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.
25/091 PRESENT
Councillors Hartley, Coan, Banks, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, Gray, Johnson, Lowe, Mears, McCulloch, Robertson, Watson and Wood.
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
25/092 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr Russell (personal business)
25/093 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Watson arrived.
Cllr Banks declared a prejudicial interest in the grant for The Welcome as an incoming trustee; Cllr McCulloch declared a prejudicial interest in the grant for The Welcome as a trustee.
25/094 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Town Clerk read an email from the Manager of Knutsford Heritage Centre requesting the council delays a decision on selling 60 King Street to provide time for them to seek grant funding to buy the building.
25/095 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 12th January.
25/096 COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes of committee meetings were noted.
25/097 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
The written report Cllr Gardiner was noted and he provided a further verbal update reporting that the budget had been approved with no amendments, that the no confidence motion in the Leader and Deputy Leader was not carried and that the council tax would increase 4.99%.
In respect of the items referred to CEC councillors report, it was requested that a lead for each item is identified, that the origin of the request be added to the log, and that the request for parking restrictions at Teal Avenue be included.
25/098 MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Cllr Johnson reported that Jubilee Hall was being run very well and had reduced its energy costs.
Cllr Coan reported that he had attended a site meeting in relation to the Moor Pool fish removal works and noted the size of the fish found in the pool.
Cllr Watson reported he had volunteered to run a Friends of the Heath Instagram account and encouraged members to follow it.
Cllr Banks reported on attendance at a meeting of the Knutsford Heritage Centre Board noting it had been a contentious meeting and that it was noted income from the shop was down.
Cllr Hartley reported on meetings in respect of the Town of Culture bid stating that many people had come forward to support the bid, though not many wished to lead on anything and that the group was struggling to identify an accountable body, with a respect out to Cheshire East Council to fulfil the role.
25/099 THE WELCOME – GRANT FUNDING
Cllrs Banks and McCulloch left the meeting.
The Chair of the Welcome was invited to address the meeting and took questions from members.
It was RESOLVED to award a grant of £22,000 for 2026/27 with an award being reviewed again for 2027/28.
Cllrs Banks and McCulloch rejoined the meeting.
25/10060 KING STREET
It was RESOLVED to approve the freehold sale of 60 King Street and authorise the Assets and Operations Committee to undertake all necessary arrangements including to appoint an agent and determine the acceptance of the best tender.
25/101 CIL RECOMMENDATIONS
It was RESOLVED to:
- approve the addition of the works at Red Cow Yard project to the approved CIL Projects list (£5,500)
- approves the addition of the Knutsford Rugby Club changing rooms project to the approved CIL Projects list (£50,000), subject to confirming the legality of use of CIL for this project with Cheshire East Council
- approve the release of funds for the Red Cow Yard works
25/102 CO-OPTION OF BID REPRESENTATIVE ON TOWN CENTRE COMMITTEE
Cllr Watson left the meeting.
A motion to amend the terms of reference of the Town Centre Committee to add “The committee may co-opt a representative of the Business Improvement District Board. Such appointments shall be made annually at the first meeting of the civic year, or as necessary when a vacancy arises. The co-opted member shall be a non-voting member”, was proposed and seconded and stood adjourned without debate to the next meeting.
25/103 CORPORATE PEER CHALLENGE
Cllr Watson rejoined the meeting.
The report was noted.
25/104 CORPORATE RISK REGISTER
It was RESOLVED to approve the corporate risk register.
Cllr Lowe abstained from voting.
25/105 MAYORAL ALLOWANCE PROCESS
It was RESOLVED that:
- the practice of annually approving the award of the mayoral allowance at the annual council meeting be ceased
- the newly elected Town Mayor be offered an allowance in accordance with the value allocated in the council’s budget
- this not apply to any Town Mayor who is elected part-way through the civic year, when Full Council will determine what allowance is to be made available
25/106 ANNUAL STANDING ORDERS REVIEW
It was RESOLVED to approve the amendments to standing orders set out in report C-25-30.
25/107 MAYORAL DUTIES
Cllr Hartley reported on mayoral duties as set out in the appendix.
25/108 PAYMENTS
The recent payment reports were noted.
25/109 OUTSTANDING ACTIONS, PROJECT UPDATES AND WORKPLAN REPORTS
The reports were noted.
25/110 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No members of the public were present.
25/111 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk undertook to obtain the latest s106 balances from Cheshire East Council for members to review. It was noted that there was no recent update on the medical centre development with decisions awaited from the ICB and that the CEO of Cheshire East was currently on sick leave.
Contrary to local rumour, it was noted that no town councillors nor officers live on Gaskell Avenue and as such there was no council influence from the council in respect of the closure of the roundabout entry (which the council expressly objected to) nor to influence road repairs.
25/112 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 11th May at 7pm.