There will be a maximum of 30 minutes for Councillors’ Question Time (CQT). Councillors may ask questions relating to either a portfolio issue or with regard to the functions delegated to a Committee.
There are two methods for Councillors asking questions:
1. Councillors can submit written questions in advance of the meeting and written answers will be provided on the evening of the Full Council.
2. Councillors can also verbally ask questions during the CQT.
Councillors have the opportunity to ask oral supplementary questions in relation to either of the methods above.
Minutes:
|
Name of Councillor asking Question |
Name of Cabinet Member Responding |
|
Councillor Crow to the Cabinet Member for Housing
Would you agree to investigate the viability of providing video entry intercom systems for the Council’s sheltered housing properties? This would provide reassurance to those residents.
Supplementary Comment:
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
|
Councillor Irvine (Cabinet Member for Housing)
Thank you for your suggestion. I will discuss this with the relevant officers in Crawley Homes. |
|
Councillor Hilton to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change
There was a Council press release in late May regarding the new Penalties Regime which the Council introduced, following recent legislation. This relates to the monitoring of clean air and chimney emissions in the Borough. Forge Wood residents have contacted me with concerns relating to chimney emissions and industrial odours coming from the established industrial units in the vicinity. Will the new penalty regime apply to these cases? |
Councillor Noyce (Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change)
The new civil penalty powers for emissions of smoke are only enforceable in smoke-controlled areas. Most of Crawley is covered by Smoke Control Orders (SCO), however the SCO for Three Bridges (which covers Manor Royal and Crawley Goods Yard) specifically exempts industrial units and, therefore, the new powers are not applicable to the industrial units in question. However, industrial installations, and their emission levels, are covered by other regulations. The industrial unts in questions have a permit which allows visible emissions to only be steam. The Council monitors Nitrogen Dioxide levels in the Borough and there are several monitors close to Forge Wood and nearby industrial units. Those sites have measured the Nitrogen Dioxide levels to be well below the national limit for the last five years. The Council has powers to improve air quality and act where emission levels are high and cause a nuisance. Where persistent smoke causes a nuisance, the Council can issue an abatement notice to prevent further issues, ignoring an abatement notice is a criminal offence.
I will send these details through to you and, if you have any further questions, we can discuss them. |
|
Councillor Burgess to the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Culture
It is great news that we have been informed by the Crawley Military Partnership that the Council have been reaccredited with a Silver Award for the treatment of our veterans. What more do we need to do to achieve a Gold Award?
Supplementary Question:
Do we know of any other Council in the vicinity that has achieved a Gold Award?
|
Councillor S Mullins (Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Culture)
We have discussed this at length at the Military Partnership. Going from Bronze to Silver was a big jump and to go from Silver to Gold is a much bigger leap. We would like to try, and we will continue to see whether it is a possibility. We outshine most of our neighbouring local councils in the facilities we offer our veterans, and I am extremely proud of that. There are still veterans who are not aware of the opportunities open to them in the Borough, so the more we can broadcast that the better. I would very much like to see us achieve a Gold Award one day.
You would have to speak to the Council’s Community Development Officer but, as far as I know, no-one around here has achieved a Gold Award, it is an elusive award to achieve.
|
|
Councillor Patel to the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Wellbeing
Friends of Goffs Park have organised a community picnic on 4 August. We are lucky in Crawley to have such fantastic green spaces and it is important to have high standards for these recreational areas. Do you have an update on the renewal of the Green Flag Awards for our parks? |
Councillor C Mullins (Cabinet Member for Leisure and Wellbeing)
The Goffs Park event sounds great, and I would canvas everybody here to attend and support that event and the park itself. This year Crawley has been awarded five Green Flags, with Tilgate Park now holding this status for 22 years. The other parks which have been awarded a Green Flag are Goffs Park, the Memorial Gardens, Worth Park and Ifield Mill Pond. I would encourage people to visit these parks and note the hard work undertaken by the staff to create these beautiful spaces which gains these Green Flags. I respect these officers immensely and I pass my thanks on to them.
|
|
Councillor Lanzer to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development
Included within today’s King’s Speech was the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which is, in part, designed to accelerate the delivery of housing and major infrastructure projects. There have been rumours about potential reduced rights for Local Authorities to determine large scale applications. Can we have your assurance that you will continue to sustain opposition to the West of Ifield Development, and that the newly elected Labour MP for Crawley will continue to represent Crawley in Parliament, rather than have the Labour Party policy represented in Crawley?
|
Councillor Nawaz (Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development)
Until we get further details on the King’s Speech and the Bill it is very difficult for me to comment at this time on what powers have been handed over to (or away from) Local Authorities. However, the Full Council’s position on any development to the West of Ifield is very clear. As soon as I receive further information from officers, I will pass these along to you. |
|
Councillor Ramsay to the Cabinet Member for Public Protection
Given the decision by the Government to release prisoners early, what risks do you potentially envisage this may have for the property and people of Crawley?
Supplementary Question:
So, is it the view of Crawley Council’s Cabinet that those offenders released will be deemed to be low risk? |
Councillor Jones (Leader of the Council in the absence of the Cabinet Member for Public Protection)
A lot of the issues you raise are the responsibility of the government which will be dealt with by the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. The Council has very little influence on these matters. I understand that, although there will be some releases, these will be offenders who have been assessed to be lower risk. You may wish to attend the Sussex Police and Crime Panel and ask this question to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Crawley.
These are issues for the Police and the Government which I am not able to answer. That being said, I do appreciate the concern regarding the nation’s prison system.
|
|
Councillor I Khan to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development
Residents have a serious concern regarding the number of vacant offices and retail units across Crawley, in particular the Town Centre and local shopping parades. How many empty units are there in Crawley Town Centre, what is the average time they remain unoccupied, are any incentives in place for businesses to operate within them, and are there any penalties for landlords who leave units unoccupied for long periods of time which could incentivise them to rent those units out?
Supplementary Question:
Are there any specific incentives for businesses to take on empty units, and do you have any financial penalties for landlords who leave units unoccupied for long periods of time? |
Councillor Nawaz (Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development)
I have also been asked this at a Full Council meeting a few months ago. To reassure you, the vacancy rate for retail units in the Town Centre is below the national average. The position of the economy in the last decade has resulted in businesses struggling, as well as impacting the way people shop. This has led to businesses adopting new practices and business models. Crawley is in demand and numbers from the Town Centre Bid showed that Crawley is well ahead of neighbouring towns in both footfall and vacancy rate.
Office space in Crawley is also in demand with Crawley being seen, in the Gatwick Diamond sector, as a prime area to provide business and office space. There is a demand in Crawley for A Grade office space which is demonstrated by the demand shown in rental space within the Create Building. Several floors of the Create Building have already been rented out with lots of discussion with other potential businesses looking to rent space too. Crawley was hit hard by the pandemic but is recovering well due to work by officers and the Council’s strategy.
The Council owns a lot of the neighbourhood parades within the Borough, and Council owned units are in demand. Where a retail unit is empty, there is interest in those units with work normally being undertaken to bring them into use. It is hoped that the new Government will bring forward legislation, which covers privately owned business premises, to help kickstart the business investment into Crawley.
|
|
Councillor Crow to the Leader of the Council
Given the England Men’s football team’s fantastic performance in the recent European Championship and, in particular, Gareth Southgate as their Manager during that tournament, when could we look at potentially ways to recognise Gareth Southgate within Crawley? There has been talk of this in the past and I feel we should recognise his achievement in a way which is long lasting and appropriate.
Supplementary Comment:
It would be nice if any recognition was on behalf of the entire Council and so we are keen to be involved in providing suggestions?
|
Councillor Jones (Leader of the Council)
We are tremendously proud of Gareth Southgate and the England Team’s achievements. Gareth grew up, attended school and learnt a lot of his football in Crawley. We are keen to recognise his achievements, but this would need to be done at a time, and in a way, which he felt comfortable with. We will be keen to do so when the time is right. Gareth is notoriously modest and so it is important to honour him in a way which is right. |