TWO Potter Street community residents have put pressure on the Tory-run Conservative council on plans to regenerate the area.

Gary Roberts and Colin Thorp asked a series of questions at Thursday nights meeting of the full council.

Film and transcripts of their questions is below.

Gary Roberts to Councillor Russell Perrin (Leader of the Council):

You have claimed your administration is about regeneration of local areas
and providing locally based council services. Therefore please explain why:
The former Potter Street neighbourhood office has remained empty for over
ten years and when will locally based council services return to Potter Street?

Reply from Councillor Russell Perrin (Leader of the Council):

Thank you for your question, Mr Roberts and I commend you for your ongoing
campaign to improve community services in Potter Street.

As you will be aware, the neighbourhood office closed many years ago. I am
committed to ensuring that building is no longer left vacant, and the Portfolio

Holder for Regeneration will announce details of a scheme to regenerate that
vacant building in the near future.

Gary Roberts to Councillor Russell Perrin (Leader of the Council):

In February this year you stated this to me:
“However, the Council is working with local residents to deliver a new Potter
Street Health and Community Hub. This has been supported by the Council’s
staff to get this over the line. I am informed refurbishment work will start soon
on the site”

Please explain why nothing has happened since on the refurbishment of the
Potter Street Health and Community hub?

Reply from Councillor Russell Perrin (Leader of the Council):

Thank you for your further question.

As you will be aware, the Portfolio Holder for HTS, Properties and Facilities is
reviewing this project given the enormous rise in costs. This was not foreseen
at the time I responded to your previous question and the relevant Portfolio
Holder will be outlining the next steps for this project. I am aware he recently
met with the Community Group and will update them again shortly.

Colin Thorpe to Councillor Steve LeMay (Portfolio Holder for HTS,

Properties and Facilities – with special responsibility for the roads):

At the full Council meeting held on the 22nd July 2022 in answer to my
supplementary question regarding the cost of repairs to Osler House

Councillor LeMay stated “But I will review it all and I will meet with your group,
and I will go through it line by line”

Following a brief meeting at Osler House on the 20th September 2022 with
Councillors LeMay, Leppard and an officer in attendance Councillor Leppard
sent an email on the 21st instant with the statement as follows;

1. Cllr LeMay to obtain an updated budget and spec from HTS as soon
   as possible and then review this with the officer and Colin Thorpe
2. Agree a final works schedule and budget.
   At the Harlow Common Residents Forum held on the 5th October 2022 with
   Councillors LeMay, Leppard and Wilkinson in attendance the assurance was
   given that the repairs budget would be discussed in full
   However at the meeting I attended held at the Civic Centre on the 14th
   October 2022 with Councillor LeMay and the officer the revised HTS tender
   was not available and Councillor LeMay refused to discuss any of the cost
   saving measures put forward by the group and with complete disregard to the
   following:
   Harlow’s 10 Wellbeing Plan 2018-2028
   The Local plan section L2-L4
   Harlow Councils Resilience Strategy 2021-2022 specifically the reference to
   Osler House
   The Social Values Act regarding procurement
   Harlow Council’s procurement strategy
   The Equalities Act
   I ask again when will the Council fulfil its commitment made to the
   disadvantaged groups of Harlow and commence the repairs to Osler House
   as promised?
   Reply from Councillor Steve LeMay (Portfolio Holder for HTS, Properties
   and Facilities – with special responsibility for the roads):
   As I have explained to Mr Thorpe, I am committed to the best possible
   healthcare provision in our town. I was previously the Chair of the Harlow
   Health Centres Trust (HHCT) before resigning to become a councillor. This
   charity has done enormous amounts for healthcare in Harlow and I was a
   trustee for many years.
   
3. The meeting at Osler House was not brief, it was extensive, and I made very
   clear the financial constraints, we as a council face. The price of the works
   has nearly double and there is an extremely large funding gap. That is why I
   have made clear that small savings from the list Mr Thorpe has will not cover
   the funding gap.
   I also met with the community group and made clear I am not dismissive of
   the project, I care passionately about healthcare provision, but explained in
   detail the financial constraints we as a council face and that we have a large
   gap in the finances/funding between what we have the allocated budget and
   what is required.
   I have now received the revised figures from HTS and am working with
   officers to finalise the new project cost. Once I have this confirmed, I will do
   as I have always committed to doing, advise the community group on the way
   forward. I have done exactly as I promised to throughout.
   This is purely based on what we can be afforded and the best value for
   money to the taxpayer.
   4 Colin Thorpe to Councillor Alastair Gunn (Portfolio Holder for
   Governance):
   Is it now par for the course that regardless of which side of this Chamber you
   sit for Councillors to disregard emails sent to them?
   Out of the 33 emails I sent to the Councillors who supposed to be
   representing the people of Harlow I received 4 replies with one stating that
   the particular Councillor was on holiday giving dates in May 2022!!
   With those emails was an attachment of the Potter Street Health and
   Wellbeing Trust’s proposal for a Wellbeing Hub situated in Potter Street but
   available to all the residents of Harlow
   Councillor Code of Conduct (Part 1) General Provisions
   1 Introduction and Interpretation
   1.1As a Councillor you are a representative of this Council and the public will
   view you as such Your actions impact on how the Council as a whole is
   viewed and can have both positive and negative impacts on the Council
   4 General Obligations
   4.1You must treat others with respect
   As a resident of Harlow the Chair of Harlow Common Residents Forum and
   the Treasurer of the Potter Street Health and Wellbeing Trust by ignoring 29
   out of the 33 emails sent have Councillors created a negative effect on the
   Council as a whole and treated me with respect as laid down in that Code of
   Conduct?
   Reply from Councillor Alastair Gunn (Portfolio Holder for Governance):
   Councillors are elected to serve residents in their ward. Except insofar as they
   may have wider responsibilities such as being a Portfolio Holder or being a
   Member Champion, Councillors would not be expected to reply to any
   correspondence received from those they are not elected to represent and to
   whom they are not democratically accountable.
   It is also important to recognise that Councillors are not full-time officers and
   have to balance their public sector responsibilities with jobs, families and
   other commitments.
   I trust this explains to Mr Thorpe why he was unlikely to receive responses
   from Councillors that do not represent the Harlow Common ward.