Agenda item

Members of the Executive to answer the following questions submitted by Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Constitution:

(a)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers:

“Can the Council explain how the work begun by Councillor Rick Jones in to the effect of inequality on the health and life chances of its residents is progressing?””.

(b)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers:

“In the light of the reported rise of Domestic Abuse cases across the Country and concern about the shortage of Refuge places for those women and families most at risk is this Council planning to increase the number of Refuge places it provides”.

(c)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education submitted by Councillor Peter Argyle:

“What is Council doing to help our children and young people as they resume their studies after the summer break?”

(d)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing submitted by Councillor Jeff Cant:

“Can the Council give any further information about the long term sustainable solution for the Lido which was unable to reopen viably this year?”

(e)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Internal Governance submitted by Councillor Tom Marino:

“Can the portfolio holder tell us what proportion of Council employees are working from home and how does the Council anticipate how this will change in both the short and medium-term?”

(f)           Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Carolyne Culver:

“Will WBC support the Wildlife Trusts, TVERC and others in the creation of a Nature Recovery Network, which is a requirement of the Environment Bill?”

(g)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Carolyne Culver:

“Does WBC agree that a good way for the council to support the Environment Bill’s objective to protect urban street trees would be to make the pedestrianisation of Northbrook Street permanent, and plant trees along it, thereby providing an attractive, shady and pollution free space?”

(h)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Tony Vickers:

“Why did the Council not consult Newbury Town Council before making major changes to the town centre traffic flow?”

(i)            Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Planning and Housing submitted by Councillor Tony Vickers:

“How is the Council planning to involve Newbury Town Council in the master-planning of Newbury town centre?”

(j)            Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Internal Governance submitted by Councillor Lee Dillon:

“Why is it taking the Council 14 months to respond to my motion on constitutional changes?”

(k)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Finance and Economic Development submitted by Councillor Lee Dillon:

“Has the council received any communication from the government about preparing for dealing with the end of the transition period without any trade deals in place?”

(l)            Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Erik Pattenden:

“We note that it has been six months since our motion on safer school was referred to TAG, so will the council urgently review it to facilitate children returning to school safely?”

(m)         Question to be answered by the Leader of the Council submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers:

“Would the leader of council support the idea of having themed debates such as on Black Lives Matter and its impact on West Berkshire?”

A full transcription of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.

(a)          A question submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers on the subject of progress on the work on the effect of inequality on the health and life chances of residents received a response from the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing

(b)          A question submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers on the subject of the number of refuge places for women and families at risk of domestic abuse received a response from the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

(c)          A question submitted by Councillor Peter Argyle on the subject of assistance provided by the Council to young people after the summer break received a response from the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education.

(d)          A question submitted by Councillor Jeff Cant on the subject of the plans for the Lido received a written response from the Executive Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

(e)          A question t submitted by Councillor Tom Marino on the subject of Council, employees working from home received a response from the Executive Member for Internal Governance.

(f)           A question submitted by Councillor Carolyne Culver on the subject of the creation of a Nature Recovery Network received a response from the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

(g)          A question submitted by Councillor Carolyne Culver on the subject of the permanent pedestrianisation of Northbrook Street received a response from the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

(h)          A question submitted by Councillor Tony Vickers on the subject of consultation with Newbury Town Council about traffic flow received a response from the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

(i)            A question submitted by Councillor Tony Vickers on the subject of involving Newbury Town Council in the master-planning of Newbury town centre received a response from the Executive Member for Planning and Housing.

(j)            A question submitted by Councillor Lee Dillon on the subject of the delay in responding to his motion on constitutional changes received a response from the Executive Member for Internal Governance.

(k)          A question submitted by Councillor Lee Dillon on the subject of communication from government about preparing for dealing with the end of the transition period without any trade deals in place received a response from the Executive Member for Finance and Economic Development.

(l)            A question submitted by Councillor Erik Pattenden on the subject of a response to the safer schools motion received a response from the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

(m)         A question submitted by Councillor Martha Vickers on the subject of having themed debates received a response from the Leader of the Council.