In accordance with paragraph 1.32 of the Council Procedure Rules and Appendix 7 to the rules, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to speak at Council meetings.
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.
Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given. It is not a requirement to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.
Minutes:
1. Ms Melanie Hancock asked whether Cheshire East Council was happy with the cost to the tax payer of policing badger culling each year, during a period of austerity. – A Written response would be provided.
2. Mrs S Dyke also spoke in respect of badger culling and the definition of culling and she considered that in this context that it should be referred to as “the indiscriminate slaughter” of badgers.
3. Ms H Baxter, representing Local Animal Rescue, addressed Council regarding the work that the group carried out with school children to teach them respect for animal life and the countryside and asked the Council to bear this in mind with regard to the badger cull.
4. Crewe Town Cllr D Yates asked the Council to reconsider its position so as to prevent badger culling on its land, not just tenant farms, and went on to speak about the impending badger cull in Cheshire and the cost of this. She stated that there was no credible evidence that badger culling was making any significant contribution to preventing bovine TB and she expressed concern that badgers would be disappearing from areas of the country.
5. Ms J Smith also addressed Council regarding badger culling and bovine TB and cattle to cattle contamination. She asked what Cheshire East Council was doing, in conjunction with local farming bodies, to support local dairy farmers, and tenant farmers in particular, to support increased biosecurity, increased animal testing and animal movement. - A Written response would be provided.
(Cllr Clowes, Adult Social Care and Integration Portfolio Holder, provided clarification regarding the Council’s position in respect of the above matters. She stated that this issue was orchestrated through Defra, was organised by Natural England and the Police and the role that the Council played was whether it allowed badger culling on its land and it had already been reported to Council on previous occasions that the Council did not. She stated that Ms Hancock’s question should be directed to the Police and Crime Commissioner and the other questions should be directed to Natural England and Defra. She would, however, be happy to provide written responses, as above).
6. Ms Carol Jones welcomed events such as Pride in the Park and other events organised by the Council, but requested that the Council consider public transport issues when organising events, particularly from the Crewe area to Tatton Park.
7. Middlewich Town Cllr Jonathan Parry referred to the report of the Council’s Investigation and Disciplinary Committee and the cost in respect of this and asked why the Council would not release the report and make it public. The Acting Chief Executive responded to say that she had previously stated that this was an HR matter, which would lead the Council to a position where it would not intend to publish the report and this remained the position.
9. Mrs S Helliwell referred to the policy paper on Inclusive Transport: Achieving Equal Access for Disabled People and asked whether any buses going through Alsager would have audible and visible route information. She also asked whether disabled and older people in Alsager would have access to public transport to take them to hospital seven days per week. She also went on to address Council regarding localised policies to target pavement parking.
10.Mr M Hunter asked the Council when the Liaison Panel, required under condition 48 on the planning application in respect of the recycling hub in Middlewich, which had not met since the construction stage had finished, would be reinstated. - A Written response would be provided.
11.Macclesfield Town Cllr G Jones addressed Council regarding future investment in Macclesfield, in light of the collapse of the Ask development, and invited the Leader of the Council to attend a meeting of Macclesfield Town Council to discuss this matter. – The Leader of the Council responded.
12.Mr T Wall addressed Council regarding cuts to services in Macclesfield and what he considered to be a lack of capital investment. He also referred to a recent press statement issued by the Council in respect of an employment tribunal.
13.Mr Michael Unett addressed Council regarding a number of issues in Alsager, including proposed works to install traffic lights at the Linley Lane/ Linley Road junction, which should have started in the Summer and he asked for an update in respect of this. He also addressed Council regarding proposed work at Linley Park, which had not taken place and also residents’ concerns regarding burial provision. In addition, he referred to problems associated with the Radway estate, including anti-social behaviour, and asked the Council whether it would commit to being part of a multi-agency task force to look at the issues on the estate. He also asked what the Council could do to improve community engagement. - A Written response would be provided.
14.Ms Laura Crane addressed Council on behalf of residents of Sandbach Heath, regarding problems associated with residents crossing “The Hill” on to the main road at Sandbach. Whilst she was aware that the Highways department was looking in to this issue, it was felt that the situation was getting worse. She went on to present a petition to Council asking for a crossing at the junction of Hassal Road. Heath Road and the Hill.
15.Cllr N Mannion presented a petition to Council on behalf of the residents of Merebrook Road, Macclesfield, in respect of a highway verge and parking issues.