Report of the Chairman of Executive Board.

The Chairman of Executive Board presented his report further to which questions were raised on the following points:

·         Housing Register - Only 550 applicants were enabled to bid for homes out of the current 1500 currently on the list of applicants, an assurance was sought that this would improve in the future;

·         Ageing Population - Our increasing ageing population and longer life expectancy was something that the Council must keep in mind;

·         Refuse collections - A slight drop in waste per head was good news, but did the Council have a plan for further reductions;

·         Climate Change – Would the newly appointed Climate Change Manager look at the districts carbon footprint as part of the remit of the post;

·         Corona Virus - Was the public health authority receiving the proper lead from government and the appropriate stewardship to deal with the situation;

·         The Cultural Strategy Funding update – This was welcome and it was noted that economic growth was very much the driver, but in terms of wellbeing, cultural experience was of benefit to many and should be an additional focus;

·         The need to focus on young people;

·         The Connected Coast Boards – Would the members of the Place Reference Groups names be made available?

In response, the Chairman of Executive Board responded as follows:

Housing Register – This was a valid point and the Council would look to improve the numbers enabled to bid;

Climate Change - The Carbon Trust was undertaking the work on the carbon footprint on behalf of the District Council; this would inform the work of the Climate Change Manager;

The Cultural Strategy – The Strategy would raise economic activity and the Council would ensure that the therapeutic cultural element would be included; 

The Council was aware of the skills agenda and the need to retain young people;

The Place Reference Group – Councillor Leyland agreed to take up the query on the names of those on the Group.