In accordance with Procedure Rules 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Chairman, the appropriate Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, the Cabinet or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.
Questions must be sent in writing to the Monitoring Officer at least 3 clear working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
Question 1
Councillor S Furlong had submitted the following question :-
NHS White Paper
“On July the 13th the Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansbury announced the NHS White Paper “Equity and Excellence - Liberating the NHS” How will this paper improve the health care and choice for the residents of Sandbach in the future”?
Councillor A Knowles, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing responded as follows :-
“Thank you very much for your question. Although you stipulate Sandbach, the answer will be relevant for all our Villages and Towns in Cheshire East. The basic principles of the NHS White Paper are very straight forward and simple:-
(1) Putting Patients and Public First
(2) Focusing on Improvements in Quality and Healthcare Outcomes
(3) Autonomy,Accountability and Democratic Legitimacy
(4) Cutting Bureaucracy and Improving Efficiency
There are many benefits, but I want to focus on just one. The main part of the legislation that will impact on us as a local authority is transferring local health improvement functions to us from the PCT. What this can mean for us now is taking ownership of really getting to grips with tackling the Health issues in Cheshire East, such as consequences of an aging population, Health Inequalities and preventable deaths, through lifestyle modification, all mentioned by Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, in her presentation earlier today. As a Council, we know where our deprived estates are and where we need to focus on to tackle health inequalities, but also involving regeneration, housing and education, to bring a joined up approach. Because Public Health has come to the Authority we can for the first time come at this problem, bringing all the Councils departments to tackle this issue.
For a long time we have known that C.E.C has the fastest growing ageing population in the North West and with this demographic scenario we have to start planning and prioritising service delivery towards them. We know, for example, that 10% of all ambulance call outs are for people aged 65 and over, who have fallen, of which 60% end up being taken to hospital.
Preventable deaths through lifestyle modification - this again is very tied up with health inequalities. The main causes of premature deaths - 36% are cardiovascular disease. With Public Health coming to the Authority, we can work with our Leisure Services, getting the population more active, educate on non smoking and lifestyle change. So it brings everything together.
Finally, the LAPS will act as the conduit for us to burrow down to the street level, to recognise where to put our time, effort and recourses on health prevention.
So this is only one aspect of the NHS White Paper that will impact on us. Positively, there’s more, but this alone will, I believe, improve dramatically the future health of our residents, whether it be in towns or rural areas”.
Question 2
Councillor R Cartlidge had submitted the following question :-
Allotments Crewe
“Is the Cabinet member aware of the considerable distress that has been caused by this Council to many of the plot holders by:
the threatening reminder and final demands from this Council for rents that, in some cases, lead to allotment holders paying twice for last years plot rent, before this years deadline date of October 2010.
Can the Portfolio Holder explain the rationale behind the decision to award gift vouchers, instead of the traditional cash prizes?
Would he agree with me that the Consultation Panel Allotments would be the forum to allow frank dialogue with the plot holders, to avoid this kind of misunderstanding”?
Councillor Cartlidge requested that a written response to his question be provided.
Question 3
Councillor D Flude had submitted the following question :-
Housing Condition Survey
“Will the Cabinet Member assure this Council that all of the survey staff employed by CPL Ltd are CRB checked and will be carrying some form of identity?
When where the Members of this Council informed that this survey was to take place in the Borough?
Councillor A Knowles responded on behalf of Councillor J Macrae, the Portfolio Holder for Prosperity, who had submitted apologies for the meeting, as follows :-
1. “All surveyors employed by CPC Ltd are CRB checked, which was a requirement of our tender specification.
2. All surveyors carry photographic identification as well as a letter of authority from Cheshire East Council, together with a laminated copy of the letter that has been sent to all households. We have had two reports from householders concerned that they did not see photographic ID. As a result we have liaised with CPC Ltd and they have issued reminder instructions to all surveyors to ensure that they carry and show all three forms of identification. Our customer services staff have been briefed about the survey, so that should a member of the public contact us, they can handle the call effectively and confirm or deny the surveyor’s identity.
Supplementary Questions
Councillor Flude asked the following supplementary questions :-
(1) “What sort of survey is it and will the householders who have taken part in the survey receive a copy or the report”?
(2) “When this type of survey is undertaken, should ward Councillors not receive a copy of the letter sent to residents, so that they know it is taking place”?
Councillor Knowles undertook to request that Councillor Flude be provided with a written response to her supplementary questions.
Question 4
Councillor T Beard had submitted the following question :-
Markets and Car Boot Sale Crewe
“Since the refurbishment of the Lyceum Square in Crewe started, the outside market at Crewe has been relocated to the Square. This appears to have been generally welcomed by the public and has certainly helped to keep the town centre lively. It is obviously important that traders at the indoor market should be confident that their interests are being protected by the Council, but before taking a final decision on the future location of the outside market, would the Portfolio Holder agree to a public consultation exercise, to enable a full and informed debate to establish what is best for the economic health of the town centre, at this difficult time? This consultation should include reference to the Car Boot Sale held each Wednesday and located, at this time, on the Oak Street Car Park”.
Councillor R Menlove, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, in summary responded :-
“The Council has already carried out a consultation on the future location of the market in Crewe. However, bearing in mind the nature of the question, we are prepared to carry out a further consultation, particularly with the public and Market Traders, before making a final decision on whether the market will return to Lyceum Square.
I would like to draw Members’ attention to the fact that there would be additional revenue costs, if the market was to stay on Market Square.”
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Supplementary Questions
Councillor Beard asked the following Supplementary Question :-
“Would the Portfolio Holder also consider a public consultation with the people of Crewe, as it is their Market?”
Councillor Menlove undertook to provide Councillor Beard with a written response to his supplementary question.