Agenda item

Name ofCouncillor askingQuestion

Name ofCabinet Member Responding

Councillor Guidera to the

Cabinet Memberfor Wellbeing

You very generously and kindly visited Chichester Close Playground with Councillor Mwagale when she was newly elected back in October and it is worse now than it was then.  We visited the playground and, I don’t know why, but there is now fencing erected around the swings which are all wrapped up so now, what is left of the park is essentially a really knackered old roundabout, the larger slide and then the older slide (which is for the toddlers) which I don’t believe is fit for purpose and I don’t think any toddler should be playing on it.  The other thing is the wooden fencing is half missing around the corner so all that money spent on the path and gate, which I assume was to prevent dogs running into the park, doesn’t have any effect as it is now wide open to any stray dogs (and in fact there is a stray dog that runs around that field which is regularly reported on).   Do you have any idea of how quickly we can expect some kind of changes to the situation?

Councillor Mullins (CabinetMember for Wellbeing)

I have been discussing this very recently and we do see how important the state of Chichester Close Play Area is.  It has been moved right up the list in priority and it will get done as soon as possible.  We are about to constitute a small working party (cross-benches) to re-assess the unsupervised play areas because the original list we had is now somewhat out of date and we are getting further reports in about the deterioration of some of the older ones.  Obviously we should be proud of the ones we have refurbished, but some of the older ones are in a state now and we are doing a reassessment.  I can assure you and Councillor Mwagale that I was quite shocked at the condition of the Chichester Close one and I will make sure that it gets an early priority.  It is not possible to give a timescale but we will get a working party together and, if you wanted to put yourself forward for it, you will be able to discuss the details there.

Councillor Eade to the

Cabinet Memberfor Wellbeing

A few years ago I met with you, officers and teenage skaters at Southgate Park where we discussed an extension for the learners and less skilled skaters to use. Has there been any progress on that?

Councillor Mullins (CabinetMember for Wellbeing)

Now you have raised it with me I will raise it at my Portfolio Briefing this Friday and see where we are with it.  I can’t answer the question tonight, but I will look into it.

Councillor Crow to the

CabinetMember for Public Protection and Community Engagement

In just over two months’ time in early May we have a very special date which is Friday 8 May which is the 75^th anniversary of VE day and the Government have designated that day to be a Bank Holiday.  Does the Council have any plans to commemorate, or know of any events taking place in the town because, quite sadly, this will probably be the last major anniversary of VE Day where we will have the veterans, and others who were adults at that time, who will remember it and so it quite a significant event.  If you could update us in any way I would really welcome that.

Councillor B Smith (CabinetMember for Public Protection and Community Engagement)

This has come to my attention due to my involvement in an organisation I belong to.  I also understand form the Leader that he has already raised this with the Communications Team and they are looking at what we are going to do.  I agree with Councillor Crow that this is a very important date and it is something that we should acknowledge and promote.  I will certainly look at encouraging the Council.  We have in the past done some work with the Army Ground in Kilnmead Road and I think we should do the same again.  We will look at that and bring some suggestions to the Council.  If you have any suggestions I would be pleased to have them.

Councillor B Burgess to the

Cabinet Memberfor Wellbeing

What were the reasons we lost our Green Flag in the Memorial Gardens and what is proposed in order to gain the award?

Councillor Mullins (CabinetMember for Wellbeing)

We have consistently got the Green Flag for the park so we will probably look at that again.  This is another one I will raise at my Portfolio Briefing to see where we are going with it and I will come back to you.

Councillor T Belben to the

Cabinet Memberfor Environmental Services and Sustainability

What is the Council’s strategy to accommodate the need for more electric charging points in the town?

Councillor G Jhans(CabinetMember for Environmental Services and Sustainability)

Thank you for that question.  We have our draft Transport Strategy out for consultation at the moment and there are a number of recommendations and plans for car sharing and also for electric vehicle charging points so that is a point to look into.  I will also talk to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to see what else we could potentially do in the future.

Councillor Hart to the Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Community Engagement

Carrying on from Councillor Crow’s question relating to commemorations for VE Day in May, is the Council planning on doing anything to commemorate VJ Day (Victory in Japan) on 15 August as some people would class that as the end of the War?

Councillor B Smith (Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Community Engagement)

It is not something we have been looking at and have discussed, but I am happy to take it forward and I will talk to the Communications Team about it.  We will look at both.  Thank you.