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 questions submitted, together with a summary of the responses are set out below:-
Question 1 – Submitted by Cllr R Walker CBE
How many (serving and ex-service) Service personnel who have been (seriously) injured in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are currently living in Cheshire East? What is the Council and its partners doing to assist them in their recovery and to support them in their futures?"
The Leader of the Council responded:-
“Unfortunately the Council is not party to the information on the numbers of seriously injured Service personnel from these particular conflicts who are now living in Cheshire East. The information regarding each individual is out of necessity kept confidentially, for personal medical and security reasons.
We are checking to establish if any such individuals have been referred to the Adults Social Care Physical Disabilities Team and if this provides some information it will be conveyed to Councillor Walker in writing. We are also checking with colleagues in the Health service to establish if they have any database of such patients that might provide an indication of numbers, and again this will be passed on if available. This includes those who may have been referred to the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust that deals with those with mental health issues.
I can assure the Councillor that Cheshire East is committed to providing the best services it can for all people with physical or mental disabilities, and those who might be recovering from injuries, sustained through active service or other incidents or accidents. This includes concessionary use of leisure facilities for example. We will also do all we can working with our health partners to help with the rehabilitation of any such personnel who are made known to us”.
Question 2 – Submitted by Cllr D Flude
Council Publications
Recent articles in the national press have highlighted local authorities where services have been cut. In one authority the first action of the new Leader was to close down the local Council run newspaper because, in his opinion, it was “publishing politics on the rates”. He stated that he wanted to pass on the savings for the things that really mattered to the residents, like Children’s Services.
Will the Executive Member confirm that the budget for this department is £1.45m, with an extra £300,000 from transition costs and will the transition cost be rolled over into 2010/2011?
What is the production cost of one edition of Cheshire East News, including staff time and the cost of delivery?
This Council has recently published a Scrutiny Bulletin.
How much has this publication cost to produce and distribute including staff time?
The Performance and Capacity Portfolio Holder responded:-
“Yes,Yes and no.
The cost per issue of printing and distribution of Cheshire East News is £32,000. We now have an established brand, which is all done in-house and we should commend the Communications team for this.
The Council is at the stage of developing a Scrutiny newsletter with the Scrutiny team. ... view the full minutes text for item 154