Agenda item

Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council can ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees or Sub-Committees.

The time allocated for receiving and disposing of questions shall be a maximum of 45 minutes. Any question not disposed of at the end of this time shall be the subject of a written response, copied to all Members unless withdrawn by the questioner.

Two questions have been received, on notice, from Members.

Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council could ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees or Sub-Committees.

Two questions had been submitted as set out below:

Question One

            From Councillor Talbot to Councillor Nicholls, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Enforcement:

“Since I last asked you a question on the 5^th September 2017 on the subject of the Planning Enforcement Notices served on my residents and owners of properties in Point Clear Bay, further notices have been served.

May I ask the total number of enforcement notices now extant in Point Clear Bay?

Am I correct in assuming that Tendring District Council will only be obliged to rehouse those occupiers if they remain in their homes, on which such an enforcement notice has been served, until a Court enforces their eviction, thereby avoiding any suggestion by TDC that they left their homes voluntarily and therefore are not entitled to housing support from this District Council?”

Councillor Nicholls replied as follows:

“The Council has served a total of 67 Enforcement Notices in Point Clear in the period 2017-2018. Other cases remain under investigation and further Enforcement Notices may yet be issued.

In each case the Notice relates to a breach of planning conditions preventing occupation of chalets during the winter period. I understand that approximately 50 Enforcement Notice appeals have been submitted and that a combined Public Inquiry into these is likely to take place in Autumn 2018.

Once a decision is made by the Planning Inspector the Council will then determine any action which requires to be taken.  It is possible that the Planning Inspector will agree with the residents and grant planning permissions allowing all year round occupancy. Should the appeal decision uphold the Council position then there would be a commitment from the Council, to support residents through any transition needed and that action taken would be within a reasonable timescale.

As regards the re-housing position of individuals, any person can apply to be registered on the Council’s housing register provided that they have lived here for at least three years (members of the armed forces excepted) and have a housing need. Rehousing will depend on their priority, the choices they make and the supply and demand for accommodation.  

Individual circumstances will determine priority need and as such I feel it would be inappropriate to make any blanket statement as regards housing support or otherwise.  

In terms of homelessness, it would be a case of evaluating each case on its merits. If people own their properties, we will look into why they gave up something settled (if so) for something unsettled and this may lead to an intentional decision (provided they get through the priority need stage). If they are tenants and have a priority need, we are likely to owe them a duty unless something else leads to an intentional decision. As our homelessness duty can now be ended by providing a six month Assured Shorthold Tenancy it is unlikely that this will place a significant demand on resources.”

Question Two

            From Councillor Griffiths to Councillor Skeels Snr., Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Tourism:

“During main events such as motor rallies, air shows and cycle races etc., a number of residents on Martello Bay and Marine Parade West face severe disruption which sees some roads such as Marine Parade West completely closed off, and others such as St Vincent Road, Collingwood Road, Trafalgar Road and Nelson Road blocked off at one end by concrete blocks.

This means that on-street parking for residents is either lost or restricted which causes massive disruption for those trying to get to work or have home helps etc.

Would it be possible to make provision for allocated residential parking during the period that these events take place and give prior notification to residents living in the immediate vicinity?”

Councillor Skeels replied as follows:

“I would like to thank Councillor Griffiths for his question. I would agree that this is an excellent suggestion and I will ask the responsible officers to work with the parking team to find a way to help residents who have always been so accommodating of such events to have access to better parking options during such events.

I will work with both Ward Councillors to ensure that what measures are put in place can be effectively communicated to residents as I know that they have already opened really good lines of communication with these residents.”

Councillor Griffiths then asked the following supplementary question:-

“Well it’s a step in the right direction but it’s not exactly what we were quite hoping for. Could we have some type of time scale for this? As I can foresee this dragging on until next year’s Air Show when we really would like to have this sorted out by this year’s Air Show if possible.”

Councillor Skeels then replied as follows:-

“I’ll chase up the relevant Officers and they’ll do it as quickly as they can.”