The minutes for last weeks full coucnil meeting are now online here.
They include the written answers to some questions from the public:
(1)
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
(a)
From Mr G Congram
Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10, the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Council Tax Collection, Benefits and Strategic Housing Functions, Cllr Mrs T J Capon, had been received from Mr G Congram of 12 South Avenue, Hullbridge, Essex SS5 6HA:-
?With the implementation of the “breakthrough” housing project launched by the Council in partnership with Pathmeads Housing Association (as published within the Yellow Advertiser 8th July 2010), how many properties has the Council and Pathmead identified that could utilise this facility and how does this impact the Housing Allocations detailed in the Core Strategy??
In the absence of the questioner, the Chairman agreed that the question be asked.
The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, Cllr K H Hudson, responded on behalf of Cllr Mrs T J Capon as follows:-
?The funds will be made available through the Empty Homes initiative in partnership with Pathmeads Housing Association. Grants will be offered to improve empty properties, subject to the owner agreeing to a five year lease. The initiative is intended to help bring empty properties back into use and make a contribution towards providing homes for people in need. There are currently over four hundred empty homes in the Rochford District where the owners could make enquiries to be involved in the scheme.
This initiative is to be welcomed, and is intended to help to relieve the acute shortage of affordable homes, but following the expiration of the five year lease these properties will revert back to the original owners to do with as they will. Therefore they will not have any affect on the housing allocations detailed in the Core Strategy.
It is interesting to note that a Thames Gateway scheme has been running for a year and has not attracted a single applicant.?
(b) From B Guyett
Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10, the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Young Persons, Adult Services, Community Care and Well Being, Health and Community Safety, Cllr Mrs L A Butcher, had been received from Mr B Guyett of 2 Tonbridge Road, Hockley, Essex SS5 5HL:-
?Various statistics clearly demonstrate that South East Essex PCT (SEE PCT) have been focusing investment on an area in Central Southend within a three mile radius of the PCT’s offices, to the detriment of the rest of their area, including the whole of Rochford District.
Is Rochford District Council happy for the District to remain a second tier, NHS ‘backwater’ or will they use the opportunity of the NHS reorganisation, announced by the government on 12 July, to press the new health authority for a fairer and more appropriate investment policy which meets the needs of Rochford District??
Mr Guyett had been unable to attend the meeting and the Chairman had agreed to ask the question on his behalf.
The Portfolio Holder, Cllr Mrs L A Butcher, responded as follows:-
?The current local health service structure is that NHS South East Essex (NHS SEE) is responsible for delivering health services to Rochford, Southend and Castle Point – a population of approximately 360,000 (the population of Rochford District is just over 80,000). Across these three areas there will inevitably be differing types and levels of need and NHS SEE will have to profile its resources accordingly in order to meet the specific requirements of the area.
From various surveys and analysis that have been undertaken into the relative “health” of the area, Rochford compares favourably and indeed has a higher average life expectancy age than either Southend or Castle Point.
There are regular channels of communication between the Council and the NHS and indeed the NHS has representation on the Rochford Local Strategic Partnership (in addition to the LSP’s of Southend and Castle Point). They have also attended the Area Committees as appropriate when health matters have been raised and discussed.
The recent Government announcement has stated that Primary Care Trusts are to be phased out within two years, with the functions being transferred to General Practitioners and some to local authorities, although it is not clear at this stage whether this is at County, District or Unitary level. The Council will continue to be pro-active in this period of transformation to ensure that the Rochford District has an appropriate level of health service provision in the new structure.”
(c) From Mr T Gleadall
Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10, the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, Cllr K H Hudson, had been received from Mr T Gleadall of 2 Wood End, Hockley, Essex SS5 4QL:-
?Assuming that Rochford District Council has the opportunity, based on the Coalition Government’s new policies, to re-write the Core Strategy in relation to housing numbers and allocations, can you guarantee that the new version will be: more feasible in terms of infrastructure by ensuring that adequate highway improvements (including railway bridges) are in place before any major housing developments are implemented; more transparent to residents and businesses (no hidden numbers and impacts); and more resident friendly
with reference to retaining the countryside and greenbelt that makes the District a highly desirable place to live??
The Portfolio Holder, Cllr K H Hudson, responded as follows:-
“The Core Strategy was prepared in consultation and with advice from the various organisations responsible for infrastructure. The proposals take careful account of the requirements for new infrastructure and it will be important for this to be delivered in conjunction with any development, including major housing development. It would not be the Council?s intention to permit development to proceed without a clear understanding of the improvements required to infrastructure relative to each individual site, and an appropriate legal commitment to provide them.
The Council is determined to ensure that the District?s attractive countryside is protected and that Rochford continues to be a desirable place to live. The Council?s vision is to make the District the place of choice to live, work and visit and this is a central theme of the Core Strategy.”
By way of supplementary question Mr Gleadall referred to the value of transparency in housing numbers and allocation figures in any future version of the Core Strategy. Cllr K H Hudson confirmed that it is important that figures are as plain as possible.”