To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader and Deputy Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, in summary:
1 stated that Cheshire East Council had changed significantly and for the better since Kath O’Dwyer had been acting Chief Executive in April 2017. She had risen to the challenge and taken some difficult decisions. He thanked Kath for getting the Council to the position it was in now. He was sorry to see her go to St Helens but, as he had repeatedly and publicly stated, for environmental reasons we should walk and cycle more and use our cars less. Therefore he could only applaud Kath for taking a more local job. He wished her every success as Chief Executive in her home town of St Helens.
2 reported that the Corporate Peer Challenge would take place between 13 and 16 January 2020 and would be undertaken by Members and officers from other local councils. A self-assessment had been published on centranet, which could be seen by all Members. Sarah Messenger would be part of the team and he would be very interested to hear from the LGA on what progress has been made since her report in 2018.
3 referred to the late Councillor Dorothy Flude, saying that she was his mentor when he joined Cheshire East, and that he was deeply honoured that his name had been on the list of people she wanted to speak at her funeral.
The Deputy Leader of the Council, in summary:-
1 paid tribute to Kath O’Dwyer and the support she had provided to him as Deputy Leader.
2 reported that around 3000 responses had been submitted to the consultation on the publication draft of SADPD. These responses were currently being reviewed, and consideration would be given to whether any changes should be made.
3 stated that the Council would be using the Peer Review in January for feedback on the Council’s planning service. The Council had already been talking to the Planning Advisory Service and the LGA about getting more specific support from them on how the customer focus of the service wold be improved.
4 reported that the Congleton Link Road was on track for opening next year and that the Dane bridge beams had now been installed. The contractor had been appointed for the Poynton Relief Road and was due to start on site next year. Detailed investigation work had been completed for the A500 scheme and a decision on funding from the DfT was awaited.
5 reported that the Flexi-link bus service launched earlier in the year was a success and well used by residents. He stated that the Council would be seeking tenders to deliver a Sunday service to Leighton Hospital, in conjunction with Cheshire and Chester Council.
6 reported that Arriva had announced the withdrawal of the 130 bus service - Macclesfield to East Disbury, and he was pleased to announce that another commercial operator would be taking over this route with effect from 27 January 2020.
7 reported that assistance had been provided to eight community groups to submit expressions of interest for National Lottery climate action funding for sustainable transport projects.