Questions
In accordance with Procedure Rule 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Mayor, 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.
At Council meetings, there will be a maximum question time period of 30 minutes. Questions will be selected by the Mayor, using the criteria agreed by Council. Any questions which are accepted, but which cannot be dealt with during the allotted period will be answered in writing. Questions must be brief, clear and focussed.
Minutes:
The following questions were submitted:-
1. Cllr Carter in respect of the Hurdsfield Family Centre. He stated that this had been identified as one of the areas requiring much needed attention in 2014, but had now been removed from the Council’s budget. He asked what had changed since 2014, when this had been regarded as important and much needed - Cllr David Brown, Highways and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder undertook to provide a written response.
2. Cllr M Warren in respect of the recent declaration by the Council regarding additional Air Quality Management areas in Macclesfield and the approval of 500 new homes in close proximity to Hibel Road, bringing additional vehicles. He asked what the intention was regarding the Northern Land Development Order, which would encourage new homes to be built along the Hibel Road Air Quality Management Area, thereby putting resident’s health at risk - Cllr A Arnold, Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder undertook to provide a written response.
3. Cllr H Murray asked whether the Leader of the Council would give a commitment that the decision on any devolution deal would not be considered unless it was first seen and debated by full Council – Cllr Rachel Bailey, the Leader of the Council, responded to say that she had every intention of engaging with Council on any decision.
4. Cllr D Flude, in respect of the Local Plan Inspector’s recognition of the importance of the green gap in Crewe. She asked whether, rather than a High Growth City, there could now be a High Growth Garden City that would recognise the green gap and the importance of the small towns and cities, historically, in the smaller conurbations around Crewe – Cllr Arnold, Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder undertook to provide a written response.
5. Cllr S Corcoran stated that, as part of the budget setting process he would be raising the possibility of amending the budget to consider all or some of the recommendations of the call-in Scrutiny Committee relating to school buses and he asked the Leader of the Council whether she would be willing to join a cross party group to discuss this issue - Cllr Rachel Bailey, the Leader of the Council, undertook to provide a written response.
6. Cllr R Fletcher asked when the Highways department would start to consider plans in order to alleviate the serious traffic congestion in Alsager, in view of the number of houses to be built in the area. – Cllr D Brown, Highways and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder undertook to provide a written response.