Leader's and Deputy Leader's Announcements
To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader and Deputy Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, in summary:
1 thanked all for attending the meeting and stated he wished it had not been necessary to hold the meeting. All the group leaders had signed a letter asking for the legislation allowing remote meetings to be extended, but this had not happened, and so Members had to meet physically.
2 reported that there had been a rapid rise in the covid infections rates in Cheshire East at 131 per 100,000, which was up from less than 20 per 100,000 a few weeks ago. Cheshire East had been placed in an enhanced resources area. The Leader asked that all take care and follow the hands, face, space, and fresh air guidance.
3 reminded Members that it was Armed Forces Day on 26 June and referred to the UK scheme for local employed staff, such as interpreters supporting the armed forces in Afghanistan, who had risked their lives providing and now feared reprisal and asked the Members support those who choose to relocate to the UK. A report relating to this was being prepared and would be brought to the Environment and Communities Committee in due course.
The Deputy Leader, in summary:
1 reported that the Council had responded to the Government’s call for evidence on remote meetings.
2 stated that he had visited the public realm work in Castle Street, Macclesfield, wholly funded by the Council, and had been pleased to learn the contractors had been particularly sensitive to the needs of existing businesses. As a result of this, local businesses had been supportive of the project. The contractors had also been trying-out electric powered plant equipment.
3 reported that the Government had updated its national performance league tables for business grants and Cheshire East was in the top 25 local authorities for the number of payments made and monies distributed to businesses.
4 reminded that the closing date for application for the restart grant was 30 June 2021. It was anticipated that the Council would receive £3.4m of discretionary grant funding once the government had accepted the evidence that all the additional restrictions grant money had been allocated.
5 confirmed that the Council had bid for funding to support the regeneration of Macclesfield Town Centre, specifically the Council owned market, the old Sunday School and enhancing the Town Hall square area.
6 highlighted that consultation on a new on-demand transport services in the south of the borough had been launched.