Issue - meetings
the Executive
Meeting: 23/11/2020 - Council (Item 12)
12 Questions from the Opposition and other Non-Cabinet Members PDF 107 KB
For questions to be put to members of the Cabinet by opposition and non-Cabinet Members in accordance with Standing Order 35.
Members are asked to note that four advance notice questions have been received under this item, which have been attached along with the written responses provided.
Additional documents:
Decision:
Council noted:
1. The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Schools, Employment & Skills to a question submitted by Councillor Sangani regarding the Council’s actions to ensure that no child went hungry over the October half-term, as well as its efforts to lobby central government to take action to avoid holiday hunger over the Christmas period.
2. The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Housing & Welfare Reform to a question submitted by Councillor Hassan regarding the Council’s work to enhance fire safety protections in council homes and its support of the ‘End our Cladding Scandal’ ten-step plan.
3. The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning to a question submitted by Councillor Long regarding the roll-out of the Healthy Neighbourhoods scheme and the work undertaken to engage residents with the scheme.
4. The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Environment to a question submitted by Councillor Maurice regarding the Council’s plans to repair faulty paving along Kingsbury High Road.
Responses were also provided by the relevant Lead Members on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:
· Councillor Kelcher regarding the Council’s response to a recent fire and incidence of violent crime in Kensal Green.
· Councillor Kennelly regarding central government’s recent decision to cut funding to organisations that deal with LGBT bullying in schools and the Council’s commitment to working with schools on anti-bullying measures.
· Councillor Choudhary regarding the lessons learned by schools during the pandemic, particularly in relation to online learning.
· Councillor Azfal regarding central government’s response to the pandemic.
· Councillor Gbajumo regarding the Council’s plans to tackle gender poverty, particularly period poverty.
· Councillor Daly regarding the Council’s Public Health department’s efforts to protect residents during the pandemic.
Minutes:
Before moving on to consider the questions submitted by non-Cabinet members, the Mayor reminded Members that a total of 30 minutes had been set aside for this item, which would begin with consideration of the written questions submitted in advance of the meeting along with any supplementary questions. Once these had been dealt with, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question Lead Members (without the need for advance notice) on matters relating to their portfolio.
The Mayor advised that four written questions had been submitted in advance for response by the relevant Lead Member. The written responses supplied had been circulated within the agenda. The Mayor invited supplementary questions from the Members who had submitted the written questions.
11.1 Councillor Sangani thanked Councillor Stephens, as Lead Member for Schools, Skills and Employment, for his written response in relation the Council’s actions to ensure that no child went hungry over the October half-term. Councillor Sangani then asked a supplementary question regarding the level of government funding being provided to support the actions taken by the Council and in order to address the longstanding inequalities identified.
In response, Councillor Stephens advised that since the original written response had been provided the government had reversed its position and announced a set of measures to tackle school child hunger over the Christmas school holiday break. The Council had, however, needed to fund its own response during the October half-term and it looked unlikely these costs would be met.
11.2 Councillor Hassan thanked Councillor Southwood, as Lead Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, for her written response in relation to the Council’s work to enhance fire safety protection in council homes. Councillor Hassan in recognising the work undertaken to date, asked a supplementary question regarding the steps the Council would take to work with Housing Associations and other providers to enhance fire safety protections residents and support the ‘End our Cladding Scandal’ ten-step plan.
In response, Councillor Southwood outlined the work that the Council had already undertaken as a landlord and its responsibilities in relation to privately owned properties to enhance fire safety protections. As part of this process the Council continued to support residents in liaising with private landlords and Housing Associations and, where required, with the Social Housing Regulator. The issues highlighted in relation to cladding and approach taken over general fire safety protections continued to be raised regularly with the borough’s housing associations. Efforts were also being made to encourage the government to ensure that Housing Associations and other providers had access to the necessary funding available to support this response.
11.3 Councillor Long thanked Councillor Tatler, as Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning, for her written response in relation to the rollout of the Healthy Neighbourhoods scheme. Councillor Long then asked a supplementary question regarding the Council’s plans to improve traffic flows along main routes across the borough.
In response, Councillor Tatler advised that the Council was looking to update its ... view the full minutes text for item 12