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.

As Mrs Smith and Mrs Gearon-Simm, the Mayor asked the questions on their behalf.

Two questions had been received from Mrs Smith.

Mrs Smith’s first question:

What has happened to the La Plata badgers?

Cllr Aspinell responded:

I can advise that in accordance with wildlife legislation Natural England granted a licence in June 2021 to temporarily close a badger sett which was subsidiary to the main badger sett whilst development activities took place. Once the development was complete the sett was reinstated.

Mrs Smith’s second question:  

How can it happen that when independent organisations such as Citizen's Advice or Peabody (both operating from the Council reception area, and presumably approved of by the Council) try to help support a local vulnerable disabled resident to the Housing Department, to clarify or uphold their rights, or sort out a situation objectively, they are completely ignored / stonewalled?

Cllr Dr Barrett responded:

The organisations working from the Councils reception area, independently rent the space which provides a central location for them to help those most in need. The Housing Department works closely with these and other organisations on a regular basis to resolve the issues raised with them by residents requiring help and support.  

Two questions had been received from Mrs Gearon-Simm.

Mrs Gearon-Simm’s first question:  

In Switzerland, taxes paid to the local cantons (countries) are not taken away by the Swiss federal government. Cantons do not have to rely on the grace and favour of their federal government for grants. In England, local authorities central funding was squeezed post 2010 to the degree that spending power fell by 17.5% in a decade.

In 2015, the Audit Commission, which used to oversee local authorities audits, were no longer required and this seems to have been a key moment in the emerging financial disaster of property speculation by local authorities. Did Brentwood Borough Council (BBC) engage in purchasing property for speculation in the “free market” without voters referenced in this matter? If BBC still owns property for fund-raising purposes, is this thoroughly audited?

Cllr Kendall responded:

Any purchases of properties by the Council have been with the appropriate Members agreement and consideration is given to the benefit such purchases provide in terms of redevelopment or economic benefits to the borough. These are reported as part of the Council's Accounts which are audited by the Council's External Auditors and reported to the Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

Mrs Gearon-Simm’s second question:

The Joseph Rountree Foundation, has been monitoring the scale of destitution in our country since 2015. Destitution is the state of living without sufficient means to have the basics for sustaining life. Margaret thatcher said “Bring back Victorian values”. Slums, workhouses, poor laws, child prostitution were part of the Victorian era. Does Brentwood Borough Council know of any destitute people who are living in Brentwood?

Cllr Aspinell responded:

Unfortunately, not everyone who is destitute will make themselves known to the Council. The Council regularly reports on the number of residents experiencing some form of hardship via a number of different measures especially in relation to the cost-of-living crises. These can include those experiencing homelessness, those in significant arrears or numbers of people visiting local foodbanks, however the reasons for this are very specific to the individual residents and we cannot therefore deem that all these people would be formally classed as destitute. At the Council’s latest street homeless count carried out in November, no residents were reported as street homeless, however we are aware that this is only a snapshot and may not show the full picture. The Council has a number of ways in which it will help the most vulnerable residents and we would encourage residents to come forward and seek support and advice at the earliest possible opportunity if they are facing significant hardship.