These are draft minutes that have not yet been approved by the council. The minutes are subject to change and will be confirmed at the next meeting.

A24/043 PRESENT

Councillors Banks, Dalzell, Gardiner, Lowe, McCulloch and Wood.

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllrs Hartley, Johnson and Mears.

 

A24/044 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR

In the absence of the Chair and Deputy Chair it was RESOLVED that Cllr Banks chair the meeting.

 

A24/045 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Coan (health) and Gray (personal business)

 

A24/046 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

In the spirit of openness and transparency in respect of A24/050 Cllr Gardiner declared that he was a member of the Cheshire East Council Environment and Communities Committee which has oversight of ANSA / green spaces which would include allotments.  Cllr Gardiner further declared that he had sat on the Strategic Planning Board when it approved the Bluebell Village application which includes a s106 contribution for the improvement/expansion of the allotment site.

Cllr Johnson declared a pecuniary interest in A24/050 as a tenant of the Mereheath Lane allotments.

 

A24/047 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

No members of the public were present.

 

A24/048 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14th October 2024.

 

A24/049 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The year-to-date income and expenditure reports were noted.

It was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk look to vire budgets in the Market Hall Refurbishment cost centre to increase clarity over the separation of funds for the current refurbishment works and the abandoned scheme.

 

A24/050 MEREHEATH LANE ALLOTMENTS

It was noted that the proposed lease was contracted out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and concerns were raised as to what the impact of this could be at the end of the lease in respect of the ongoing use of the land. Questions were raised regarding the maintenance of the boundary wall, flooding, asbestos removal and tree works.

It was RESOLVED to defer consideration of acquiring the lease pending further responses in respect of the issues raised during the discussion.

 

A24/051 MARKET HALL REFURBISHMENT

Cllrs Hartley and Johnson reported that works were ongoing and on schedule, that presently the scaffolding had been erected for the roofing works and that a variation had been agreed to raise the floor level of the existing seating area to retain it as usable space.

 

A24/052 STRATEGIC PLAN

The progress on actions for the current year was noted.

 

A24/053 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to questions advising that the output of the prioritisation of the strategic plan objectives would be shared once all members had completed the survey and that the triangle of land on Hollow Lane was the responsibility of Cheshire East Highways and that they were unlikely to repair the railings as it does not present a risk to highway users.

 

A24/054 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted.

 

A24/055 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 7th April at 7:30pm.

 

A24/056 60 KING STREET

It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

It was RESOLVED to undertake the action detailed in confidential annex to the minutes A24/001a.

Cllr McCulloch abstained from voting.

It was RESOLVED to undertake the action detailed in confidential annex to the minutes A24/001b.

It was RESOLVED to undertake the action detailed in confidential annex to the minutes A24/001c.