In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 35 and Appendix 7 to the rules, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to speak at Council meetings.
Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Mayor will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.
Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given. It is not a requirement to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.
Minutes:
Mr John Jones used public speaking time to ask the following questions and indicated that he would be happy to receive a written response to them :-
1) Regarding the following list of sites:
· Pyms LaneCrewe
· Moss End Farm Alsager
· Leighton West Crewe
· Broad Lane Nantwich
· Walley's green Middlewich Road
· Booth Bed Lane Goostrey
· Holmshaw Lane Haslington
· Hack Green Nantwich
All the above sites are part of much larger Cheshire East Council owned parcels of land.
We would like to know what criteria was used to determine that the sizes as published are the correct sizes in the individual locations?
What person or persons was responsible for deciding these criteria?
Why when the council states that it needs a minimum of 15 pitches at this time are these sites not all of a size that would accommodate this requirement?
2) Where have you drawn your information from regarding your statement “The area is a traditional area for travellers to visit “?
3) Given 5,500 people have signed a petition objecting to this application, what strategy does CEC have in place now, and ongoing, to integrate the two communities? And what cost will this be and how is it to be funded ?
4) From research undertaken Gypsies have stated their order of preference for site provision is as follows : 1) Their personally owned site 2) Site owned by other Gypsy families 3) Council run site. Given this fact, why is Cheshire East forging ahead with this application and in tandem, turning down applications from Gypsies in this County for their own sites ?
5) Given the Council’s own research that they require up to 42 pitches in this area in the next 5 years, why have they chosen to site this development on the next to smallest site of their supposed original 12 sites considered which started off as 15 pitches, reduced to 12 and finally to 10 due simply to the site being too small?
The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Rachel Bailey, in response stated:-
“Can I thank Mr Jones for his questions. I am happy to provide a written response to your questions, not only to yourself but also to all members of the Council.”
Ms Judy Collins used public speaking time to speak on behalf of KAFKA, a group which had been formed to fight for local services in Knutsford and which had submitted a petition to be debated later in the meeting. She wished to assure the Council that those who had signed the petition fully understood the position in Knutsford.
She commented that there had been consultation regarding the Stanley Centre, but that there had not been public consultation regarding the temporary closure of Bexton Court. Consultation with GPs was insufficient and more public consultation was needed.
She also took the opportunity to thank the Town Council for their support in this matter.
She stated that, when the petition had been presented the point had been made that Cheshire East Council must lead with its partners and expressed regret that the Council had not taken the opportunity to follow the example of colleagues at Cheshire West and Chester and engage more with interested parties.