Minutes of the meeting of the Town Centre Committee 22nd June 2026

T26/001 PRESENT

Councillors Johnson, Gray, Coan, Dalzell, Robertson, Russell and Wood.

Mrs Rogers (Knutsford BID)

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)

 

T26/002 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs Forrest and Wood (personal business)

 

T26/003 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

No member declared an interest in any item.

 

T26/004 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Chair of Knutsford BID introduced themselves to the committee.

A resident spoke in relation to the Knutsford Litter Picking group and noted it was positive the Knutsford Cup proposal was moving forward. They further suggested a refill shop in the market hall would be positive.

A resident member of the town centre masterplan movement and access group spoke in relation to the proposed active travel path for King Edward Road expressing that the subgroup was clear that the reduced width of the road would be detrimental to wider congestion in the town centre, noted that the CEC infrastructure delivery plan had noted widening would take place as part of the local plan evidence and noting that the Full Council would be discussing the matter following its referral by the Environment and Transport Committee.

 

T26/005 COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

The terms of reference were noted.

 

T26/006 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 13^th April.

 

T26/007 CO-OPTION OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

It was RESOLVED to co-opt Mrs Helen Rogers, Chair of Knutsford BID, to the committee as a non-voting member for the ensuing civic year. Mrs Rogers joined the meeting.

 

T26/008 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The year-to-date income and expenditure reports were noted.

 

T26/009 TOWN CENTRE MANAGEMENT REPORT

The report was noted.  The committee discussed Knutsford Fashion Week attendance, suggested it could have been marketed more and expressing uncertainty about ticketing the fashion show.

 

T26/010 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT REPORT

Mrs Rogers thanked the Town Council for initiating the BID, noting it formally commenced in April and had appointed a BID Manager. The BID board represents a variety of businesses, and to date has had one formal and one informal meeting. The first activity the BID would be undertaking would be steam cleaning of pavements, and it was looking to provide free first aid training for businesses. It was noted that Groundwork had been appointed to operate the BID, which delivers additional resource and value added from their involvement in other BIDs.

 

T26/011 TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Cllr Johnson reported the movement and access group was to meet to determine questions for the consultation, and had made a lot of progress in reviewing issues. The Public Realm and Placemaking and Economy and Use groups have developed questions and the Development group is assessing potential development locations.

It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllrs Coan, Hartley, Johnson, Robertson and Wood to the Town Centre Masterplan working group

 

T26/012 STRATEGIC PLAN

The log was noted.

 

T26/013 OUTSTANDING ACTIONS AND PROJECT UPDATES REPORT

The log was noted.

 

T26/014 COMMITTEE WORKPLAN

The log was noted.

 

T26/015 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to questions as follows:

• Officers would investigate and liaise with the relevant bodies concerning the tatty state of King Street under the railway bridge
• A meeting would be arranged with the Chair to discuss marketing of the Market Hall
• Options for lighting of the ginnels would be progressed

 

T26/016 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 28^th September 2026 at 7:00pm.