Agenda item

13.1    Urgent Questions (Part 4 - Paragraph 10.2.(b) of Constitution – Page 4-9)

 

With the permission of the Mayor, questions on urgent issues may be tabled with the proviso of a subsequent written response if the issue requires research or is considered by the Mayor to be minor.

 

Please note that the Mayor will decide whether a question is urgent or not.

 

The definition of an urgent question is “An issue which could not reasonably have been foreseen or anticipated prior to the deadline for the submission of questions and which needs to be considered before the next meeting of the Council.”

 

Submission of urgent questions to Council requires the Member when submitting the question to specify why the issue could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the deadline and why it has to be considered before the next meeting. 

 

13.2    Councillors’ Questions (Part 4 – Paragraph 10.2(a) of Constitution – Page 4 - 8)

 

The list of 38 questions is attached and the responses will be published, in accordance with the Council procedure rules, on Tuesday 24 January 2017, the day before the Council meeting.

1.1           Urgent Questions

 

There were no urgent questions.

 

1.2           Questions by Councillors

 

NOTED

 

1.               The thirty eight questions on the Council agenda and written responses provided by the relevant Cabinet Members. 

 

2.               The following supplementary questions and responses received, for the questions indicated below:

 

Question 1 (Autumn Statement - £100 billion increase in borrowing) from Councillor Maguire to Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Council

 

“Does the Leader recall statements made in 2010 by the Conservative Government that we were “all in this together”?  Is he not sick and tired of being lectured by the party opposite about managing cuts?  Does he agree that we are now in a situation where Government debt is up, the rich are richer and the poor poorer and local government is in crisis through lack of funds?  Does he not agree that the people of Enfield would be better served if the party opposite turned their fire and bile on their own Government for their financial mismanagement?” 

 

Reply from Councillor Taylor

 

“This is a point well made.  The Conservatives economic policy mantra was that they would bring the deficit down and balance the budget.  The deficit has now increased to £122 billion, 90% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – What a mess.  This is nine years after the Leman Brothers collapse.  I agree that this Government is a shambles and should resign”. 

 

 

Question 2 (Blue Badge Fraud) from Councillor Neville to Councillor Anderson, Cabinet Member for Environment

 

“Who enforces blue badge use?”

 

Reply from Councillor Anderson 

 

This is an issue.  Since 2010, when the Labour administration took office, significant cuts have been made to Council funding.  Up until 2012 the Council had a full time officer with admin support.  Now, because of the cuts, we only have 0.2 full time officers – a much reduced resource.  However we have now managed to make efficiencies and have maintained the level of prosecutions as before. 

 

 

Question 5 (Housing options for adults with disabilities) from Councillor Ekechi to Councillor A Cazimoglu, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care

 

“Can the Cabinet Member tell the Council more about the extra care housing scheme for older adults with learning difficulties?”

 

Reply from Councillor A Cazimoglu

 

“Desmond Court, a housing scheme for older people with learning difficulties, has been much improved and is now fully accessible.  It is a socially inclusive scheme, a flexible alternative to residential care which recently been shortlisted for a Housing Innovation Award.” 

 

Question 6 (Primary School Performance) from Councillor Alessandro Georgiou to Councillor Orhan, Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection

 

“Is Councillor Orhan proud of the parlous state in which she has left Enfield’s primary schools?”

 

Reply from Councillor Orhan

 

“I reject the basis of this question.  It is shameful.  The Government has deleted £3m from the School Improvement budget which is for you to answer for not I”.   

 

 

Question 8 (Reading, Writing and Maths Primary School Performance) from Councillor Alessandro Georgiou to Councillor Orhan, Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection

 

“Is Councillor Orhan proud of the fact that, although we are not only borough not to improve in reading, writing and arithmetic, is she proud of the results that have been released recently?   Yes or No?” 

 

Reply from Councillor Orhan

 

“I am very proud of the progress made by our young people despite the tremendous cuts to the education budgets.  Across the country there has been a huge dip in the results in all types of schools including private schools.  The Government is conducting a shameful experiment, setting a bar and framework threshold which are designed to enable poorer families and their children to fail.  That is shameful. ”

 

 

Question 9 (Meridian Water and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) from Councillor Chibbah to Councillor Sitkin, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development

 

“What steps are being taken to maximise direct employment in Meridian Water?”

 

Reply from Councillor Sitkin

 

Meridian Water will create permanent jobs as well as 10,000 construction jobs over the next 18-20 years.  We are also looking at direct employment and I would like to refer the Council to the built environment training centre and its work. 

 

 

Question 10 (Litter and fly tipping in Turkey Street) Councillor Fallart to Councillor Anderson, Cabinet Member for Environment

 

“Could Councillor Anderson provide a list of the people who have been prosecuted for fly tipping in the area?”

 

Reply from Councillor Anderson

 

Councillor Anderson agreed to provide a written response. 

 

 

Question 11 (Encouraging the Voluntary Sector to bid for external grants) Councillor N Cazimoglu to Councillor Brett, Cabinet Member for Community, Arts and Culture

 

“How is the Council supporting arts organisations?”

 

Reply from Councillor Brett

 

“The Council is supporting a good many arts organisations.  Including Art Start and the Chickenshed Theatre, and a number of other organisations which provide opportunities for inclusion, allowing young people to express themselves.  This is despite cutbacks and reverses.