To receive any questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution. 

The Chairman invited the public speakers to make their statements in accordance with the Public Participation Scheme.

Everton Heath Primary School

Mr Mardi, Chair of Governors at Everton Health Primary Schools, spoke on the proposal for the school to become part of the CAM Multi-Academy Trust.  Mr Mardi referred to the Executive’s decision in March 2013 that the Trust would have to take over the responsibilities of any unpaid teacher pension payments for the period between 2007 and 2013.  Neither the Governing Body nor the Trust felt able to accept this liability.  He requested a meeting with the Council to resolve the issue.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services explained that since March 2013 there had been 20 Academy conversions, which had proceeded on the basis suggested by the Council.  However, he would respond directly to Mr Mardi.

Sewerage and Fly Tipping

Mr Briggs, a resident from Stanbridge, congratulated the Council on securing an Enforcement Order for the Kingswood Nursery Site for the prevention of the burning of industrial waste.  He raised concerns that there was no provision for drainage at the site which had led to foul smells.  An additional 6 caravans had moved onto the site meaning that there were now 30 using it with no proper sewerage provision.  The ditches around the crop fields were full of sewerage.

The Executive Member for Community Services would raise the concerns with the Environment Agency.  He would provide an update on the work being undertaken to Mr Briggs in writing.

Enforcement

Mr Gibson, a local resident, was concerned that the Council was not enforcing breaches of planning and green belt policy by the gypsy and traveller community.  He felt that the Council was turning a blind eye and that this had led to Central Bedfordshire having one of the highest concentrations of gypsy and traveller communities in the area.  This was having an impact on the communities living in Central Bedfordshire.

The Executive Member for Regeneration requested a list of specific concerns where it appeared that enforcement had not taken place.  He would look into these concerns and respond directly to Mr Gibson.  He explained that enforcement was a long and difficult process. 

The Leader of the Council confirmed that the Council treated everyone the same and had an effective enforcement policy.  He acknowledge the frustration and the difficulties with the enforcement policy and assured residents that it was not for the lack of trying that the Council did not always succeed.

Community Cohesion

Ms Dimmock, spoke about community cohesion between the gypsy and traveller and the settled communities in the Tilsworth and Stranbridge area.  She believed that these two groups followed different planning laws undermining community cohesion.  To improve the situation, the Council needed to show strong leadership by enforcing planning rules.  She referred to a recent planning application for Kingswood Nursery, Tilsworth where 140 objections were received.  Kingswood Nursery was an unauthorised site and a brick wall had been built in the drainage ditch where hedges used to be.  There was a lack of adequate gypsy and traveller sites and this was leading to unauthorised sites.  The Council should act fairly to protect the green belt and improve community cohesion.  She requested that the Leader set up a steering committee to develop a strategy to address the situation.

The Executive Member for Regeneration explained that the planning application for 6 pitches at Kingswood Nursery had not yet been determined.  He requested that Ms Dimmock provide him with the specific details of her concerns and he would reply to her directly.

The Leader advised that he would consider the suggestion of setting up a steering committee.

Councillor’s Duty to Care to Residents

Ms Sutton, spoke on behalf of local residents about the lack of enforcement action in the area.  She highlighted problems such as the anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, blocked drains and an imbalance in planning decisions in the area.  The lack of action by the Council was having an impact on the community.  She referred to the work of the Parish Council and queried whether Officers at Central Bedfordshire Council felt valued with the reduction in budgets.  She requested that the Council take action to create a fair society.

The Leader confirmed that the Council tried to do its best for the residents of Central Bedfordshire with the funding available.  The Council faced significant resource pressures in areas such as adult social care and vulnerable children.  The Council was committed to improving its services, within those resource constraints.

Regenerating Small Businesses in Central Bedfordshire

A member of the public read out a statement on behalf of another member of the public who wished to remain anonymous.  The statement referred to regeneration in Dunstable and the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor initiative, but  raised concerns that the same effort was not being put into Leighton Buzzard.  A recent planning application for a barn conversion had been turned down.  It was felt that planning applications were not being dealt with fairly as the greenbelt was being built on and hard surfaces were covering pastures, woodlands, natural habitats etc.  The statement questioned whether the Council was trying to attract people who ignored planning laws and would not integrate into the local community.  The second part of the statement referred to a formal complaint about a Director.

The Executive Member for Regeneration explained that Dunstable Town Centre was in the process of being rejuvenated.  Infrastructure benefitting the area such as the A5-M1 and Woodside link roads had been built and employment in the area had increased.  He would be happy to liaise with the member of public whose application for a barn conversion had been turned down.  If any specific details regarding the lack of enforcement on green belt could be passed to the Executive Member, he would investigate. 

The Leader advised that any complaint against a Director should be submitted through the Council’s formal complaints process.