Issue - meetings

To review the arrangements for determining the venue for meetings of the Strategic Planning Board.

The Committee was invited to review the arrangements for determining the venue for meetings of the Strategic Planning Board. This followed concern expressed by some members about the choice of venue for a recent meeting of the Board.

The Committee had originally considered the matter at its meeting on 20^th September 2012. Having considered a number of options, the Committee had resolved:

“That Council be recommended to agree that the venue arrangements for meetings of the Strategic Planning Board should be as follows:

That the Capesthorne Room, Macclesfield Town Hall and the Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe be reserved in advance for every scheduled meeting of the Strategic Planning Board, with the room that is not required for a particular meeting being released at the appropriate time, the choice of venue to be at the discretion of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning Board in consultation with officers.”

Council at its meeting on 11^th October 2012 had approved the recommendation as set out.

Since the new arrangements had come into effect, 10 meetings of the Strategic Planning Board had been held in Macclesfield and 11 had been held in Crewe.

The Committee considered whether there was merit in undertaking a more general review of the planning arrangements in Cheshire East to determine whether they were fit for purpose or whether suitable alternative models should be explored.

RESOLVED

That the Constitution Member Working Group be asked to

1.    review the arrangements for determining the venue for meetings of the Strategic Planning Board; and

2.    undertake a more general review of the planning arrangements in Cheshire East to determine whether they are fit for purpose or whether alternative arrangements should be explored;

and report to the Committee’s next meeting.