Issue - meetings

To receive questions from members of the public, of which prior notification in writing has been received (no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the day of the meeting).

Should you wish to submit a question please complete the online form at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VH_RilQmuUumwvI0YlcqFJCd4KzoXBdDs1brNZU39TJUNkY5QzBXOVFSQzdBUlZIUk1VSjAxTjVRRy4u

There were none.

To receive questions from members of the public, of which prior notification in writing has been received (no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the day of the meeting).

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1(3)(e) and the Council’s Public Question Time and Participation at Council and Committee Meetings Scheme, the Chairman of the Council referred to two questions of which prior notification had been given.  A copy of the questions was circulated prior to the meeting.

Question One:

Why is Maldon District Council putting forward proposals to raise fees for barges well above the current rate of inflation, and is this connected to the North Quay Development proposals?

Response from the Leader of the Council

The discount applied to barges at the Hythe Quay has not been re visited for several years.  Officers have met with barge operators to discuss berthing fees which has resulted in a recommendation to maintain the base ‘discounted figure’ but apply a 10% increase in 2020 / 21.  The Council has pledged to meet operators again to discuss future years ahead of the 2021 / 22 budget cycle.  This matter is not connected to the North Quay proposal.

Question Two:

Can MDC please clarify the ‘state of play’ concerning the current failure of all concerned to make infrastructure Health Improvements considering the largescale new housebuilding and therefore increasing population pressures on Health Facilities?

Response from the Leader of the Council:

The MDC Local Development Plan includes an infrastructure delivery plan, which includes the health infrastructure that was identified as required to meet the population growth resulting from new homes.  For example, the delivery of the North Heybridge Garden Suburb will include a new health centre, to be developed alongside the housing delivery.  We welcome the news Maldon District was recently rated as the 5th best place in the country to live and we are working to ensure facilities are maintained and extended, to build further on that.

At this point in the meeting a Member raised a matter not relating to this item of business.  During the discussion that followed the Chairman called the Council to order and moved onto the next item of business.