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.

Ray Perry felt with regard to the postal ballot, it was obvious that those who responded supported a Town Council – as the other options received fewer votes. That this Committee was now being allowed to discuss the matter in his view seemed strange, but he was very interested to hear the views of the meeting.

The Chairman explained that the views of this Committee would be considered by the Constitution Committee, which would then make a recommendation to the Council. It would then be a matter for the Council to determine.

Roy Spoors, of the Citizens Advice Bureauwas in favour of local representation and indicated that all the public speakers at the meeting on 7 October had been of one voice – in that they felt there should be a Town Council for Macclesfield.  Mr Spoors stated that every town within Cheshire East had one and why should Macclesfield be any different.  He explained that CAB worked directly with Town Councils extremely well in areas such as Knutsford and Wilmslow.  The CAB wished to see the same relationship with Macclesfield.