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 4 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 from Councillor Hancock regarding the Jubilee Community Centre in Bowdon

As a supplementary question, Councillor Hancock asked would the Council commit to ensuring the future of the Jubilee Centre or was the administration going to continue with its neglect of an important community asset for Bowdon and the nearby area.

In response, Councillor Patel, Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration pointed out that the Jubilee Centre had been on the Council’s land disposal list for over ten years and that decision pre-dated the current administration and that her written response had indicated that the Council was looking to provide community space within the disposal of the site but had a duty to balance its budget. The Executive Member rejected the question’s framing that it was a North/South Borough issue and that the Council took a fair and even-handed approach to such decisions across the Borough and would continue to work closely with the Community Association at the Jubilee Centre to find a way forward.

(b)    Question from Councillor Lepori on the social care sector and the Chancellor’s first budget

As a supplementary question Councillor Lepori asked in light of the Office for Budget Responsibility stating that the £600 million allocation in the budget would not be enough to cover the expected costs for councils, what contingencies did the Council have in place should some social care providers struggle to provide the services or wind up not trading due to new tax costs.

Councillor Harding, Executive Member for Finance, Governance and Change acknowledging the weighting of the initial question admitted that there was a whole lot further to go in relation to how Social Care could be fixed. The Council was yet to hear what the final settlement would be in December but was mindful of the impact of the National Insurance rises on providers in Trafford and was something it would be working with providers on. Having also worked across the sector for a number of years, the Executive Member shared Councillor Lepori’s concerns and assured him that the Council was committed to ensuring that the impact of social care was a positive one for residents, and providers which the Council valued. Also having pledged to try and improve social care, Councillor Harding valued social care just as vital as the NHS and through representative positions and as a Council, would continue to lobby the government ministers.

(c)    Question from Councillor Evans concerning the vetting procedures for those housed at the Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham 

As a supplementary question, Councillor Evans referring to correspondence he had received from a local resident expressing parental concern, asked what message the Leader of the Council had.

In response, Councillor Ross, Leader of the Council provided assurance that the Council had been liaising with schools and conveying assuring messages to Head Teachers and other school personnel in relation to parental concerns.

(d)      Question from Councillor Brophy regarding EV charging points

As a supplementary question, Councillor Brophy asked what the Council was doing to promote home charging for those that did not have driveways.

Councillor Williams, the Executive Member for Climate Change advised that the One Trafford Partnership was currently undertaking an exercise on behalf of the Council, to look at the possibility of expanding the electric vehicle infrastructure network in the Borough and it included looking at the installation of on-street charging provision. Work was in its infancy, however, once further progressed the Executive Member would endeavour to provide the Council with an update.