Public Speaking Time/Open Session
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.
Minutes:
In response to questions submitted by Liz Braithwaite the Registration Service and Business Manager confirmed that:
· If a decision was made to proceed with a Parish Council for Macclesfield then the Local Service Delivery Committee would cease to exist.
· The nomination process for Parish elections would commence once the Notice of Election had been published and this was expected to be towards the end of March. The deadline for the delivery of nomination papers would be in accordance with the statutory timetable for local elections which was 4.00pm on 9 April 2015 and there was adequate time for briefing meetings for prospective candidates to be held beforehand.
· The Community Governance Review Sub-Committee and the Constitution Committee were the decision making bodies for the conduct of the Macclesfield Community Governance Review but there were opportunities for the local Ward Councillors to input their views.
Richard Watson, speaking on behalf of Macclesfield Civic Society, said they would be happy to assist in discussions concerning the 1st year budget for the new Council. The Society requested that consideration be given to including finance to support the work around the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan as it would be advantageous to include it in its first years work. The Chairman responded that their comments and assistance would be most welcome.