25/000 PRESENT
Councillors Banks, Coan, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe, McCulloch, Mears, Robertson, Russell, Watson and Wood
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
25/001 ELECTION OF THE TOWN MAYOR
It was proposed by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Russell and RESOLVED that Cllr Hartley be elected Town Mayor.
Cllr Hartley signed the declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the chain of office.
25/002 ELECTION OF THE DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR
It was proposed by Cllr Gardiner, seconded by Cllr Gray and RESOLVED that Cllr Coan be elected Deputy Town Mayor.
Cllr Coan signed the declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the chain of office.
25/003 APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR’S CADET
Cllr Hartley announced the appointment of Cadet Corporal Jenna Read of 2056 (Knutsford) Squadron Air Training Corps as Mayor’s Cadet 2025/26.
Miss Read gave a declaration of acceptance of office and was presented with the badge of office.
25/004 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
It was RESOLVED to make the following appointments:
| Organisation | Representative |
| Cheshire Association of Local Councils AGM | Cllrs Banks and McCulloch |
| Crosstown Community Orchard | Cllr Dalzell |
| Friends of College Wood | Cllr Coan |
| Friends of St John’s Wood | Cllr Banks |
| Friends of the Heath | Cllr Watson |
| Friends of the Moor | Cllr Johnson |
| Knutsford Heritage Centre | Cllr Banks |
| Knutsford in Bloom | Cllr Hartley |
| Knutsford Old Folks Club Committee (Jubilee Hall) | Cllr Johnson |
| Manchester Airport Consultative Committee | Cllr Banks and Cllr Forrest (sub) |
| Mid Cheshire Line Community Rail Partnership Steering Group | Cllr Forrest |
| The Knutsford Fund | Cllr Hartley |
| Knutsford and District Schools Council | Cllrs Dalzell and Robertson |
| Rural Market Towns Group | Cllr Johnson |
| Knutsford Partnership | Cllr Johnson |
| Knutsford Community Garden | Cllr Johnson |
| Plastic Free Knutsford | Cllr Robertson |
25/005 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES AND BANK SIGNATORIES
It was noted that the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor are ex-officio members of all committees.
It was RESOLVED to make the appointments detailed below.
Assets and Operations Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Gardiner, Gray, Lowe, McCulloch and Wood
Chairman Cllr Coan
Deputy ChairmanCllr Gray
Community Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, McCulloch, Russell and Watson.
Chairman Cllr Forrest
Deputy Chairman Cllr McCulloch
Environment and Transport Committee
Cllrs Banks, Johnson, Lowe, Mears, Robertson and Russell
Chairman Cllr Mears
Deputy Chairman Cllr Banks
Events Committee
Cllrs Banks, Dalzell, Forrest, Russell, Watson and Wood.
Chairman Cllr Banks
Deputy Chairman Cllr Forrest
Finance Committee
Cllrs Johnson, Mears, McCulloch, Robertson and Wood
Chairman Cllr Robertson
Deputy Chairman Cllr Wood
Personnel Committee
Cllrs Banks, Coan, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner and McCulloch.
Chairman Cllr Dalzell
Deputy Chairman Cllr Gardiner
Planning and Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Gray, Johnson, Lowe, Mears and McCulloch.
Chairman Cllr McCulloch
Deputy Chairman Cllr Dalzell
Town Centre Committee
Cllrs Banks, Gray, Johnson, Robertson, Russell, Watson and Wood.
Chairman Cllr Johnson
Deputy Chairman Cllr Gray
CIL Projects Advisory Committee
Cllrs Banks, Dalzell, Gray, Johnson, Lowe and Wood
Grievances and Appeals sub-committee
Cllrs Banks, Dalzell and Gardiner
Reserve 1Cllr Coan
Reserve 2Cllr Forrest
Reserve 3Cllr Hartley
Bank Signatories
The Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor, Finance Committee Chairman, Finance Committee Deputy Chairman and the Town Clerk (for administrative purposes).
25/006 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
All members were present.
25/007 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Hartley declared a pecuniary interest in 25/011 on the grounds of being recipient of the allowance.
25/008 STATEMENT FROM THE NEWLY ELECTED TOWN MAYOR
Cllr Hartley thanked his fellow councillors for the honour of being elected Town Mayor and gave a short speech announcing that during his term of office he would be raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice and Knutsford in Bloom.
Cllr Hartley named his partner, Lisa Cavanagh, as Mayoress.
Cllr Hartley announced the appointment of Father David Long as Mayor’s Chaplain.
25/009 STATEMENT FROM THE OUTGOING TOWN MAYOR
Cllr Banks gave a short speech, thanking councillors and officers for their support during the year. Cllr Coan announced that his fundraising efforts had raised £9,600 to be split between The Welcome and Just Drop In.
It was proposed by Cllr Mears and RESOLVED that the council record its thanks to Cllr Banks for his service as Town Mayor. Cllr Hartley then presented Cllr Banks with his Past Mayor’s Medal.
25/010 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 17th March 2025.
25/011 MAYORAL ALLOWANCE
Cllr Hartley left the meeting.
It was RESOLVED to pay an allowance of £825 to the Town Mayor.
Cllr Hartley re-joined the meeting.
25/013 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident thanked Cllr Banks for his work during his time as Town Mayor, noting he widened engagement with the community and reflection that Knutsford works best when the community is aligned.
25/014 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday 8th July 2024 at 7pm.