The following non-Cabinet members spoke under
this item:
1.
Councillor Andy Neal
(Ward Member for Mildenhall Queensway)
Councillor Andy Neal
addressed the Cabinet and wished to raise the following for their
future consideration:
-
Delivery of the West Suffolk Local Plan.
-
In-house management of the Council’s commercial property
portfolio.
-
Funding of the provision of future leisure facilities.
-
Quality of grounds maintenance/grass cutting contract.
-
Implementation of the outcomes from the markets review, undertaken
by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the previous Council
administration.
-
Upgrading of street lighting to LED and associated costs.
The Leader of the
Council acknowledged the areas raised and responded by stating
that:
-
On the Cabinet agenda this evening was the proposed re-constitution
of the West Suffolk Local Plan Working Group (Report number
CAB/WS/23/025).
-
In terms of leisure provision, a review would be undertaken of the
Western Way development.
-
A review would also be undertaken on the Council’s grounds
maintenance contract.
2. Councillor
Roger Dicker (Ward Member for Kentford
and Moulton)
Councillor Roger
Dicker wished to refer to the poor state of the grass cutting
within the District, particularly within his Ward and the
complaints which he was receiving from his residents. Councillor Dicker welcomed the undertaking of a
review on the grounds maintenance contract and asked in addition,
for a review to also be undertaken on the Council’s stance to
not spray round trees and in other public areas
during the spring and autumn of this year. Councillor Dicker also asked whether it
would be possible for a larger budget to be provided within this
particular service area.
3. Councillor Joe Mason (Ward
Member for Haverhill North)
Councillor Joe Mason
addressed the Cabinet and asked what new initiatives or priorities
had been identified for the Families and Communities portfolio,
along with clarity as to what the Cabinet intended to change or
prioritise for the benefit of communities across the District.
The Leader of the
Council responded by explaining that the Cabinet would be
developing their future priorities, which would be mainly centred
around helping its residents with the cost of living crisis; the
housing crisis and the development of the local
economy. The Cabinet would also be
looking to especially focus the Council towards the growth area
within Cambridge.
4. Councillor Carol Bull
(Ward Member for Barningham)
Councillor Carol Bull
addressed the Cabinet and wished to expressed her personal
disappointment and sadness on the lack of diversity of the new
Cabinet, in that there were only two women who had been
appointed.
The Leader of the
Council responded and thanked Councillor Bull for her very
important question. The Leader also
agreed that he would have liked to have had a more diverse make-up
of the Cabinet. However, some of the
members who had been asked to join the Cabinet, had considered that
they did not have the time or resources to be able to participate
in this role. However, opportunities
around the potential for job sharing ... view
the full minutes text for item 474.