21/037 PRESENT
Councillors Gardiner, Houghton, Abel, Beswick, Gray, Lowe, Malloy, McCulloch, Morris, Nicholson and Robertson.
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
21/038 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Dalzell (health), Forbes (injury) and Power (personal business).
21/039 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Malloy declared a personal interest in 21/045 on the grounds of being the council’s representative on the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.
Cllr Lowe declared a personal interest in 21/045 on the grounds of being known to the speaker in public participation.
21/040 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident spoke on behalf of a group campaigning for the reinstatement of morning rail services to the pre-COVID timetable asking the council to support the campaign.
21/041 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 6th September subject to an amendment to 21/021 to clearly state that the delay in enforcement was due to the individual on whom enforcement notices must be served being imprisoned.
21/042 COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes of committees meeting since the previous ordinary meeting were noted.
21/043 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
The written reports of Cllrs Dean and Gardiner were noted. Cllr Gardiner further reported he was awaiting a reply to enquiries concerning the reopening of the Stanley Centre.
Cllr Abel joined the meeting.
The changes to winter gritting routes were noted and it was reported that the gritters had been gritting Mansion Drive not Beech Drive.
Cllr Abel apologised for not submitting a written report in time for circulation in advance of the meeting, reported that the gritting routes were being re-looked at and that the council had joined the UK100 which seeks to develop the voice of local government in tackling climate change.
21/044 MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Cllr Malloy reported that the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership was continuing to push for the introduction of half hourly services and that the partnership would be recruiting a new community rail officer.
Cllr Malloy further reported that the Friends of College Wood was holding a litter pick on 7th November, was still awaiting registration with the Charity Commission and had discussed the condition of trees with the landowner with two trees likely to require felling.
Cllr Malloy reported on a meeting of the Knutsford and District Youth Council which had been attended by the Town Mayor.
Cllr McCulloch reported that the Friends of St John’s Wood had held a litter pick in October where a great deal of litter was removed, that the group was meeting monthly to develop its plans and that the Chair of the Friends would be attended the next Environment Committee meeting to provide an update to the committee.
The Town Clerk read a report submitted by Cllr Forbes; Cllr Forbes reported that a consultation on a public health initiative for Shawheath and Longridge as imminent and that he had attended a meeting with others and the CEC CCTV manager expressing disappointment at the way the police are handling low level incidents of report crime. Cllr Forbes further reported he had attended with others a confidential meeting with GP and the CCG on options for the long awaited super surgery and that he had attended a webinar on youth engagement, strongly encouraging other members and the Town Clerk to attend.
Cllr Lowe reported on the CCTV meeting stating he was keen to understand how best to engage with the provider on matters and the process for investigating issues.
21/045 REINSTATEMENT OF PEAK TIME HALF HOURLY RAIL SERVICE
It was RESOLVED to write to Esther McVey MP, the Rail Minister, and the Secretary of State for Transport calling for the reinstatement of the peak time half hourly service.
21/046 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN
It was RESOLVED to approve the revised edition of the Community Emergency Plan with the minor corrections detailed during the meeting and noted that the voluntary role of Community Emergency Plan Representative would be advertised to find a new volunteer. Cllr Lowe voted against the resolution.
The council noted its thanks for the work of Group Captain Derek Empson MBE in preparing the earlier drafts of the plan in his capacity as the Community Emergency Plan Representative.
21/047 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW
It was RESOLVED to approve the draft response to the consultation supporting the proposals as published and noted that they were predominantly those which the Town Council had put forward in the initial consultation.
21/048 COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN
It was RESOLVED to approve the progression of developing a Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2032 as outlined in report C-21-22.
21/049 ENGRAVING OF MAYORAL CHAIN
It was RESOLVED that the rear of the central lozenge of the Mayoral Chain be engraved with an in memoria dedicated to the late first citizens of Knutsford.
21/050 COMMEMORATIVE PLATINIUM JUBILEE TREE
It was RESOLVED that a tree be planted at the Council Offices to commemorate the jubilee around the anniversary of ascension.
21/051 COMBINED DOCTORS’ SURGERY
It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr Gardiner as the deputy representative on the combined surgery project.
It was RESOLVED to support the project to develop a central combined doctors’ surgery.
21/052 MAYORAL DUTIES
The Town Mayor reported on duties as detailed in Annex A.
The Town Mayor further highlighted he would be holding a silence at 11am on 11th November at the Centennial War Memorial, invited all members and their partners to join him at a reception following the final meeting of the calendar year and advised announced the date of a fundraising Cabaret evening on 5th February.
21/053 PAYMENTS
The payment schedules were noted.
21/054 ACTIONS LOG
The log was noted.
21/055 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No member of the public wished to speak.
21/056 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk noted a request to add the request for CCTV at the Moor to a committee actions log and for improved tracking of external outstanding actions to be implemented. The Town Clerk responded to a question in relation to Bark Run, explaining the process for Cheshire East Council making a decision on the claimed public right of way. The Town Clerk provided an update on the request for a meeting with Cheshire East Highways to discuss proposed junction improvements advising he was awaiting a date.
21/057 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday 10th January 2022 at 7pm.
ANNEX A – MAYORAL DUTIES
ENGAGEMENTS ATTENDED
| Date | Event | Attended by |
| 02/09/2021 | Library Summer Reading Challenge Awards | Town Mayor |
| 05/09/2021 | Knutsford Civic Sunday | Town Mayor |
| 09/09/2021 | Knutsford Bake Club MacMillan Coffee Morning | Town Mayor |
| 11/09/2021 | First responders Recruitment Event | Town Mayor |
| 12/09/2021 | Brook Street Chapel Heritage Service | Town Mayor |
| 12/09/2021 | Congleton Civic Sunday | Town Mayor |
| 12/09/2021 | Bollington Civic Service | Cllr Malloy |
| 15/09/2021 | Town Awards Evening | Town Mayor |
| 16/01/2021 | High Sherriff Garden Tour and Afternoon tea | Town Mayor |
| 16/09/2021 | Knutsfordian Launch Night | Town Mayor |
| 18/09/2021 | Knutsford at Home | Town Mayor |
| 19/09/2021 | Brook Street Chapel Heritage service | Deputy Town Mayor |
| 08/10/2021 | Knutsford Scouts Annual District Dinner | Town Mayor |
| 09/10/2021 | Knutsford Mayor’s Ball | Town Mayor |
| 15/10/2021 | Knutsford Lions – Houghton Weavers Concern | Town Mayor |
| 17/10/2021 | Northwich Civic Service | Town Mayor |
| 17/10/2021 | Friends of Knutsford Heritage Centre AGM | Town Mayor |
| 22/10/2021 | Knutsford Musical Theatre Company Concert | Town Mayor |
| 24/10/2021 | Nantwich Civic Service | Town Mayor |
| 31/10/2021 | Knutsford Pumpkin Path | Town Mayor |
| 30/10/2021 | Petit Pomme Opening | Town Mayor |
ENGAGEMENTS DECLINED
| Date | Event |
| 26/09/2021 | Poynton Town Council Civic Sunday |
| 07/10/2021 | Knutsford First responder heart start course |