21/014 PRESENT
Councillors Gardiner, Houghton, Beswick, Coan, Dalzell, Malloy, McCulloch, Morris, Nicholson and Robertson
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
21/015 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Abel and Power (personal business), Gray (civic business), Forbes (injury) and Lowe (business).
21/016 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
No member declared an interest in any item.
21/017 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Town Clerk read a submitted statement from a member of the public requesting the Town Council to lobby Cheshire East Council to undertake an assessment for the installation of sensors to enable coordination of the town’s traffic signals.
A resident spoke in opposition to the suggestion of a permanent closure of Minshull Street noting that it was contrary to the From Top to Bottom Street proposals for the town centre.
A resident spoke in support of lobbying to reduce the speed limit on Manchester Road, outlining the case for a reduction and highlighting recent accidents.
A resident highlighted a number of Neighbourhood Plan policies which would support the council’s objectives of reusing 60 King Street, note the likely timescale for a heritage lottery fund bid and suggesting the council look at how it can use the building in the interim.
21/018 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 5th May 2021.
21/019 RESULTS OF BY-ELECTIONS
The results of the by-elections held on 6th May 2021 were noted as follows:
Bexton Ward
Rosalind Hobson 394
Millie Morris 422 (elected)
Nether Ward
Annie Greer 319
Scott Lowe 379 (elected)
Bill Tenger 162
21/020 COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes of committees meeting since the previous ordinary meeting were noted.
21/021 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
The written reports of Cllrs Dean and Gardiner were noted.
Cllr Coan enquired if the relevant department could be approached to convert the disused bus stops in the town centre to on street parking; the matter was referred to Cllr Dean.
Cllr Malloy enquired if there was an update as to when the Longridge development would be considered by the Strategic Planning Board; Cllr Gardiner advised there was presently a backlog of applications but that he would be informed around 10 days prior to a committee meeting which applications would be considered. Cllr Malloy highlighted the upcoming Tour of Britain which passes through Knutsford.
Cllr Beswick enquired if there was an update on the previously raised question of opening Tatton Park seven days per week during the winter season; the matter was referred to Cllr Abel. Cllr Beswick further enquired if there was an update with respect to the Traveller site at Mobberley; Cllr Gardiner responded that the matter was in progress but delayed due to the individual on whom enforcement notices must be served being imprisoned.
21/022 MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Cllr Dazlell reported on the successful launch part of the Crosstown Community Orchard where around 100 attended for the afternoon and reported that the charity planned to plant bulbs, sow wildflowers and host workshops in the autumn.
Cllr Malloy reported that the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership was continuing to push for a half hourly service with the latest proposed date for its introduction being May 2022. Cllr Malloy reported that the Friends of College Wood had appointed him as chair and submitted its application to be registered as a charity. The group help a litter pick in July and plans to hold a further one in the autumn. Cllr Malloy further reported that the Knutsford and District Youth Council had not met yet, but that the heads of the schools had held a planning meeting.
Cllr McCulloch reported there had been no meetings of the Knutsford Fund nor ChALC for him to attend and that the Friends of St John’s Wood was progressing having undertaken a community survey, prepared a series of objectives and agreed to present at the November Environment Committee meeting.
Cllr Houghton reported that he had met with community representatives and Peaks and Plains to continue engagement with respect to the redevelopment of Warren Close and Winstanley House.
21/023 CONSIDERATION OF A DECLARATION OF A CLIMATE EMERGENCY
It was RESOLVED that:
This council recognises the catastrophic consequences of climate change and declares a climate emergency. The council believes that all governments have a duty to tackle climate change.
The council believes that actions are more important than words and commits to making the council carbon neutral and to considering the climate impact in all its decision making.
The council will develop a Knutsford Climate Emergency Strategy to work with the whole community to reduce Knutsford’s contribution to climate change. The council will seek to influence governments at all levels and others tackle climate change.
The council’s Environment and General Purposes Committee is tasked with overseeing the implementation of this resolution.
21/024 MINSHULL STREET
It was RESOLVED not to progress the closure of Minshull Street.
It was RESOLVED to approach Cheshire East Council to implement a solution to prevent right turning out of Minshull Street.
The meeting was adjourned for a five-minute recess. Cllrs Morris and Beswick left the meeting.
21/025 MANCHESTER ROAD SPEED LIMIT
It was RESOLVED:
- That The council does not believe it appropriate to wait until development takes place for the speed limits on Manchester Road to be reduced
- That the Town Clerk coordinate a meeting with Cheshire East Council, Mere Parish Council and Cheshire Police to discuss a reduction to the speed limit in both the 60mph and 40mph sections.
21/026 ADDITION OF JENNIFER HOLBROOK TO MAYORAL CHAIN
A motion to add an inscription to the mayoral chain for Jennifer Holbrook was proposed and seconded but failed.
Cllr Coan left the meeting.
21/027 60 KING STREET
A report on the work to date and programme moving forward for the securing of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to renovate and bring back into use 60 King Street was noted. It was noted that this would include seeking a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund and/or the Pilgrims Trust for the work to develop a major application for the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It was RESOLVED to formally endorse project as outlined.
21/028 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OLD FOLKS CLUB (JUBILEE HALL) COMMITTEE
It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr Dalzell as the council’s representative to the organisation.
21/029 REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS
It was RESOLVED to approve the amendments to Standing Orders as detailed in report C-21-10.
21/030 RATIFICATION OF DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
It was RESOLVED to ratify the decision that council surgeries will be reintroduced as per report C-21-04.
It was RESOLVED to ratify the following appointments: Cllrs Forbes, Houghton, McCulloch and Nicholson to the Honours working group; Cllrs Beswick, Gray, Houghton, Lowe and Robertson to the Town Centre Masterplan working group and Cllrs Dalzell, Forbes, Lowe, McCulloch and Morris to the Strategic Plan working group.
It was RESOLVED to ratify the appointments to the CIL Advisory Committee as follows and that the non-councillor appointments for the Sports and Leisure and Education and Community themes be determined by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor.
Theme | Councillor | Non-Councillor |
Town Centre | Cllr Gray | Dr J Coffey |
Environment / Open Space | Cllr Coan | Mr K Griffiths |
Heritage | Cllr Nicholson | Mrs S Chaplin |
Housing and Employment | Cllr McCulloch | Mr B Chaplin |
Sports and Leisure | Cllr Robertson | |
Health | Cllr Forbes | Mr K Thompson |
Education and Community | Cllr Dalzell | |
Getting Around | Cllr Malloy | Mrs S Russell |
It was RESOLVED to amend the draft meeting protocol to add that meetings of Full Council shall not follow the Planning and Licensing Committee.
It was RESOLVED to ratify the adoption of the following protocol:
- Planning and Licensing Committee meetings will remain on Monday evenings between 6pm and 7:30pm.
- Where a meeting is to overrun by more than five minutes, the Chairman shall usually adjourn the meeting to enable the other meeting to start within a reasonable time.
- The Planning and Licensing Committee shall agree a series of standard responses to applications (particularly for tree work applications which are less diverse than planning applications) which can be referred to during meetings.
- Planning and Licensing Committee agendas will separate tree works applications to be a dedicated item after planning applications.
- Planning and Licensing Committee meetings shall not be scheduled to precede meetings of the Full Council
It was RESOLVED to ratify the decision to submit a response in support of the revised changes to the Parliamentary Boundary Review.
21/031 MAYORAL DUTIES
The Town Mayor reported on duties as detailed in Annex A, thanked those who attended his summer BBQ and highlighted his upcoming Autumn Ball taking place on 9th October.
21/032 PAYMENTS
The payments were noted.
21/033 ACTIONS LOG
The log was noted.
21/034 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Cllr Gardiner left the meeting to avoid prejudicing his position on the Cheshire East Council Strategic Planning Board.
A resident thanked the council for declaring a climate emergency and spoke in relation to the Longridge development application asking if the Town Council would be updating the Neighbourhood Plan to upgrade the designation of the site to an area of High Habitat Distinctiveness and if the council would make the protection of these fields a high priority as part of its climate emergency plan. The Town Clerk stated that it is not possible to update the Neighbourhood Plan immediately but that it would be considered as part of a future review of the plan.
Cllr Gardiner returned to the meeting.
21/035 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk responded to questions stating that the lease for Justice View had been completed and the tenant had moved in from 1st September but that negotiations were ongoing for Lily Lodge.
21/036 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday 1st November 2021 at 7pm.
ANNEX A – MAYORAL DUTIES
Date | Event | Attended by |
16/04/2021 | Memorial Service for HRH Duke of Edinburgh | Town Mayor |
06/05/2021 | Congleton Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
11/05/2021 | Bollington Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
13/05/2021 | Not A Box Photo Call | Town Mayor |
27/06/2021 | Crewe Civic Service | Cllr Malloy |
28/06/2021 | Judging the Music Festival Beer Naming Competition | Deputy Town Mayor |
09/07/2021 | Opening of Majestic Wines | Town Mayor |
09/07/2021 | King St Car Park de-fib photo | Town Mayor |
09/07/2021 | Wine Tasting on The Heath | Town Mayor |
15/07/2021 | Launch of Flowers in Wallwood | Town Mayor |
22/07/2021 | Opening of the Cemetery Chapel | Town Mayor |
22/07/2021 | Floral Walk | Deputy Town Mayor |
07/08/2021 | Lions Community Fair | Town Mayor |
10/08/2021 | Unveiling of the reinstalled Liberal Club War Memorial | Town Mayor |
11/08/2021 | Royce Court Coffee Morning | Town Mayor |
14/08/2021 | Knutsford Music Festival | Town Mayor |
21/08/2021 | Market Hall Open Day | Town Mayor |
21/08/2021 | Mobberley Methodist Church Key Workers Thank You | Town Mayor |
22/08/2021 | Crosstown Community Orchard Launch BBQ | Deputy Town Mayor |
27/08/2021 | Sharston House Summer Fayre | Town Mayor |