Agenda item
Questions by Members
The following questions have been submitted by Members of Council to Members of the Executive, in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Constitution Part 5A, Rule 12).
Written responses will be circulated to Members and published on the Council’s website at least one working day prior to the meeting. A Member submitting a question is entitled to ask one supplementary question at the meeting which must arise directly from the question or the response to it.
The supplementary questions and answers will be detailed in the minutes of the meeting.
Question 1: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery:
I am aware that WODC had won a £2.2m grant from the UK Govt (via a wholly owned organisation called Salix) for a project at Chipping Norton Leisure Centre. This funding was awarded under PSDS4 Grant (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme 4) for the replacement of gas boilers with Air Source Heat Pumps. A requirement of the grant was that the gas boilers be classed as end of life or coming to the end of life.
My understanding is that WODC have written to the UK Govt to hand money back, shortly after being awarded it last year. I may be wrong, but I do have it on very good authority that the Council has made this decision and are about to write to the government if they haven’t already.
The grant funding has now been cancelled by central government and no longer exists, with no intent for anything to replace it - therefore, this is no future funding for this type of work.
Given Local Government review, as far as I am aware, there has not been an approach to the County Council to discuss the reasons for the money being handed back to the government. I am of the understanding OCC would have supported WODC with resourcing if required. What is the reason for the decision making? It would seem prudent that all avenues are explored before deciding to hand so much money back.
I am of the understanding that the decision meeting itself occurred between directors and the Chief Executive, were any Executive Members involved? Were Officers involved? If so, who? I would also like to know when the meeting took place, and for a copy of the minutes to be distributed to members.
Additionally, there is a second PSDS project proceeding at Windrush Leisure Centre, and it is unclear as to why Chipping Norton has been cancelled, and Witney is proceeding.
Leisure services are a statutory service and will continue beyond LGR in the same building. Therefore, given that the boilers in Chipping Norton are at end of life, the costs for replacements will now need to be picked up directly by WODC or a successor authority.
One requirement of LGR is for all Councils to conduct a building condition survey to help inform quicker decision making on properties and budgets post LGR. I am suspecting that recent investment into the leisure centres may be shown by the condition surveys as requiring investment. I would appreciate some further information on these condition surveys and potentially an opportunity to meet with officers to discuss these further, if the decision behind this investment is from the surveys.
Therefore, please can the Executive Member explain why £2.2million was handed back to the UK Government?
Question 2: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance:
How much has West Oxfordshire District Council spent on legal fees in settlement of subsidence claims in Deer Park since 2000? Please split this response by year and cost.
Question 3: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment:
A few years ago, West Oxfordshire District Council removed a significant number of public bins across our towns, villages, and hamlets. Considering the ongoing impact on local cleanliness and amenity, will the Executive Member for Environment commit to a district-wide review of bin locations? Furthermore, will the Council guarantee that Town and Parish Councils, who hold the most granular knowledge of their residents' needs, are formally consulted at the very beginning of this process to ensure infrastructure is placed where it is most needed?
Question 4: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy:
Please can you provide a detailed update on the progress for the adventure play area at Windrush Place?
Question 5: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy:
Please can you confirm the progress on the delivery of the new 3G Pitch at West Witney Sports and Social Club?
Question 6: From Councillor Michele Mead to Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy:
The WODC Voice magazine has recently been sent out to all residents page 9 is all about the Carterton Area Strategy, a working group was set up to work on this strategy but in the last nine months they have only met once so please can you tell me when they are meeting again to progress this strategy?
Supporting documents:
PDF 96 KB