Agenda item

In accordance with paragraph 1.32 of the Council Procedure Rules 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 Chairman 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.

Mr John Martin stated that Sandiford Road was the only road in Holmes Chapel which directly connected two A class roads and for this reason was controlled by a Traffic Regulation Order which designated Sandiford as Access Only. Residents of Sandiford Road over the last 3 years had been campaigning to have the Access Only Order enforces and asked why the Council was refusing to address the issue.  Cllr Brian Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that an origin and destination survey had been undertaken, which showed that 66% of vehicles during the period of the survey used the road as a cut through.  The report would now be passed to the Police for them to determine the appropriate enforcement solution.  The Council did not have the powers to enforce traffic orders and were not able to install ANPR camera.  The Council would look at the other potential solutions including closure of the road or one way working.

Mr Andrew Wood spoke on a number of issues.  He wished to nominate Sarah Porter for a ‘Secretary of the Year’ award as she has been helping him out.  He asked if the Council would support his aim to rebuild the Market at Chelford for local farmers.  He also asked the Council look at putting back the teaching of agriculture, engineering and crafting in schools. Following the floods it had left a hole in the banking by his house and he asked that this flood defence be repaired.

Carol Jones spoke on the importance of communication and asked that Cheshire East get communicating and get talking and all work together to get a better system of communication.

Mrs Sue Helliwell stated that she was fully supportive of the proposal to be considered at Item 11 recommendation 2.4, that a maximum period of two minutes would be allowed for members of the public wish to speak or ask a question during public speaking time.   She also asked if the Council would ensure that none of the committees had only one permanent female representative as was the case with the Strategic Planning Board.  Cllr J Nicholas, Chairman of Constitution Committee responded that he was unable to give absolute assurance on this and stated the membership of the Strategic Planning Committee was not the norm.  The previous and current Cabinets had an equal mix of gender, as it other committees.  Committee members were selected for their skills and experience that they bring to committees.

Jane Smith spoke on behalf of Wounded Badger Control Cheshire and stated that they had been out every night for the past six. She wanted to see real action from farmer and Cheshire East on badgers.  This was the third year of the cull and bovine TB was not being eradicated in any of the cull zones.  Vaccination was now available free of charge to farmers and asked the Council to promote this fact and promote badger vaccinations instead of culling on Council owned farm land.  The Leader of the Council responded by stating that culling was banned on Cheshire East land under their control and the Council was unable to change a tenancy agreement on county farms part way through without the agreement of the tenant but could change the tenancy when it came to the end of its term. He also stated that a Cheshire East programme had started training volunteers on how to vaccinate badgers.

Liz Durham, speaking on behalf of Gareth Jones, stated that at the Council meeting on 18 July, Cllr Rob Vernon had made a false unsubstantiated allegation against the previous leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey,  that she was involved in the processes of the investigation and disciplinary committee.  He has been told quite firmly by the Monitoring Officer that this assertion was incorrect and Liz Durham asked Cllr Vernon to withdraw the comment.  She asked Cllr Corcoran if he had admonished his councillor for casting such a slur and asked if Cllr Bailey had received an apology.    Cllr R Vernon responded by apologising for his comment and stated that he had been given incorrect information.  He apologized to Cllr Bailey and Council for not withdrawing the comment.