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 R Fletcher referred to the requirement to provide two pedestrian crossings at Sandbach Road South and Sandbach Road North, Alsager, which he said had originally been proposed by the former Cheshire County Council in 2007. He had been informed that the locations no longer met the necessary criteria for the provision of pedestrian crossings and he asked for an explanation. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and infrastructure undertook to send a written reply.

Councillor S Corcoran referred to the recent appointment of a Section 151 Officer to take over those responsibilities from the Chief Operating Officer, and the appointment of an Interim Director of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer. He asked who had taken those decisions. At the Chairman’s request, the Acting Chief Executive replied that she had taken the decisions under the Council’s urgency procedures following consultation with Group Leaders and others.

Councillor H Murray asked which officer was now responsible for cycling matters. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure replied that the officer responsible for cycling was the Executive Director Place.

Councillor L Jeuda asked about reports that Cheshire East Council had paid some of its employees less than the minimum wage and that the employee who had made this known through the Council’s Whistleblowing procedure had lost their job. At the Chairman’s request, the Acting Chief Executive replied that the Council was undertaking a piece of work to assure itself that it was satisfying the requirements of the minimum wage and that this would become clearer when the exercise had been concluded. The preliminary findings appeared to indicate that the Council was meeting the requirements. The Acting Chief Executive was unable to comment regarding individual members of staff. The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Policy and Legal Services added that following the most recent staff survey, a group had been set up under the Chief Operating Officer’s chairmanship to ensure that staff were treated properly and fairly and that their views were taken into account. That work was ongoing and he awaited the outcome. Finally, the Chairman stressed that the Council’s staff were its greatest asset and that it was essential to engage with staff and to have policies in place to ensure their safety.

Councillor D Flude asked if there would be an independent evaluation of the respite care service now in place compared with the previous service. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Integration replied that there had been a robust regular evaluation of the new service and that reports would continue to be made to the Health and Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee. In addition, she had asked Healthwatch to carry out an independent review and to report back. She undertook to ask Healthwatch about the timing of the review.