This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairs of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that 7 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2 and, on the basis that each question and response had been circulated, advised that these would be taken as read and that the meeting would proceed with the supplementary questions. (Note: The questions and responses are available to view on the Council’s website.)

(a)    Question 1 from Councillor Eckersley re: driving and pedestrian safety conditions on South Downs Road

Asking a supplementary question, Councillor Eckersley sought confirmation as to whether the apparent short length of South Downs Road referred to in the question had been misunderstood and enquired, in which case, whether the measures proposed would potentially improve its position of being twenty fourth on the 20mph list of priorities.

In response, Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services advised that since the request was at an early stage a comprehensive list of measures needed could not be identified until a full assessment had been undertaken. In terms, of the length of highway concerned, the Executive Member asked Councillor Eckersley to provide the relevant detail so that he could provide clarity.

(b)    Question 2 from Councillor Brophy re: non-native plant species

Councillor Brophy believed that her points on only two of the three species being mentioned on the website and the inclusion of high edges in that section had not been addressed and as a supplementary question asked about the work the Council was doing with the Environment Agency and other agencies to prevent the spread of invasive plant species onto Trafford land.

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services asked if Councillor Brophy could provide him with the locations on the website so that he could ensure the information made public was accessible, concise and not duplicated in any way and confirmed that the Council liaised with the Environment Agency on numerous matters and would check if Councillor Brophy had particular locations in mind.

(c)    Question 3 from Councillor Duncan re: children crossing the Moss Lane/Harboro Road junction in Sale

As a supplementary question and mentioning that the matter was brought up in Council in 2022, Councillor Duncan asked if the Executive Member could please advise what safety measures had been implemented over the last two years in that regard.

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services confirmed that a host of measures were implemented around schools and that the location mentioned in the question was on the consideration list for a crossing point. Councillor Duncan was welcome to provide more details on specifics for a more precise answer.

(d)    Question 4 from Councillor Ennis re: progress with delivery of the Baby-Box scheme

As a supplementary question, Councillor Ennis asked on funding whether the Executive Member could supply the anticipated cost to Trafford of a targeted baby-box of the kind detailed in the written response to the question and with fresh rounds of devolution talks promised that day in the King’s Speech, would Councillor Slater talk to her opposite numbers across Greater Manchester about greater devolved health powers for the region, which would greatly help in delivering targeted interventions like the baby-box in the future.

On both points, Councillor Slater, the Executive Member for Healthy and Independent Lives agreed to take up matters and come back to Councillor Ennis as soon as possible.

(e)    Question 5 from Councillor Minnis re: school non-attendance by children with additional needs

With tribunals either before and after Education, Health and Care Plans the only form of resolution, Councillor Minnis asked as a supplementary question how many tribunals Trafford had held in the last five years and how many had it lost.  

Councillor K. Carter, Executive Member for Children and Young People indicated that she had not anticipated such a supplementary, therefore, did not have the information on tribunals and would undertake to respond in writing after the meeting. The Executive Member was aware that it was something Children and Young People’s Scrutiny was going to consider.

(f)     Question 6 from Councillor Spencer re: a Memorandum of Understanding for Trafford’s parks

As a supplementary question, Councillor Spencer asked what the Council’s long-term plan was to increase the funding for Trafford’s parks and green spaces.

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services recognised that the financial situation and competing priorities meant resources were limited but through continued partnership working and links with the Friends of Park Groups, funding and grants could be secured.

(g)    Question 7 from Councillor Newgrosh re: the Council’s Investment Management Board

Councillor Newgrosh was grateful for the detailed response provided and did not have a supplementary question.