A Keppel-Green | Knutsford Town Council

15Jan2021

Sarah receives Millennium Bursary

Knutsford Town Council has awarded its 2020 Millennium Bursary to Sarah Healey who is studying English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Leeds.

Sarah, who attended Knutsford Academy, is in her second year of the programme and is interested in feminist narratives, narratives outside the western world and renaissance. The £560 bursary will be used to supplement her studies by buying more books, attending literary festivals and venture to research facilities.

Sarah said: ‘In the hope that I secure a placement for next year, the bursary will help minimise the stress of finding accommodation and alleviate travel expenses. Given the current situation, the bursary will be of huge benefit to my studies and will allow me to attend more prestigious literary festivals which I have yet to experience.’

The annual Millennium Bursary is awarded in partnership with the Knutsford Lions and supports a Knutsford student from in their second year of university with the aim of supporting their final year project/dissertation.

Knutsford Lions made two supplementary bursaries of £125 each.

Sarah Healey - winner of the 2020 Millennium Bursary

The first went to University of Cambridge student Bree Livesey who is studying Geography and the second to English Literature Student Helena Searle, who is also studying at the University of Leeds.

Michael Goldman, of Knutsford Lions, said: “It was a pleasure to talk to these enthusiastic undergraduates, each with a love of their own field of study and coping with the hard impact of the pandemic on their time at uni. Reaching our final decisions was difficult with such good applicants. The Lions have been participating in the Millennium Bursary awards since the outset and we are always pleased to make additional awards when good candidates apply.”

Town Mayor, Cllr Stewart Gardiner said: “I was very impressed with the four candidates; each of whom presented their respective qualities very well. While I enjoyed talking to these young woman and finding out about them, it was a very difficult task to identify one overall winner.

Whilst Congratulating Sarah, I would also like to thank each applicant for applying and take this opportunity to wish them all the very best in their future studies and trust that they will each realise their potential in whatever careers they choose to follow thereafter.”

Students currently in their first year of university should look out for the 2021 Millennium Bursary opening for applications in the Autumn.

15Jan2021

Council responds to CEC Parking Survey

Knutsford Town Council is encouraging residents to ensure their voices are heard on all matters parking as part of the Cheshire East Council paring survey. The borough council, which operates the majority of car parks and parking enforcement in the town, will use the feedback to develop its parking policy for the next five years.

The Events and Town Centre Management Committee of the town council has agreed its own submission to the survey where it calls on Cheshire East to closely involve the Town Council with any proposed changes to parking charges and policy in Knutsford.

The Town Council’s response, available here: Town Council Parking Survey response, urges Cheshire East to implement the parking proposals in the From Top to Bottom Street report which was supported by 79% of respondents at consultation in February 2020.

Amongst the points made by the Town Council it is calling for the development of at least one well designed multi-storey car park to increase parking provision, the introduction of long-stay parking at the Booths car park and a redesign Tatton Street car park to increase the number of spaces.

Responding to questions on potential changes to parking policy, the town council has lodged its objection to parking charges being introduced on Sundays and says that charging in the evening should only ever be introduced in a town if its town council consents. The Town Council has also said that on-street charging shouldn’t be introduced and that each town should have parking charges appropriate to the needs of the specific town centre.

The Town Council has also urged Cheshire East to move the coach parking from Tatton Street car park, where coaches cannot actually get to them, to the Bus Station. This will enable the town council to commence work on promoting the town to coach operators and boost tourism.

The Town Council is also calling on Cheshire East Council to invest in parking enforcement and ensure that illegal and inconsiderate parking is enforced and targeted at problem areas with local knowledge.

Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green said “Effective and appropriately enforced parking is vital for the success of our town centre and this is an opportunity to ensure Cheshire East Council hears directly from residents to help shape future parking policy.

We have made a number of proposals for improvements to parking and offered our commitment to work closely with Cheshire East to ensure that any changes are right for Knutsford”

The Town Council has also highlighted that more must be done to address the inequality of access to the town centre by non-car users and is committee to work with Cheshire East Council to deliver covered cycle parking at all car parks.

The survey can be completed at: https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/vztq7t and closes on 31^st January.

8Jan2021

Coronavirus Vaccinations

Vaccinations against COVID-19 are beginning in Knutsford from this weekend. Led by the Knutsford Medical Partnership which operates the three doctor surgeries in Knutsford, the vaccinations will take place at Knutsford Hospital on Bexton Road.

The aim is to vaccinate all those entitled under the first phase of vaccinations within the next 10 weeks; starting with those over 80 years of age.

There is no need to contact your doctor to arrange your vaccination as the surgeries will directly contact you if you are eligible; this will be either by letter or telephone. Those over 80 should expect to be contacted within the next seven days. Please wait to be contacted and avoid contacting the surgeries directly as this will slow the process down.

As a result of the vaccine rollout the doctor surgeries are extremely busy at this time; the surgeries remain open for those requiring medical attention or who have developed new illnesses but we can all play our part in supporting the NHS and our local doctors by not contacting the surgery about non-urgent matters such as an ingrowing toenail you have had for a few weeks.

Professional medics, such as retired doctors or nurses, who can assist with delivering the vaccinations should contact Sophie Hulme on sophie.hulme2@nhs.net

You can support the vaccine rollout by volunteering to assist with the administration and marshalling of the vaccination clinics. This is being coordinated by Knutsford Rotary Club who are coordinating short (2.5hr) shifts for volunteers between 8:30am and 4pm. If you can volunteer please contact either We are Knutsford on 01565 364 785 or the Knutsford Hosts on knutsfordhosts@gmail.com

When attending the hospital for a vaccination directly (by car, walking or cycling) please enter via the normal door. If being dropped off or taking a taxi, please enter via the Bexton Court entrance.

Please note, patients are required to remain on site under supervision for 15 minutes after receiving a vaccination and at this stage no refreshments can be provided to attendees.

18Dec2020

Christmas Window Competition Winners 2020

Town Mayor, Cllr Stewart Gardiner and Managing Director of Knutsford based Forum of Private Business, Ian Cass, toured the town centre to judge the efforts of local businesses in the annual Knutsford Christmas Window Competition.

Each year the standard of the Christmas Window displays continues to get higher and higher. All the Town Centre window displays were viewed as part of the competition though we had formal entries from a large range of retailers and businesses including, but not limited to; Holly Johnson Antiques, Kanoa Living, Cheshire Quality, Arthur Lee, Nicholas Austen, The White Orchid, Dafferns, Mr Simms and Clare and Illingworth.

The overall winner was presented with a trophy and certificate with highly commended certificates going to the runners up.

This year the winner was Gerald’s of Knutsford with Nicholas Austen coming in 2^nd place and Daniella Draper in 3^rd place. There was also a prize for the best dressed Charity Shop window; this was won by Barnados on Tatton Street.

Mayor Presents Certificate for Christmas Window Competition to Nicolas Austen

Cllr Stewart Gardiner said “I was impressed at how people had gone the extra mile in their window displays this year. Everybody should be extremely proud of their efforts in making the town look particularly festive. Picking winners was especially difficult and six or seven shop fronts were in the running for first place. However, there could only be one winner, Gerald’s of Knutsford!”

Mayor Presents Certificate for Christmas Window Competition to Daniella Draper

14Dec2020

By-Election Opportunity

Electors living in Knutsford’s Bexton Ward have the opportunity to request an election to fill the vacancy created following the death of Cllr Barbara Hamilton Coan.

If ten electors write to Cheshire East Council before 7^th January requesting a by-election to fill the seat an election will be triggered. If an election is not triggered the existing councillors will choose a new councillor to fill the vacancy.

Under current legislation an election will be held in May 2021 as all elections, national and local, have been suspended until this date. Any election will be held on the same day as the election for the vacancy on Nether Ward. If no election is called a new councillor will be co-opted in March.

To request an election electors must write to: The Returning Officer, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ stating they wish to request a by-election of the vacant Bexton Ward seat on Knutsford Town Council, giving their full name and address.

Recognising the delays in postal services due to coronavirus and Christmas, Cheshire East Council will also accept service of this demand by email to electoral.information@cheshireeast.gov.uk to ensure it is received by the deadline of 7^th January but require that a hard copy is posted at the same time to comply with Electoral Commission guidelines.

7Dec2020

Students – apply for the Millennium Bursary

Second year university students from Knutsford are encouraged to apply for the Millennium Bursary from Knutsford Town Council.

Since 2000 the Town Council and Knutsford Lions have offered a £500 bursary to a second-year student from Knutsford to assist with their final year studies. The Knutsford Lions often also provide further smaller awards to runner-up students.

The bursary is open to all second-year university students whose term-time address is in Knutsford or Toft. To apply, students simply need to complete a short form giving a background to their studies and how the bursary will help them achieve more at university.

The deadline for applications is 21st December. The application form can be completed online at: www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/millennium-bursary

All applicants will be invited to an interview in early January with the Town Mayor and Knutsford Lions who will seek to better understand how the bursary can help students’ studies.

27Nov2020

Community Grants Deadline Approaches

The deadline is approaching for groups in Knutsford to apply for funding from the Town Council’s community grants scheme.

Grants of up to £1,500 are available from the Town Council for projects which meet one of its grant outcomes: providing improved opportunities/services for under 18s or over 65s, providing new or improved assets or services which benefits a significant percentage of residents and projects which enhance the profile or reputation of the town.

Previous grant awards from the council have included £1,500 to 2^nd Knutsford Scouts towards resurfacing the driveway at their scout hut and £650 to the Knutsford Talking Newspaper to purchase new equipment.

“We’ve been able to fund some excellent community projects through our grant scheme in the past and invite community groups, sports clubs and charities to submit applications to us at any time throughout the year” said Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Green.

The council will not fund salaries, hospitalities, religious organisations (except for non-religious activities), core school expenditure or projects with party political links.

The deadline for the final round of applications in the current financial year is 11^th December, with decision being made by the council in January 2021. More information on the grant scheme and the application forms are available at: www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/community-grants

25Nov2020

Notice of conclusion of audit

The audit of accounts for Knutsford Town Council for the year ended 31
March 2020 has been completed and the accounts have been published.

The Annual Governance & Accountability Return is available for
inspection by any local government elector of the area of Knutsford
Town Council on application to:

Adam Keppel-Green (Town Clerk and RFO)
Council Offices, Toft Road, Knutsford, WA16 6TA
townclerk@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Copies will be provided to any person on payment of £0

Announcement made by Adam Keppel-Green, Town Clerk and RFO

You can view the Annual Governance & Accountability Return here: www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/council/finance

Date of announcement: 25/11/2020

20Nov2020

Death of Cllr Barbara Hamilton Coan

Knutsford Town Council is sad to announce the death of Councillor Barbara Hamilton Coan, who passed away on 20^th November after a short illness.

Barbara was first elected to the Town Council in May 2008 representing Over Ward for seven years before not seeking re-election in 2015. After a four-year break, Barbara returned to the council in May 2019 as a councillor for Bexton Ward.

Barbara was elected Deputy Town Mayor in 2012 and served as Town Mayor 2013-14. Speaking on her election as Town Mayor in 2013 Barbara said there was “no greater honour than to be elected mayor of the town in which I was born and the town which made me.”

As Town Mayor Barbara raised funds for the Knutsford Lions and Cheshire Search and Rescue, at the time setting as new record for the mayor’s charity fundraising. During her year in office Barbara was impressed by a neighbouring town appointing a mayoral cadet and oversaw the introduction of the Knutsford Mayor’s Cadet.

During her time at the council Barbara oversaw the creation of the Events and Town Centre Management Committee of which she was the inaugural chairman and through which she was instrumental in establishing the annual Town Awards scheme in 2013. Since returning to the council in 2019 Barbara served as Chairman of the Personnel Committee.

Town Mayor, Cllr Stewart Gardiner said “It is very sad to lose a colleague; Barbara was incredibly hard working and thorough in her duties as a councillor and a very good past mayor. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”

The Knutsford flag will be flown at half mast at the Council Offices.

19Nov2020

Outgoing Town Mayor distributes funding

EIGHT Knutsford sports clubs which deliver youth sporting activities have received a share of outgoing Town Mayor Cllr Andrew Malloy’s charitable fundraising efforts.

Andrew was elected Town Mayor in May 2019 and was due to stand down in May 2020 when his term was extended by six months due to the coronavirus lockdown which also resulted in the cancellation of the key fundraising event of a mayor’s term – the Mayor’s Ball.

Over the past 18 months Andrew held a number of fundraising events to raise funds for youth sporting clubs and to create a starter fund for a Knutsford Skatepark. With the support of a number of local businesses and residents Andrew hosted a BBQ, Christmas Disco, three ‘Dine with the Mayor’ evenings a pub quiz, a virtual family quiz, a Christmas raffle and a virtual raffle. Along with Mayoress Nicole Malloy Andrew also tackled two active challenges – cycling over 100 miles across Cheshire East in September 2019 and tackling a 9.5-hour hike around the Cheshire Three Peaks in October 2020.

His efforts, and the generosity of a number of sponsors and guests at his would-be ball, allowed Andrew to raise a total of £13,430[1]. Half of this will be distributed between the eight sporting clubs with the rest put aside to help deliver a skatepark for the town.

Andrew contracted the various sporting organisations involved in delivering youth sports in Knutsford to find out how they could use a share of the funding and £6,715 was shared between the eight sports clubs.

Egerton Football Club received £985 which will be match funded by the FA to provide new small, sided goals and the same amount went to Toft Cricket Club to help fund a new tarpaulin and lighting to allow practice during the winter.

Knutsford Rugby Club received £640 to fund coaching training with the Rugby Football Union and the Canute Badminton Club will also be training more of its coaches with its £350 share of the funding which will also fund new agility trailing equipment.

Swimming club the Knutsford Vikings received £985 to wards the cost of new starting blocks and Knutsford Hockey Club will be spending its £985 on a goalkeeper kit and new hockey sticks.

The final awards were made to Knutsford Tennis Club (£800) and Knutsford Netball Club (£985) who will be applying the funding to future projects.

Toft Cricket Club receive a cheque from the Town Mayor

Cllr Malloy said “I have been overwhelmed throughout my term by the generosity and support of so many people and businesses. Only with their support could the Mayoress and I have raised so much money for the young people of our town, to support their health, fitness and mental health.

With our local sports clubs really struggling during lockdown, I’ve been delighted to be able to support them. We had an incredible year as a Mayoral team, and enjoyed so many amazing events, in particular showcasing active organisations and challenges, and we really look forward to continuing our active lives with our children.”

Knutsford’s new Town Mayor, Cllr Stewart Gardiner will be announcing his chosen charities at the formal investiture planned for December 7^th.

[1] The total includes £3,600 which was paid as a deposit for the Mayor’s Ball. This deposit has been carried forward for an event in the new Town Mayor’s term and will be reimbursed from ticket income. In the unlikely event that it cannot go ahead, the skatepark share of the funding will be reduced by £3,600.

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