E20/021 PRESENT
Councillors Houghton, Abel, Dalzell, Malloy and McCulloch
In attendance: A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
E20/022 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Gardiner and Power (personal business)
E20/023 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
No member declared an interest in any item under discussion.
E20/024 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A representative of Fisher German spoke to highlight his attendance.
E20/025 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 16th December 2020.
E20/026 REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The year-to-date income and expenditure was noted.
E20/027 TOWN CENTRE MANAGEMENT REPORT
The committee noted its thanks to the Town Centre and Marketing Officer for her work. The report was noted and the committee requested an item to review voucher redemption rates after 12 months of operation.
E20/028 TOWN CENTRE COVID RECOVERY PLAN
The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow a representative of Fisher German to address the meeting; the representative highlighted that whilst there were a number of vacant units in the town centre there continues to be strong interest in new tenancies. The meeting was reconvened.
It was agreed that the marketing messages be simplified, particularly for the ‘go local for lent’ and the SHOP acronym posters.
It was RESOLVED to endorse the recovery plan subject to the aforementioned modifications and it was noted that the Town Centre and Marketing Officer would oversee its implementation.
E20/029 TOWN AWARDS
It was RESOLVED to postpone the Town Awards nomination process and award ceremony to the early summer.
E20/030 BUNNY HOP
It was RESOLVED to approve the event plan as outlined noting that if a lockdown was still in force at the time the event is scheduled for, it would not proceed.
E20/031 CHESHIRE EAST CAR PARKING SURVEY
It was RESOLVED to approve the draft response to the consultation subject to an amendment that a parking tariffs should be determined on the specific needs and challenges for each town centre and need not necessarily be consistent across the borough.
E20/032 MUSIC FESTIVAL
It was RESOLVED to approve the outline plans for the 2021 event noting that the detailed programme will evolve to comply with the government guidance on such events in force at the time.
It was requested that a more detailed plan and decision timeline be presented to the next committee meeting.
E20/033 CHRISTMAS MARKET
It was RESOLVED to set the 2021 Christmas Market dates as 27th and 28th November, to authorise the Events Officer to make preliminary arrangements and to note that the position with respect coronavirus will be reviewed as the year progresses.
E20/034 MAKERS MARKET
It was noted that in line with a previous resolution a positive decision of the committee would be required before the Makers Market would resume and as such no market would take place in February.
E20/035 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
No questions were raised.
E20/036 ACTIONS LOG
The log was noted.
E20/037 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 15th March 2021 at 7pm.