EN21/001 PRESENT
Councillors McCulloch, Abel, Beswick and Robertson.
A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
EN21/002 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Dalzell, Gardiner, Houghton and Power (personal business)
EN21/003 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr McCulloch declared a personal interest in EN21/007 as a member of Friends of St John’s Wood.
EN21/004 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Cllr Dalzell spoke remotely stating she wished for the bus stops to be retained, asking if a solar powered speed indicator devise was a possibility, expressing support for a bin at Minshull Street and stating she was happy to be on a Climate Emergency group.
Cllr Lowe spoke remotely stating a second SID was a good idea but noting the need for the data to be used for enforcement, that he wished for bus stops to be retained, encouraging alternative forms of weed control and supporting the proposals for the Climate Emergency.
EN21/005 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd March 2021.
EN21/006 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The year-to-date income and expenditure was noted.
EN21/007 NATURE ACTION PLAN
The update on the Nature Action Plan was noted and it was RESOLVED to fund the equipment for the community wildflower allotment as part of the Nature Action Plan.
EN21/008 CLIMATE EMERGENCY
It was noted that the council’s Environmental Audit was being prepared and would be presented to the committee in November. The idea of a Climate Emergency working group comprising councillors, residents and businesses was supported and it was agreed to consider this with a terms of reference at the next meeting.
EN21/009 PURCHASE OF SECOND SPEED INDICATOR DEVICE
It was RESOLVED to approve the purchase of a second speed indicator device.
EN21/010 MINSHULL STREET BIN
It was RESOLVED to purchase a bin to install near Minshull Street, that it preferably be a dual litter and recycling bin and that a contribution be sought towards the cost from Babylon.
EN21/011 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCIL WEEDSPRAYING POLICY
It was RESOLVED to engage with Cheshire East Council to see a reduction in weed spraying in Knutsford and that the council should look to invest additional Town Ranger time in weed control as part of this.
EN21/012 CONVERSION OF OUT OF USE BUS STOPS TO PARKING SPACES
It was RESOLVED not to explore the suggestion of decommissioning old bus stops noting the council’s desire to see services reintroduced.
EN21/013 COMMITTEE BUDGET 2022/23
It was RESOLVED to approve the draft budget subject to increasing the projected expenditure for 4200/301 to £1,500 with a view to funding improvements to the Curzon planters.
EN21/014 RATIFICATION OF DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
It was RESOLVED to ratify the following decisions formally taken by the Town Clerk under delegated authority during the suspension of formal meetings:
The Nature Action Plan will be amended to:
- Pause the plans for planting whips in the area between St John’s Wood and St Helena’s until Friends of St John’s Wood have developed a masterplan for the management of the area.
- Include that the Council will hold a nature themed ‘green community fair’ event in the autumn to promote the Nature Action Plan and encourage residents to undertake planting and wildlife projects in their own gardens.
- Change the plans for facilitating bulb planting to organise a community led ‘Knutsford Big Bulb Plant’ programme.
The proposed activity detailed in report EN-21-02 is approved, a budget of £2,500 is allocated and where practical standard litter bins will be installed.
The Nature Action Plan will be amended to replace the area of whip planting near St John’s Wood with a wildflower meadow.
Cllrs Beswick, Dalzell and Houghton will be appointed to the Nature Action Plan WG and Cllrs Beswick, Dalzell, Houghton and Nicholson to the Blue Plaques Appraisal Panel.
An ecological survey of St John’s Wood will be commissioned to support the development of a masterplan for the site.
The Communications Policy will be amended to include the guidance on use of social media.
Subject to the agreement of the landowner, a new plaque will be installed at the King Edward VII Coronation Tree in addition to the existing plaque being enveloped by the tree.
EN21/015 MAINTENANCE LOG
The log was noted.
EN21/016 ACTIONS LOG
The log was noted.
EN21/017 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
No questions were raised.
EN21/018 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 15th November 2021 at 7pm.