To deal with questions (if any) which councillors may wish to put to the Leader of the Council. It will be at the Leader’s discretion to re-direct questions to relevant Members of the Cabinet. A councillor wishing to raise a question must notify the Chair of the Council of the text of the question prior to the commencement of the meeting. (NB This item is limited to a maximum of 5 questions, with no more than 1 question being asked per councillor. If a question requires a detailed or technical response, the Leader may decide that a written response is more appropriate).
Minutes:
The following questions were asked to the Leader of the Council. Using his discretion, the Chair waived the normal limit of 5 questions.
|
Questioner
|
Question |
|
1. Councillor Catlin |
I hear rumours that new guidelines for the use of Lewes Precinct by traders etc are to be revised. Will Lewes members be consulted on this or will it be an officer decision in the best tradition of big sibling?
|
|
|
Response Councillor Smith advised that he understood these were at the early stages of development. There would be a consultation with Lewes Councillors, and in due course it would come back to the Licensing Committee for decision.
|
|
2. Councillor O’Keefe |
Two years ago a section of Lewes Town received poll cards giving the wrong polling station given. Recently the same area of the town received poll cards for the local plan referendum with the same mistake made. Staff have been quick to respond to my correspondence about this but I am concerned that it was possible for this to happen twice. What is Lewes District Council doing to support the staff in the electoral services team to help to make sure that all polling cards in future have the correct polling station on them? |
|
|
Response Councillor Smith responded that he had received assurances that this had been taken on board and would be rectified in the polling station review, and he would hope that this was done before the next elections.
|
|
3. Councillor Denis |
In the light of recent correspondence between Lewes District Council and Lewes Community Land Trust (LCLT), which all Councillors will have seen, how will the Council ensure that Lewes town families on median local wages benefit from the "affordable" housing to be provided at North Street Quarter, and, given that Community Land Trusts like LCLT and the newly-formed Ringmer Area Community Land Trust, will embody asset locks to protect their assets in perpetuity for the benefit of their communities, what role do you envisage for Community Land Trusts?"
|
|
|
Response Councillor Smith provided a written response stating that: The Council believes that CLTs like the Lewes Community Land Trust and Ringmer Community Land Trust are important partners in achieving the Council’s ambitions to deliver new homes for communities. The Council works closely through Sussex Community Housing Hub to support any community that wants to set up a land trust and is fully supportive of applications to achieve grant funding available through Homes England.
The Council is very supportive of the aims and objectives of the Lewes CLT and is currently working with them on a number of new homes in the town that would use Council land and government grant funding.
The affordable housing element of the North Street Quarter development was approved by the planning authority (South Downs National Park Authority) as part of the detailed permission that was granted back in May 2016.
The Council is committed to helping the Trust in its ambition to acquire new homes at the NSQ, but this is something that will need to be discussed with the developer, once appointed. In the first instance, the Council is keen to work with the Trust to prepare a proposal that can be discussed with the majority landowner - North Street Quarter Limited.”
|
|
4. Councillor Osborne |
As this is the last Council meeting for many Councillors, would the Leader and all Councillors join me in giving a wholehearted thanks to the Officers for their outstanding work over the last 4 years often in difficult circumstances? |
|
|
Response Councillor Smith agreed he would add his support to this sentiment. He stated it was very well deserved, especially given the joint transformation programme and he had been very impressed with the way staff had conducted themselves through this time.
|
|
5. Councillor Saunders |
Relating to the Newhaven Square development, is there a date yet for the public consultation on the Council’s final design for a Town Centre scheme in Newhaven? If this is not known, can the Council look to work with the Town Council and make better use of the redundant facilities in Newhaven Square, whilst the protracted negotiations and designs continue?
|
|
|
Response Councillor Smith agreed to respond in writing to the question.
|
|
6. Councillor Davy |
Our small businesses in the District will welcome the Cabinet’s new initiative policy. A discount of one third off the rates bill for eligible firms and enterprises that have a rateable value of under £51k helps, but in my view, I think it is time to help small and medium businesses more. (Small medium businesses are classified as between 10-49 employees. Micro is 0-9).
One way to help would be to raise the level at which business have to pay VAT: currently from £85k but raise the turnover level to £250k. It makes sense and is not complicated to put in place, but this decision must be made by Central Government.
By the time wages and salaries are paid, plus employer’s national insurance contribution, plus rent and rates, even a small enterprise will reach an £80k turnover. They are then liable for VAT, making it near impossible for our small businesses to make even a small profit. Small business should be financially encouraged to succeed and thrive in the hope of helping them to expand and create more local jobs in the district.
VAT is not paid on profits, but on total turnover, so a firm can be making a loss, but be liable for VAT, whereas corporation tax is paid on profits. Increasing the threshold to £250k would be a simple way of helping our small firms in the District and also trickles down the line to help reduce our cost of living.
May I call up on the Leader, Councillor Andy Smith, on behalf of Lewes District Council to write to: Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking the Government to seriously consider changing the VAT threshold.
|
|
|
Response Councillor Smith responded that he would be happy to do this, but would want to see further detail first. He was concerned that given the Chancellor had consulted on bringing VAT down to £20k in line with the EU position to bring in additional revenue of £2B, even though it was voted down, it may be difficult to get this proposal through the Treasury. However, he did recognise this could be a straightforward way to support small local businesses. |