Agenda item

Name of Councillor asking Question

Name of Cabinet Member Responding

Councillor Lanzer to the Leader of the Council

I refer to the Full Council meeting of 22 February this year where Councillor Piggott asked a question on the possibility of implementing a searchable database for TPOs.  That question was not answered by the time of the 20 March meeting and I asked Councillor Jones about that unanswered question. At the time there were several other unanswered questions, which have subsequently been responded to.  But I am advised by Councillor Piggott that he has not received a response to that question tabled in February.  Could he please commit to providing an answer himself or via a Cabinet Member?

Councillor Jones, Leader of the Council 

Thank you for your question.  Naturally the council, Democratic Services Officers and the Cabinet do try to take account of the questions asked at this meeting and for them to be answered.  This has been raised before and we did put in a system to address this.  However, there should not be a requirement to wait until a Full Council meeting if a response is outstanding and I would like this brought to our attention.  I will have to investigate to check the system for capturing questions is adequate.

Councillor Pritchard to the Leader of the Council

I saw your report about the issues potentially coming forward with the influx of Chagossian people into Crawley.  Our local MP seems to suggest that the council will not receive very many applications.  Is that true and are you happy with the government’s response so far, particularly in terms of the significant impact this will have on the council?

Councillor Jones, Leader of the Council

Thank you for your question.  The government is handling immigration and asylum seeker applications very poorly.  They have added the additional Chagossians with British passport rights through this legislation.  To date there have been 6600 applications for British citizenship, of which 3200 have been approved.  600 of these applications are from individuals already in the UK, and 300 of these have already been approved.

Based on these numbers, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has suggested that 3500-5000 people is highly credible as is the assumption that the majority will look to Crawley. There was no impact analysis completed prior to the commencement of the scheme and could result in a 3% increase in Crawley’s population.  It is rightly correcting an historical injustice which is well documented, but it is a national situation and support is required going forward. 

Councillor Burgess to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change

We spoke earlier about policing and the underlying problems of crime and I think one of the issues we create is if we don’t keep the town clean and tidy.  How can we have all the fly tipping and fly posting removed that has appeared throughout the town and how can we stop if happening in the future?

Councillor Noyce, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change  

Thank you for your question, I will have to look into this further with officers and I will respond.

Councillor Sivarajah to the Cabinet Member for Leisure & Wellbeing

Regarding the tree planting in Tilgate Park, will you be able to provide us with further information please?

Councillor C Mullins, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Leisure & Wellbeing

The community tree planting at Tilgate Park is taking place on 28 October at 9am.  The main trees are being planted by the staff, the centre of which will be an Oak tree.  Other smaller trees will be planted by the public and residents are encouraged to attend.  The trees will be a selection of native species. It is part of the late Queen’s Green Canopy, so it is important to become involved if you can as it is also an environmental activity.