Questions
In accordance with Procedure Rules 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Chairman, 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.
Questions must be sent in writing to the Monitoring Officer at least 3 clear working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
The Following questions had been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 11:-
Questions submitted by Cllr D Brickhill
Question 1
How are the residents of Crewe South ward receiving proper ward councilor care in the interim period between the end of the previous Councillors’ term of office and the appointment of new Councillors at the by election on June
16th?
Cllr Fitzgerald, in response, stated :-
Thank you for notice of your question Cllr Brickhill. Of course, we were all shocked and saddened by the sad news of the death of Councillor Betty Howell, who we will miss and indeed, this does create an issue in respect of representation of the constituents of Crewe South Ward. As a matter of law, the election for Crewe South on 5th May had to be countermanded and a new date of 16th June has been identified for the election to take place. Until that time, it is an unfortunate consequence of the circumstances we are in, that the constituents of that Ward will have no elected Borough Councillor to represent them and they will need to rely on the Cheshire East organisation to do so. Of course, all elected Members have a responsibility to assist constituents, irrespective of the ward they represent. In the brief period until the Crewe South election, Councillors representing neighbouring wards would be expected to assist Crewe South constituents.
Question 2
My second question to May 18 Council relates to my supplementary
question 2 at the last council meeting.
Members will see from their minutes of the last meeting that the leader avoided answering my actual supplementary question 2 and instead replied with totally unrelated information. (see page 10) I therefore have to ask again: Weston Road, Crewe was not taken to Council because there was no adequate financial plan to justify this. Is that correct?”
Cllr Fitzgerald, in response stated :-
I refer Cllr Brickhill to my previous response on this matter and feel that it has been addressed satisfactorily.
Supplementary Question
CllrBrickhill asked why he had not been provided with the plan, as requested, and Cllr Fitzgerald undertook to request that officers provide a justification for the purchase of the site.
Question 3
What additional and unbudgeted revenue cost has been added to this council’s costs by the purchase of the Royal Mail sorting office site on Weston Road Crewe. Taking into account business rates, interest on the capital cost, security, clearance work I estimate that cost as over half a million pounds per year. What is the correct figure? Has any income been forthcoming from the site since its purchase in January three months ago? What steps if any are being taken urgently to mitigate the loss occasioned by the purchase of this site.
These costs will have to be funded by virement from other spending. Where is that money being taken from?
What services will have to be reduced by this virement?”
Cllr Fitzgerald, in ... view the full minutes text for item 20