In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.
Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.
Petitions - To receive any petitions which have met the criteria - Petitions Scheme Criteria, and falls within the remit of the Committee. Petition organisers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak.
Minutes:
Ms Jose Spinks, Secretary of the Friends of Bollington Library group, addressed the committee to highlight the importance of libraries in education and asked the committee to consider the impact libraries had on quality of life for residents.
Ms Sandy Milsom, Chair of the Friends of Bollington Library group, highlighted the range of activities undertaken at the library for all ages and stated that opening Bollington Library for one and a half days per week would not be sufficient for the full range of current services to be offered. Ms Milsom also stated that closing the library during the weekend would prevent school age children from being able to attend.
Ms Chris Holohan spoke in relation to the proposals affecting Bollington library. A protest had recently been held in Bollington with 200 children, parents and carers in attendance. Ms Holohan stated that Saturday was the busiest day at the library and closing on Saturdays would exclude families from accessing the services.
Ms Julia Cooper spoke in relation to Bollington library and reported that she had started a petition which currently had 1074 signatures and 87 statements in support of the library. Tuesday and Saturday mornings were the busiest times at the library; however, the proposal to open from 2pm on Tuesdays and close on Saturdays had led to a concern that usage would decrease. Ms Cooper asked the committee to consider the value the library added to the community.
Cllr Nigel Macartney from Bollington Town Council spoke in relation to the Libraries Strategy and stated that the library provision per 100,000 population was already lower in Cheshire East than neighbouring authorities. Cllr Macartney felt that the library proposals in the report were in contrast to the libraries strategy itself.
Mr Brian Perkins spoke as a resident of Bollington regarding the household waste and recycling centre closure. A survey had been undertaken by residents on tip usage and the finding were presented to Cllr J Snowball and Cllr K Edwards, along with questions from residents, for which Mr Perkins requested assurance that responses would be given. Mr Perkins referred to the upcoming three-month closure of the Silk Road and highlighted a concern about how Bollington residents would be able to travel to Macclesfield tip. Mr Perkins also raised a concern about CO2 caused by residents travelling further to access household waste and recycling centres. The Chair advised that a detailed response would be provided when the questions were received from Cllrs Snowball and Edwards.
Mr Jim Hoyle spoke as a Bollington resident and highlighted the range of services provided by the library and the opposition to the proposals from Bollington residents.
Mr Jon Weston spoke in relation to the libraries strategy and stated that there was a need to look at how to maintain the current provision at a lower cost as Cheshire East already had a lower provision than neighbouring authorities.
Ms Chris Harrop spoke in relation to waste collection and expressed concerns about the impact on older and disabled residents who used incontinence products which were considered biohazards and could become an issue if black bin collection changed to three-weekly. Ms Harrop felt that the use of a larger bin would not solve the issue as residents would be unable to store or move it and felt that the Council would be failing in its duty of care.
Mr Greg Lisle spoke in relation to the closure of household waste and recycling centre provision in Bollington and Poynton and highlighted concerns about the increased CO2 and cost to residents as a result of travelling to Macclesfield. Mr Lisle felt that the access to Macclesfield tip was dangerous and that there would be an issue with the upcoming three-month closure of the Silk Road.
Ms Catherine Leighton spoke in relation to Bollington library and stated that this was an essential facility and was important to the wellbeing of residents. Ms Leighton felt that if the library only opened 1.5 days per week, many services would be lost for those who needed them most.
Ms Juanita Bullough spoke in relation to Handforth library and emphasised the range of services the library provided and that cuts to opening hours would affect those residents most in need.