Agenda item

Members asked questions of Portfolio Holders in accordance with Procure Rules 8.1 and 8.2 as follows:

·         Councillor Nawaz stated he had made several presentations to the Leader along with a 632-name petition, regarding the Station Road recreation ground in Whittlesey. He asked if Councillor Boden could support the wishes of residents to save the facility. Councillor Boden replied that last year Cabinet had considered this piece of land surplus to requirements and its disposal a potential means to finance the substantial and costly works needed to improve the Manor Leisure Centre. However, now that Government have announced this authority will not exist in three years’ time, the Council’s approach to the financing of capital projects has changed. He thanked Councillor Nawaz for his work on this, but he can confirm that the Station Road recreation ground will not be sold by Fenland District Council. 

·         Councillor Patrick said he is aware that MVV are starting work regarding the Wisbech incinerator which will include compulsory purchase orders, some of which will include FDC land. He would like to know if this authority has received any CPOs from MVV. Councillor Benney responded there had been no approaches at this time.

·         Councillor Tierney spoke of escalating and frequent anti-social behaviour occurring in Wisbech. A group of young men on electric scooters are terrorising and intimidating business owners and customers and engaging in vandalism for the sake of causing trouble. He said that the police have been called on many occasions and whilst he is sure they are doing all they can, much of which may be going on behind the scenes that people are unaware of, both he and Wisbech residents are very unhappy that nobody seems to be dealing with this serious issue. Town centres are struggling to survive, and there cannot exist a situation where people are being scared away, and business owners cannot afford to keep replacing their smashed windows. Councillor Tierney also expressed his concern that before too long people will take the law into their own hands. He would therefore request that the Leader have officers write to the police to demand intervention as a serious priority and to invite a senior member of the police to visit the Council to answer questions about their approach. Furthermore, he would like officers to bring a paper to Cabinet to look at options regarding this prolific behaviour, which may ultimately help some people from going down a road from which they cannot escape.  Councillor Boden agreed that the situation is disgraceful, saying the police are relied upon to keep order and it is disappointing that this situation has not been nipped in the bud. He will ask the Chief Executive to write to the police to ask them to provide an urgent response to this matter. Public safety is vital, and this behaviour cannot and must not be allowed to continue.

·         Councillor Purser said he understands there are plans to close the Sixth Form at Neale Wade and asked if the Council could provide any assistance to prevent this. Councillor Boden responded that it is not a function of this authority to deal with education provision, but he is concerned with the issue of how to ensure the skills levels of local children and adults are improved, particularly as historically Fenland’s skills levels are among the worst in the country. Although regrettably there is little that this Council can do to prevent the closure, he notes that the MP is undertaking a campaign to persuade the relevant authority to make the change on this.

·         Councillor Hoy expressed her concern that the new community diagnostic centre in Wisbech seems not to be in use. It is not available for booking, GPs are not referring patients there, and the MRI scanner has been removed. Wisbech residents are having to go to Ely, Peterborough or Kings Lynn for routine appointments. It is a waste of money to have built a brand-new building and then not use it. Councillor Hoy asked if the Care Quality Commission could be invited to the next Overview & Scrutiny Panel meeting to discuss this. Councillor Boden responded that whilst health care is not the direct responsibility of this Council, it does have a role to play in promoting local health, and he was astonished to hear of this story. Fenland in general, and particularly Wisbech, is an area of significant health underachievement and there is more health deprivation here than the rest of the county. The community diagnostic centre should be there to make it easier for residents to get tested and receive quick and effective treatment to help improve these health inequalities. The ICB claim they are taking action to reduce health inequalities but their actions in not giving patients the chance to use this facility, or returning the MRI scanner, are the opposite so it is essential they are made aware of this Council’s grave concern regarding this. It is not for him to say who should be invited to the Overview & Scrutiny Panel meetings but the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Davis, will have heard this. The situation is disgraceful, and he will ask the Chief Executive to write to the ICB to express their joint concern about the situation and would welcome it if the O&S panel decide it appropriate to invite the ICB to attend a meeting to discuss the diagnostic centre. If the diagnostic centre remains massively underused, the next step will be to close it, so it is essential to make as big a fuss about this as possible.

·         Councillor Taylor said the farmers and related industries mental health programme, valued at £10m a year, has been withdrawn by Government. He asked if there is anyone within the Council who can deal with agricultural and industrial mental health issues. Councillor Boden responded that he is not aware of anyone employed by Fenland District Council qualified to do that, but it is an important and relevant question given the increasing pressures on the agricultural community. Again, he will ask the Chief Executive to raise this issue with the ICB, but as it is also a matter for County Council as a public health matter, Councillor Boden said he will personally seek to have the matter included on the agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the County Council’s Health Committee. 

·         Councillor Hicks said he sympathised with Councillor Tierney’s earlier comments regarding the youths in Wisbech as there have also been issues in March. Some months ago, he met with police community officers who explained how they work to a set procedure using a traffic light system, so whilst they are aware of the situations in Wisbech and March, it can take time to see results. Councillor Mrs Davis commented that there is also the option to invite the police to attend an Overview & Scrutiny Panel meeting to which portfolio holders can be invited.

·         Councillor Booth thanked Councillor Mrs Laws for her update on the local plan but there are no deadlines for the next stage. He would like to know when engagement with members and the second public consultation will take place. Councillor Mrs Laws responded that in light of the new NPPF, and now due to local government reorganisation, a review is ongoing and there will be an update at the Council meeting in May.