A22/043 PRESENT

Cllrs Forbes, Beswick, Gray, Malloy and McCulloch.

In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk).

 

A22/044 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

In the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, it was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr Forbes as chairman for the meeting.

 

A22/045 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs Coan, Houghton (personal business) and Nicholson (health)

 

A22/046 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Cllr Forbes declared a personal interest in A22/051 on the grounds of being disabled; Cllr Malloy declared a personal interest in A22/051 on the grounds of being chair of Knutsford Beer Festival which hoped to use the building in 2023.

 

A22/047 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A resident stated they were in attendance on behalf of another resident with an interest in 60 King Street.

A resident expressed their interest in acquiring the freehold to 60 King Street.

A resident stated the committee should retain the freehold of 60 King Street, supporting its operation by a charity to provide a wider public benefit.

 

A22/048 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 17th October.

 

A22/049 REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The year-to-date income and expenditure was noted and the Town Clerk responded to questions in relation to various items.

 

A22/050 VOIP TELEPHONY SYSTEM

It was RESOLVED to approve the procurement of a VOIP telephony system as recommended with the Town Clerk having discretion to amend the precise specification as necessary.

Cllr McCulloch voted against the resolution.

 

A22/051 60 KING STREET

The committee discussed the importance of the building to Knutsford, noting that the property had been empty for three years, that whilst there was support in the recent consultation for a community/mixed use it required significant upfront investment for the council to operate.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that it authorise the sale of 60 King Street and approve the engagement of an agent to put the property on the market.

Cllr Beswick and Malloy voted against the resolution.

 

A22/052 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to a question advising that the installation of the town Christmas tree was under the remit of the Events and Town Centre Management Committee and that a cut tree was used as Cheshire East Highways was unlikely to grant permission for a tree to be planted and that the sub-soil may not be appropriate for planting.

 

A22/053 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted.

 

A22/054 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 23rd January 2023 at 7:00pm.