Questions to Cabinet Members
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.
Minutes:
Councillor N Wylie referred to the decision not to fund and support road closures for Remembrance Sunday in 2020. Parish councils had been notified of this in a letter from the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner. She asked the Portfolio Holder for Communities to work to reinstate the supported road closures.
The Portfolio Holder for Communities undertook to take the matter up with the Police and Crime Commissioner and to keep Councillor Wylie informed.
Councillor J Clowes indicated that two areas in the south of the Borough affected by the recent flooding had been notified the day before Cabinet that they would receive a site visit by the flood inspectors, six weeks after the floods had occurred. Three other areas at Burley Dam, Cox Bank and Stapeley were awaiting a response. She found the length of time it had taken to respond unacceptable and asked for this to be investigated.
In responding, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste emphasised that the Rivers Authority and landowners also had a responsibility to take action in relation to the floods. However, he undertook to investigate the particular cases referred to and provide a written response.
Councillor J Saunders referred to a figure of £1.5M in the draft budget relating to Cheshire East’s carbon emissions and sought further details as to how the money would be spent and what the expected outcomes were. She also asked if this was a sufficient commitment of resources.
The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that further details would be reported to Cabinet in April 2020 when it received reports on the Carbon Action Plan and Environmental Strategy. He added that the Council was also expecting to receive grant funding from the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
Councillor T Dean referred to a proposal in the draft Environmental Strategy to produce a Green Infrastructure Strategy by October 2019. He asked when this would be available to members.
The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration undertook to circulate the Strategy to all members and provide a link to the website.