Issue - meetings

General questions

Meeting: 29/10/2020 - Council (Item 247)

The Leader, or his nominee, to answer questions from Councillors on matters affecting the Borough, adjourned from the meeting held on 22 October 2020.

The written responses provided in advance of the adjourned meeting are attached.

Question 1 – Councillor Robin Sider BEM

“Will the Leader and members of the council join me in congratulating the Council on being awarded the ‘Silver Award ‘ as part of the Ministry of Defence Employers Recognition Scheme, an award for organisations that pledge, demonstrate and advocate support to the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. And will the council also note the hard work undertaken by Kamal Mehmood, the council’s Armed Forces Partnership Manager and the Council’s Communication team in order to achieve such a high and prestigious award.”

Question 2 – Councillor Robin Sider BEM

“The annual South and South east in Bloom competition is designed to encourage councils, residents and businesses to work together to improve the local environment and make towns and cities greener and cleaner for everyone. That said, will the Leader and all members of this council join me in congratulating Head of Neighborhood Services and her staff on achieving a magnificent result by way of Staines, Ashford and Sunbury cemeteries all being awarded gold, and the Sunbury Walled Garden also striking gold in the Small Park category.”

Question 3 – Councillor Dick Smith-Ainsley

“In the announcements made by the Leader at his first council meeting on 30th July he stated the following regarding Task Groups:-

“Full details of this group (a Multi-Party Task Group on Governance) and all the other Task Group will be published in the next few days.”

Since then all efforts to find out the details of these Task Groups has been met with a wall of silence.

Why, two and a half months after he promised the details is the Leader deliberately withholding this information?”

Question 4 – Councillor Dick Smith-Ainsley

“Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council Cllr John Boughtflower has made various statements which have been published on the council web site.

He stated on 17th August "When elected as leader, I promised that there would be an increase in cross-party working and, just over a month on, this administration is demonstrating that actions speak louder than words.”

At the same time the Deputy Leader, Cllr McIlroy stated with regard to the New Local Plan working party "Not only will this be the first of the new administration's promised cross-party engagement groups but, as it regards the New Local Plan which is so important to residents, it is arguably one of the most significant working groups for our Borough. This group will lead the way to prove co-operative working over politics for the benefit of our residents.

The emphasis on “co-operative working over politics for the benefit of our residents” is significant.

Can the Leader explain why he has decided to deliberately exclude every single member of the United Spelthorne Group, which is the second largest ... view the full agenda text for item 247

Minutes:

The Mayor reported that 11 general questions had been received in accordance with Standing Order 15, from Councillors R.W. Sider BEM, R.A. Smith-Ainsley, H. Harvey, I.T.E. Harvey and J.H. Doerfel.

Question 1 – Councillor R.W. Sider BEM

Response from the Leader, Councillor J.R. Boughtflower

“Thank you, Cllr Sider. We are delighted that the Council has been recognised for the measures that have been put in place to support the Armed Forces Community. I understand that Spelthorne Borough Council is only the second authority in Surrey to have received this accolade and I would like to join you in congratulating everyone involved for their hard work and commitment in achieving this prestigious award.

I would like to take this opportunity to affirm our commitment to the Armed Forces Community, the Armed Forces Covenant and looking forward, to achieving the Gold standard.”

Question 2 – Councillor R.W. Sider BEM

Response from the Leader, Councillor J. R. Boughtflower

“Thank you Cllr Sider and I join you in congratulating Jackie Taylor and the rest of the Neighbourhood Services Team for their hard work and commitment in achieving these prestigious awards.

I am aware that these awards are not easily won and when you consider that the borough achieves these year on year, it shows that the high standards are there for our residents and visitors to appreciate all year round, and as you have said, improves our environment for all to enjoy.

Well done to all who have made a difference and made Spelthorne a Gold winner again in the South & South East in Bloom Awards.”

Question 3 – Councillor R.A Smith-Ainsley

“In the announcements made by the Leader at his first council meeting on 30th July he stated the following regarding Task Groups:-

“Full details of this group (a Multi-Party Task Group on Governance) and all the other Task Group will be published in the next few days.”

Since then all efforts to find out the details ... view the full minutes text for item 247