Questions
In accordance with paragraph 1.18 of the Council Procedure Rules, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Mayor, the appropriate Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, the Cabinet or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.
At Council meetings, there will be a maximum question time period of 30 minutes. Questions will be selected by the Mayor, using the criteria agreed by Council. Any questions which are accepted, but which cannot be dealt with during the allotted period will be answered in writing. Questions must be brief, clear and focussed.
Minutes:
Cllr D Stockton asked when the Parking Review would be published and the solutions proposed be implemented. Cllr C Browne, Deputy Leader, responded that the latest information he had was that the final amendments were completed on 19 February which were ready to be published on the Council’s website. A press release would be issued when this happened.
Cllr S Gardiner sought assurance that when a cared for child’s advocate raised concerns about the services provided for that child, the interests of that child would be put before that of the Councils. Cllr K Flavell, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families responded that the child would be put first and, if he had a specific query, to contact her directly.
Cllr M Simon asked what where the expected savings to made by deletion roads from the winter gritting routes. Cllr L Crane, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste undertook to provide a written response.
Cllr JP Findlow asked about the Council’s policy for the installation of electric vehicle charging points. Cllr N Mannion, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the Environment Strategy coming forward to Cabinet in April will cover this. Cllr C Browne, Deputy Leader, stated that electric charging points were referenced in the Local Transport Plan brought to Council in October 2019.
Cllr J Clowes referred to the Government’s announcements of funding for supported bus services. She asked if the Council had claimed the available money and that details of the bus services to be included be put in the public domain in due course. Cllr C Browne, Deputy Leader, responded and stated that the Government had already announced that Cheshire East would receive the additional revenue.
Cllr A Kolker asked if the Leader was aware of the devastating impact the Council’s commissioning decisions were having on voluntary, charity and community sector organisations and how the policy was damaging people’s jobs and the capacity of long standing delivery partners and the care of residents they supported, and asked for assurance that there was no procurement basis against this sector. Cllr S Corcoran confirmed that there was no procurement bias in the Council and stated that there were currently compulsory tendering rules set by Government which he would like to see changed to allow the Council to use the voluntary sector.
Cllr R Bailey was permitted by the Mayor to refer to the Leader’s apology, at the last meeting, in respect of ‘wrongdoing allegations’, for which she was grateful, but expressed concern about any inference made that procurement matters had not been properly dealt-with under the previous leadership. This was noted.