In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 15 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.
Minutes:
Mr K Edwards used public speaking time to ask the following question to the Portfolio Holder for Performance and Capacity, Cllr David Brown, as summarised below:-
Cheshire East Unitary Authority has taken a very strong line on developing local democracy through the creation of 7 Local Area Partnerships. The overall development will be led by the Local Strategic Partnership. I understand democratic responsibility is going to be extended to these new areas through bringing together Cheshire East, the police, the health service, the emergency services, Town and Parish Councils, the Voluntary Sector and local business interests. The basic brief is to improve the lives of people living in those areas by making a positive difference to locally agreed priorities through united working, public engagement and where appropriate the devolution of services.
Will the Executive Member outline plans for introducing neighbourhood working, including describing the role foreseen for Town and Parish Councils at the strategic, tactical and operational levels, describing a timetable for the implementation of neighbourhood working and the necessary budgetary provision to underpin its early operation? If a full answer cannot be provided immediately I would be grateful to know when a full answer could be forthcoming.
Cllr David Brown in reply stated:-
I am grateful for the questioner’s support for the Council’s proposals for partnership working, which have been developed after extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Town and Parish Councils. All members have also had the chance to influence the roll out of these arrangements at two of the member development sessions held in March.
I expect to present a detailed report to Cabinet in May on how the partnership arrangements will work in practice. This will include active involvement of Town and Parish Councils representing as they do the level of local democracy closest to people. They will continue to develop their own local communities and be involved operationally/tactically in LAP’s and thematic groups. Strategically they will also be involved in the new Local Strategic Partnership Assembly, which is a wider group which will be convened from time to time to explore strategic priorities.
Mr B Evans used public speaking time to ask the following questions to the Leader of the Council, as summarised below:-
(!) Why was Tatton Park chosen as the venue for the Council meeting, when it is inaccessible to the public, particularly by public transport. It needs to be ensured that public transport is a major input into the venue choice.
The Leader of the Council in reply stated:-
It is not the Council’s role to provide public transport. However, we do intend to try to improve the situation. We also intend to have our meetings in various places and will do all we can to improve public transport in the future.
(2) With reference to paragraph 11.6 on page 48 of the report relating to the Boundary Committee Electoral Review, which states that in due course the Charter Trustees will be replaced by Town Councils for Crewe and Macclesfield. If this paragraph is approved will it be Council Policy to support the creation of TownCouncils in Crewe and Macclesfield?
The Leader of the Council in reply stated:-
The Views of Cheshire East Council are well known re the future role of Town and Parish Councils . If in parished areas it will be up to the people to decide. Only time will tell.
(3) With reference to paragraph 11.5 of the above report, I read this paragraph with some interest. It says that all of the unitary Councillors for the areas concerned are asked to attend the Cheshire Association of Local Council quarterly meetings. I wondered if Mrs Weaver knows about this? I e-mailed her this afternoon and she has replied to say that she would have hoped to have one attending for each meeting. In view of that, should the Council not remove this paragraph and adjust the time considerations in the report?
The Leader of the Council in reply stated:-
I would suggest that we should respond later on this. We will look at it and undertake to provide a written answer. Thanks for raising the issue.