In accordance 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:
Councillor C Browne asked when Cheshire East Council would act in respect of installing acoustic cameras on the A34 Wilmslow to Alderley Edge and introduce a Public Space Protection Order.
In response Councillor M Gorman, Deputy Leader of the Council, stated that meetings had been held with elected members, officers and the Police and Crime Commissioner and that proposals were being brought forward, and the issue would be referred to the appropriate committee in due course.
Councillor N Cook referred to “Keep Clear” boxes on Middlewich Road, Sandbach that required re-painting, and asked that the prioritisation of signage, stop lines, give way lines and give way boxes be reviewed and action be taken on any outstanding requests and that the classification of defects were reviewed.
In response Councillor M Goldsmith, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, undertook to provide a written response to the Middlewich Road junction in question, and stated that the Department for Transport were highly prescriptive on the signs which councils must act upon, and that Member’s ward budgets could be used for this issue.
Councillor L Anderson asked for assurance that Tier 3 libraries would not be closed.
In response Councillor M Warren, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee, stated that the Library Strategy which had been agreed at Environment and Communities Committee on 27 November 2024 and implemented on 1 January 2025, did not include any library closures.
Councillor S Gardiner refer to proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework which could dimmish the powers of planning committees and sought assurance from the Leader and Deputy Leader that they would use their influence and contacts, especially at the LGA and with local MPs, to fight against the proposals.
In response Councillor N Mannion, Leader of the Council, stated that the LGA and the County Council’s Network would be consulting their members on the proposals and would ensure that Councillor Gardiner’s views were taken on board and any responses would be shared. Councillor Michael Gorman, Deputy Leader of the Council, said that he would provide assurances and would scrutinise the details of any proposals coming forward.
Councillor P Redstone suggested that, in the interests of fairness and to keep Council meetings as brief and as relevant as possible, the Leader and Deputy Leader’s announcements should be limited to three minutes, in line with other Members.
The Mayor responded that Councillor Redstone suggestion had been noted.
Councillor A Kolker asked what the Leader was planning to do to address the falling birth rate in the UK and that there would eventually be insufficient people to look after the rapidly ageing population.
In response Councillor N Mannion, Leader of the Council, stated that different countries responded in different ways such as enhancing financial support to encourage an increase in the birth rate. It was noted that a large number of individuals from overseas came to the UK to seek employment in the health and care sectors.
Councillor R Fletcher referred to the flooding on Linley Lane in Alsager which was thought to be caused by drains be dealt with and asked for confirmation that Cheshire East Council had received money from Sainsbury’s to rectify the ongoing issues with the drains, and that Alsager Ward Councillors were updated with progress.
In response Councillor M Goldsmith, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, undertook to provide a written response.
Councillor H Moss referred to the recruitment of Personal Assistants (PAs) who provided support for individuals in the community and asked who was responsible for the recruitment and training of these new PAs.
In response Councillor J Rhodes, Chair of Adults and Health Committee, stated that Cheshire East Council had introduced a new system where PAs could be self-employed which should take away the stress of employing a PA from residents. Cllr Rhodes undertook to provide a written response.
Councillor D Jefferay asked that, due to updates to National Planning Policy Framework due to be published on 12 December 2024, how would the planning department manage the major development applications, and ensure that they would be assessed robustly, given that it was carrying a large number of vacancies.
In response Councillor M Warren, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee, agreed that capacity within the planning department was a concern and stated that there would be Member briefings in the New Year to help with the understanding of the changes, and to address concerns.
Councillor J Clowes asked, as climate change brought an increased likelihood of extreme weather events, and power outages were also likely to increase, what action could Cheshire East Council take to ensure all vulnerable residents, especially those reliant upon telecare and lived in signal black spots, or who were not able to access telecommunications during power cuts, stay informed and safe, and would the Council lobby the government and BT to ensure that there are backup solutions in place.
In response Councillor N Mannion, Leader of the Council,d stated that Cheshire East Council worked closely with energy companies and emergency services to ensure that residents and council clients were contacted to check that they were safe, and the Council would then highlight any further issues to energy companies. The Council also contacted those on its priority list, and provided food, generators and hotels where needed. He stated that the Council would investigate household emergency plans, including windup torches, safety kits, batteries, non-perishable foods, etc, and to develop community resilience plans to help communities to look after one another. Members were requested to contact the Council’s Emergency Planning Team if they would like additional information on any of the above items, or to arrange for an emergency planning officer to visit their ward. The Council was also working with BT to address the high numbers of mobile signal black spots and would lobby for appropriate financial support to try and address these challenges.
In response Councillor M Goldsmith, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, stated that vulnerable people who relied on a land line could request a battery pack which could support their phones lines in a power cut, and those solutions would be made more widely available.
In response Councillor J Rhodes, Chair of Adults and Health Committee, stated that Cheshire East Council had raised the issue nationally regarding vulnerable residents relying on their telecare service with the LGA and ADAS and Local Resilience Forum and that the Council should let residents know of the backups available.
Councillor B Posnett asked why residents of supported living homes were not made aware that their meals provided by Cheshire East Council could be withdrawn, and why had finance details in the MTFS continued to include Beechmere supported living home, which burned down five years ago.
In response Councillor J Rhodes, Chair of Adults and Health Committee, said that the supported living homes had opened in 2009 under a different government and Council and that residents may not have been told at the point they moved in. Officers have been in to speak to residents at the two affected homes and Cheshire East Council were looking to support residents and had managed to find an alternative service.
Councillor R Bailey asked if the Highways and Transport Committee regularly considered all figures regarding car park usage and fees paid to park, and if not, could it do so in the future.
In response Councillor M Goldsmith, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, stated that that the Highways and Transport Committee did not currently review existing car park charges so this would be unlikely to change for new charges.
Councillor S Bennett-Wake asked how devolution would benefit Cheshire East?
In response Councillor N Mannion, Leader of the Council, stated that there was academic evidence to support devolution to the sub region which showed that it provided better value for money and allowed Councils to target resources where they were needed.
Supporting documents: