A24/028 PRESENT
Councillors Coan, Banks, Dalzell, Gardiner, Gray, Lowe, McCulloch and Wood.
A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllrs Hartley, Johnson and Mears.
A24/029 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
All members were present.
A24/030 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Gardiner declared a personal interest in A24/036 on the grounds of being a member of the Cheshire East Council Environment and Communities Committee which has responsibility for open spaces.
A24/031 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident spoke in relation to A24/036 highlighting the importance of the conservation of the scheduled ancient monument site of St Helena’s Church and requesting the council develops a survey and conservation strategy with expert input, as part of any business case prepared for the transfer of that site.
A24/032 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29th July.
A24/033 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The year-to-date income and expenditure reports were noted and the Town Clerk explained that the high percentage expenditure for water costs at the Council Offices was due to the annual surface water/highway drainage bills.
A24/034 ALLOTMENTS
It was noted that Redrow had agreed to create the pedestrian path from the Tabley Park site to Warren Avenue and offered £10,000 to provide redress for the flooding issues at the Warren Avenue allotment site.
It was RESOLVED to waive the rents for the Warren Avenue allotment site for the 2024/25 growing year, owing to the flooding issues encountered over the past years.
It was RESOLVED to progress exploration of acquiring the lease for the Mereheath Lane allotment site.
A24/035 CEMETERY ENTRANCE REPAIRS
It was RESOLVED to authorise retarmacking of the entrance to the cemetery.
Cllrs Banks and Lowe voted against the resolution.
A24/036 ASSET TRANSFERS
It was RESOLVED to:
- endorse the principle of seeking the transfer of the bus station
- endorse the principle of seeking the transfer of public open space
- direct the asset transfer working group to prepare a business case for the transfer of the bus station and a business case for the transfer of public open space (as a bloc)
A24/03760 KING STREET ASBESTOS REMOVAL
It was RESOLVED to authorise the encapsulation of asbestos at 60 King Street.
Cllr Johnson and Mears left the meeting.
A24/038 STRATEGIC PLAN
It was requested that a report be presented at the next meeting on the progression of outstanding matters with respect to 60 King Street and the Market Hall.
The progress on actions for the current year was noted and it was RESOLVED to approve two actions for the 2025/26 civic year of implementing the Town Ranger apprenticeship (carried forward from the current year) and developing a five-year management strategy for all built assets.
A24/039 COMMITTEE BUDGET 2025/26
It was RESOLVED to approve the service fees for 2025/26.
Cllr Gray left the meeting and returned.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget as presented.
A24/040 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk responded to questions advising that the Market Hall regulations would be updated and that the Cemetery regulations did not prohibit the consumption of alcohol on the site primarily due to the challenge of policing it.
A24/041 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG
The log was noted.
A24/042 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 16th December 2024 at 7pm.