Issue - meetings

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 relating to the work of the body in question.  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.

Councillor S Corcoran spoke in respect of the expansion of Offley Primary School, Sandbach.  Whilst he was pleased at the proposed expansion from 315 to 420 pupil places he was concerned that this was 150 places short of the estimated need.  In addition, and whilst he broadly agreed with the estimates of growth used he was concerned that the numbers would be higher as developments in the area were being marketed as larger than average family houses; also estimates did not take account any successful additional speculative applications.  He asked a question regarding the need to return ring fenced funding to the Education Funding Agency in the event of expansion not being approved and an explanation was given of how this would be calculated.