T25/029 PRESENT

Councillors Johnson, Gray, Banks, Coan, Hartley, Robertson, Russell and Wood.

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk).

 

T25/030 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Watson (health)

 

T25/031 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Cllrs Coan and Gray declared prejudicial interests in item T25/036 as trustees of a charity which would pay the levy.

 

T25/032 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A resident highlighted the importance of The Moor as a tourist destination and key part of the town centre, requesting the committee allocate budget for investment in capital improvement.

 

T25/033 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held 21st July.

 

T25/034 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

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

 

T25/035 TOWN CENTRE MANAGEMENT REPORT

Cllr Russell arrived during this item.

The report was noted, the Town Clerk advised that the detailed proposal for the Knutsford cup scheme would be presented at the next meeting, and that work recruiting casual traders to the market hall had been affected by the heat during the summer and roof works.

 

T25/036 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Cllrs Coan and Gray left the meeting.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that it vote ‘yes’ in the BID ballot.

It was RESOLVED that in the event of a successful ballot, the council seek recovery of the development stage costs over the five-year period.

Cllrs Coan and Gray rejoined the meeting.

 

T25/037 TOURISM STRATEGY UPDATE

A report following the recent meeting of the working group was noted. It was suggested that securing provision for coach parking be added as an action.

 

T25/038 TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

The committee noted the approach to developing a masterplan and proposed timeline.

The Town Clerk explained the proposed format of the forthcoming public engagement sessions.

It was noted that the leads of the sub-groups would need to ensure that the groups kept on topic and worked within the agreed parameters, such as the previously resolved positions of the council following the feasibility reports on the From Top to Bottom Street proposals.

 

T25/039 STRATEGIC PLAN

The progress against strategic plan actions was noted. It was RESOLVED to approve the following action plan for 2026/27:

  1. Deliver a Town Centre Masterplan
  2. Delivery of Tourism Strategy Actions
  3. Implement the coach friendly town initiative
  4. Delivery of promotional events programme

 

T25/040 COMMITTEE BUDGET 2026/27

It was RESOLVED to recommend that the Finance Committee look at providing budget for capital investment in play areas either through increasing the commitment to reserves, or making provision in the Environment and Transport Committee budget.

It was RESOLVED to approve the service fees and draft budget as submitted.

 

T25/041 OUTSTANDING ACTIONS AND PROJECT UPDATES REPORT

The report was noted.

 

T25/042 COMMITTEE WORKPLAN

The workplan was noted.

 

T25/043 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to questions as follows:

  • The barriers on King Edward Road were installed following a tree falling, it has been followed up with Cheshire East Highways but no action has been taken to date. Cllr Coan undertook to raise a member enquiry
  • The council was continuing to monitor the impact of introducing electricity recharges at the market hall and currently providing a 50% transitional subsidy to the highest users
  • A dispensation request in respect of a prejudicial interest can be requested in writing, including by email
  • That it was intended to arrange a volunteer session to remove the overgrowth on the King Edward Road pavement
  • That it was noted that the postal service was inefficient and that agendas are targeted for distribution on Mondays to mitigate this
  • That it was understood Tatton Park was continuing to review the closure of the Knutsford gate and that it would not be reopened until they are confident the safety risk to visitors has ceded.
  • That the status of the bin by Giovanni’s would be investigated and that delivery of the two new bins for Canute Place was imminent.

 

T25/044 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 17th November 2025 8:30pm