Questions to the Leader of the Council

Councillor Parvin asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:-

“As a long serving member of staff has recently left the Council’s employ, will a letter of thanks be sent from all Members of this Council for the service he has given to us?

Neil Harris has served the Council in many posts over the last 30 years taking on many new areas of responsibility and adjusting to whatever they entailed”.

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

The Mayor said that he wished to place on record his appreciation of Mr Harris’s advice and support over the years.

Councillor De Wiggondene asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:-

“Can the Leader provide an update on the current situation following the call for sites?  A number of these are on valued greenfield land and are causing concern to local residents.  What percentage of the total now being considered are greenfield sites?”

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor De Wiggondene asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:-

“Considering the concern expressed on both sides of this Chamber at the threat to greenfield land, could the Leader comment on the fact that whilst having written a letter to the Parishes about protecting green spaces, and asking them to put forward brownfield sites, the Maidstone Liberal Democrats put forward during the recent call for sites a significant tract of greenfield land at Lenham which is capable of delivering several thousand homes at normal densities, potentially tripling the size of the village on a site at the foot of the AONB?  Does not this demonstrate the general hypocrisy of their current approach to the Local Plan process?”

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Questions to Cabinet Members

Councillor Mrs Wilson asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development:-

“As I am sure the Cabinet Member is aware there has been recent press coverage regarding the Federation of Small Business’s statement that if Local Authorities spent an additional 5% of their budget locally and committed just three percent of that to small local firms, an additional £788million could have been generated for local economies across the country. 

For every £1 spent with a small or medium sized business 63p was re-spent in the local area compared to 40p per £1 with a larger business.  Would Councillor Greer confirm the Borough Council’s percentage spend on services and purchases that went to small business in 2012/13 and tell me whether there are any positive steps he could take to increase that percentage of total spend in the current and future years?”

The Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Wilson asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development:-

“Does this Council use contract terms to ensure that its payment terms are passed on by tier one suppliers through their own supply chains, and, if not, will the Council commit to doing so as a matter of urgency?”

The Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Parvin asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services:-

“As an undertaking was given at the last Council meeting that an element of the Visitor Information Centre would be returned to the Town Hall, including staffing, can the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services give a date when this arrangement will take place?”

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Parvin asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development:-

“Has further thought been given to utilising the void space on the ground floor entrance to the Gateway?  Suggested use of this empty space could be a Visitor Information Centre, literature and the sale of advertising space, perhaps with electronic display/interactive signing for local businesses, i.e. Hotels, Places of Entertainment, Museums and Leeds Castle?”

The Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development responded to the question.

To listen to the responses to these questions, please follow this link:-

http://webcasts.umcdn.com/mbc077/interface