able to propose changes to the management regime if need be.

 

There are of course a number of Council owned off street car parks in the area that are also typically well used. Whilst appreciating the concern, I am not aware that the problems are causing unacceptable highway problems. In any case, that would be for the highway authority and/or the police to consider

 

Whilst highlighting this issue you stop short of identifying any proposals to address the situation and I am not clear about what if any intervention you believe this Council should be considering?"

 

Supplementary Question

 

"I think it is down to the Cabinet Member and the Planning Authority to think of something?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"I would very much like to be responsible for roads but I am not."

 

(i) Question from Councillor T Green to the Cabinet Member for Planning

 

"Please would the Cabinet Member let me know what the comparison is between the number of motor vehicles per household and the number of adult bicycles per household is in High Wycombe and the wider Wycombe District?"

 

Response from Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet Member for Planning).

 

"As far as we have been able to ascertain, there are no official statistics for bicycle ownership per household neither nationally nor specifically for this District. Consequently I am unable to make any sort of comparison with car ownership.

 

If your question is related to bicycle parking standards compared with those for cars, then you will be aware that last year we adopted a new county wide standard which covers both of these. It is a complicated and detailed standard and I don’t therefore propose to go through it line by line.  I have an extract here which I’m happy to pass to you after the meeting.

 

However, I would like to say that, for bicycle parking, the drafting of the standard drew heavily from practice in a number of other local authorities. That said, we are aware that the topography in this area is seen by some as a disincentive for bicycle riding.  Nonetheless, we will monitor the standard over time and consider refinements to it should that prove necessary.

 

In the meantime, it is also fair to say that the level of cycling ownership and cycling for both commuting and leisure has experienced a significant increase in recent years and we would wish to encourage this as much as possible for many reasons not least of all in getting cars off our congested roads."

 

Supplementary Question

 

"Could you explain how it is that in a hilly place like High Wycombe there are often 8 bicycle places to 5 car parking spaces, when clearly there are more cars per household than bicycles?"

 

Supplementary Response

 

"I cannot justify that. There are no hard facts and we have been guided by other Councils in the country. If we have got it wrong then we will alter it."

 

 

Questions 10 - 12 were not put as the 30 Minutes time period had expired. In accordance with Standing Orders, a written reply would be sent to the questioner by the appropriate Member within 10 working days, and would also be appended to the minutes of the meeting.