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.

Cllr Rob Vernon asked that the traveller transit site in the Borough be provided as soon as possible to help alleviate the inconvenience caused to residents with unauthorised encampments. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the Council was working on identifying potential sites and undertaking feasibility assessments.

Cllr James Barber asked about how the education impacts of approved developments in his Ward could be mitigated.  The Portfolio Holder for Planning responded that mitigation is considered in plans to ensure that they were in place to support growth.  The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families undertook to provide a written response specifically in connection with school place planning.

Cllr Laura Crane spoke on air quality around schools and referred to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s policy to start fining motorists who did not switch off their engines when asked to do so and asked if the Council could introduce a similar policy.  The Leader undertook to provide a written answer on the technical details of introducing such a scheme.

Cllr Tony Dean referred to Agenda Items 8 and 9 and asked about the Council’s aim of carbon reduction and impact of climate change on these schemes.  In response the Deputy Leader stated that Environmental Impact Assessments had been carried out for these schemes.  The two schemes would help improve air quality by reducing traffic congestion, included cycling provision and mitigation measure for biodiversity.  It was agreed that the Environmental Impact Assessments would be forwarded to Cllr Dean.

Cllr Tony Dean referred to item 10 and asked if the draft Economic Strategy would be reviewed in light of the Council’s new environmental aims.  The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the Strategy was a draft, was subject to a period of consultation and that feedback and good practice would be incorporated.

Cllr June Buckley asked if areas of grass could left to grow long in the summer months and then mowed and collected up at the end of the season to help wildflowers to grow and spread in some areas in Alsager.  The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that there was no set policy and that he would look into this matter.

Cllr Phil Williams referred to a response given to a question asked at the last Cabinet meeting on badger vaccination programme and asked about badgers culling on tenanted farm land. The Leader replied that he had previously asked a similar question and the answer he was given then was the Council could not in many cases dictate to tenant farmers what they allowed to happen on their land.  However as tenancy agreement were renewed or changed the terms could be amended, where possible, to include that badger culling would not be allowed on the land.

Cllr Hazel Faddes spoke about the 2017 Bus Review and the Little Bus service and asked if the questions used were biased towards the proposed new times for the service -  9.30 am to 2.30 pm.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18