Agenda item

The following questions were asked by Members:-

1.     Cllr D Marren referred to a recent employment tribunal case. He said that, at the preliminary hearing, the judge had struck out the Council’s costs application and the Council’s application to dismiss the case. A ten day hearing had now been scheduled for June of the following year and he sought assurance that the claim would be robustly defended and that there would be no settlement agreement. – The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

2.     Cllr L Jeuda asked the Leader to justify the money spent on the employment of a barrister to defend the Council against a whistle blower who was claiming unfair dismissal and whether the residents of Cheshire East would be paying the bill for this. - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

3.     Cllr B Burkhill referred to the supplementary capital estimate for the Crewe Green roundabout, approved at the previous meeting of Council, and asked when this would be brought back to Council, as Members had voted on what they thought to be a loan, which now appeared to be a gift. – Cllr Paul Bates, Finance and Communities Portfolio Holder responded.

4.     Cllr D Flude referred to correspondence received from a resident asking what the justification was for “The Voice” magazine produced by the Council and asked how residents could opt out of the 19 pence that they were paying for this, as part of their Council tax. – Cllr Peter Groves, former Democratic and Public Engagement, Assurance and ICT Portfolio Holder, responded and undertook to inform Cllr Flude what the resident concerned needed to do, so that she could pass the information on to them. 

5.     Cllr Kolker asked whether the Council could do anything to help with the provision of good and appropriate careers advice in schools. – Cllr George Hayes, former Children and Families Portfolio Holder, responded.

6.     Cllr S Pochin asked, in light of the threat to the Consultation Partnership, with some partners refusing to commit to taking their share of the housing, what reassurance the Leader could give that the 100,000 houses required if the HS2 Hub station went to Crewe, that all the housing would not be built in Crewe and Nantwich. - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

7.     Cllr S Corcoran asked, in view of the concerns expressed regarding “The Voice” magazine, what the cost to the Council would be for the contract advertised on the Chest, dated 16 October 17, including public relations and image to support the work of the Communications Team. - Cllr Peter Groves, former Democratic and Public Engagement, Assurance and ICT Portfolio Holder, stated that this was a procurement issue and undertook to arrange for a written response to be provided.

8.     Cllr N Mannion asked, in view of the new housing development allocated in the Local Plan on former Green Belt land on either side of Chelford Road, Macclesfield and the associated additional traffic movements at Broken Cross roundabout, would the draft Air Quality Management Plan for Broken Cross take this into account, when would the Air Quality Management plan be published for consultation and would there be enough money, so that the measures proposed in the action plan could be delivered. He asked for a written response to be provided and that this also be sent to the two ward members for Broken Cross and Upton, Cllrs Hardy and Durham.

9.     Cllr D Bailey welcomed the Leaders announcement regarding an independent cultural review, agreed by the Staffing Committee and sought assurance that the review would be dealt with in a proper and open manner - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

10.Cllr J Bratherton asked who was empowered to make the decision as to what was debated at Council meetings and which motions were debated at the meeting, when others were referred to Cabinet and Committees. – The Mayor responded.

11.Cllr E Brookfield referred to sleep-in rates for care workers and sought assurance and confirmation that any settlement to care works would ensure that pay was brought in line with the Cheshire East living wage and not just the national minimum wage. - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded briefly and undertook to provide a written response.  (Following the Leader’s response, Cllr S Corcoran asked the Monitoring Officer to clarify whether a breach of the national minimum wage legislation was a criminal matter, or not. This would be factored into the written response).

12.Cllr B Roberts referred to security issues at the former Crewe baths and asked for reassurance that the Council would make greater efforts to secure the property as soon as possible - Cllr Paul Bates, Finance and Communities Portfolio Holder responded. –

13.Cllr J Nicholas questioned whether the Council was open and transparent with its residents, when it did not to refer to areas where the Council was failing in “The Voice” magazine produced by the Council. - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

14.Cllr T Fox noted that the Leader had alluded to the LGA providing professional advice and support, including mentors for Councillors and senior officers and a dedicated resource to improve communication with residents and also workshops with Cabinet and senior officers, to ensure that they worked together. She asked that all Members be kept fully informed, with regular updates in respect of any dealings with the Police and DCLG concerning senior officers and Cabinet Members, both past and present. - The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.