Leader's Announcements
To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council:-
1. Welcomed the new Bollington Councillor, James Nicholas, to his first meeting of Council and congratulated him on his election.
2. Welcomed Councillor David Newton to the Council meeting following his absence due to illness.
3. As the meeting was taking place in Sandbach, highlighted some of the many examples of how local groups are making a real difference. The Leader referred to the well-established Sandbach partnership, which had instigated many improvements to Sandbach Park, to name but one. She stated that the Council’s recent participatory budgeting initiative had seen some great community programmes funded. These included opportunities for local gymnastic clubs to provide more sessions and activities in the park to improve people’s physical and mental health.
4. Reported that, in November 2016 the Minister for Children, Edward Timpson, had written to the Council to confirm that he was satisfied with the good progress being made in relation to the OFSTED Children’s services Inspection recommendations, that the support and supervision monitoring period was now complete; and the DfE’s involvement with Cheshire East Council was ended. This was a reflection of the significant progress made. It has been agreed that oversight of progress against the remaining actions within the Improvement plan would be taken by the Health and Wellbeing Board, with regular reports to the Board to demonstrate progress being made and to highlight areas requiring further work.
5. Reported that there was to be a renewed focus on Member Training and Development, with the benefit of team e-learning, to equip all Members with the tools they needed to perform specialist and community roles. Further announcements would be made in respect of this.
6. Reported that Cheshire East Council continued to work with its partners, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington Councils and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, to develop proposals for a possible devolution deal. At present it was proposed that consultation would start on draft proposals in April and any final deal would be brought back to this Council for final approval in July.
7. Referred to the Special Meeting of Council, to take place later in the morning, where consideration would be given to motions submitted in respect of the Cabinet decisions regarding walking routes to schools from Bollington to Tytherington High School and from Willaston to Malbank School and Brine Leas School. She referred to additional information and a feasibility study which had been produced, in respect of highway matters. Cllr David Brown, Highways and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, provided an update in respect of proposed highway improvements, including the installation of a Toucan crossing on the Silk Road, Macclesfield . He also referred to work which was ongoing with British Rail in respect of pedestrian lighting and the sequence of trains on London road, Nantwich.