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 D Flude referred to a ‘pop up’ car park that had appeared on the site of the former railway offices and Royal Mail sorting office in Crewe, with access onto the railway station bridge. The Council’s Highways Engineers had informed her that no permission had been given for the car park. She mentioned that the Council had purchased the sorting office and railway offices at a cost of approximately £2M in order to improve the access to the town and specifically to enable Network Rail to develop a car park and new station entrance. However, she wondered if some of the land had now been sold by Network Rail for other purposes. She sought clarification as to what exactly the Council had given to Network Rail and for what purpose. The Chairman undertook to provide a written reply.

Councillor Flude also referred to an issue with the call centre service where it appeared that a choice on the ‘voice activated’ options given was unable to deal with enforcement enquiries. She asked that the matter be addressed.

Finally, Councillor Flude referred to a meeting of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in April which she felt was likely to attract a significant amount of public interest. Given that the meeting was scheduled to start at 2.00 pm, she asked if the meeting could be recorded for the benefit of those who would be unable to attend. The Chairman replied that the Constitution Member Working Group had made a recommendation on the recording of meetings and that Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee would need to be consulted on the matter.

Councillor B Walmsley asked about the Council's plans regarding apprenticeships in Cheshire East in relation to the Skills & Growth Company. The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Health replied that the Skills and Growth Company ASDV was coming forward at exactly the right time to help businesses, both public and private, to understand the wide-ranging policy and legislative changes and boost apprenticeship numbers across the Borough. Now was the ideal time for the Council to lead by example on the Apprenticeship agenda, empowering the Skills and Growth company to develop and deliver the Council’s apprenticeship programme, acting as a leading light to businesses across Cheshire East.

Councillor M Parsons, referring to the proposal to proceed with the Middlewich Bypass, asked if the Council would follow this up by showing similar commitment to the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich Railway line to passenger traffic and providing the much needed Middlewich Station; and to the creation of traffic/pedestrian safety schemes in Lewin St. and at Town Bridge. The Chairman replied that the Council was focussed on delivering on its promises in Middlewich and that the Local Plan had identified and safeguarded an area for the provision of a railway station. The Council had also secured financial contribution from the developments on Warmingham Lane to improve the Town Bridge junction. Pedestrian facilities would be included in the improvements. Cabinet had also authorised a major commitment toward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121