Flooding
Debate between Rosie Cooper and Lord Pickles(10 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Mr Pickles
I will, but I hope that the House will forgive me if I then make some progress.
Rosie Cooper
Does the Secretary of State know whether any regulations are being used to stop dredging at this time? When farmers in my areas asked for dredging to take place, they were told that regulations say that it is the breeding season and that birds cannot be disturbed, so dredging has not occurred. Is there any way in which such regulations can be overruled?
Mr Pickles
Again, if the hon. Lady would be kind enough to give me precise details of that matter, I will certainly engage with it. I do not want to give the impression that dredging is the solution to everything. It might well be inappropriate; in particular, it might make the situation of a very fast flowing river worse. We need to be able to put together bespoke solutions for particular areas. Part of my area of Essex has been saved from flooding by the sensible use of water meadows, which is an idea that I very much support. We cannot replace one doctrinaire view with another ideological one.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Rosie Cooper and Lord Pickles
Mr Pickles
It is always a great pleasure to meet my honourable chum. Perhaps, shortly after these deliberations are concluded, she will join me for a warming beverage in the Tea Room.
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)
T5. West Lancashire borough council has just entered into an agreement with One Connect, a joint venture between Lancashire county council and BT to provide specified services. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that all councillors on both authorities will not be prevented from exercising their fiduciary duty to their council tax payers under the guise of commercial confidentiality? Will he investigate the openness and transparency of those arrangements in relation to the use of public moneys?
Mr Pickles
I think I have actually visited that site and that venture of co-operation. It is a very good thing, and I think it will help out the process. If the hon. Lady has a particular problem about a lack of transparency in relation to the importance of councillors ensuring that their constituents are treated fairly, I will happily look into it.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Rosie Cooper and Lord Pickles
Mr Pickles
I do not know the precise circumstances of the hon. Lady’s constituents, but if she would care to write to me with the details, I would happily take up the matter with Westminster council.
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)
2. If he will encourage local authorities to increase their use of local suppliers in the provision of goods and services.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Rosie Cooper and Lord Pickles(13 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Pickles
The great thing about transparency is that a number of citizens are looking at their local council and asking it questions if it is closing down swimming baths or libraries while spending on things that do not relate to front-line services. I think that transparency is a very good thing. If people are closing down valuable community assets, they should make a very strong case for doing so.
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)
15. What recent assessment he has made of the effects on fire authorities of the planned reductions in grants to local government.