Questions
In accordance with Procedure Rules 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Chairman, 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.
Questions must be sent in writing to the Monitoring Officer at least 3 clear working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
The following questions had been submitted :-
(1) Lyceum Theatre Crewe
Cllr Thorley had submitted the following question :-
The report by FMG Consulting, Review of the Operations and Operating Models the Lyceum Theatre.
Will the Portfolio Holder Health and Wellbeing inform this Council of the source of the funding recently found to enable the Theatre to continue to operate?
Response
Cllr Knowles, the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, undertook to provide a written response to the question, to all Members.
(2) The proposed closure of the Information Offices located at the Bus Stations in Macclesfield and Crewe.
Cllr Flude had submitted the following question :-
Can this Council be assured that a Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out?
In relation to:
People with sight impairment and people who are blind.
People who are deaf.
People who have a learning difficulty.
People who have a physical disability
What cooperation has taken place within this council’s Adult Services Travel Trainers and the Places Directorate?
Response
Cllr Knowles, undertook to ensure that a written response to question be provided to all Members, on behalf of Cllr Macrae, the Prosperity Portfolio Holder.
(3) The Information Point at Macclesfield Bus Station
Cllr Arnold had submitted the following question :-
The information point at Macclesfield bus station is well used by the travelling public In Macclesfield. The staff maintain the general upkeep of the station and help prevent A.S.B. They also ensure that the toilet facilities are kept well maintained, all important elements in encouraging public transport use. Given the wealth of opposition by bus users and other groups to the proposed withdrawal of staff from bus station, could I ask if the Cabinet Member has reviewed the proposed closure of the information point and if in light of this opposition, he is now seeking alternative options for savings, other than the loss of staff at the bus station?
Response
Cllr Knowles responded on behalf of Cllr Macrae, the Prosperity Portfolio Holder, as follows :-
“ We examined a variety of alternative savings proposals prior to considering the proposed closure of the information offices in both Crewe and Macclesfield Bus Stations. Whilst the service offered by the two information points has always been of a high standard – and therefore valued by the travelling public – there has been a decline in usage in recent years as others sources of travel information have become more widely used. For example, the number of hits on the council’s transport information pages on the website exceed 25,000 a year, with over 1,000 unique downloads of bus timetables each month – more than 30 a day – and these sources of information are growing significantly with each passing month.
I accept that not every person has easy access to the internet yet; so we have put in place plans for a direct link to the Traveline telephone information service. This service – which will be free to use for the general public – will provide up to ... view the full minutes text for item 82