In accordance with paragraph 1.18 of the Council Procedure Rules, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Mayor, the appropriate Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, the Cabinet or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.
At Council meetings, there will be a maximum question time period of 30 minutes. A period of two minutes will be allowed for each member wishing to ask a question. The Mayor will have the discretion to vary this requirement where they consider it appropriate. Questions will be selected by the Mayor, using the criteria agreed by Council. Any questions which are accepted, but which cannot be dealt with during the allotted period will be answered in writing. Questions must be brief, clear and focussed.
Minutes:
Councillor P Redstone asked how many planning officers had left since 2018, whether they had been replaced, what was the establishment of the department in 2018 and what was it now. The Portfolio Holder for Planning undertook to provide a written answer.
Councillor D Marren, in relation to flooding in his ward, referred to the Local Government Ombudsman setting up virtual meeting with the Council on 23 February and asked who would be attending, and if he could attend. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste agreed to provide a written response to the question.
Councillor A Farrall referred to the Armed Forces Covenant and asked if the Council would consider if establishing a dedicated housing outreach officer to engage directly with members of the armed forces. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that he would ask officers to look at examples at other councils to see if the Council could improve its offer and asked Councillor Farrall to forward the information he had.
Councillor J Clowes and Councillor M Asquith both referred to planning enforcement issues in their wards and asked that action be taken on these and meetings be arranged so the Parish Councils could put forward their concerns. The Portfolio Holder for Planning responded that they would need to discuss the issues raised with officers and undertook to provide a written response.
Councillor S Gardiner asked about the Council’s policy for the reuse/recycling of items taken to the household waste sites which were of sufficient quality to be recycled. In response the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste stated that the operator’s contract allowed for goods which could be reused to be salvaged and undertook to provide a written response with the details.
Councillor S Akers Smith referred to two Congleton residents who had received awards from the High Sheriff of Cheshire for their volunteer work and asked if the Council could also recognise the achievement of volunteers during the pandemic. The Portfolio Holder for Communities responded that the lockdown restrictions had prevented the holding of any events to recognise the work of volunteers and asked Members to let him know of ideas on how this Council could do this. The Leader of the Council asked Councillor Akers Smith to forward him the details of the two Congleton residents so that they could personally congratulate them on their award.
Cllr B Puddicombe asked about what plans the Council was making for post covid recovery in Cheshire East and especially in major towns. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the Council had been working hard to process and pay out grants to businesses and was working on an economic recovery plan. In Macclesfield the Council had been working with the Town Council and stakeholders to develop a town centre recovery plan and these plans would be developed for the other towns in Cheshire East.
Cllr C Bulman asked for clarification on the situation in relation to highways which had been raised earlier in the meeting and asked if the administration was going all they could to investing in the Borough’s highways and footpaths. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that the MTFS document before the meeting today, on page 316, set out the investment in highways. However the DofT had announced yesterday the level of funding the Council would be receiving, and this was £3million less than last year. The Council would ensure that it would do the best it could with the funding received.
Councillor M Simon referred to previous questions they had asked in relation to the removal of roads from the winter gritting routes and asked if any decision had been made in relation to Colleys Lane, Williston. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that the Council was hoping to make an announcement in April and that as soon as they had any information on the changes to winter gritting routes it would be shared with all Members.
Councillor R Bailey referred to a report in the Daily Telegraph on the slow payment of business support grants and asked what the backlog of applications at the Council was. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that there were currently 184 grant applications awaiting assessment – a 14-day backlog, and they would provide a written response with the details.
Cllr H Faddes referred to the refurbished Market Hall in Crewe and asked when it would be reopening. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the reopening would depend on when the Government lifted the lockdown restrictions, but the Council was working to a provisional date in early May.