Issue - meetings

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present. However, the following questions had been received and were reported at the meeting:

Question from Gareth Clarke:

“The strike action from 30^th November resulted in a missed refuse collection. I understand there are no plans for any catch up services and I have to wait two weeks for the next round of refuse collections. The making up of rounds is established practice during the Christmas holiday period. Why can’t the same principles / processes / procedures be applied in this case?”

Question from Lisa Walker, Forum of Private Business:

“The strike action from 30^th November resulted in a missed refuse collection. I understand there are no plans for any catch up services and I have to wait two weeks for the next round of refuse collections. It is my assumption those employees of the council who took industrial action on the 30^th November 2011 will not be paid for that day, and this will mean the salary bill for November will be lower than normal, thus generating a surplus for the month of November. Can the salary surplus generated from the strike be used to clear the refuse back log?”

The Cabinet Member undertook to reply to both questions in writing.