To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, in summary:-
1. Responded to comments, made during public speaking time, with regard to the concerns about provision for the fire service in Crewe. She stated that she was clear that this Conservative led Council had used a scrutiny process cross party to consider the concerns with regard to provision at the fire station in Crewe and indeed that continued. The Leader stated that her comments in relation to Laura’s march and her understandable concern was simply to point out that actually this was a matter that had been considered cross party and was being considered within the Council’s governance and through its representatives on the Fire Authority. It was recognised that times were tough and that the public purse was tough, but equally the Council had to work within its budget. If this wasn’t done, whether it be Cheshire East Council the Fire Authority, or the Police Authority, it would not be possible to deliver any of the excellent services that they currently did.
2. Welcomed the comments made under public speaking time with regard to infrastructure, particularly with a focus on Alsager. She sated that she would urge the speaker to look at the Council agenda, not least with regard to Alsager School because its infrastructure was its health, education, and its highways, and it was that strategic infrastructure programme that she wanted to remind Council of, not least the successful bids made to Government by Cheshire East Council.
3. Stated that, with the adopted Local Plan and the future catalyst of HS2, she considered it more important than ever that Council ensured that it had the infrastructure to support these plans to benefit existing residents and support future growth.
4. Referred to the comments made during public speaking time, in relation to the use of 106 monies and affordable housing. She stated that there was a judgement to be made at the reserved matters stage, but that the overarching policy was for 30% affordable housing on the back of developments. However, within affordable housing, there was rightly consideration for provision in relation to the transit community, because they equally were deserving of support of a local area. She would, however, look to review the documentation that has been shared with Cllr Parry but this was her initial response.
5. Stated that in delivering the major schemes over recent years, including the Crewe Green Link Road, Basford West Spine Road, Alderley Edge Bypass and the M6 Junction 16 and 17 pinch point schemes, the Council had a strong pipeline of major strategic projects. A number of projects in the Council’s Local Plan Infrastructure Development Plan were either on site or being developed with major progresses made in the current year. She considered that these projects would make a significant contribution to the regional ambitions, as set out in the revised Cheshire and Warrington SEP and help prepare for the arrival of HS2 to the borough. Equally, she considered that the infrastructure investments would also help to support the wellbeing of communities. These investments would unlock new and good quality housing and employment land, as well as enabling residents to better access facilities and amenities to enhance quality of life; the Crewe lifestyle Centre for instance.
6. Reported that, In October the Middlewich Eastern Bypass project had been successful in its bid to be part of Government’s Large Local Major Schemes programme and the receipt of Government grant funding towards the project. This scheme would provide a bypass to Middlewich town centre and enable access to the strategic employment site adjacent to the M6 motorway. Completion of this bypass would support the economic growth agenda by enabling a 1,000 new dwellings and over 2,000 additional jobs in the town.
7. Reported that, also in October, the Council had been successful in its two bids for funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund, receiving £5m for the North West Crewe Package and £3.5m for the Macclesfield Movement Strategy. The Crewe package included proposals for new highway infrastructure to provide additional capacity on the highway network in Leighton and supported delivery of the Local Plan.
8. Referred to the Macclesfield Movement Strategy, which drew upon the findings of the Macclesfield S-Paramics Traffic Modelling Programme, reported in May 2014. She considered that it was important to mention this because she felt that people considered that it had arrived “out of the blue” and the work on this had been going on for a long time. It looked to improve public transport, walking and cycling, whilst also developing a phased strategy for the implementation of localised highway infrastructure and capacity improvements.
9. Referred to the A500 dualling near to junction 16, and stated that it was expected that a planning application would be submitted in the following year; and she considered this would help address the existing congestion from the M6 and would be part of the forward plan for the vision of the Crewe hub.
10.Reported that the Council had been busy on planned schemes and had also to respond to the collapse of the water main on the A530 earlier in the year. She was clear that without the infrastructure that was in place at the David Whitby Way and Jack Mills Way, the impact on the surrounding traffic would have been considerable and she wished to put on record her thanks to all involved in dealing with the incident in such a timely manner. It had been a very complex matter, not least because of the amount of infrastructure that was delivered to the town of Nantwich over the bridge.
11.Stated that she looked to 2018 to see the Crewe Green roundabout improvements commencing and advanced preparation works on Sydney Road Bridge, starting in the Summer. The Council would be working hard to coordinate these works, in close proximity to each other, to minimise the disruption to local residents and businesses.
12.Stated that, in moving towards the end of the year, she wished to recall some events in 2017 which had been difficult and particularly painful to local residents. Over a few short weeks in the summer there had been three separate occasions where communities had gathered together to remember those who had lost their lives in three very tragic events. Firstly, the Manchester bombing; then the attack at London Bridge and then, in late June, those who perished in the Grenfell Tower fire. In such troubled times, she considered it right and proper that political differences were put aside and that the Council unite to provide that important leadership to the community. She was reminded of the late Jo Cox MP, in her maiden speech to the House of Commons in 2015, where she had said “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”. And the Leader believed that all agreed with her. The bombing in Manchester had had a very direct impact on the Council’s own community, in that Nell Jones, a student at Homes Chapel Comprehensive School had been killed. She and the Mayor had visited the school in the week following the attack. Equally Elaine McIver, a serving Cheshire Police Officer who had served the Cheshire community for over 19 years had also killed in the attack. She was sure that Members would wish to join with her in thanking those in the emergency services who worked tirelessly to keep the community safe. The tragic events of the summer could only serve to remind of the risks that they took every day to help people lead their lives.
13.Stated that she was delighted that, in his announcements, the Mayor had mentioned that the Council had found a way of remembering the sacrifice of Tom Jackson, a truly remarkable young man. She hoped that Tom’s family had found some comfort from the memorial at Tatton. She had had the privilege of visiting Tatton in the previous week, when she was reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. The magnificent mansion had been decorated to the theme of the “12 Days of Christmas”. She had learnt that the traditional 12 days of Christmas ran from Christmas Day to the Epiphany Eve on the 5th January. It was a period of merry making and feasting with different religious celebrations on each of the days. She encouraged all to visit Tatton and embrace this. The other message that Tatton always reminded her of was that the Council rightly looked to bring economic regeneration and growth and such spaces as Tatton were vitally important.
14.Paid tribute to the Council’s staff, particularly in the Christmas season. She stated that the staff in Cheshire East, day in day out, delivered services to the public whatever their role and that they all contributed to making Cheshire East a wonderful place to live. She hoped that Members would join with her in sending Christmas and New Year good wishes to all staff and their families. She would particularly like to thank those staff who would be working over the festive season to keep services running and the roads safe.
15.Wished all Members a very happy Christmas and New Year.