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 A Farrall referred to sink hole in Hobson Street, Macclesfield and asked when the hole would be fixed. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that it was complex issue as it involved multiple agencies and landowners and that negotiations and discussion were on-going with all involved but unfortunately local authorities did not have the powers to oblige them to work with the Council to solve the matter. Information was available on the Council’s website and affected residents kept informed by direct correspondence.
Cllr S Akers Smith referred to the removed of roads from the winter gritting route programme and asked when would the volume of complaints received trigger a review of the policy. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that the policy was to have a common assessment framework which treated all roads, in all wards, fairly and assessed all roads using the same criteria. A report was due to come to the Highways and Transport Committee in March 2022.
Cllr S Gardiner asked when day-services and day centres would re-opening following closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic as he had inquiries from Knutsford residents and the Knutsford Lions. Cllr A Moran, Vice Chair Adult and Health Committee, undertook to provide a written answer.
Cllr L Smetham referred to the quality of highways maintenance carried out, the Top Up pilot for Town and Parish Councils and that highway maintenance was a matter for the Brough Council and asked what sensible ideas the administration had to access better value for highways work. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that the contract did not provide for a quality assurance process on highways maintenance work carried out and that it was proposed to bring forward a process of checking of the quality of maintenance work by engineers not employed by the contractor.
Cllr R Bailey sought clarity on when grit bins would be provided in her Ward. She indicated that in February 2020 the Portfolio Holder had committed to this. Cllr D Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, agreed to provide clarification in writing.
Cllr D Brown sought clarification over electric charging points which he understood were to be removed from Congleton and re-installed in Wilmslow. Cllr S Corcoran, Leader of the Council, agreed to provide a written response.
Cllr S Holland expressed concern about the charges faced by Travelling Fairs to operate in Congleton and asked if these could come to Congleton at no cost. Cllr Mannion, Chair of Economy and Growth Committee undertook to provide a written response if further information was provided to him by Cllr Holland.
Cllr L Wardlaw asked that, in the light of tragic death of an MP, was it an opportune moment to re-energise and refresh the Brighter Future programme. Cllr S Corcoran responded that the Members Forum would be the correct place to take body to deal with this question.
Cllr L Gilbert referred to the Highways Top Up Scheme and asked about the approval process for this policy. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that grant for highways maintenance received from the Department of Transport was not sufficient and that the Top Up Scheme provided an opportunity for Town and Parish Council, where they wish to do so, to buy in extra work, over and above that which have been programmed.
Cllr M Simon referred to the winter gritting routes and concerns about road safety in rural areas asked that a review be carried out before the onset of any serve winter weather. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that it was difficult to review something which had not yet commenced and that a report would be coming to Committee in March 2022.
Cllr R Fletcher referred to the provision of bus timetables in bus stops and asked that the bus companies include more information on them rather than referring people to look on-line or ring for further information as not all have access to a mobile phone at a bus stop. Councillor C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that the Bus Advisory Group (a subgroup of the Highways and Transport Committee) was looking into this issue as part of the development of an improvement plan.
Cllr J Saunders referred to the planting of trees as part of the Corporate Plan to achieve carbon neutrality but stated there was no point in doing this if they were not going to be maintained. She referred to trees in her ward which had been identified as requiring urgent attention but had been told that there was no budget for maintenance, this was despite there being a budget for tree risk management and the carbon neutral action delivery plan. She asked the Chair of Environment and Communities Committee to commit to working with relevant officers and Members to resolve this issue using the budget allocated. Cllr M Warren, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee undertook to provide a written response.
Cllr J Barber referred to ‘unapproved activity’ by developers at a Chelford Road development. Cllr M Warren, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee, responded that he was aware of discussions with the developer and would provide a written response.
Cllr P Redstone raised concerns about the planning enforcement process and asked for it to be reviewed by the relevant service committee. Cllr M Warren, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee, responded to the effect that a plan was in place to address these matters and undertook to provide a written response.
Cllr M Beanland referred to current confusion over policy decisions being made in Cheshire East, citing examples of car parking charges and charging for assisted technology and said there was confusion over policy and consultation and which came first and would consultation be ignored. He stated that this was not pertinent to good decision making. Cllr S Corcoran responded that in relation to car parking charges the committee made a decision not to go to consultation and for assistive technology consultation was undertaken and the results taken in account when the committee made its decision.
Cllr M Hunter referred to the date of implementation for the winter gritting routes as the original report had stated 2022/23 but now appears to be 2021/22 and if correct, why had it been brought forward by 12 months. Cllr C Browne, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded that he was under the impression that it has always been 2021/22.
Cllr M Asquith raised a point of order in relation to the response provided by Cllr C Browne to Cllr L Gilbert’s question. In response the Monitoring Officer suggested that there might have been a misunderstanding of the statutory provision which needed further research, and that the recording of the meeting needed to be listened-to.