(a)  Leader of the Council

(b)  Cabinet Members

(c)  Chairmen of Decision-Making Committees

Question from Cllr Trzebinski to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

Following the recent issues with a large number of schools in the UK which have been constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as RAAC, and having reviewed the current listing of schools affected, can the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, confirm that surveys of schools within the Borough, and indeed any other public buildings which may be affected, have been carried out, either by MBC or KCC and that there is no danger to our students or residents in respect of this particular problem?

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services responded to the question.

Councillor Trzebinski asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services:

Can we follow up with KCC and put some pressure on them to get the reports on the schools as soon as possible please?

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services responded to the question.

Question from Cllr Mrs Joy to the Leader of the Council

Mindful of the outcome of the recent Call-ins and of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee, would the Leader agree the importance that all Members attend the briefing on the review of the Council’s Constitution and the effectiveness of a Democratic Council?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Joy asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

Will the Leader ensure that the briefing is an open session to enable all Members and the Democratic Services staff to participate?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Question from Councillor T Sams to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development

What actions is the Cabinet Member responsible for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development taking to add real teeth to prevent the Joint Transportation Board being a complete waste of time, and a committee that is ignored by KCC given the last meeting, the lack of response from KCC, and now the decision of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Neil Baker, and his decision regarding Cranborne Avenue?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

Councillor T Sams asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development:

How have you demonstrated in your written responses to residents your sympathy for and understanding of their concerns that I have to say remain unanswered?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

Question from Councillor Jeffery to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development

At last week’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 September, your second letter to KCC in response to their minerals consultation was debated.  Three Councillors including two Conservatives and the Chairman of the Committee stated that the letter had already been sent.  This was not true, yet it skewed the debate significantly.  Why did you not correct the record during the meeting so that a debate on the facts could have been had?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

Councillor Jeffery asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development:

Given that there was confusion at that meeting from what you have told me, should that not have been clarified as part of the discussion because the discussion was clearly predicated on that second letter already being sent?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

Question from Councillor S Thompson to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development

Following Councillor Cooper's written response to a public question that was asked at the 19 July meeting, correcting his statement made there that he said 20% biodiversity net gain would apply to all future developments, as he subsequently confirmed, the current policy is for only 10% biodiversity net gain for commercial and industrial applications to MBC Planning, will the Council commit to a timescale for considering and implementing 20% biodiversity net gain across ALL planning applications, once the (draft) Local Plan has finally been adopted?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

Councillor S Thompson asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development:

Is it the intention of this Cabinet to do the right thing and lead with the standard of 20% biodiversity net gain on all sites regardless of the failure of leadership from Westminster.  Swale have done so in their current

draft Local Plan.  Is it your intention to commit to the same?

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development responded to the question.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc0b2qmJw58&t=4554s