In advance of the meeting a minute silence was held in memory of Cllr Barbara Hamilton Coan who passed away on 20th November.

 

20/009 PRESENT

Councillors Gardiner, Houghton, Abel, Beswick, Coan, Dalzell, Forbes, Gray, Malloy, McCulloch, Nicholson, Power and Robertson

In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)

 

20/010 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

All members were present.

 

20/011 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Cllrs Forbes declared personal, prejudicial and pecuniary interests in payments listed for noting and reported that he had absented himself from the approvals process. Cllr Nicholson declared a personal interest in a payment listed for noting.

 

20/012 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

No members of the public were present.

 

20/013 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

Cllr Abel joined the meeting at the start of this item.

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meetings held 4th September and 9th November.

 

20/014 COMMITTEE MINUTES

The minutes of committee meetings published since 4th September were noted and Cllr Robertson responded to questions with respect the risk assessment and feasibility of the council’s tree planting aspirations.

 

20/015 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

Cllr Power joined the meeting during this item.

Cllr Abel reported that the council had agreed to move to a committee system from May 2021.

Cllr Malloy raised the poor condition of the new roundabout on Mobberley Road due to the works being abruptly paused and requested the councillors press for the roundabout to be made safer and tidier pending the completion of the works.

Cllr Houghton asked if work was ongoing to facilitate the resurfacing of Beeston Drive, Cllr Abel stated that it was and that he had  received an undertaking that from the senior officer that councillors will receive a report on the reasons any roads put forward for works have not been progressed.

 

20/016 MEMBERS’ REPORTS

Cllr Forbes reported on attendance at a briefing on the Radbroke Hall reconfiguration and a meeting of the Connected Communities Shaw Heath and Longridge partnership at which stakeholder organisations highlighted what they were doing to survive the pandemic.

Cllr Houghton reported on attendance at a meeting of Knutsford Lions where they receive a presentation on the work of Hope Central.

Cllr Malloy reported on attendance at a meeting of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership highlighting the appointment of the new Community Rail Officer, that the partnership would be printing timetables itself and that the partnership was continuing to push for improved train timetabling. Cllr Malloy further reported on attendance at a meeting of the Knutsford and District Youth Council stating that as it was a new school year, new representatives had been appointed and their priorities were sports, the environment, road safety and health.

Cllr Dalzell reported on attendance at a meeting of the Crosstown Community Orchard outlining the charity’s plans for the space and the variety of trees they planned to plant.

 

20/017 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES

It was RESOLVED to write to Cheshire East Council regarding the adequacy of Gypsy and Traveller sites in the borough, particularly the lack of a transit site which would assist the borough council with dealing with unauthorised encampments.

Cllr Gardiner abstained from voting.

 

20/018 CCTV

It was RESOLVED to renew the three-year funding agreement subject to confirmation that the systems remain proactively monitored and regular reports being submitted demonstrating the same and confirmation that all cameras are suitably free from obstruction.

 

20/019 COUNCIL OFFICES

It was RESOLVED to approve recommencement of the work on the renovation of the council offices noting that the first stage would be a step ‘backwards’ to refresh the business case and determine whether a project to undertake improvements to the building is viable and that this stage would involve information gathering starting with a new structural survey of the building to identify all works required to bring the existing building to a ‘modern office standard’.

Cllr Beswick left the meeting.

 

20/020 MAYORAL DUTIES

The list of duties set out in Annex A were noted.

 

20/021 PAYMENTS

Cllr Beswick re-joined the meeting. Cllr Gray left the meeting during this item.

The payments were noted.

 

20/022 ACTIONS LOG

It was agreed to ask Cheshire East Council for a timescale as to when it would be progressing new asset transfers.

 

20/023 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

No members of public were present.

 

20/024 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk provided an update on the transfer of the Council Offices stating the council was still awaiting Cheshire East Council to resolve the final two issues prior to transfer; Cllr Abel undertook to raise the delay with the relevant portfolio holders.

The Town Clerk undertook to obtain and circulate an update on the plans from the new owners of Marshall House. The Town Clerk advised members of the plans for the mayoral inauguration.

 

20/025 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 7th December at 7pm.

 

ANNEX A – MAYORAL DUTIES

Engagements attended – Civic Year 2019/20

 

Date Event Attended by
14th October Neki Café 1 Year Anniversary Town Mayor
23rd October Mayor of Knutsford’s Virtual Family Quiz Town Mayor
28th October Knutsford Lions Meeting Town Mayor
2nd November Mayor’s Raffle Draw Town Mayor
4th November Charitable Fundraising Cheque Presentations Town Mayor
8th November Remembrance Sunday Services Town Mayor

 

Engagements attended – Civic Year 2020/21

 

Date Event Attended by
11th November Armistice Day Remembrance Town Mayor