To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.
Minutes:
Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and Councillors on matters within the powers and duties of the Council.
Eight public questions were submitted as follows:-
· Relating to the introduction of a Stockport to Manchester Victoria via Reddish South rail service as part of the current Northern Rail refranchising process.
The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) (Councillor Martin Candler) responded that the Council had always been supportive of the Friends of Reddish South Station and further that Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and the Council’s appointed members on that committee would have the opportunity to question the shortlisted contenders for the new Northern Rail franchise on their proposals. It was further stated that the recently published Stockport Rail Strategy contained proposals for the promotion of a Metrolink light rail service from Tameside to Manchester Airport via Reddish South Station.
Councillor William Wragg stated that the Council had submitted a consultation response which supported the introduction of a heavy rail service through Reddish South Station and that he endorsed that position and the work of the Friends of Reddish South Station.
· Relating to whether cuts to the Adult Social Care budget had led to the current crisis within Stepping Hill Hospital’s Accident & Emergency service.
The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that there was no question of any of the cuts to the Adult Social Care budget contributing to the pressure on accident and emergency services.
· Relating to whether those asylum seekers and immigrants currently housed on hotels throughout the borough were on the housing waiting list and how that effected the housing allocation policy.
The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) responded that there had been no increase in the numbers of those on the housing waiting list that could be attributed to immigration or asylum seekers. It was further stated that the use of hotels identified by the questioner was an arrangement made between Serco and the government and as such had no impact on the Council’s approach to its housing allocation policy.
· Relating to the nature of those payments made by the Council to the Trinity Mirror Group and the Guardian Group.
The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that she was aware that the Council’s Civic Review was printed by the Trinity Mirror Group and further that the Council was statutorily required to publish certain public notices in local newspapers. Councillor Derbyshire undertook to investigate further the reasons for incurring the expenditure identified and should these be at variance with the reasons stated at the meeting, then a written response would be provided to the questioner.
· Relating to Councillor Johnstone’s involvement in and rationale for the calling-in of a recent Executive Decision pertaining to the proposed Poynton Relief Road.
Councillor Oliver Johnstone undertook to respond to the questioner in writing.
· Relating to Councillor Wragg’s public speaking record at the Council Meeting and his views on Councillor Johnstone’s rationale for the calling-in of a recent Executive Decision pertaining to the proposed Poynton Relief Road.
Councillor William Wragg commented that both he and Councillor Johnstone always placed the interests of the residents of Hazel Grove first.
· Relating to the number of Stockport residents there were on the housing waiting list.
The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) responded that it was his understanding that the current figure was consistent with that of the previous year, however he would provide the definitive position in a written response to the questioner.
· Relating to the whether the Council had issued any hackney and private hire car driver licences to those who had committed a sexual offence and what action the Council would take with regard to those who had issued the licence and whether those licences would be withdrawn.
The Chair of the Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee (Councillor Chris Gordon) replied that every applicant for such a licence who had a criminal conviction of any description was required to have their application considered by a meeting of the Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee. Councillor Gordon stated that in his time as a member of the Committee no applicant who had been convicted of a sexual offence had been granted a licence.
Two further public questions had been submitted where the questioner was not present at the meeting and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioner in writing.