Issue - meetings

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.

The following questions had been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 11:

Question 1 -  From Councillor Jackson, to the Prosperity Portfolio Holder :-

Fire Procedure

In the light of a recent incident at Macclesfield Town Hall what action will the Portfolio Holder take to ensure that the Fire Alarms can be clearly heard in all offices and meeting rooms throughout all Cheshire East buildings.

What action is being taken to ensure that there are fully trained staff always available to assist disabled visitors from Cheshire East buildings, particularly with reference to the use of Evac Chairs.

Response

In the absence of the Prosperity Portfolio Holder, Councillor Macrae, Cllr Wilkinson responded on his behalf, as follows :-

Weekly fire alarm tests are carried out in all buildings to ensure that the systems in place are working correctly and are audible.   Any issues are immediately reported and remedial works are, and will continue to be, put in place to rectify any identified issues.

Fire evacuations procedures are currently being renewed in all meeting rooms.  Meeting organisers are responsible for advising Building Support staff when they have disabled visitors to the building in order that a suitable personal evacuation plan put in place.  This plan will be handed to the meeting organiser on arrival at the building.  The electronic room booking system will also be amended to ensure that all meeting organisers are aware of this requirement.

Supplementary Question

Councillor Jackson asked why people were allowed to return to the building and Councillor Wilkinson undertook to investigate and provide a written response to this question.

Question 2 - From Councillor Fletcher to the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder :-

Swallow Drive Play Area, Alsager

Will the Cabinet Member, as a matter of urgency, advise me what action is being taken to make Swallow Drive play area in Alsager safe and usable.

Members of the public have been sending e-mails to officers for many years. A sample is included below. The Chief Executive and Director J Nicholson visited this site in 2011.

Rod
The complaint & concerns have already been forwarded to… and I received a further update that they are now reviewing w/c 30th June .
The content of my note to you is the same content as that in correspondence with.
The purpose for writing to yourself is that, in my opinion, changes in Council structures & people has meant that the decision making process is far too long.
I have no idea what decision, if any, is to be made wc 30th June.
My neighbour originally contacted the Council in January 08 (yes, 2008) to highlight the lack of maintenance and ownership.

In the meantime, I feel the Health & Safety Risks at the Park are growing.

I hope this clarifies the position

Thanks

Sent: 16 June 2009 13:31
To: FLETCHER, Roderick (Councillor)
Subject: Swallow Drive - Public Open Space/Play area

Dear Mr Fletcher

My name is… and I am a resident of Swallow Drive, Alsager, ST7.

As a neighbourhood, we are becoming increasingly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110