Agenda item

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following question(s) have been received:-

Question ‘A’ – Councillor D Hancock to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Could the member for Environment and Place provide Council with details of the measures being taken to reduce the number of missed refuse collections on a weekly basis.

Question ‘B’ – Councillor R Welton to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance  

Given the new Government’s proposed changes to the NPPF and the impact these may have on the District and its planning policies, will the Leader reconsider what is effectively a ‘closed shop, invitation only’ membership of its Local Plan Steering Group and allow Groups to choose their own representatives,  take and publish full minutes of meetings, in order to have the inclusion, accountability and transparency so often promised to members and residents

Question ‘C’ – Councillor A Dale to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

The previous Government had a clear focus on levelling up and regenerating northern and midland communities like ours. Clay Cross and nearby Staveley received £25million each, our Hospital has had major upgrades and the Barrow Hill Line was due to be re-opened for passengers. Dronfield also successfully secured £20m for regeneration over the next 10 years. In the first two months of the new Labour Government, they have already scrapped the Barrow Hill Line plans, which our former MP had worked tirelessly on and which had cross party support from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, all to fill a supposed black hole which they've helped to create with inflation-busting public sector pay rises. Will the Leader of the Council agree to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our new local MP to urge them not to give up on the regeneration of communities like ours when preparing for the autumn budget and to match the commitment of the last Government to invest £20m in improving Dronfield over the next 10 years?

The Chair of the Council confirmed that three questions had been received.

Question ‘A’ – Councillor D Hancock to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio

Holder for Environment and Place

Could the member for Environment and Place provide Council with details of the measures being taken to reduce the number of missed refuse collections on a weekly basis.

Councillor D Hancock reiterated that this was not a criticism of the workforce but to raise awareness that there were issues and ask what was being done about them.

Councillor S Pickering agreed there were a number of reasons for some bins being missed, which included blocked access, breakdowns, and new housing developments. He went on to discuss that in relation to blocked access from parked cars, refuse workers did knock on doors but often without luck. Letters were also sent to residents on these streets requesting that the street be kept clear on collection days. The Council had no enforcement powers, but if the bins were left full, the bin men did try to call back the next day. Residents could also contact the Council to notify that their bins had not been emptied. He went on to inform Members that there had been ten new vehicles added to the fleet, with a rolling replacement programme in place. Additionally, extra rounds had been created for new developments.

Councillor D Hancock asked a supplementary question in relation to whether relocating the vehicle depot would be useful.

Councillor S Pickering shared that there were new arrangements for a relocated depot, but he confirmed that this would not address blocked access, nor would a new fleet. He went on the to explain to Members that from January to August 2024, four million bins were emptied with just four thousand missed.

Councillor D Hancock responded that every week it was the same bins, on the same streets which were being missed.

Question ‘B’ – Councillor R Welton to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the

Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

Given the new Government’s proposed changes to the NPPF and the impact these may have on the District and its planning policies, will the Leader reconsider what is effectively a ‘closed shop, invitation only’ membership of its Local Plan Steering Group and allow Groups to choose their own representatives, take and publish full minutes of meetings, in order to have the inclusion, accountability and transparency so often promised to members and residents.

Councillor N Barker agreed that it was a good time to review the situation, and consequently informed Council that the membership and composition for the Local Steering Group was being explored. The group needed to be reestablished in the next few weeks due to the likely changes to the NPPF.

Question ‘C’ – Councillor A Dale to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the

Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

The previous Government had a clear focus on levelling up and regenerating northern and midland communities like ours. Clay Cross and nearby Staveley received £25million each, our Hospital has had major upgrades and the Barrow Hill Line was due to be re-opened for passengers. Dronfield also successfully secured £20m for regeneration over the next 10 years. In the first two months of the new Labour Government, they have already scrapped the Barrow Hill Line plans, which our former MP had worked tirelessly on and which had cross party support from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, all to fill a supposed black hole which they've helped to create with inflation-busting public sector pay rises. Will the Leader of the Council agree to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our new local MP to urge them not to give up on the regeneration of communities like ours when preparing for the autumn budget and to match the commitment of the last Government to invest £20m in improving Dronfield over the next 10 years?

Councillor N Barker stated that he would not.

Councillor A Dale highlighted his disappointment and asked if it was because some areas were more deserving of regeneration.

Councillor N Barker noted that he was not denying that infrastructure was needed but appreciated that a longer-term plan was required. He agreed that the funding for Dronfield would have been good for Dronfield but that the government needed to focus on all of the District. He highlighted that the Council had an active role in the Industrial Community Alliance, which did campaign for ex-coalfield and industrial regeneration. He also shared with Members that a more cooperative approach with other authorities was being taken.