Public Speaking/Open Session
In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.
Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.
Minutes:
Honorary Alderman, Norman Edwards attended the meeting and used public speaking time to highlight problems regarding accessibility by electric scooters, provided for people with disabilities, in Macclesfield Town Centre and on the Middlewood Way. He referred to the former Macclesfield Borough Council Access Panel, which had dealt with such issues and suggested that a similar Panel/Committee be introduced by Cheshire East Council.
The Committee agreed to pass this request to the appropriate body within the Council for consideration.
Mr Bob Toms used public speaking time to express concern regarding the introduction of a second tax on the people of Macclesfield, to pay for local facilities and questioned how many local people were aware of the possibility of a special levy being introduced. He considered that the residents of Macclesfield would be paying twice for the facilities. He also asked why there was not a Town Council for Macclesfield and commented that the Local Service Delivery Committee members were selected, rather than elected.