Issue - meetings

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.

Councillor S Hogben referred to the decision taken on 3^rd January 2014 to allow the cinema at Dunwoody Way, Crewe to be enlarged, which would involve the closure of Lakeside Superbowl. He asked what the Council would do to promote tenpin bowling in the area in future and whether this could be considered for the proposed Lifestyle Centre. The Leader and the Health and Adult Care Portfolio Holder acknowledged that the closure of the bowling club was disappointing and removed a facility used by adults unable to engage in more vigorous activities. The Council would consider other sites for such a facility in the future if any proposals came forward, and would consider the suggestion regarding the Lifestyle Centre.

Councillor K Edwards referred to the redacted report on Lyme Green which the Council had published and sought assurances that the Monitoring Officer would be fully consulted on future delegated decisions and that adequate training in procurement had been carried out. The Leader responded that officers had now received and would continue to receive training in procurement and that the Cabinet itself had also received such training. He also confirmed that the Monitoring Officer would be fully consulted on delegated decisions and would be able to reject any decisions with which they were not satisfied.

Councillor B Murphy asked how the Council had found itself in the position whereby publishing what had actually been said during the Lyme Green investigation could adversely affect Council taxpayers. The Leader referred to the legal advice that the Council had received which had been published previously.

Councillor Murphy also referred to an error with the waste collection service at Tytherington over the Christmas period and wondered if similar incidents had occurred elsewhere. The Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Environment responded that the Council had not received an unusual number of complaints over the Christmas period and that overall the service had run well.