23/054 PRESENT

Councillors Coan, Banks, Dalzell, Forrest, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe, McCulloch, Mears, Robertson, Russell, Watson and Wood

In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)

 

23/055 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Gardiner (personal business).

 

23/056 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

No member declared an interest in any item under discussion.

 

23/057 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A member of the public enquired if the Cheshire East Councillors’ request for the decision to close the Stanley Centre to be called into full council had been successful and Cllr Coan advised a decision was still awaited from the Monitoring Officer. The member of the public expressed concern that the centre was being closed to make space for a medical centre questioned if Cheshire West and Chester council had been approached to refer users to the Stanley Centre.

A resident spoke in relation to 8 Beechwood advising that the neighbouring residents had endured anti-social behaviour, that dilapidated fences had caused injuries and that they had received no reply from Cheshire East Council regarding their ‘5 Es’ approach to enforcement.

A resident spoke in relation to 8 Beechwood expressing concern that nothing was being done to address the issue despite many years of it being raised with Cheshire East Council.

 

23/058 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held 31st July.

 

23/059 COMMITTEE MINUTES

The minutes were noted and it was noted the Events Committee would be reviewing the idea of hosting a community fun day.

 

23/060 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

The written reports of Cllrs Coan, Dean and Gardiner were noted.

The issue of detritus from bin lorries was raised and it was suggested crews should clean up as part of collections, Cllr Coan undertook to raise this.

The financial challenges of the council were noted and the Town Clerk was asked to investigate the effect on Knutsford of Cheshire East Council issuing a s114 notice should that happen.

 

23/061 MEMBERS’ REPORTS

Cllr Banks reported on attendance at meetings of the Manchester Airport Technical Advisory Committee where it was noted there had been no fines for exceeding noise limits, that work was ongoing regarding a review of the s106 agreement and that night flights in July were 10% of total flights, exceeding the 7% in the s106 agreement.  Cllr Banks further reported on riding the Knutsford Revolution cycle route with the Town Clerk and Cllr Russell.

Cllr Watson reported work of Friends of the Heath clearing the path to the Queen Elizabeth II coronation tree.

Cllr McCulloch reported that Friends of St John’s Wood had developed a masterplan and were arranging their AGM.

Cllr Russell noted that the s106 agreement for Radbroke Hall included funding for cycle route improvements to Knutsford and enquired as to the status of this project; the Town Clerk undertook to obtain an update.

 

23/062 FUNDING OF CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE 2024-2028

Mr Will McKellar, Chief Officer of the Cheshire East North Citizens Advice was invited to address the meeting and took questions from members.

Cllr Russell left the meeting.

It was RESOLVED to renew the funding agreement for the Knutsford Citizens Advice Service for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2028.

 

23/063 FUNDING OF TOWN CENTRE CCTV SERVICE 2024-2027

It was RESOLVED to renew the funding agreement for the town centre CCTV service for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027.

 

23/064 DILAPIDATED PROPERTY AT 8 BEECHWOOD

The history of the property’s dilapidation was discussed and it was noted residents were increasingly frustrated that there had been no progress from Cheshire East Council in resolving the issue or explaining why options were not viable.

The meeting was adjourned to allow a member of the public to address the council, they outlined that they sought a timebound and actionable strategy for brining the property into use. The meeting was reconvened.

Cllr Watson left the meeting.

It was RESOLVED:

  1. To reinforce the request for a meeting with Cheshire East Council for neighbouring residents
  2. To seek a meeting with the owner of the property
  3. To seek answers to outstanding questions and a clear timeline from Cheshire East Council
  4. That Cllr Mears represent the Town Council regarding this matter

 

23/065 PURCHASE OF TIPPING TRAILER

It was RESOLVED to authorise the purchase of a tripping trailer from the capital receipts reserve.

 

23/066 KNUTSFORD MEDICAL CENTRE PROJECT STAKEHOLDER GROUP

The Town Mayor reported that the group had met twice and information on existing revenue costs had been shared. The Integrated Care Board had outlined that an increase to annual revenue costs would require a business case being approved by the ICB. Agents for Knutsford Medical Partnership would be preparing a high level outline which could be delivered within the existing budget envelope and that this would be presented at the next meeting at the end of October.

It was noted that clarification was needed as to whether the sale of existing surgeries would contribute towards the funding of the project. It was further noted the most likely model was that there would be a commercial acquisition of premises at the Bexton Road site for a third party to deliver a combined primary care and hospital facility but the exact land requirements were to be determined.

 

23/067 MAYORAL DUTIES

The Town Mayor reported on attendance as detailed below.

 

ENGAGEMENTS ATTENDED

 Date Event  Attended by
05/08/2023 Family Fest Deputy Town Mayor
13/08/2023 Abbeyfield Strawberry Tea Town Mayor
18/08/2023 The Welcome Funday Cllr Gardiner
26/08/2023 Guys barbers Town Mayor
03/09/2023 A Welcome Service for the new Methodist minister Deputy Town Mayor
08/09/2023 Knutsford Bake Club Macmillan Coffee Morning Deputy Town Mayor
09/09/2023 Summer Reading Challenge Medal Ceremony Cllr Gardiner
10/09/2023 Starting of the Great Race Cllr Gardiner
15/09/2023 Cranford Grange 18th Birthday Party Cllr Gardiner
17/09/2023 Poynton Civic Service Cllr Gardiner
24/09/2023 Bollington Civic Sunday Town Mayor

 

ENGAGEMENTS DECLINED

 Date Event
05/08/2023 Star Choir Summer Concert
2/09/2023 Macclesfield Charity Bingo Night
09/09/2023 Knutsford Beats Summer Serenade
10/09/2023 Alsager Civic Service
16/09/2023 Knutsford at Home
17/09/2023 Middlewich Civic Sunday

 

23/068 PAYMENTS

The payment schedules were noted.

 

23/069 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted and it was requested that registration of the Canute Mosaic should be added to the log.

 

23/070 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A member of the public spoke further in relation to the proposed closure of the Stanley Centre, questioning if public transport to alternative centres would be provided, whether the decision needed to be ratified by the Full Council of Cheshire East Council and whether GPs objected to the proposed closure.

 

23/071 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to questions advising that:

  1. The Assets and Operations Committee was still awaiting a proposed date for a meeting with Bruntwood regarding 60 King Street
  2. A briefing would be arranged to update members on the funding awards for the Market Hall once the outcome of the Shared Prosperity Fund application had been received
  3. Cheshire East Councillors have a fund for minor highways improvements within their wards and that double yellow lines on Mereheath Park and measures to prevent right turns out of Minshull Street have been suggested by the Town Council
  4. Pavement parking can only be dealt with as an obstruction issue unless civil parking restrictions (e.g. double yellow lines) are on the highway
  5. Information on council meetings could be shared in Facebook Groups.

 

23/072 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 15th January 2024 at 7:00pm.