Full Council
Manage the strategic delivery of all of the council’s activities.
Dates
Mon 9th Jun 2025, 7:00pm
In Categories
Location
Macclesfield Town Council Notice of Meeting
30th May 2025
To Chair Cllr Emma Gilman and Councillors James Barber, Sarah Bennett-Wake, David Edwardes, Sam Hale, Alift Harewood-Jones, Mike Hutchison, Sandy Livingstone Ruth Thompson, Mick Warren, Chris Wilcock and Fiona Wilson
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of
Macclesfield Town Council’s Full Council meeting to be held at
Macclesfield Town Hall
on
9th June 2025
commencing at 7pm,
for the purpose of transacting the business shown on the attached agenda.
With thanks,
Laura Smith
Town Clerk
Agenda
The agenda of the meeting to be held on the on 9th June 2025 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
1 Apologies for Absence
To receive apologies and approval.
2 Declarations of Interest
To receive declarations of interests from members relevant to items under discussion at the meeting.
Public Questions
The meeting will be adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
The meeting will then be reconvened.
NOTE:
If you would like to speak during public session, please email
[email protected] by 5pm Thursday 5th June 2025. Every practicable effort will be made to try and arrange your inclusion.
If you would like to submit a written statement, please submit your statement for inclusion and circulation to the committee to [email protected] by 5pm Thursday 5th June 2025.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meetings
3.1 Annual Town Meeting Minutes 24th March 2025
3.1 Annual Town Meeting Minutes 24 03 25
3.2 Full Council Minutes 19th May 2025
3.2 Full Council Minutes 19th May 2025
Action: To approve the minutes
4 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Action: To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
5 Planning Committee
5.1 Planning Committee Minutes 12th March 2025
5.1 MTC PC 12 March Minutes
5.2 Planning Committee Minutes 7th May 2025
5.2 MTC PC Minutes 7th May 2025
To note the minutes above.
5.3 Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
6 Finance Committee
6.1 Finance Committee Minutes 12th May 2025
6.1 Finance Committee mins 12th May 2025
To note the minutes above.
6.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
7 Community Delivery
7.1 Local Police Unit
Chief Inspector to brief the Council.
7.2 CAB
7.2 CAB Report
To receive and note the report.
7.3 Silk Museum
To receive and note the report.
8 Governance Review
8.1 Reserves Policy
Action: To review the above policy.
9 South Park Pavilion Update Report for Council
Actions: To consider the report.
10 Town Centre Regeneration Working Group
10. Town Centre Regeneration Working Group
To note the report.
11 Library / Visitor Information Centre
11. Macclesfield Library Funding
To note the report.
12 Fitness for the Future
12. Fitness for the Future proposal
Action: To consider the proposal for further funding or either 6 months or 1 year.
13 Public Realm Steward
13 Public Realm Steward
Action: To consider the proposal in the report.
14 Parks and Play Areas
To note the report.
15 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 28th July 2025 at the Town Hall.
Macclesfield Town Council Full Council Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on the 9th June 2025 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
In Attendance:
- Cllr Emma Gilman
- Cllr Sandy Livingstone
- Cllr David Edwardes
- Cllr Chris Wilcock
- Cllr Alift Harewood
- Cllr James Barber
- Cllr Mike Hutchison
- Cllr Sam Hale
1 Apologies for Absence
- Cllr Fiona Wilson
- Cllr Mick Warren
- Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake
2 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Chris Wilcock declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 12, as his daughter attended the community support trust activities.
Cllr James Barber-Chadwick declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7.3 as Vice Chair of the Silk Trust
Public Questions
The meeting was adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
The meeting was then reconvened.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meetings
3.1 Annual Town Meeting Minutes 24th March 2025
3.2 Full Council Minutes 19th May 2025
Resolved: The minutes were approved.
4 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Resolved: There were no matters arising.
5 Planning Committee
5.1 Planning Committee Minutes 12th March 2025
5.2 Planning Committee Minutes 7th May 2025
The minutes were noted.
5.3 Matters arising from the Minutes
Cllr Harewood asked if the Town Council could have a policy to object to all HMOs. Cllr Livingstone said that each planning application had to be taken individually and objected for planning reasons. The clerk suggested that Cllrs
email her if they wanted her to look into this.
6 Finance Committee
6.1 Finance Committee Minutes 12th May 2025
The minutes were noted.
6.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
There were no matters arising.
7 Community Delivery
7.1 Local Police Unit
Chief Inspector Zoe Bowden attended to brief the Council on the local police unit updates. Since the last meeting in March the statistics are as follows for the Macclesfield and Poynton area:
- 916 traffic offences (focus on hotspot areas)
- 49 missing persons
- 150 domestic disputes
- 79 ASB incidents
A range of community safety and engagement measures are underway, with the Macclesfield Multi-Agency Partnership (MAP) enhancing cross-service collaboration, including housing.
Police activity has intensified, with a major drugs warrant yielding approximately £500,000 in seizures and the discovery of a large cannabis farm in Halifax prompting checks on unused properties amid concerns about absentee landlords. Increased beat officer presence is noted, with more expected, and four operations have been conducted on taxis following resident complaints. A quarterly Community Cohesion Group, which includes youth participants, continues to focus on hate crime and supporting protected characteristics. Traveler encampments are now being moved within 6–8 hours under new legislation, and local businesses will soon receive CCTV guidance, including how to share footage with police. Updates to ward responsibilities are expected on the website this week.
Cllr David Edwardes asked if they were working with CEC on noise cameras on the Silk Road. Zoe said no but they have used them on the A34 and it was not proven very useful and there were no plans to use them on the Silk Road.
Cllr Wilcock asked about speeding, Zoe explained if there is an area of concern they can tag it. Chris asked if Victoria Road was tagged as there was lots of speeding and Zoe said she wasn’t sure but she would get it tagged.
Cllr Gilman asked which school is involved and how many children. Zoe replied Macc Academy and 16 children were involved.
7.2 CAB
Will McKellor, attended from the Citizens Advice Bureau. He said in the last quarter there was an increase in demand as there always is after Christmas. There were 193 more clients with 438 issues and a £160,000 increase in income maximisation. Core issues continue to be welfare benefits, relationship breakdowns and debts. Immigration issues also require translation support, raising budget concerns. Cost of living issues remain high; and the CAB have been invited to join “All Together Fairer Commission” (Cheshire East Health & Wellbeing Board) – contributing data and case studies.
Cllr Gilman thanked Will for the work they do and the well written and concise report.
7.3 Silk Museum
Emma Anderson spoke about her report, highlighting the major milestone for the museum: securing Heritage Lottery funding. She noted the strong evidence of local support, including from the Town Council, which was key to their success. The focus now is on delivering the project, which she sees as a bridge to strengthen their relationship with the community. In fact, earlier that day they had met with the football club to explore engagement with its diverse fan base.
They are planning a consultation on how the building could be used over time, with the aim that by the end of the project, it will be a significant heritage asset for the town. Key project elements include developing the café and creating opportunities for the community to use the space—particularly during the evenings. Emma expressed appreciation for being involved in the wider town centre consultation which helped connect them with residents and businesses.
Cllr Hutchison congratulated Emma on the museum’s progress, calling it an amazing achievement—particularly the collaboration with the football community. He asked could the Silkmen Supporters’ Trust be involved in ongoing discussions about potential partnerships moving forward.
Cllr Livingstone commented on the astounding level of creativity involved in the project and asked whether the funding included plans to reintroduce traditional skills such as weaving. Emma confirmed that it did, including opportunities for graduates, and noted that the looms are being restored for active use.
At this point in the meeting, Cllr Emma Gilman, Chair, updated that CCTV have said they could not attend the meeting due to staff shortage and that they may attend in the autumn.
8 Governance Review
8.1 Reserves Policy
Resolved: The above policy was approved.
9 South Park Pavilion Update Report for Council
Resolved: The South Park Pavilion working group to reassess options and risk and come back to full council in July 2025.
10 Town Centre Regeneration Working Group
The report was noted.
11 Library / Visitor Information Centre
The report was noted.
12 Fitness for the Future
Resolved: The proposal for further funding was approved for 1 year.
13 Public Realm Steward
Resolved: The proposal was approved.
14 Parks and Play Areas
The report was noted.
15 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 28th July 2025 at the Town Hall.
Meeting Closed: 8:20pm
Chair: Cllr Emma Gilman
Clerk: Laura Smith