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 Corcoran referred to the lease with Alderley Edge Parish Council for the allotment sites at Alderley Edge and sought an assurance that the Council would prevent any variation of the lease to allow for alternative uses. The Leader responded that the Secretary of State had the power to vary the terms of a lease of an allotment site if such a variation were sought.

Councillor D Flude asked if the Council would take steps to persuade Network Rail to make repairs to the Manchester Bridge in Crewe, particularly given the likelihood of greater usage by traffic during the Sydney Road Bridge works. The Leader responded that all such Bridges in the area were under design and impact review.

Councillor Flude also asked the Portfolio Holder for Care and Health in the Community, Councillor J Clowes, to give an assurance that the Better Care Fund was going forward as planned. Councillor Clowes confirmed that the Better Care Fund would be going forward in April.

Councillor L Brown referred to the proposed Macclesfield Housing Strategy and asked that the Strategy take into account the likely impact of the night time economy on people living in town centre accommodation. She also asked of local ward members could be consulted on any housing proposals. The Leader responded that the officers would take both matters on board.

Councillor M Grant asked if the Council had contingency plans in place in the event that the Council’s Local Plan was not rectified promptly. The Leader responded that there were contingency plans in place for all eventualities.

Councillor B Murphy asked what steps were being taken to counter what he called the emerging threat of devolution to Greater Manchester in order to protect the independence of Cheshire. The Leader welcomed the decision to devolve more powers to Greater Manchester and saw further opportunities for Cheshire East to work in co-operation with Manchester and others for mutual benefit whilst at the same time defending and preserving the unique identity of Cheshire as a separate place.

Councillor Murphy also referred to discussions with Arighi Bianchi over a land swap in Macclesfield and asked if there were plans for the Council to use the land to be acquired for housing development rather than parking. The Leader responded that he was not aware of any such proposal; he undertook to look into it further but indicated that he would not support the idea.