PRESENT
Councillors Mears, Coan, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe and Russell.
B Allen (Deputy Town Clerk) and Cllr McCulloch
ET25/002 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Banks and Robertson (personal business).
ET25/003 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllrs Coan and Mcculloch declared a personal interest in ET25/013 on the grounds of living near the sites under discussion. Cllr Hartley declared a personal interest in ET25/012 on the grounds of living near the proposed path. Cllr Russell declared a personal interest in ET25/017 on the grounds of being the chair of Cycle Knutsford.
ET25/004 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident thanked the council for its support of the plastic free campaign and for promoting a reduction in single use plastics.
ET25/005 COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
The committee terms of reference were noted.
ET25/006 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 31st March.
ET25/007 REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The committee income and expenditure year-to-date was noted and a question regarding the printing budget would be forwarded to the Town Clerk.
ET25/008 COMMITTEE WORKING GROUPS
It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllrs Hartley, Johnson, and Mears to the Nature Action Plan working group, Cllrs Coan, Hartley, and McCulloch to the Blue Plaques appraisal panel and Cllrs Banks, Lowe, and Russell to the Active Travel Infrastructure Plan working group.
ET25/009 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR EVENTS ON THE HEATH AGREEMENT
The updated guiding principles for events on the Heath was noted and it was RESOLVED to authorise the Town Clerk to sign on behalf of the council.
ET25/010 BLUE PLAQUE PROPOSALS
It was RESOLVED to install blue plaque for the workhouse and Helena Swanwick.
ET25/011 TOWN CENTRE LITTER BINS
It was RESOLVED to:
- seek replacement of the two circular bins on the Canute Place central island with larger bins from Cheshire East Council
- ask the Cheshire East ward members to support and encourage the prompt replacement.
- fund the replacement of the bins if Cheshire East Council is unable to
ET25/012 TABLEY ROAD ACTIVE TRAVEL LINK
It was RESOLVED to endorse the proposed path as outlined with additional hedging and exploration of a gate to be included at the Tabley Road end and to submit the project to the CIL Projects Advisory Committee for consideration and that the issue of speeding across the town be discussed at the next meeting.
ET25/013 LONGRIDGE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE ENHANCEMENTS
It was RESOLVED to
- endorse the proposed elements for the St Helena’s open space and approve a consultation to be undertaken
- refer the proposal for the sports improvements on the Longridge open space to full council to consider costs
- not progress the proposals for the open spaces adjacent to Booths Mere.
ET25/014 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG
The log was noted. It was noted that item EN20/008 has been delayed, item EN22/011 should be reconsidered for tree planting instead of planters, and on street parking changes in Gaskell Avenue should be added to the log.
The outstanding nature action plan actions were noted.
ET25/015 QUESTIONS TO THE CLERK
An update on the Gaskell Avenue on street parking changes was requested.
ET25/016 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 1st September 2025 at 7:30pm.
ET25/017 DOG WOOD ACTIVE TRAVEL PATH
It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
It was RESOLVED that subject to discussion with United Utilities on the proposed route, that the procurement process for a consultant to deliver the detailed design work and land investigations be commenced and to authorise the Town Clerk to appoint a consultant subject to being within budget and following consultation with the chair of the committee and the lead member for the Active Travel Infrastructure Plan working group, and to obtain an update on relevant works from the landowner.