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 asked if the Council would be following the example of the Conservative Group leader for Cheshire West and Chester who had suggested political bias over the choice of red Christmas baubles for Chester. The Leader assured Councillor Corcoran that Cheshire East Council had no such political bias.

Councillor D Flude referred to an article in the Sunday Times business section which stated that it was because the trade unions at Bentley Motors had changed their working practices that a contract did not go to Bratislava and instead benefited Crewe. She wanted to place this on record in view of an item on trade unions later on the agenda. The Leader, in acknowledging that the trade unions had played an important part at Bentley, also referred to the unions at Hurdsfield who had worked successfully with Astra Zeneca. He also stressed his support for the trade unions at Cheshire East who were working with the Council in innovative ways.

Councillor L Jeuda asked if the Council would revisit the decision to close in-house respite care. Whilst beds had been secured in the private sector, it was not clear how many there would be when compared with the current provision at Hollins View and Lincoln House, particularly where additional nights were needed. Councillor J Clowes, Portfolio Holder for Adults, Health and Leisure, replied that in terms of the numbers of beds in the Macclesfield area that the Council had contracted for, there was enough provision to meet the historic demands of Hollins View and Lincoln House. Further, the Council had over ordered the number of beds to meet any increased requirements. The Council had worked hard with its partners and the independent sector to see whether Hollins View and Lincoln House could be made economically viable but this had proved not to be the case.