Issue - meetings

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.

Mr Peter Kent stated that he had sought clarification from the Borough Solicitor about the provisions of Section 94 sub-section 2 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

He also expressed the view that the results of the first stage consultation on the Crewe Community Governance Review had proved inconclusive, due in part to public confusion over the consultation ballot questions and to the failure to take account of some key stakeholders who he said were known to support the idea of a town council for Crewe. He called on the Council to carry out a telephone poll to clarify voters’ intentions.

In reply, the Vice-Chairman refuted any suggestion that the questionnaire had been confusing.

Councillor R Westwood expressed concern about undertaking further consultation of those who had already responded without reference to the wider electorate. He felt there was a need for a ‘cooling down’ period of about two years before revisiting the process. He was reluctant to support any proposal which ignored a clear majority of those who had responded and rejected any notion of change at this time.