24/015 PRESENT
Councillors Banks, Coan, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, McCulloch, Mears, Robertson and Watson
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
24/016 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Lowe (health), Russell and Wood (personal business)
24/017 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllrs Banks and Gardiner declared personal interests in 24/022 on the grounds of being known to prospective trustees.
24/018 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Cllr Robertson joined the meeting.
A resident suggested that the Town Mayor’s legacy for the town could be to ensure movement is achieved with respect improvements to the Town Centre.
A resident reported on their wish for Knutsford to become a ‘plastic free community’ and that a first stage was for the council to pledge its support to eradicating single use plastics.
24/019 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13th May 2024.
24/020 COMMITTEE MINUTES
The minutes of committee meetings were noted.
24/021 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
The written reports of Cllrs Coan and Dean were noted. Cllr Gardiner reported that the council’s Corporate Peer Review report had been published and that he anticipates being involved in the response to the report.
In response to questions, Cllr Gardiner reported that the council’s bid for additional financial support in respect of its SEND negative reserve had been unsuccessful, that it ordinarily takes up to 14-21 working days for officers to respond to non-urgent queries and that he would escalate matters if responses were not received in this timescale, that information on the temporary closure of Household Waste Recycling Centres had been announced and that he was not aware of any plans for resurfacing of Haig Road.
Cllr Coan reported further on the refurbishment of the fire station advising that additional specialist units were being relocated to the site.
24/022 MEMBERS’ REPORTS
The written reports of Cllrs Banks, Dalzell, Johnson and Wood were noted.
Cllr Banks further reported on the establishment of a U3A Pickleball group, Cllr Gardiner thanked Cllr Wood for the clarity of his report in respect of the Bluebell Village planning application noting that the CEC Strategic Plan Board had little choice but to approve the application due to it being outline only and an allocated site in the Local Plan. Cllr Johnson advised that a community group had been established to look at developing a community garden on the open space behind Booths.
24/023 APPOINTMENT OF MARJORIE HURST CHARITY TRUSTEES
It was RESOLVED to approve the re-appointment of Simon Armstrong, Paul Baron and Valerie Young MBE as trustees of the charity for the 2024-2028 term.
24/024 APPOINTMENT TO FILL PLANNING COMMITTEE VACANCY
It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr Coan to fill the vacancy on the committee.
24/025 CORPORATE PEER CHALLENGE
It was RESOLVED to endorse seeking a corporate peer challenge with the Local Government Association and National Association of Local Councils.
Cllrs Hartley and Watson voted against the resolution.
It was RESOLVED to appoint a working group comprising Cllrs Banks, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, McCulloch and Mears to lead the coordination of the challenge in accordance terms of reference submitted.
Cllrs Hartley and Watson abstained from voting on the resolution.
24/026 PROPOSAL FOR SPRINGFIELDS ALLOTMENT SITE
It was RESOLVED to thank Great Places for the offer of the land but express that:
- since there is a great need for 1-2 bedroom housing in the area, the council’s preference is for the land to be utilised for a development of 2-4 one-bedroom properties
- the council would look on this proposal differently if it was considered a holding position
- the council would wish to work with Great Places and unlock s106 affordable housing funding from Cheshire East Council to enable the development
24/027 BANKING RESOLUTION
It was RESOLVED to confirm that the council’s RBS bank account should be in the name ‘Knutsford Town Council’ with a second account in the name ‘Mayor of Knutsford Fundraising Account’
24/028 MAYORAL DUTIES
The Town Mayor reported on attendance at the events detailed in appendix A, highlighting his visit to the Knutsford and District Talking Newspaper, waving off the Toft Taverners annual trip and attendance at the Royal Cheshire County Show.
24/029 PAYMENTS
The payments were noted.
24/030 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG
The log was noted and Cllr Gardiner reported he had not received anything more in relation to the condition of Ladies Mile. The Town Clerk responded to a question advising that any transfer of open space would not affect the ability of the Nature Action Plan working group to deliver ecological improvements to spaces.
24/031 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident expressed the importance of private or shared gardens being provided on any development of apartments.
24/032 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk responded to questions advising that the planned works at the Canute Place roundabout were due to start in three weeks, that the council’s opposition to the scheme had been published on the council website and submitted to the Knutsford Guardian and that an item would be placed on the next Environment and Transport Committee meeting with respect to plastic-free communities.
The Town Mayor responded to a question confirming that the council had congratulated Valerie Bryant at Royal Cheshire County Show Presidents Lunch on the announcement of her awarded the British Empire Medal.
24/033 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday 2nd September 2024 at 7:30pm.
APPENDIX A:MAYORAL ENGAGEMENTS
2023/24 CIVIC YEAR
ENGAGEMENTS ATTENDED
| Date | Event | Attended by |
| 30/03/2024 | Easter Bonnet Competition | Town Mayor |
| 02/04/2024 | The Welcome Easter event | Town Mayor |
| 17/04/2024 | Screening of the Knutsford tales of war documentary | Town Mayor |
| 18/04/2024 | Silk radio awards evening | Town Mayor |
| 23/04/2024 | Take a seat initiative | Town Mayor |
| 25/04/2024 | Halle GMCA Concert | Cllr Gardiner |
| 05/05/2024 | Charity bingo night-Macclesfield town council | Deputy town mayor |
| 07/05/2024 | Bollington Mayor making | Deputy town mayor |
| 09/05/2024 | Hope central fundraiser | Town Mayor |
ENGAGEMENTS DECLINED
| Date | Event |
| 18/04/2024 | MHA Communi-tea party |
| 20/04/2024 | Middlewich Town Council Charity Ball |
| 22/04/2024 | Gauntlet Birds of Prey |
| 26/04/2024 | Congleton Town Council Charity Ball |
| 26/04/2024 | The Earth we Share charity concert |
2024/25 CIVIC YEAR
ENGAGEMENTS ATTENDED
| Date | Event | Attended by |
| 15/05/2024 | Cheshire East Council Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
| 15/05/2024 | Sandbach Town Council Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
| 16/05/2024 | Congleton Town Council Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
| 18/05/2024 | Flash Fashion | Town Mayor |
| 18/05/2024 | Fundraising event at Sharston House | Town Mayor |
| 19/05/2024 | Knutsford Lions Charter Lunch | Cllr Peter Coan |
| 20/05/2024 | Middlewich Town Council Mayor Making | Town Mayor |
| 24/05/2024 | Coffee & Cake charity morning | Deputy Town Mayor |
| 27/05/2024 | Knutsford Lions Fun Day | Town Mayor |
| 31/05/2024 | Knutsford Heritage Centre: Val Byrant Retirement Party | Town Mayor |
| 2/06/2024 | Congelton Civic Parade | Town Mayor |
| 13/06/2024 | Reading at Knutsford Talking Newspaper | Town Mayor |
| 14/06/2024 | Knutsford Primary Schools’ Ball | Town Mayor |
| 15/06/2024 | Music on the Moor | Town Mayor |
| 17/06/2024 | Opening of the Vein centre | Town Mayor |
| 18/06/2024 | Royal Cheshire Show | Town Mayor |
| 23/06/2024 | The Welcome Family Fundraiser | Deputy Town Mayor |
| 03/07/2024 | Waving off the Toft Taverners annual trip | Town Mayor |
| 06/07/2024 | Manor Park School Summer Fair | Town Mayor |
ENGAGEMENTS DECLINED
| Date | Event |
| 20/05/2024 | Winsford Mayor making |
| 14/06/2024 | Middlewich Folk & Boat |
| 27/06/2024 | Tomorrow Wellness Launch Event |
| 30/06/2024 | Biddulph Town Council Civic Sunday |