Questions
In accordance with paragraph 1.19 of the Council Procedure Rules, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Mayor or the Chair of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.
At Council meeting, there will be a maximum question time period of 30 minutes. A period of two minutes will be allowed for each Councillor wishing to ask a question. The Mayor will have the discretion to vary this requirement where they consider it appropriate.
Minutes:
Cllr D Edwardes referred to a comment made by Cllr Gilbert that Crewe and Macclesfield were receiving the lion’s share of highways money and asked if the Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee could clarify where the money was spent. In response Cllr C Browne stated that the level 2 and level 3 programme for highway maintenance was published on the Council’s website and the place that had benefited most from the most level 2 programme work was Congleton.
Cllr N Mannion referred to the access travel schemes introduced on a temporary basis in summer 2020 in his Ward and asked when the evaluation of these schemes would be concluded and whether any schemes would be permanent. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that the schemes introduced back in summer of 2020 were reviewed on a continuous basis and the on-line consultation remained open. The scheme in Cllr Mannion’s ward saw the introduction of a crossing point near a school plus an experimental 20 mph zone. It was expected that the crossing point would be made permanent and the 20-mph zone would continue to be reviewed in line with the speed management strategy.
Cllr J Clowes referred to a constituent of hers who had learning difficulties and lived in sheltered accommodation and had received an intimidating letter from the Council as part of the financial assessment process, which they had found distressing. She referred this matter to the appropriate Directorate but had not heard anything back and asked if she could have a response to this. The Leader of the Council, Cllr S Corcoran, undertook to a provide a written response.
Cllr R Moreton stated that residents in Congleton were concerned that the police helpdesk is under consideration for closure and encouraged everybody to take part in the consultation. He stated that the people of Congleton did not have much faith in the process and asked for reassurances that feedback from the consultation would be listened to. In response Cllr M Warren, Environment and Communities Committee chair, said that the Council had no influence over the survey as it was a police matter. He reported that the Police Helpdesk Survey 22 ran from 14 February to 27 March on the proposals to reduce 16 helpdesks down to 5, so Congleton, Wilmslow, Knutsford, and Nantwich, were proposed to be closed. He urged all Cheshire East councillors to highlight this survey to their residents.
Cllr J Parry referred to the use of ‘Fix My Street’ to report highways faults and asked what the Council would be doing to raise awareness of this website. Cllr S Corcoran responded that he had been promoting it on social media and encouraged other councillors to do so and agreed to look into what the Council could do through its Communications team to promote ‘Fix my Street’.
Cllr L Wardlaw asked if the Leader of the Council would send a letter to each of public speakers apologising for his belligerent behaviour. The ... view the full minutes text for item 74