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:
Councillor Sylvester asked the following question:
The Levelling Up Fund application that has gone in regarding Thrybergh County Park is including extensive refurbishments to the car park. Can you explain the thinking in why we are looking so much into the car park and whether or not there is any potential for pedestrian and public transport access to the Park to be improved by the Levelling Up Fund?
Councillor Beck explained that there had been previous conversations by his predecessor, Councillor Hoddinott, with the Friends of Thrybergh County Park regarding access. The Levelling Up Fund was just one part of hopefully improving access, capacity and the general way in which the Council could support the use of the county parks. If the Council could work with local Councillors and the Friends of Thrybergh Country Park, to improve things, they would absolutely do that. That was a commitment from Councillor Beck and the officers involved who wanted to work to improve access and the Levelling Up Fund was just one part of that.
In his supplementary question, Councillor Sylvester explained that he was concerned about children not being able to experience country parks due to access and asked if it could be agreed in principle that if the Council can fund transport choices for those that have a choice, it also funds options for those that do not have a choice in how they travel to the Park?
Councillor Beck explained that it was hard to give a specific answer to the question but the Council was not just seeking to put out warm words on this subject; they wanted to help those who had poor pedestrian/cycling access to the Park. If, and when, the funding mechanisms were in place, the Levelling Up Fund being one of those, the Council would be looking to address those matters and work with local people to ensure that it was done in the right way.