ET23/034 PRESENT

Councillors Russell, Coan, Banks, Lowe, Robertson and Watson.

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllrs Dalzell and Hartley.

 

ET23/035 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs Johnson and Mears (personal business)

 

ET23/036 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Cllrs Coan and Banks declared a personal interest in ET23/040 on the grounds of living adjacent to open spaces.

 

ET23/037 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

No members of the public were present.

 

ET23/038 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25th September.

 

ET23/039 REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Cllr Coan arrived.

The committee income and expenditure year-to-date was noted.

 

ET23/040 CHESHIRE EAST COUNCIL GREEN SPACES MAINTENANCE CONSULTATION

It was RESOLVED to authorise the Town Clerk to respond to the consultation in line with the site-by-site recommendations appended to report ET-23-15 (with an amendment that the whole of the North Downs playing field should medium amenity) and the following points:

  1. The proposal to only cut the majority of green spaces in Knutsford once or twice per year is considered unacceptable and will make most spaces unusable for recreation for most of the year.
  2. All informal football pitches (where goals are present) should be medium amenity outdoor sports areas with 14-16 cuts per year to maintain to a playable standard. The two informal football pitches (Longridge Park and the Barncroft) should be included in this category.
  3. There should be a category for wildflower meadows with an annual cut and collect. The meadows at the Barncroft and Steeple Field should be categorised as this.
  4. The majority of green spaces in Knutsford should be regarded as Urban Open Spaces of medium amenity. The medium amenity grass cutting frequency should be a minimum of 14 cuts per year to ensure spaces are usable for a variety of recreation purposes.
  5. There should be a proactive approach to enhancing the biodiversity of areas in a planned way, rather than simply not-cutting grass.
  6. The majority of sites not recorded in CEC ownership should be registered as such on the grounds of CEC having maintained them for a significant period of time
  7. Expressing disappointment that the borough council is unable to fund the requisite standard of maintenance
  8. Emphasising the value of informal play space

 

ET23/041 NATURE ACTION PLAN 2024-27

It was RESOLVED to approve a new Nature Action Plan for 2024-27 which focuses on tree planting, biodiversity planting, working with landowners to improve biodiversity, wildlife corridor enhancements and annual nature focused awareness campaigns; and to approve the 2024/25 activity plan.

 

ET23/042 STRATEGIC PLAN

The progress on delivering the committee’s agreed actions was noted and it was RESOLVED to approve the draft actions for 2024/25.

 

ET23/043 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted.

 

ET23/044 QUESTIONS TO THE CLERK

It was reported that the airport was exploring public transport connectivity and the issue of uncertainty at bus stops as to whether a bus is enroute/has passed was noted.

 

ET23/045 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 5th February 2024 at 7:30pm.