Annual Parish Meeting
Macclesfield Town Council
Annual Parish Meeting 19th April 2021
Notice is hereby given that the 2021 ANNUAL Macclesfield Parish MEETING will be held on Monday 19th April commencing at 6.00 p.m Via ZOOM.
Due to the Coronavirus and Covid-19 restrictions and in line with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 this meeting will be held remotely, broadcast on youtube.com and can be viewed on the Macclesfield Town Council youtube.com channel.
The statutory Annual Parish Meeting is an occasion for members of the public to ask questions, make comments and raise issues of interest to the town.
This can be done in 2 ways: –
- By submitting a resolution to be discussed at the Town Meeting. Written notice of the resolution must be submitted to the Town Clerk prior to the meeting. If the resolution is passed, the Town Council is obliged to consider the matter at a subsequent meeting.
- By participating and speaking to the Town Meeting.
If you would like to speak during public session, please email clerk@macclesfield-tc.gov.uk by 5pm Thursday 15th April 2021.
If you would like to submit a written statement, please submit your statement for inclusion by emailing clerk@macclesfield-tc.gov.uk 5pm Thursday 15th April 2021.
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Agenda
1. Welcome from the Mayor of Macclesfield
2. Apologies for absence
3. Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting 20th May 2019
4. Updates for Town Councillor Champions
- Climate Emergency and ECO Summit
Cllr Neil Puttick Environment Champion
- Public Realm Update and Parks including South Park Pavilion
Cllr Janet Jackson MBE Streetscene Champion/Cllr Fiona Wilson Leisure and Outdoors Champion - Town Centre Recovery Plan
Cllr Fiona Wilson Town Centre Regeneration Champion
- Communications and Working Together Communication
Cllr Chris Wilcock Champion / Events and Comms Officer
- Update on projects and Events
Events and Communities Manager
5. To consider resolutions and questions of which written notice has been given
6. To receive reports from parishioners (Discussion and Open Forum).
Convened by the Mayor of Macclesfield
Macclesfield Town Council
Annual Parish Meeting 19th April 2021
The statutory Annual Parish Meeting is an occasion for members of the public to ask questions, make comments and raise issues of interest to the town.
Convened by the Mayor of Macclesfield
Minutes for the meeting on 19th April 2021 at 6.00pm held via Zoom
In attendance:
18 people (7 residents)
Councillors: Bennett-Wake, Edwardes, Hutchison, Jackson, Roberts, Harewood, Wilcock, Wilson.
Officers: Town Clerk, Events and Communications Officer and Events and Communities Manager.
1. Welcome from the Mayor of Macclesfield
Cllr Bennett-Wake welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed what a difficult year it had been for everyone and how Macclesfield residents, had shown such kindness and helpfulness to each other. As the Town Council Communities Champion, she thanked all the groups and individuals in our town that have been amazing helping to feed, support and befriend each other during the pandemic. The Mayor stated as a town we should be very proud.
2. Apologies for Absence
- Cllrs Warren, Shenton and Puttick and 1 resident.
3. Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting 20th May 2019
Approved
4. Updates for Town Councillor Champions
- Climate Emergency and ECO Summit
Events and Communications officer offered an update on the Environment in the absence of Cllr Puttick, Environment Champion. Spoke about future forests, the council supporting sustainable projects and the forthcoming Eco Summit in collaboration with Macctastic.
- Public Realm Update and Parks including South Park Pavilion
Cllr Janet Jackson MBE Street Scene Champion, gave an update on Street Scene and the Public Realm, including the current situation regarding the asset transfer of South Park Pavilion, the town ranger service and the CAA.
Cllr Fiona Wilson Leisure and Outdoors Champion updated on Windmill Park, where phase 1 has been completed and the desire to complete phase 2, including the BMX track. She also updated on the allotments, and the work that has been done to clear many neglected ones and get them let to residents.
- Town Centre Recovery Plan
Cllr Wilson, the Town Centre Regeneration Champion, updated on the Town Centre Recovery Working group and the Recovery Plan, as well as the related sub groups on outdoor hospitality & safety. Cllr Wilson discussed the Welcome Back Fund and how councils can only apply if they already have a recovery plan, so we are in an excellent position going forward for this funding.
- Communications and Working Together Communication
Cllr Wilcock, the Communications Champion, updated on the current communications strategy across social media and other formats such as radio and print, discussed the town council working closely with local businesses to develop a better relationship and to help promote them, more engagement across the board, plus the communications sub group as part of the Recovery Plan.
- Update on projects and Events
The Events and Communities Manager updated on events across the past year and the flexibility of the council to host them virtually and as homebased events. A run down was provided of upcoming events including back up options depending on local restrictions.
Cllr Harewood, the Transport Champion, updated on local transport, 20 is plenty, buses and the bus service to the airport.
5. To consider resolutions and questions of which written notice has been given.
Beverley Dooley asked if Macclesfield Town Council would write to Cheshire East Council to insist that they do an updated Environmental Impact Assessment on the impact to Macclesfield if Congleton, Bollington or Poynton household waste centres were to shut.
CEC Cllr Nick Mannion explained one had been done, however Beverley Dooley did point out that this was done in June 2020, during the pandemic.
Cllr Mannion explained that the lease site for Congleton tip had been ended and the landlord had sold the site.
RESOLVED: It went to a vote and a majority voted to put the following on the agenda of the Full Council to discuss.
Can Macclesfield Town Council insist that Cheshire East Council do an updated Environmental Impact Assessment on the impact to Macclesfield if Congleton, Bollington or Poynton household waste centres were to shut.
Chris Mountcastle discussed the current BMX track at Windmill Street Park and offered support to Cllr Wilson to progress Phase 2.
RESOLVED: The Town Clerk will bring together Chris Mountcastle and Cllr Wilson to discuss.
6. To receive reports from parishioners (Discussion and Open Forum).
Q. Gareth Jones asked what funding for the 130 bus service that Macclesfield Town Council agreed to support at Full Council 29th March 2021 had been given by other Town Councils.
RESOLVED:
The Town Clerk has agreed to confirm the exact amounts to Mr Jones but has advised that Macclesfield Town paid a lower amount than most.
Q. Mr Jones also requested that all documentation for packs associated with council meetings be made available on the website.
RESOLVED:
Town Clerk explained this was part of the reason of revamping the current website. Mr Jones requested that he go on a mailing list to receive all meeting packs. This was agreed.
Q. With regards to the precept increase, Mr Jones wants to be able to see what the town council have done to warrant that increase.
A: The Town Clerk stated that the increase in the precept had gone to:
- Increased Town Hall Staff.
- Increased Ranger Service from 1 to 3 Rangers plus there will shortly be a Junior Ranger position advertised funded by the governments Kickstart.
- The solar lights on the Middlewood Way.
- The asset transfer of the South Park Pavilion.
Funding has also been put into Ear Marked Reserves for projects that have had to be delayed due to the pandemic. For example, £100,000 commitment to community transport.
A.Cllr Wilson re-capped the projects that the council is working on and that will be starting in the coming year and explained that the actual increase for a Band D household is 85 pence per month, over the 2-year period.
Q. Brian Puddicombe congratulated the Ranger service and also the work on the South Park Pavilion, which he looks forward to visiting. He also mentioned the need for EV Charging points, and stated he was aware that the Town Council are working hard with CEC to secure some for the town.
A. Cllr Edwardes updated on EV Charging, that the Town Council had met with CEC, who are producing a Cheshire wide strategy, that is due imminently. He said his understanding is that the electrical suppliers have to be involved as it uses a lot of electricity, which CEC are working on.
Q. Cllr Mannion is encouraged with the Town Council work with stakeholders on a range of issues, in particular the climate emergency and the town centre recovery plan, the Rangers, the town centre pocket park and the South Park Pavilion Plans. He asked as we emerge from lockdown can we expect to see these partnerships continue into the future?
A. Cllr Janet Jackson replied yes, as the success for example of the Town Centre recovery plan was because everyone worked together and had their say. Cllr Bennett-Wake agreed and that it was important to represent all residents and work with them to make change and improvements.
Q. Sandy Livingstone was interested in Active Travel and Green Spaces within the town centre and asked about how the work with Cheshire East Council would continue and on our own to ensure it is sustainable.
A. Cllr Bennett-Wake, Cllr Hutchison and Cllr Wilson commented that achievements are all due to teamwork with other stakeholders including Cheshire East Council, residents and businesses and that there is a positive energy and a can-do approach, which the Town Council will work hard to continue.
Q. Beverley Dooley mentioned that parking on pavements will be taken more seriously at the end of this month, and places like Paradise Street which are very narrow roads, are going to be impossible to park on. What is the Town Council View?
A. Cllr Mannion commented that Cheshire Constabulary generally take the view that as long as a buggy or wheelie bin can fit down, then it is not pavement obstruction.
The Mayor of Macclesfield thanked everyone and ended the meeting.
Chair: Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake.
Clerk: Laura Smith
Meeting closed: 7:34PM.