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 whether, following the successful completion of the Tour of Britain, more attention would be given to cycling provision in planning applications. He asked for a public statement that the Council’s planning officers would be asked to respond positively wherever possible to suggestions for improved cycling provision. The Leader responded that a significant piece of work was currently underway to evaluate the legacy of the Tour of Britain and a report would be coming to Cabinet addressing the health and wellbeing and other aspects of the legacy. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure added that it wasn’t just about improving cycle provision but also public rights of way and how to achieve a green infrastructure in towns. It would be necessary to put together a coherent strategy to link these things together which would ultimately lead into the planning process. The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning added that getting the necessary connectivity and infrastructure in place was vital.

Councillor D Flude indicated that she and Councillor Hogben had asked the Council’s highway engineers to undertake a review of the Crewe to Nantwich Road through the Crewe South Ward from the Railway Station to the Manor following a number of serious traffic accidents along this length of road involving cyclists. She would welcome any assistance the Cabinet could give in the matter.

Councillor Flude referred to the fact that councillors’ allowances would once again be published on the Council’s website, and that the redundancy pay for an officer recently made redundant had also been published. She asked whether in future all redundancy payments would be published and whether all bonus payments received by senior officers during the financial year would also be published. The Chairman replied that the Council endeavoured to be open and transparent. On the specific matters raised by Councillor Flude, the Chairman asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Policy and Legal Services, who was also Chairman of the Council’s Transparency Panel, to provide a written reply.

Councillor M Warren, on behalf of Councillor A Stott, asked if the Chairman would confirm that the report on available walking routes to school would be considered at the Cabinet meeting on 18^th October as there was likely to be a significant presence from Tytherington School. The Chairman confirmed that the matter was on the Forward Plan for the Cabinet meeting on 18^th October.

Councillor Warren also referred to a project call ‘Beyond a Cyclist’ which aimed to produce a film to highlight the dangers of overtaking HGVs on popular cycling routes. He asked for the Council’s support for the project. The Chairman replied that this could be taken into consideration as part of the legacy of the Tour of Britain. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure added that he was supportive and would be happy to meet Councillor Warren to discuss the matter further.