Full Council
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Macclesfield Town Council Full Council
Macclesfield Town Council Notice of Meeting
30th August 2024
To Chair Cllr Sandy Livingstone and Councillors James Barber, Sarah Bennett-Wake, David Edwardes, Emma Gilman, Sam Hale, Alift Harewood-Jones, Mike Hutchison, 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 September 2024
commencing at 7pm,
for the purpose of transacting the business shown on the attached agenda.
With thanks,
Laura Smith
Town Clerk
The agenda of the meeting to be held on the on 9th September 2024 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 September 2024. 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 September 2024.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 29th July 2024
3. Full Council Minutes 29th July 2024
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 24th July 2024
5.1 MTC PC Minutes 24th July 2024
To note the minutes above
5.2 Matters arising from the Minutes.
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
6 Governance Review
6.1 Environment and Sustainability Policy
Action: To review the above policy.
6.2 Review of Business Current Account
6.2 Review of Current Banking Account
6.2.1 Banking Review Highlights
Action: To consider the proposal within the report.
.
7 Community Delivery
7.1 Local Police Unit
Chief Inspector to brief the Council.
7.2 CAB
To receive and note the report.
7.3 CCTV
The CEC CCTV will be present at the meeting.
7.4 Silk Museum
To receive and note the report.
8 South Park Pavilion Update Report for Council
Action: To approve the budget for a Hospitality Consultant of £
9 Parks Funding
Action: To consider the proposal in the attached report.
10 Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2023/24
10. Notice of Conclusion of Audit
To note the conclusion of the audit.
11 Car Parks
For discussion and to consider replying to CEC with Town Council views.
12 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 28th October 2024 at the Town Hall.
Macclesfield Town Council Full Council
The minutes of the meeting held on the on 9th September 2024 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
In attendance:
Cllr Sandy Livingstone
Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake
Cllr David Edwardes
Cllr Emma Gilman
Cllr Sam Hale
Cllr Alift Harewood
Cllr Ruth Thompson
Cllr Chris Wilcock
Cllr Fiona Wilson
1 Apologies for Absence
Cllr James Barber
Cllr Mike Hutchison
Cllr Mick Warren
2 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Bennett-Wake declared a non pecuniary interest in Item 7.2 as a Trustee of the CAB.
Cllr Hale declared a non pecuniary interest in item 6.2 as he has worked on an ethical committee including Co-op bank.
All Cllrs declared a non- pecuniary interest in item 6.2 as they are all customers of one of the banks within the report.
Public Questions
The meeting was adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
Andy and Becky Thomspon spoke on behalf of Macc Hospitality Action, a group set up during the pandemic to support the hospitality sector with regard to the current proposals from CEC in relation to parking charges.They are expanding the offer of support to all hospitality operators, retailers and service providers within our town centre and have been in touch with a lot of Town Centre Stakeholders that will be affected by the introduction of parking charges and the feeling is that this will have a huge impact on business, footfall, and a lust for folks to come in to an already struggling town centre.
They gave examples of this:
- St Michael’s Church where congregation are likely to now have to pay to pray, which surely doe does not sit well with anyone.
- Staff working in shops or outlets now being forced to pay to park whilst working a Sunday or evening shift.
- The impact to residents where people will simply park on side streets rather than pay for parking.
They said they do understand that CEC need to recover some of the deficit of 100m. They asked for a joined up approach to influence the outcome of the consultation and would like a face to face meeting with CEC
They have alternative suggestions e.g a single charge for Sundays/Evenings at £1 all day and all evening as they believe this would be more palatable for the visitors to the town and potentially more profitable for CEC than an outrageous charge for all day parking which will drive people to simply not pay for parking and not visit. Andy also explained they have currently got an online poll which is live to ascertain what people would be comfortable paying, or not, with around 250 registrations so. This data will be collected 1st October.
Councillors had an extensive discussion about the car parking and the points made are under Iten 11 below.
The meeting was then reconvened.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 29th July 2024
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 24th July 2024
The minutes were noted.
5.2 Matters arising from the Minutes.
There were no matters arising.
6 Governance Review
6.1 Environment and Sustainability Policy
Resolved: The above policy was approved.
6.2 Review of Business Current Account
Resolved: The proposal to move the business account to the Co-op bank was approved.
.
7 Community Delivery
7.1 Local Police Unit
Chief Inspector Sarah O’Driscoll attended to brief the Council.
Since the last meeting the CI has ensured newsletters and updates have been sent to Councillors and she has received some direct messages which she has been able to help with. Hopefully this means communication is much better. She updated that the meeting with the football club concerning parking has been cancelled but that the police would have a presence on Tuesday and Saturday to aid the parking situation.
Summer has been difficult for the LPU, as although Macclesfield were not affected by the riots, the police had to be ready to deploy staff to other areas. This means there is some backlog.
There have been 2 breeches of the CVO’s for the town centre, And the CI named the individuals, one is back in remand.
There is a new Schools Officer to help educate children about crime online, working with parents. They also continue to have young people on their Scrutiny panel.
Cllr Wilcock asked if knives being ordered online from aboard and entering the country was an issue. CI O’Driscoll replied that border control would confiscate any suspected knives and contact the LPU, who could investigate. The CI ensured that knife crime was low in Macclesfield and anyone carrying a knife will be arrested immediately.
Cllr Wilson, thanked CI O’Driscoll as the newsletter was very useful for residents and also thanked her for the police presence at the football club on the Tuesday and the Saturday. She also welcome a reconvened meeting with the club as parking is causing many issues for local residents in South ward.
Cllr Edwardes asked if the newsletter could have the outcome rates. The CI replied that she can get that data depending on what crime so to email her directly.
Cllr Harwood asked if there had been any issues with attacked on homeless people and the CI confirmed there had not.
Cllr Livingstone thanked CI O’Driscoll for her time and for the useful information.
7.2 CAB
Will McKellor, CEO of the CAB attended to brief the Council.
Will said the figures are steady and similar to his last report, although he did say that the amount of debt enquires were lower dur to their Debt Advisor leaving and them recruiting and training a new one. He also highlighted that the cost and need of interpretation services has increased over the last few years from £37 annually in 2019 to reaching £816 so far this year.
Cllr Bennett-Wake asked about pension credit, as there are approx. 880,000 people who could be eligible for it, have they seen a rise in those claiming. Will said there had been no increased take up, however they can assist with it and they do promote it. Cllr Bennett-Wake proceeded to give the number for those who may be eligible – 0800 997234.
Cllr Livingstone thanked Will and the CAB for all the work they do.
7.3 CCTV
CCTV did not attend the meeting.
Resolved: The Mayor and the Clerk will formally write to CCTV, explaining that as a funder of the service that the Council expects much improved communication, reports and attendance at Full Council meetings.
7.4 Silk Museum
The report was noted.
8 South Park Pavilion Update Report for Council
Resolved: The budget for a Hospitality Consultant was approved.
9 Parks Funding
Resolved: In principle funding is approved for Tytherington. Cllr Edwardes, Cllr Gilman and the Clerk are looking at possible other equipment suppliers and will come back to the next Full Council meeting or Services Committee meeting with clear costings so a funding decision amount can be made.
10 Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2023/24
The conclusion of the audit was noted.
11 Car Parks
This item was taken in the public speaking section.
Resolved:
- Macclesfield Town Council to inform CEC they are disappointed that this is a statutory, not full publlic consultation.
- Macclesfield Town Council do wish to support the Hospitality and Retail Sector of the town.
- The Councillors should respond individually
- The Clerk will provide footfall figures for Sundays to give an idea of how much the carparks would be used at Treacle Market.
- Cllr Wilson will try to facilitate a meeting with MHA and CEC.
12 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 28th October 2024 at the Town Hall.
Chair: Cllr Sandy Livingstone
Clerk Laura Smith
Meeting closed: 8:27pm