To receive questions from members of the public who wish to ask a general question in respect of matters within the Council’s area of responsibility or influence.
Subject to the Chair’s discretion, members of the public may ask one question and one supplementary question, which should relate to the original question and answered received.
Councillors may also ask questions under this agenda item.
Minutes:
A member of the public referred to a response to a petition he received the day after the last Council meeting, yet a petition he submitted on the 15th May, 2019, some fifteen weeks ago still had no response. He, therefore, asked when would he get a response and also to the email he sent to the Leader fifty days ago on the 26th July, 2019.
The Leader confirmed he and the member of the public had exchanged a number of e-mails over a period of time, but could not specifically remember the e-mail being referred to.
If he had not replied it was either an error on his part or he had not realised a further reply was required. He, therefore, asked the member of the public to send through the email again.
In a supplementary question the member of the public explained the Leader had been asked who to contact for further updates about the commissioning process to avoid having to go to the Leader directly. The Leader had actually e-mailed the member of the public on the 10th July, 2019 explaining about developments, the secure port and commissioning of services so asked for a brief update on current progress.
The Leader could recall the email and confirmed the commissioning process was ongoing and whilst there had been some technical issues with part of the consultation, the intention was for the activity to take place.
Scrutiny had also been undertaking a piece of work over the summer looking at provision in other parts of the country for CSE survivors and support services which would also feed into the review. The Leader was keen to make quick progress on this to ensure the completion of the commissioning process and new services being put in place.
The Leader would endeavour to pick this matter up outside of this meeting and feedback to the member of the public with the name of contact for commissioning.