Agenda item

Members question time will last up to 30 minutes, with questions being taken in the

order of receipt and in rotation from each political group on the Council. The

deadline for submission of questions is Friday 18 October at 12 noon . Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Questions can be asked of the following:

a) The Mayor

b) A Member of the Executive

c) The Chairman of any Committee             

d) The Council’s representative on any outside body

Questions cannot be asked in relation to the following:

a) A specific planning or licensing application

b) A specific staffing appointment, appeal or Standards determination

The Mayor announced that the Proper Officer had received 6 questions from Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12. She advised that one supplementary question could be asked which must arise out of the original question, or, the reply.  

Questions would be asked in rotation of the Groups represented in the Chamber and there was 30 minutes allowed for questions with 4 rotations of speakers possible. At the end of 30 minutes the Mayor explained that she would extend the time to conclude the current rotation of questions.

The Mayor announced that the following Councillors had submitted questions:

Councillors Jim Deen, Martin McCabe, Sally Smith & Bob Smytherman

The order would be 

First rotation:  Councillors Sally Smith and Martin McCabe 

Second rotation: Councillors Jim Deen and Martin McCabe

Third rotation: Councillor Bob Smytherman

Fourth rotation: Councillor Bob Smytherman

First rotation: 

Question from Councillor Sally Smith to the Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing

Could the Executive member for Health and Welbeing please provide us with an estimated cost for the recent dog- related PSPO consultation?

The Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing replied that the Public Health & Regulation costs were estimated to be £1,900. These costs reflected staff time and printing.

Councillor Smith’s supplementary question asked about the amount of research undertaken before the consultation was published. 

The Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing replied that the PSPOs were coming up for review and would be subject to a continuous cycle of review over the next 3 year period.  

Question from Councillor Martin McCabe to the Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services

Does the Executive Member agree with me and our European friends from the Netherlands that our bus stops could be converted to Bee Stops?

The Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services replied that the Council was committed to the exploration of innovative initiatives such as Bee Stops and other best practice related ways of increasing biodiversity. He was happy to look at the proposal alongside a number of other initiatives to improve biodiversity.      

Councillor McCabe’s supplementary question asked whether the Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services would meet with Councillor McCabe to take this forward.  

The Executive Member for Digital and Environmental Services replied that he would.  

Question from Councillor Jim Deen to the Executive Member for Regeneration

Could the Executive member for regeneration confirm the current projected costs for the proposed scheme of public realm improvements for Portland Road.

The Executive Member for Regeneration replied that Portland Road was part of a £5m shared project between Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council. It was noted that following consultation, various proposals were on the table and currently, a decision hadn’t been taken to decide which model would be taken forward.    

As a supplementary question, Councillor Deen sought clarification regarding the details of the scheme put forward for public consultation.   

The Executive Member for Regeneration replied that the consultation went out with the original plans. Following engagement with local businesses and residents, the architects had come back with alternative models. The budget window required for the various schemes was between £1m and £2.7m.   

Question from Councillor Martin McCabe to the Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services 

With 20 new Changing Places toilets registered around the country in September, will the Member join me in calling for more Changing Places toilets to be installed in Worthing for people with a range of disabilities?

The Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services replied that the Council should promote the installation of Changing Places toilets wherever possible. It was noted that there were changing places toilet facilities in Worthing Town Centre and there were plans to include changing places facilities in the Worthing Library redevelopment.           

Councillor McCabe’s supplementary question sought clarification regarding the timetable for providing additional changing places facilities.  

The Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services replied that these facilities were due to be provided at Durrington Community Centre imminently and inline with the project timelines at Worthing Library.      

Question from Councillor Bob Smytherman to the Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing

Does the Executive Member agree with me that there is currently a postcode lottery for people living with Dementia and their Carers when accessing Admiral Nurse services in Worthing & would the Executive Member raise this inequality with Chief Executive of the Clinical Commissioning Group?

The Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing replied that the Council was awaiting confirmation from the Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group.  

Councillor Smytherman asked a supplementary question regarding the need to highlight the deficiency in the number of ambulances provided in our area. 

The Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing replied that the issue would be raised. 

Question from Councillor Bob Smytherman to the Executive Member for Regeneration

Following the retirement of our excellent Beach Inspector can the Executive Member confirm there will be no plans to close the popular Beach Office or reduction in this vital service?

The Executive Member for Regeneration replied that there were no plans to close the Beach Office.