Questions to Cabinet Members
A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.
The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor A Moran sought clarification of the Council’s position on fracking in Cheshire East. The Leader of the Council responded that the Council’s preference was for geothermal energy but fracking would not be ruled out if it could be done safely. His aim was to have a coherent energy policy which addressed energy poverty and the Council would be looking at whether it should have its own energy company.
Councillor S Corcoran asked if leisure centre staff had been asked to take a pay cut. The Leader responded that this was not the case but that staff who worked in the evenings and at weekends were receiving premium payments compared with staff who worked at other times. This was considered an inequitable situation which needed to be redressed. However, it had not been pursued following discussions with trade unions.
Councillor P Mason asked if there had been any further progress in attracting new jobs and businesses to Alderley Park. The Leader responded that there was now a preferred bidder and that the Council’s aspiration was to have about 7,000 jobs at the site and to make it the premier biotech centre in Europe.
Councillor K Edwards asked about the future arrangements for the management of animals at Alderley Park and whether this would go forward as a standalone business. The Leader responded that he was concerned about the safety aspects but that the matter was under consideration.