In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, a member of the public resident within the Borough may ask a maximum of two questions relating to the business of the Council providing notice has been received by 10.00am two working days before the relevant meeting.

Four Public Questions had been received and these were put to and responded to by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Hossack, as follows:

Although Mrs Gearon-Simm was not present to ask her questions, the Leader read out the question and gave his response so it was on record. 

Mrs Gearon-Simm submitted two questions as follows:

1. We are now required to provide photographic evidence for our right to vote”.

Brentwood residents are required to pay council tax.

In the light of this Conservative governments’ requirement, what will Brentwood Borough Council do to enable residents to participate in democracy?

Cllr Hossack responded as follows:

Brentwood Borough Council will be supplementing the Electoral Commissions national information programs through local awareness campaigns.

In addition, communication sent from the Electoral Registration Officer via the councils website, posters, social media and email newsletters contains information on voter ID to ensure electors have access to the correct voter ID or information on how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Leaflets will shortly be despatched to households with council tax bills and the prescribed voter ID information will be printed on electors poll cards together with information at the polling stations.

Electors can also contact the electoral services direct for additional assistance.

Mrs Gearon-Simm’s second question was as follows:

1.    An amendment to the housing bill that is presently awaiting its third reading in the Commons will require landlords to fix health hazards withing strict timeframes.

This has been prompted by the failure of Rochdale Borough Housing to tackle the black mould in the house where two year old Awaab Ishak lived.  This mould caused his death.

England’s housing regulator will be given new powers to conduct inspections issue unlimited fines and charge landlords for emergency repairs. 

I believe that his bill only applies to “social housing”?

If there is not a housing regulator in England for tenants who pay rent to private landlords in the free market, does Brentwood Borough Council inspect such properties?

Cllr Hossack responded as follows:

The Bill is the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill which aims to facilitate a new proactive consumer regulation regime by establishing a Social Housing Regulator.  This will apply to social housing residents, however local authorities already regulate the private rented sector and there are powers to require repairs and to issue fixed penalties or prosecute for non-compliance.

The Government also plans a renters reform Bill for the private rented sector and to introduce other measures for the private rented sector, including a legally binding decent homes standard and a new property portal for landlords to provide information on all properties let.

There are also powers to introduce selective licensing of private rented homes to tackle problems of low housing demand or significant anti-social behaviour, however most private sector landlords in Brentwood have good standards and there are no current plans to introduce a selective licensing in the Borough.

Brentwood Borough Council will investigate complaints about private sector housing from tenants and enforce to improve standards where this is needed.  

Mrs Smith submitted two questions as follows:

1.   What is the point of the public submitting objections (or ideas for compromises) to planning applications if they are completely disregarded in every respect and the plans voted through by the administration councillors who won’t be affected?

Mr Hossack responded as follows:

Planning applications undergo a consultation process in line with national requirements. This includes consulting statutory stakeholders, other interested bodies, as well as the ability for local residents to comment. The planning case officer considers these comments as part of the decision-making process, assessing the application and the comments received against national and local policy. It is important to remember that a consultation response or collection of responses do not form a referendum on whether development is supported or not.

The comments received are all considered, but these need to relate to planning reasons under policy in order to be given weight when determining the application. The case officer considers the merits of a proposal and makes a recommendation. Ward councillors on the Planning Committee consider this as part of decision-making, they may not agree but the outcome needs to be based on planning reasons. So, all comments are considered, by officers and members if an application reached committee. But that does not mean that the decision is always going to be supported by those who have made comments.

Mrs Smith’s second question were as follows:

2.    Has Brentwood Council conducted an evaluation of the effects of the following policies on local council tenants or homeless people / potential Council tenants.

 “Reinvigorating Right to Buy”; NOT to alleviate the adverse effects on local council tenants of the bedroom tax; Voting for fixed term tenancies rather than secure tenancies.

Especially the possible effects on the vulnerable, those with complex needs, the disabled & sick, and carers or other disadvantaged groups.

Is there a possibility that any of these policies will be reversed and for what reason(s) after any such consideration or evaluation?”

Cllr Hossack responded as follows:

1. The Council follows all statutory responsibilities with respect to the Right to Buy as required by the Government.  Where possible we use applicable receipts from Right to Buy sales to fund new affordable housing (including new council housing).

2. The Council works with partners to identify and support people who are struggling with their living costs.  This includes financial support including Discretionary Housing Payments.  Full details of help and support can be found here: https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/cost-of-living

3. The Council does not use fixed term tenancies for its council homes, and has no plans to do so at this stage.