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Search forCommunity leaders get a grilling
Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 08:30
Eight panellists from various institutions in North East Lincolnshire faced a full audience at the Whitgift Film Theatre.
The 'Big Conversation' is a trial event which went well and well overshot the 9pm finish time as comment and debate were rife.
The panel faced a series of questions submitted to the council and the audience were also allowed to comment. The panel were; the Leader of the Council, Coun Andrew De Freitas; the Deputy Leader Coun Keith Brookes; Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell; divisional commander of Humberside Police, Chief Supt Dave Hilditch; North East Lincolnshire Council's new chief executive, Tony Hunter; chair of the North East Lincolnshire NHS Care Trust Plus, Val Waterhouse; plus the North East Lincolnshire representative on the national Youth Parliament, Becky Smith and her deputy, Jordana Flint.
Here's a selection of the questions:
Question 1:
As an area of the coast it is arguably even more important that we address climate change and CO2 reduction. What robust policies should be adopted to ensure our area and your organisations move as close lose to carbon neutral as possible?
Austin Mitchell said: "The Government is doing its best to try to increase the use of public transport and locally we have the new bio-diesel plant at Immingham, using food waste. However, it was disappointing to see our planning committee reject the wind turbine proposed by Novartis."
Keith Brookes added: "I cannot believe it was rejected as there are windfarms all along the north bank, and we reject the use of one! We need to adopt the strategy put forward by the carbon trust."
Question 2:
You expect the public to recycle, but don't you only recycle a third of your waste? Is this setting a good example?
Tony Hunter said: "We are trying to look at recycling more and trying to work with schools to educate the youngsters so it is inherent in them to learn to recycle.
Question three:
With the expansion of the bio-ethanol plant on the Humber bank, residents in Healing are concerned at increased traffic. What is NELC putting in place to ensure villages such as healing are safe from a projected 100 HGV movements a day?
Keith Brookes said: "We will try to work with these companies to help educate the drivers and we would only use legislation as a last resort."
Question four:
Should the council or Shoreline consider buying up anti-social problem properties to make them more attractive to long-term residents?
Andrew De Freitas said: "In the past 12 months over 100 properties have been forced into use by we, the council challenging landlords. Shoreline could attract more investment than us and we hope to continue to help make sure properties are occupied and not just an attraction for drug culture and transient residents."
Question five:
How should the panel improve the use and enforcement of ASBOs?
Chief Supt Hilditch said: "We believe they work well and that they now have their place. The CPS have disappointed us at times when ASBOs are breached with leniency and we would like to see more enforcement on their part.
Coun Watkin commented that: "It has been brought to my attention that somebody in our area has broken an ASBO 21 times and that is not good enough."
Question six.
What can be done about drunk people in St James Square?
Chief Supt Hilditch said: "It is difficult as it is a nice public place and that is why they gather there. However, it is an alcohol exclusion zone and it is only 15 to 20 people who are there. We do patrol the area daily and we are trying to step up our operations to ensure that they do not drink there and cause other people problems. However, if we move them on it moves the problem on to other areas."
Question seven:
How is it that at 13 years old a young person is not seen as old enough to be involved in making decisions, however, leisure and transport services charge 13 year olds the same rate as adults?
This brought a variety of comments from the panel, though few answers and the comment from an audience member, referring to the regeneration of Victoria Street, Grimsby was: "This council should stop spending the money on bent lampposts and fountains that don't work and help subsidise young people's transport."
Question 8: "Can we have more activities for young people that are cheaper?"
Keith Brookes said: "We have worked hard and voluntary organisations provide a great deal of free activities for young people to do and this is increasing all the time.
Question nine:
If there is a message you could send to the Government directly about young people what would it be?
Tony Hunter said: "To avoid stereotyping and acknowledge that the vast majority of young people are integral to the good working of our society and to recognise that more freely."
Question 10:
What actions are being taken, and should be taken, to address the Local Area Agreement Priority to ensure that people from different backgrounds get on well together?
Andrew De Freitas said: "It is a complex issue as we here have a relatively small percentage of ethnic minorities, but through time, effort and energy I think residents should work harder to help us break down these barriers."
Question 11:
In light of the Henry Boot planning decision, what assistance should be provided to Grimsby Town Football Club in their relocation plans?
Val Waterhouse said: "Grimsby Town is more than just a football club, they are an important part of the community, an asset and a hub for people in the region. It is difficult as the council cannot finance them, but we need more input and ideas to help."
Question 12:
In light of the stated aims of the local authority to encourage regeneration to the town centre, what will be done to ensure council workers remain in the town centre and add to the economy and regeneration?
Andrew De Freitas said: "We need a 'can do' attitude and we need to be realistic too. We cannot afford to build new offices, the people would not accept it. I also think the Europarc site offers a new place for business and investment."
Question 13
Should NELC be considering supplementing it workforce with causal workers and the probation service, to ensure jobs like gully clearing and hedge trimming are carried out on a more regular basis?
Keith Brookes said: "I would indeed have the convicted offenders out there in bright T-shirts so we know who they are. We are doing that and I agree that it should become more prominent."
Question 14:
Why is hospital food and parking so expensive?
Val Waterhouse said: "I am sure the hospital have lowered the price and upped the quality of their food recently, and the reason the parking is expensive is to make sure people who should not be parking there aren't. They also need to service the car park and this is expensive."
Question 15:
How does the council choose which parks to renew?
Andrew De Freitas said: "We asses the needs on individual merit and distribute funds accordingly."
Question 16
Can you assure me that Grimsby in Bloom will receive the same financial funding from NELC that Cleethorpes in Bloom did?
Andrew De Freitas said: "It was indeed a great success and the heard work is to be commended. It may be difficult as the budgets will be stretched but we could try to get ward councilors to spare some of their budget towards it, but we will see what we can do.
Question 17
I think the Council for Young People is good and more people should join. How will they increase membership?
Jordana Flint said: "We have the conference coming up and we try to recruit there, but there are now more poster campaigns in schools and colleges."
Mr Mitchell and Coun Brookes listen to a question.
Rob Atkinson interview
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