A group of councillors sat around a table with an audience

Council sets 2025/26 budget

Knutsford Town Council has set its annual budget for the 2025/26 financial year, with a gross expenditure of £1,036,291. The precept, which is collected as part of council tax, has been set at £816,860 meaning a Band D household will pay £11.08 per month to fund the work of the Town Council, an increase of £1.09 per month on the 2024/25 amount.

The Town Council is responsible for a range of services and activity to support the local community, including:

  • Community grants and funding services like Citizens Advice
  • Community events such as the Music Festival, Pumpkin Path, Christmas Light Switch with new events Paint Knutsford and an outdoor cinema event planned for 2025
  • Maintaining local assets such as Knutsford Cemetery, Wallwood, Public Toilets, Higher Town Green and the Library Gardens
  • Delivering the Town Ranger service, including this year hiring an apprentice
  • Managing Knutsford Market Hall which is currently undergoing a refurbishment

Following funding for the first stage design of an active travel path from the Moor to Parkgate Lane, the council has allocated just under £40,000 to develop the technical design which will enable it to then seek funding for the delivery of the path.

Staffing costs have increased both due to the changes in employer national insurance contributions, which unlike Cheshire East Council the Town Council is not compensated for, and investment in a new staffing structure which will enable the council to deliver its ambitious strategic plan for the community whilst ensuring the council’s core administration is resilient.

The budget also makes provision for taking proposals for a Business Improvement District through to a referendum with local businesses, which could see an additional £2m investment managed by an independent board of traders over a five-year period to support the vitality of the town centre as a place to do business.

“Every penny in our budget is spent on Knutsford, from running events that bring the community together to undertaking small projects that make the town more special such as delivering our Nature Action Plan or celebrating our heritage” said Town Mayor Cllr Colin Banks.

“With the continued reduction in service levels from Cheshire East Council we are finding it more and more necessary to take care of things locally, and our budget enables us to work to make Knutsford a better place to live, work, visit and do business”

The full council budget can be found at: www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/council/finance

Cllr April Johnson hands the key to the Market to Jim Southall of Built by Mode.

Works on Knutsford Market Hall commence

The long-awaited refurbishment of Knutsford Market Hall has started this week.

Local building contractors, Built by Mode, were handed the keys to the building on Tuesday and have swiftly commenced the strip-out of the building. The first phase of work involves stripping out the existing stall structures, ceiling and floor coverings.

The programme then involves raising the level of the floor, building new stall structures improving security and storage for traders, the installation of a new accessible toilet and a kitchenette to support the hall’s use outside market hours.

“It is exciting to be underway with the refurbishment and we are really looking forward to welcoming the traders back into the building once works are complete” said Cllr April Johnson.

This project has received £160,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the balance of costs are funded through previous market hall income and the council’s capital reserve.

Works are expected to last until the end of March with old and new traders moving back in in April. Whilst works are ongoing, the Market Butcher and Heathfield Fruit and Veg are trading from the car park, whilst Market Hall Barber Pino is working from 2nd Knutsford Scout Hut by appointment.

We will be posting regular updates on the works via social media.  

Flower Planters on a Roadside Barriers

Corporate Peer Review Report Published

A report on how Knutsford Town Council can work to improve how it delivers for the community has been published.

The report is the second stage of the Corporate Peer Challenge, a review which was initiated by the Town Council to guide its improvement. A peer challenge is an external review of how a council is performing and how it can improve as an organisation to better serve its community.

In November, the peer challenge team spent three days in Knutsford holding 24 meetings and speaking with over 75 people including council staff, councillors, local residents and community/business representatives. The team used their experience and knowledge of local government to reflect on the information presented to them by people they met, things they saw and material that they read.

The report praised the council’s effective governance and financial management and the positive civility and respect displayed in the council chamber. Peers noted that the council has a lot to celebrate and that there is a real commitment within the council, and from residents and businesses, to make the town a great place to live and visit. The report highlights that the council has a number of good examples of partnership working, is engaged with the local community and a strong staff team with good morale.

Looking to where improvement can be made, the peer team found that the council’s ambition was not matched with adequate resource to deliver and that the council has a tendency to take on projects before completing existing ones. The report highlights a lack of capacity in the Town Clerk’s role and the need to increase resilience and staffing levels.

The report also suggested that the visibility of councillors could be improved with greater support for their development to support them in their roles as leaders and in delivering effective challenge and strategic oversight of the council’s operations.

A more strategic approach to asset management is another recommendation, with peers noting the challenges around the delivery of a refurbishment of the Market Hall, the vacant 60 King Street and the need for investment at the Council Offices of which the team said “the building is impressive from the outside and this gives a false impression of it as a workspace. The internal space is in a state of disrepair and accessibility is poor”

In total 23 recommendations were made which are summarised as:

  1. Review the strategic plan priorities and duration
  2. Undertake a staffing review
  3. Enhance the resilience in respect of the Town Clerk/RFO role
  4. Continue engagement with CEC regarding services and joint working
  5. Develop an asset management strategy
  6. Support the creation of a Business Improvement District
  7. Develop a communications strategy to improve communications
  8. Develop a procurement strategy to improve procurement
  9. Commission an external health and safety review
  10. Review the council’s equal opportunities policy
  11. Undertake equality impact assessments for activity
  12. Increase the visibility of councillors
  13. Improve support for councillors to develop their roles
  14. Resolve issues with 60 King St and the Market Hall
  15. Undertake improvements to the council offices
  16. Promote election processes to see contested elections
  17. Improve the clarity of decision within committees and link more strongly to strategy
  18. Develop stronger challenge from councillors in meetings
  19. Increase councillor/officer collaboration
  20. Develop a strategic risk register
  21. Improve the robustness of business plans
  22. Invest in project management expertise
  23. Implement lessons learned exercises

“We initiated this challenge because we are committed to continual improvement and ensuring Knutsford has the best town council it can have and we’d like to thank the peer team and all those in the community who gave time to participate in the review” said Town Mayor, Cllr Colin Banks.

“The purpose of the review was to identify areas for improvement, so we are not disappointed by any of the findings. We will now begin working on addressing each recommendation and as a result be better placed to serve Knutsford”

The report will be discussed at the Town Council meeting on Monday 6th January. A working group will then develop an action plan to address each recommendation for the March council meeting after which it will be submitted to the LGA/NALC. After 12 months,  the Peer Challenge Team will meet with the council again to review how the council is progressing with its improvement.

The full report can be read here: Corporate Peer Challenge Report

The Knutsford town boundary sign with a floral planter beneath

2025 Millennium Bursary open for applications

Calling all second-year university students residing in Knutsford or Toft! Applications for the 2025 Knutsford Millennium Bursary are now open, offering a valuable £715 boost to your final year projects and dissertations.

This annual partnership between Knutsford Town Council and the Knutsford Lions has been supporting local students for over two decades, recognising academic merit and alleviating financial pressures during the crucial final year.

Whether students need funding for research materials, travel for fieldwork, or simply a helping hand with living expenses, the Millennium Bursary can make a real difference. Past recipients have used the award to access specialist software, conduct international research, and even purchase essential equipment for their projects.

The application process is straightforward. If you’re a second-year student with a term-time address in Knutsford or Toft, all you need to do is complete the application form on the Knutsford Town Council website and submit a written statement outlining your academic aspirations and how the bursary will help you achieve them.

Applications are open until 14th February, so don’t miss this chance to secure additional support for your final year project or dissertation.

Town Mayor Cllr Colin Banks said “For 25 years the Town Council has been providing this annual award to support one of our students in their higher education. I am greatly looking forward to seeing the applications for the 2025 award and encourage all second year university students from Knutsford to consider applying”

Applications can be completed at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/millennium-bursary