Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received the following questions from members of the public:-

(a)       Dave Dillner

How does a petitioner present evidence to the proposed Western Road First World War Memorial Trees Task and Finish Cross Party Working Group?

(b)       Robin Wrigley

How does the Crookes Western Road and Walkley Tree Action Group submit the independent highway engineering report on Western Road to the proposed Task and Finish Cross Party Working Group?

(c)        Nigel Slack

Mr Slack made reference to a statement which had appeared in an e-mail sent by Councillor Steve Wilson to Labour Party members of East Ecclesfield in which it indicated that Councillor Wilson had suggested that the protests made against the removal of trees in the City had become a political issue.  Mr Slack stated that, in his opinion, it would appear that Councillor Wilson has already made up his mind in terms of the issue relating to the Western Road First World War Memorial Trees and, whilst referring to the Council’s Members Code of Conduct, questioned whether Councillor Wilson would therefore disqualify himself from chairing the proposed Working Group, and allow the Scrutiny Committee to appoint an independent Chair from outside the Committee.

(d)       Susan Smith

(i)          Will the proposed Task and Finish Working Group commit to adequate and effective public engagement, consultation and information-sharing about the work and process of the Group, in particular, holding public meetings, both in the daytime and evening, and use the resources of the Council and Streets Ahead social media teams to promote this?

(ii)        Will an adequate timescale for this be implemented, especially for the promotion and publicising of engagement events beforehand (we would suggest a minimum of two weeks’ notice of any public meeting)?

6.2

The Chair stated that a number of the questions pre-empted the discussions to be held, and decisions to be made, in connection with Item 8 on the agenda for this meeting (Western Road First World War Memorial Trees - Scope of Task and Finish Cross Party Working Group).  He stated that, if and when the Working Group was established, its first task would be to appoint a Chair, and then set out a programme of meetings, both private and public.  The Working Group would engage with the Crookes Forum, Crookes Western Park and Walkley Tree Action Group and any other local groups, and would ensure that representatives of such groups were given at least two weeks’ notice of public sessions.  The Chair concluded by stressing that the Group would be considering the issue in terms of the Western Road First World War Memorial, and not the wider aspects of the Council’s tree-removal programme.