24/000 PRESENT
Councillors Coan, Banks, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe, McCulloch, Mears, Robertson, Russell, Watson and Wood
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
24/001 ELECTION OF THE TOWN MAYOR
It was proposed by Cllr Mears, seconded by Cllr Hartley and RESOLVED that Cllr Banks be elected Town Mayor.
Cllr Banks signed the declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the chain of office.
24/002 ELECTION OF THE DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR
It was proposed by Cllr Forrest, seconded by Cllr Robertson and RESOLVED that Cllr McCulloch be elected Deputy Town Mayor.
Cllr McCulloch signed the declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the chain of office.
24/003 APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR’S CADET
Cllr Banks announced the appointment of Lucas Cronan of the 1st Knutsford Scouts as Mayor’s Cadet 2024/25, Mstr Cronan gave a declaration of acceptance of office and was presented with the badge of office.
24/004 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 McCulloch |
| 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 Coan (sub) |
| Mid Cheshire Line Community Rail Partnership Steering Group | Cllr Forrest |
| The Knutsford Fund | Cllr McCulloch |
| Knutsford and District Schools Council | Cllrs Dalzell and Wood |
| Rural Market Towns Group | Cllr Johnson |
| Knutsford Partnership | Cllr Johnson |
24/005 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, authorise the CIL Projects Advisory Committee to co-opt to fill any arising non-councillor member vacancies and increase the membership of the Council Offices sub-committee to six members.
Assets and Operations Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Gardiner, Gray, Lowe and Wood
Chairman Cllr Coan
Deputy ChairmanCllr Gray
Community Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner, Hartley, Russell and Watson.
Chairman Cllr Forrest
Deputy Chairman Cllr Hartley
Environment and Transport Committee
Cllrs Johnson, Lowe, Mears, Robertson, Russell and Watson
Chairman Cllr Mears
Deputy Chairman Cllr Johnson
Events Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Hartley, Forrest, Russell, Watson and Wood.
Chairman Cllr Hartley
Deputy Chairman Cllr Forrest
Finance Committee
Cllrs Coan, Johnson, Mears, Robertson and Wood
Chairman Cllr Robertson
Deputy Chairman Cllr Wood
Personnel Committee
Cllrs Coan, Dalzell, Forrest, Gardiner and Mears.
Chairman Cllr Dalzell
Deputy Chairman Cllr Gardiner
Planning and Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Gray, Johnson, Lowe, Mears and one vacancy.
Chairman Cllr McCulloch
Deputy Chairman Cllr Gray
Town Centre Committee
Cllrs Coan, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, Robertson, Russell and Watson.
Chairman Cllr Gray
Deputy Chairman Cllr Johnson
CIL Projects Advisory Committee
Cllrs Dalzell, Gray, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe and Wood
Council Offices sub-committee
Cllrs Coan, Dazell, Gardiner, Gray, Johnson and McCulloch
Grievances and Appeals sub-committee
Cllrs Banks, Dalzell and Gardiner
Reserve 1Cllr Coan
Reserve 2Cllr Forrest
Reserve 3Cllr Russell
Bank Signatories
The Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor, Finance Committee Chairman, Finance Committee Deputy Chairman and the Town Clerk (for administrative purposes).
24/006 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
All members were present.
24/007 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Banks declared a pecuniary interest in 24/012 on the grounds of being recipient of the allowance.
24/008 STATEMENT FROM THE NEWLY ELECTED TOWN MAYOR
Cllr Banks 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 Just Drop In and The Welcome.
Cllr Banks named his wife, Christine, as Mayoress.
Cllr Banks announced the appointment of Rev Paul Deakin as Mayor’s Chaplain.
24/009 STATEMENT FROM THE OUTGOING TOWN MAYOR
Cllr Coan gave a short speech, thanking councillors and officers for their support during the year and reflecting on work the council has undertaken during the preceding twelve months including campaigning against the closure of the leisure centre, coordinating meetings to progress the new medical centre and working to preserve green spaces. Cllr Coan announced that his fundraising efforts had raised £7,500 to be split between Knutsford Grow and the Men in Sheds Knutsford.
It was proposed by Cllr Gardiner and RESOLVED that the council record its thanks to Cllr Coan for his service as Town Mayor. Cllr Banks then presented Cllr Coan with his Past Mayor’s Medal.
24/010 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 25th March 2024.
24/011 ANNUAL GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW
It was RESOLVED to approve the annual governance statements 2023/24.
It was RESOLVED to approve the annual accounting statements 2023/24.
24/012 MAYORAL ALLOWANCE
Cllr Banks left the meeting.
It was RESOLVED to pay an allowance of £800 to the Town Mayor.
Cllr Banks re-joined the meeting.
24/013 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Town Clerk read a statement from the Chair of Knutsford GROW thanking Cllr Coan and the Civic Events Officer for their fundraising efforts over the preceding year, highlighting how much it means to their small charity.
A resident expressed thanks to the council for listening to residents and amplifying resident voices to Cheshire East Council and others, particularly thanking the council for its work in connection with the Leisure Centre and opposition to the loss of playing field connected with the refused Longridge proposals.
24/014 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday 8th July 2024 at 7pm.